Anyone have a trailer and is willing to come out and pick up BLU?

 

Sooo... long story to follow...
BLU threw a serpentine belt after the a couple laps into the session. I was halfway thru the lap and I lost all power and thought I had just gone into limp mode. I had not known that I had thrown the belt. I limped back into the pits in 1st gear barely holding a 1000 to 1500 RPM. It was scary watching the big V8 boys come flying past me! Videos to come soon.

Once in the pits, I thought I should let BLU cool off so I let him idle with steam shooting out of him like a geyser, then shut him done minutes later. Looking thru the engine bay I started noticing fuzzies like the engine blanket had been shredded, then noticed the belt was toast. That’s when I knew the day was done and I was in trouble, I was not sure how I was going to explain this to Teena. I was with Don, Rick, Eileen and Colin and his daughter, but none of us had a spare belt or the tool needed. I had brought a ton of tools, but not the needed one. Don and I started roaming the pits to talk to people we had already talked too from the first session. We had talked to Paul who was running his Firebird and had trailered it in as it was a full race prep firebird. After talking for a little, he offered to come back and get me, if we could not find other means of transportation. Very nice guy, Don actually might use his tree services! So we went off to do some more social networking.

Now to back up to the beginning of the day when we were in line to get past check-in, there was a trailered MINI ahead of Don and I, so we found where they were in the pits. They are running a nice R56 all emptied of any interior except seats and stereo, even the driver and passenger windows had been removed. They were running both sessions, each driver in each. So I came back when both were in the pits and started talking to Luke and Sean. Very nice first time MIN owners, with Luke running Green Eyed Motors in Boulder and getting this already race prepped R56 as a trade. Sean got real into removing all the interior pieces when left alone and dropped the weight from 2500 lbs. to about 2200 lbs. The MINI is still licensed for the street so they offered, if their MINI was still running at the end of the day, to drive their MINI home and trailer BLU to Longmont for me. I had found my heroes and my RIDE home!

The rest of the day was me spent social networking thru the pits and watching everyone else run. My cell was also running out of battery so I had a hard time staying in contact with Teena, who was very worried about me. Also stopping and giving BLU pep talks thru the whole day. By the end of the day, Luke and Sean were still running and actually had decided to call it quits early (around 3 pm), getting me home well before the end of the track day at 6PM. So with the help of several MINI friends and a few others, we pushed and loaded BLU onto Luke and Sean's barrowed trailer around 3:30 pm and headed out.

Now Luke and Sean's MINI has no windows and there were threats of thunderstorms in the distance as we made the trek back to the Denver area. Luke was driving and waving his hands at Sean because of the window removals. As we approached e470 it started to rain, prompting Luke to wave his hands again... After getting on e470, it started to dump and the thunderstorm started blowing rain at the driver’s door hard, getting Luke soaked, so he pulled off at 92nd and e470 to put on a rain jacket, but Sean volunteered to drive from there. The scary part was the thunderstorm kicked into another gear, and at that point next to us on the exit ramp, blew over a stop sign! We loaded up and took off right away not wanting to be involved in a microburst. We stopped at Sean's, whose house was on the way at highway 7 and i25, and unloaded a few things, and then headed to Longmont. Teena met us at the house and after we rolled BLU off the trailer, steered BLU into the garage where he will sit now until I get the part and tool to fix him. Luke and Sean would not let me giving them anything for taking BLU and I home. On the way I forced them into letting me fill up the MINIs gas tank, but that was all. They both scored HUGE Karma points. I owe them both a huge debt of gratitude!

Luke is having a grand re-opening of his Green Eyed Motors in Boulder on July 13th, and after the club meeting in Louisville, I would like us all to make a ride there for his opening day. From Louisville to the Boulder location will take us on a nice twisty road, so it will be a fun ride.

Please help me in thanking Luke and Sean. BTW, Luke got banned by HPR, maybe after the heat of the day he will be allowed back in, but he said he would sign up on NAM with the forum name of Banned to HPR, so keep an eye out for him

THANK YOU LUKE AND SEAN!

