Took the Chevelle to Heaven's Landing for the WannaGoFast 1/2 mile race Saturday. The car broke down in the burnout box on me. 1st time I have ever had the car break while racing so I guess I was over-due as it has seen some abuse. Wasn't sure what happened at the time but lost the clutch. I did the burnout and could tell something was a little off, had to force it into reverse to stage and when I went to put it back into 1st, it did not want to go at all. Then as I am rolling into the beams, the car kept stalling (which was due to the clutch not holding and dragging the motor down.) Was able to pull it off to the side, and fluid began pouring from the bottom of the car.
Sitting broken off to the side at the starting line
Thankfully I trailered it to the race (approx 3 hours away) but was pretty frustrated to have lost out on the registration money. If you are not familiar, these events are not cheap.
Anyway got it home and put it in the garage until Sunday. Woke up early and put my MaxJax 2 post lift to work for the first real time. Pulled the transmission and found the throw-out bearing was obliterated. I guess that is the good news, as it was only $65 to replace + most of my Sunday.
The lift helped but my crappy harbor freight transmission jack did not work quite as well as I had hoped.
The carnage
$300 entry fee and 6 hours of driving, all because of this $65 part going bad during the burnout.
Once repaired and back together - Celebration/frustration burnout leaving the basement driveway
