Gleason Bros. Racing

So its been a couple weeks since I've posted last, so I figure its about time I updated everyone (although if you read the front page of the site, it would save you time).


After I put the carb on from my last post, the car really woke up. Like, holy crap... I wasn't ready for that, kind of woke up. I've never been "throttle loose" in a mini stock before, and it was pretty invigorating. I've never had that much fun in a race car before. So anyway, that day went pretty well except for the wreck coming out of 4 and the oil. See, the #23 got turned around coming out of 4, and I couldn't go anywhere but high. They kept skidding up the track and I thought "ok, this may hurt", but I managed to squeeze by. I had nothing but open track in front of me, so I nailed it. Then, out of absolutely nowhere, the #52 goes spinning right in front of me broad side. I had no where to go and I t-boned him. It was pretty solid contact, it knocked him out of the race. I thought I was going to look up and see steam coming out of the hood and the front was going to be a mess, but it was fine.


Anyway, this week was more of a reality check. I NEED to update the setup on the car again. I had it set up to run with no power before, and it handled great, but now it handles totally different. I carry more speed coming in, and I need grip to keep the speed going coming out. I need to adjust it quick because if I keep racing, I'm going to be handicapped up front, and I intend on staying there. But right now I have bigger troubles to contend with. 


When I went off into turn one in the feature and the engine lost power and started smoking, I immediately shut it down. I thought "Thats terminal, thats not a module or silly electrical problem. That was inside the motor." I was emotionally crushed until about 3 hours before writing this Friday night. Why, you ask? Why would someone who finishes mid-pack be so upset over losing a motor and being unable to race for any time in the foreseeable future? Because I'm making strides forward. I'm improving not just as a driver, but as a competitor. I feel I have just as much talent as any race winner out there, and I really feel like I have something to prove. My brother is a talented driver with many wins under his belt and I feel like I can do it. I've been doing this basically on my own since the start, I freaking built that car by myself! But to lose a motor now without funding is crushing. I felt like I had that competitive edge for the first time, and it was taken away in one corner. 


Here's the catch. I didn't lose the motor. I said before that I was becoming a better driver and at the first sign of a problem I shut the car down. I brought the car home and pulled the head expecting to see the yellow engine soup, but there wasn't anything. I took the head over to the bench to inspect it and I turned the cam over until I could inspect the valve seat with a feeler gauge. I found a bent exhaust valve on cylinder #4. The low compression was what shut the motor down, and I'm lucky I caught it quickly because if that valve had any more time to rotate, it would have broken and taken the lower end with it. So instead of replacing an engine, I'll be replacing a valve. I will have to inspect further to see if there is any more damage to the engine, but I couldn't see anything yet. If you see me on Thursday, it'll be because a serious stroke of luck, and quick switch play.


We'll see if I get it back next week, keep your fingers crossed.


Brent