{"id":6177,"date":"2023-04-21T16:48:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T22:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grunschev.com\/wordpress\/?p=6177"},"modified":"2023-04-21T16:48:15","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T22:48:15","slug":"the-atlanta-saga-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/grunschev.com\/wordpress\/2023\/04\/the-atlanta-saga-part-5\/","title":{"rendered":"The Atlanta Saga – Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 10<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today is my day at Road Atlanta. How will this go?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m well past the last day refunds would be available, so even if I don\u2019t get any track time, I may as well go. I should be able to run a few laps at least. But the fuse is one that controls the VVTI business. Would the fuse blow as soon as I hit the second cam? If that happens, I may as well park it. We shall see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organizers, Chin Track Days, wanted drivers to get signed in before 7:30 and to have the cars through tech inspection before the 7:40 drivers\u2019 meeting. I planned to arrive at 7. The track has a gas station, so I didn\u2019t fuel up on my way. This was a minor mistake. Premium unleaded is about four bucks a gallon in these parts, but at the track, it was six. I could have saved about twenty bucks. So it goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got checked in and took the car through the tech line. They don\u2019t actually inspect the car. All the tech line is for is to submit the paperwork and have a sticker applied to the windshield. It\u2019s pretty quick. I found a place in the already full paddock, unloaded my stuff, and introduced myself to my neighbors, relating to them a short version of my fuse woes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the drivers\u2019 meeting and a quick second meeting (broken down by run group), the first session on track was a yellow flag orientation session. No passing, and not at full speed, it allows folks like me who haven\u2019t been there to get a sense of the place. Drivers in all groups were allowed. Even though it was standing yellow flags all the way around and no passing, people were moving at a pretty good clip. Still, I wasn\u2019t exactly sure what gear to use for each corner or where my braking zones were. But it was a useful session. Until, eight laps in, the fuse blew again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, it blew near the end of the lap, and I could easily and safely limp back to the pits and paddock. I pondered what sort of fun it would be if it were to blow just as I was getting on the track. I swapped in another fuse and went in search of anybody who might be able to help me. I was the only Lotus, so I figured my hopes were slim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, I met Angel. He has a trailer and tools and even a couple of cars for rent (not cheap; I didn\u2019t even ask). Unfortunately, he didn\u2019t have a multi-meter and wasn\u2019t confident he could be of any help. He did say he\u2019d likely charge me $50. The first thing he did was take the cover off the fuse box, which he promptly fumbled down into the engine bay. He managed to get it out after 20 minutes of struggle and when he was done he told me he wouldn\u2019t charge me the fifty to retrieve it. I pocketed it to make sure it didn\u2019t get lost. Naturally, I realized a couple of hours later that I had lost it. Sometimes I\u2019m my own worst enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angel then directed me to another fellow, Kirt, who told me he used to build Exige race cars. He loaned me his multi-meter and gave me a list of things for Angel to check. This proved fruitless. I talked to Kirt again and he said he\u2019d reach out to Dave Simkins, the chief Lotus tech in North America. Dave is in California, so we were dealing with a 3-hour time difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not yet ready to risk another fuse, I skipped my first couple of sessions and wandered the paddock chatting with people. I met another gentleman who told me he used to work for Lotus of Atlanta. I said I\u2019d likely see if they could fix it; he said I shouldn\u2019t go there. He tracked me down later in the day to tell me that he, too, had reached out to Dave Simkins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n