 

Luke got banned by HPR

What did he do?

Is HPR even half as much fun as it looks?

I want to run that track so bad, but it's a bit of a trek from KC.

PS Don't forget to see why the belt got shredded, usually there's a reason....like a bad tensioner or idler pully bearing. Also take a good hard look at your crank pulley if you haven't changed it before, just in case.

 

When Luke is on the forum, I will let him explain that one. The track is the most fun you can have. I will be posting video clips here soon. The rises in elevation make it beyond fun. Since I am out of commison now for a little while, I will not be out at the track for awhile.

 

For inquiring minds, here is what a shredded NAPA 60535 belt looks like. BTW, looking at the ribbing that is left, it is all cracked, so this would have gone on its own in a few months if not sooner. Going with a Gates 60539HD, or if I can get Gates to make a Racing in a 60535 the Racing BLue.

 

It was an interesting day and Luke's banning at HPR is his own story if he wants to share. The Willie B day at HPR was a bit over the top with 65% first time on track car owners, and a few sedans and old iron should not have been allowed to run, IMO!

Both the drivers of the CR 07 R56 were very smooth and safe. The mods on there MINI were pretty hidden, so unless you know where to look, it was stock but lighter.

If you want to come out and see a Willie B day at HPR or run the track, look at August 4, 2013 on the HPR lapping signup.

Don

We will get the MINI folks over for the opening/move celebration!

 

Yes, that statement would be correct...

 

rotfl

 

The trailer was there for us to limp our own ride home. Luckily we didn't need it. But we were just glad we could help.

Really a nice group of guys with a lot of mini knowledge which we both could use as we have only owned the little guy for a couple of weeks.

And my apologies to anyone I might have rode up on... I was just really loving going flat out!

Again BLUUUU your welcome get that belt fixed! And we'll see you out there next time. This is Sean btw.

 

Here are the 3 different views from my 2nd session, look to the original thread for Don's videos.
Front HD video


Inside view standard def original Hero GoPro (non wide)


Rear view with standard def wide angle Hero GoPro

 

Finally got the belt Wed and the Alta pulley too. After battling with getting the factory pulley off, I finally got the Alta pulley installed and torqued to 85 'lbs. Then to get the belt over the final idler pulley, a little spit and the new belt is in place and lined up perfect.

 

Fenderwell and all are put back on, wheels are on, and he is ready to be started up, fingers crossed!

 

All good. All codes cleared, ECU is cleared and reset.



I did several "laps" around the neighborhood, about 6 miles worth, going easy on the RPMs at first then taking it up to 4k on the 2nd "lap", then 5k on the 3rd "lap" and then a little over 6k on the final "lap". The Alta crank pulley is pulling harder! The Craven Speed Blue Dip Stick is inserted too!



Very happy, and BLU deserves a wash now that he is all better!

 

Great, no extra pings, valve clatter, not running hotter than normal after the steam punk adventure?

Good to see BLU and you motoring again!

 

All smooth as glass, no pings, no valve clatter and running nice and cool. I did have to add about a 1/2 gallon of distilled water and I added some of the Royal Purple coolant additive (helps take it down by 22 degrees!) just in case (was on sale at AutoZone).

 

Blu-By-U

Thanks for the kind words and it looks like an easy fix on the MINI. Also we had tons of fun at the tack and it evolved into quite an entertaining day that you recapped well.

So... I got banned (kicked off for the day) from HPR because I went on the track after the lunch break while it wasn't "hot". I thought I heard track is hot and I hung out by the pit exit for a bit and then went. I immediately got the red-flag and cruised back to the pits safely at about 10 mph. When I arrived, without conversation my wristband got clipped. When I was on the track and first got the red-flag I thought that I had something wrong with our car (fluids dripping...) I didn't think I was doing anything wrong and it was an honest mistake. Maybe the track could use a stop sign, chain, or gate to block off the track when it isn't open? I pulled back to the pits and I felt a little stupid.

Anyways we hope to see some MINI5280 members at our Grand Opening this weekend at Green Eyed Motors in Boulder. We have a cool event happening and we are even giving away a full detail from The Works LTD. We share our location with the Green Garage and The Tire Source and Laughing Goat Coffee Shop.

