Alaska to Mexico Marathon. Day 23. 19 September 2023.

“Arizona take off your rainbow shades Arizona hey won’t you go my way” not quite how the song goes but ……,

Quite a few changes to the road schedule today as there have been washouts on roads further south. There were to be three events on a 480km road trip. Two regularities and one Time control. This was reduced to one regularity and accordingly fewer kms. It’s cool this morning but said to be a hot one as we travel south.

You can see the change of landscape from desert and canyons to greenery and trees en route to our first event at Fire control road, some 133kms from the hotel.

Tarmac roads up to the first regularity which of course is on gravel. 50kms ave speed for 4.5k, 45kph for .6kms and 55kph for the balance of the course of 8.23 kms. It was a rough dry corrugated winding with sharp turns on hills and gulleys. The speeds were such that the car, Betty, was badly shaking so we slowed for safety and possible damage. Not fair to hammer the car for a few minutes of glory. We continued the balance of this leg of 264kms to Globe, at an old vacated train depot and small museum and cafe for lunch.

The Time Controller/marshal, Sarah, checking the cars out after lunch.

The cars are checked and despatched on the final event of the day, a Time Check event to the destination at Hacienda Del Sol, some 160kms south at Tucson where will have our rest day. All of this road was tarmac, good roads, but the test is to arrive at the destination at a given time, 160kms in180 minutes. Sounds easy but one can’t arrive early or late without receiving a penalty. You have to arrive on time. Most cars arrived early as getting to the hotel as quickly as possible means that one doesn’t perish in the very hot sun. The thought of taking it easy just means longer on the road even forfeiting the points at the control is better than sitting in the car to arrive on time. When saying it’s hot, it’s hot!!

Stephen has suspected for many days that there was a issue with the gaskets on the exhaust manifold, and had arranged for new ones to be delivered to the motel in Tucson. En route, however, we stopped at a Napa automotive parts store to buy some gaskets just in case the ones ordered didn’t arrive. We purchased one that was purported to be the correct ones for the job, and they only had one, for $5. We should have suspected something. It was not the correct gasket for this engine.

When we arrived at the motel, Steve got to work immediately removing the parts that needed removing, understanding that it was very hot and the motor was hot too after the rlly event. None the less it had to be done. And in the morning at 6am he discovered the problem of the incorrect gasket and the ones that were ordered hadn’t arrived. Not to be deterred, although very pissed off, the master commenced the modification process. No option. The manifolds and the old gasket had been removed and couldn’t be put back. This is an arduous task requiring patience, perseverance and accuracy in a confined hot space in the engine compartment. And installation a further onerous job. Lots of verbal “pressure release”.

This is a rest day so that the cars can be repaired or modified after the las run. But it’s “ no rest for the wicked”

Tomorrow our car is the first car off the rank at 7.01am. Three events, race courses and a border crossing into Mexico. Should be an exciting day!!