The end of an era...

The track at St-Eustache is closing in a couple weeks and our club has held its last official events there. I headed out to the track on the last two Mondays, and to the very rainy last track day on the last Saturday of September.

I never improved on my best time... on the first Monday, there were several puddles on the track and I only managed a high 1:02, which was not bad given the conditions. I passed quite a few cars that were taking it easy in those conditions.

On the Saturday track day, it rained non stop. The car performed well enough, but the transmission started popping out of 3rd gear when I let go the of the gas, and I wondered if it would do this in the dry... I ended up leaving after lunch because I was getting pretty wet and the car wasn't doing that great.

Finally, on the last Monday, it was dry, but the 3rd gear problem was getting worse, in that I had to keep my hand on the shifter until I was on the gas to prevent it from popping out. I again put in laps in the high 1:02 range and in my second session, I took out Carl's friend Federico and was about a second slower. It was a bit of a disappointing end to the St-Eustache era, but Federico seemed to really enjoy the ride.

Lining up for my last session ever at St-Eustache. No, I did not catch and pass that S2000.

Braking hard with Federico aboard

Puff-puff

All in all, it's been a sad couple of weeks for those who enjoy track driving.This was my home track and there is no real alternative to Monday night lapping there. The Wednesday night lapping at ICAR will have to do, and I will have to find some other types of events to attend, or do more instructing with the BMW club.

In other Civic news, I decided that it would be more logical and economical to simply change the engine of the Civic for next season rather than rebuild it. I came across an inexpensive H23a DOHC vtec and bought it. It came with parts I don't need and that can be sold. I got a good deal on the H2B adapter plate on Ebay by making a low-ball offer that was accepted and picked up an inexpensive used header I found on Facebook and that will be it for the major parts needed. I just have to get a distributor, because the engine did not come with one. If all goes well, the engine can be in before winter. If not, it's not a big deal, it can wait until spring.

In other news, my friend Mazen just bought a nearly new Porsche 911 GT3 and I have been invited to go help him pick it up and drive it to Hawkesbury (using his also awesome BMW M3CS). That should be great fun and I'll try to get some photos.

Other photos from the last events at St-Eustache:

Serious-looking Civic coupe

Lovely and clean RX7

Never seen a Golf R in this colour

Sweet Audi RS4

The Civic between sessions

It was pretty wet on the last track day at St-Eustache

My old car and the crazy Chumpcar PT Cruiser

Carl's last driver's meeting at St-Eustache

The calm before the storm

The weather was actually fine before the action started

Tastefully modified Miata

Marc's M3 and the Civic

The K-powered Klub

Civic looking sharp after the body work

Cool cars around town:

Sweet RHD Land Cruiser

Not sure if I like the GT63S... I like the wheels

Polestar electric vehicle... I could see myself in a car like this some day!

Budget sports cars from different eras

I've grown used to this colour now and I quite like it.

These original Hummers are rare now. This one was quite rusted.

A strangely short Winnebago in Deschaillons

The Civic is back from the body shop...

... and looking great! I had the hood painted red at the same time as the big dent was repaired by the insurance. Pat even managed to fix up the cracked front lip and the car looks great.

I did manage to make it to ICAR the other day, but I was in such a rush to get out on track after waiting in line to get my bracelet, that I was not able to start my timing software or camera. Also, the alternator light began flashing during my session, so I decided to stop after only one session and try to drive the car to Pat's before the battery died. I made it to Pat's and we looked under the hood. He pointed out that although the alternator belt was still present, the bolt that keeps the tension on the belt was gone, and the belt was barely touching the pulley... a 10$ fix it turns out. Anyway, I left him the car at that point for the body work, and only picked it up yesterday. I will try to go to Monday night lapping at St-Eustache, as there are only a few of these left before the track closes. 

I went back to the scrap yard to pick up a couple of parts for the BMW. I decided not to take the aluminum interior trim, because it was actually made of plastic. I think the M3 version was real aluminum. I've been driving the Saabaru quite a bit and I still think it's a real hoot to drive. I hope I can keep it in drivable condition for a long while yet.

Finally, I am trying to put together a plan to be able to head out to Mosport for the Thanksgiving track day hosted by our club, with the family. It depends if Pat is interested in coming and trailering the Civic in. 

Blacked out Maybach... Dracula's car?

Interesting wheels on this Porsche Turbo

Late V12 XJS

Aventador's invariably draw a lot of attention...

An Audi A5 with nice wheels

A surprising spot at Kenny U-Pull

A nice clean 944S

There are a few of these lovely AMG GTS's around now

The E36 still looks great in my book.

I've never seen a Boxster with an Ebay rear wing...

Another AMG, this one with bright red wheels

Oscar posing with the Civic, before the dent repair.

No track time in August...

I somehow managed to spend the whole month of August without driving the Civic on track... a combination of trips and other events jest made it impossible to go to St-Eustache or ICAR... hopefully this evening the weather will clear up and I'll get a chance to go to ICAR.

Since my last post, we have been on a family trip to the Boston area and to the project house on several occasions. The mileage on the M3 has been adding up, and I had to do an oil change last week as a result. The car is performing well. I still need to change the oil temperature sensor plug and there is still a check engine light for some throttle sensor issue that has been there for years. At least with the summer tires on, there is no more slow leak on one of the tires.

The Civic will go to Pat's this evening or tomorrow so he can do the body work and finally try to figure out if there is an easy solution to the oil consumption issue. He still has the Saab, but hasn't had time to investigate the suspension noise and vagueness in the rear end.

News of my old Civic: Sajan managed a 1:49 lap at Tremblant with the car... pretty impressive for a normally aspirated FWD car. He accomplished this with 2 rear wings and a splitter.

Here are some random photos of the past few weeks

Questionable colour for this AMG GT

The M3 after a rare car wash... the wheels were filthy

A rare Dodge Demon

A rare Jaguar XJ-R

... and a rare AMG GT-R all spotted within 5 minutes of each other on my walk home.

I like this spec of STi

I still like the design of the GC8, more than any WRX since

Another rarity: Saab Turbo X

A super clean Plymouth Prowler, with the cool plate "Concept"

 A clean Z3 M in the same parking lot in Ogunquit

An anniversary edition WRX spotted in the Boston area, a model we did not have in Canada

Livin' the low life

A very shiny early Miata on steelies in Revere, Massachusets

Still one oy my favourite cars of the last 20 years, the AMG SLS

The M3 just after I installed the summer wheels

A subtle, debadged M2