2907 55th St
Boulder, CO 80301

 

I've done many, many, many events at my local roadcourse at Heartland Park, and wouldn't you know it I will be in your hood on Sunday the 4th - sorta. I'll be on my way to Pagosa Springs for vacation with the bride.

I've seen several on track vids including one from when the track was complete but not yet open, it looks like fun on a bun!

Someday I'll get it organized and get out there......Blu, glad you got it buttoned back up and all's well!

Likewise it would be great fun to host a bunch of 5280 folks at our track too!

At Heartland Park, our events start at noon with tech and check in, then we run 20 min sessions till dark (which this time of year is about 8:30pm, so you get all the track time you can stand, you average just over one session per hour, so plenty of cool down time. Cost is $135 for the day.

 

Luke and i appreciate everyone e coming out and stopping by Green eyed motors! And I also wanted to thank you guys for letting me hang with you for the time I did. The "rain" wasn't bad while I was moving but stopping in the down pour was more water coming into the car then I was willing to take Didn't want you guys thinking I ran out on you... But just wanted to thank you guys again for swinging by and we'll see you out at the track!

Sean

 

Sean,
Wish we had allotted more time at the store, you folks were having a great big party.

Glad you ran with us, sorry I got all of us lost a couple of times, the rain was not welcome and it got worse and worse. Good you got out of the area quickly.

Will definitely be over that way again, I get a lot of tires from Tire Source, so will have to see what they turned that store into over on 55th.

Are you guys going to become a MINI certified repair? I hope you have that in the plan, it is needed in the Boulder area.

Thanks again for hosting a great open house and allowing us to park all over the place.

Don

 

And the drama continues...
Well this time the belt came off, but this happened because the PULLEY came off! MITM was over and we had just finished packing up the MITM van and were heading home, we were in the caravan towards the end about 2 miles from the summit of Vail Pass, and I heard a something bounce off the back of BLU, it was the 15% Alta V1 Pulley coming off the Supercharger. Don was following me in the van and we pulled over and sent the rest of the group home. AAA showed up and flatbed towed it to Longmont(111 miles), thank you again Don. Now BLU will stay under the MINI zipper cover for a few months while moneys build up in the accounts. Looking at Way's rebuilt and ported Supercharger. Probably will have Ferney's to do the work since I want things done right (and I don't want to have to do the work myself of pulling the front of the MINI off)...

 

Glad to hear about the end to the trip, I felt kinda bad driving off and leaving you guys there! On the other hand it was nice driving Scooter home got to ask Don what kind of exhaust he has I can feel my wallet getting lighter already!

Joel

 

That stinks.

I feel you pain, the day before MITM, we were coming back from Sturgis, SD, and the RV blew the transmission at the tune of 5K. :-(

The toys are fun, but can be expensive when they get persnickety.

 

New update...
So I talked with Alta Performance and they think that the Supercharger seized, and the belt spun the pulley off. I found the pulley lodged between the oil pan and the plastic belly pan, and it is in good shape. Just need to save up for the Way Motor Works rebuilt / ported Supercharger. My neighbor with a lift really wants me to use his lift to do the work, so in a few months there might be a BLU repair party in Longmont. More news to follow.

 

OH, I hope you let Ferney put it all back together, but if you want to learn the in and outs and your neighbor is cool with using the lift, go for it.

Always good to have the experience if it happens again. NOT!

Don

Joel, Scooters exhaust is a hybrid, open from the downpipe 2.5 inch, with a resonator versus a 2nd cat, the tail is a JCW factory exhaust you can buy from any MINI dealer.

I went that way as I have a full ED hybrid cat-back, but did not like the blat/raspy tone of the ED muffler, so replaced the end with the JCW factory 2009-2012.

Any good muffler shop can build the pipes back and weld on the JCW muffler which is the sound you like, 2.5 is a little bigger than stock MINI pipe.

Of course you have an R53 MCS, I think, so that changes it up a bit.

Don