Really rough day at work today... ;)

[JShadzi@aol.com]

    I hope this post does not sound like bragging...because while most of you 
were off helping to increase our nation's GDP this afternoon, I was having a 
really good time at work! 
    Where I work we have a collectin of Audi race cars, a couple of V8 DTM 
and 2 Trans-am cars.  Because they are basically in storage, they need to be 
started and run about once a month or so.  The bummer is that I do not get to 
take them out, one by one, and run them up to speed (ya right!), but I do 
have the privileage of standing inches away for car being run thru the gears 
on the lift (hmm...I'll take it!).  So I and one of the mechanics pushed each 
car to the lift today, and I kept an "eye" on things while he did the 
driving.  Those of you at MH99 know the sound of the cars from track side 
(still one of the greatest moments of my life), but the sounds I heard today 
were for the first time!
    Ok, the cold motor starts up effortlessly, and sounds basically like a 
4kq on steroids...blurping loud and powerfully.  After a couple minutes of 
warm up, the throttle is opened just long enough to hear the wine of the 
turbo, and then the throttle is closed.  This lasts for a couple of minutes 
till the motor is really warmed up.  Now, in gear and spinning the tires, 
WOT!  First you hear a rush, behind the droan of the exhaust, that soon 
begins to intensify.  By about 5500 RPM the motor really starts to roar, and 
the turbo is giving out a good wail.  The whole thing orchestrates into a 
caucophony of screaming, wailing, and it really starts to sound like a train 
without the tracks!  The throttle is snapped shut and a violent screeching 
chirp emerges just as your arms are raised in the air and you give a shout 
for sheer joy! ...ahem...anyway, it was really neat.  I had a good chance to 
really crawl over the car too, including the drivers seat  ;) 
    Allegedly the car was taken out back one day a while ago,for a "little 
spin", and upon dropping the throttle all four tires lit up 
effortlessly...not bad for a 2.2 liter 5-cylinder!
    All in all a very good day at work....  =) 
Javad Shadzi