Our start time this morning was 9.15am. Tail end Charlie. Last to leave. this was a 478km day. Another long dry one. A few changes to the road book but only minor.
Betty was ready to go well before and the temperature was rising. but a clear day, including two regularities and one race track event. A 24 km run out to the gravel roads and 80 km to the first regularity. An uneventful ride. The car is in its element on these US roads. Made for it. No trouble rolling along at 100-120kph. Faster when in a hurry.
The first regularity at 11.20 am was a short 8km course, self start, went ok. Then on to Camas creek country store for a rest period.
The next regularity began at Camp Creek at 12.35 for our start. There was a timing point in there somewhere, but we don’t know where. Clocked in ok. Then over a very rough patch of road Betty motor “stopped”. Very few cars on this back country road and a few mad cyclists. One threatened to shoot us for travelling at 40km on their roads!!! Mumbling under his breath, loud enough for us to hear as we were investigating the car issue.
Steve searched the engine bay for loose wires and cables, checked fuel and electric systems. No go.
Being last in the line for the day brought the benefit of having the sweep team not far behind and it wasn’t long when they arrived, Jamie and Russ. They are first class mechanics and really good guys.
They methodically checked, the same areas that Steve had covered, and had the equipment to test so they could eliminate areas not to be concerned about. They replaced the rotor in the distributor. The distributor cap, the coil. Checked spark plugs, fuel pump, carberator and so forth, to no avail. Not much else to check. Last was Jamie’s suggestion to check the condenser in the distributor. Replaced this and voila!! Thanks to the mechanics for their assistance. Well done. And much appreciated.
With the exception of the coil Steve had all of the spares that were checked and maybe, needed.
Naturally the regularity was well over by the time Betty came back to life. one and a quarter hours had elapsed
But there was a chance we could catch the team at Craters of the Moon, or Golden West Cafe. The organisation had allowed extra time for the teams to explore the local land features.
Steve drove Betty at speed over the intervening distance to arrive at the cafe in time to meet out Time Check. Whew!!
Then onto the race track at Atomic Motor Raceway. A basic gravel oval track, well cambered. All crews seemed to enjoy this twice around event and so did we. The surface was a little uneven and it was generally a rough and ready country track. Good fun though!
The ride to the hotel was on tarmac all the way. Steve was very tired and looking forward to resting a bit, but there was an obligation to return the coil lent to us by the mechanics, so we sought out an O’rielly car parts store to purchase one and get a few bits and pieces, including another condenser, just in case?
Showers were in the order of the day, then a quick bite, and bed.
RTG had arranged dinner at an adjoining eatery, but we elected to eat at the hotel.
Another long hard, hot dusty day in all 478km’s.
gravel travel 