Bump Steer Adjustment.

After a solid second place at Sunset I was left thinking I needed more from the car.  I made some phone calls and my friends at Grisdale Racing Products loaned us a bump steer gauge.  I am embarrassed to say how far out of adjustment the right front was.  It was bumping in so much that the dial indicators just kept spinning around.  This is very bad for race car handling. 
Bump occurs when the suspension travels up or down.  The wheel either toes in, or out.  In a perfect world it stays straight.  We weren't so lucky.  After much adjusting and reassembly, we ended up with .005 bump out at the front of the wheel.  This is within range and should help the car work better on cornering.  The picture above shows the right front shock removed.  A jack is used to move the suspension through its travel.  The dial indicators measure the amount of bump.  This is a very precise adjustment, one that is often overlooked.  One that we will continue to monitor after every crash or even slight contact.  Off to Flamboro.  Looking for a better result.

All patched up and ready to go.

We were all set and ready to test at Flamboro prior to the Sunset race.  Then it rained every day. 
Off we go to Sunset.  Practice went well, very limited track time.  The Super late models were putting down tons of rubber making the track very fast.  We fought hard for second place in the heat race and lined up 8th for the feature. Starting on the outside proved to be a test of my patience.  Our line did not get going and we were almost last at the end of the first lap.  I had no open track to go racing on.  It is tough dragging your brakes down the straightaways to keep off the other cars.  It took a while to clear the pack and chase down the leaders.  One by one I worked high and low until we made it to second place.  I shadowed the rear of the 02 car for 10 laps.  Returning the favour of Sauble with a few bumps. At the end we were right there in second place.  Looks like the repairs worked well.
Up next some fine tuning of the right front.  Something was not quite right.

Some unfilled apprenticeships in Western Ontario

Job #	Trade		#	Level		City
13207	Tool & Die Maker	x	1	2nd year	in	Kitchener
13203	Truck & Coach Technician	x	1	4th year	in	Hamilton
13201	Auto Body Repairer/Prepper	x	1	1st year	in	Dundas
13186	Electrician	x	1	3rd year	in	Hamilton
13156	Auto Body Repairer	x	1	0 years	in	Hamilton
13147	Automotive Service Technician	x	1	3rd year	in	Stoney Creek
13146	Automotive Service Technician	x	2	2nd year	in	Hamilton
13125	Truck & Coach Technician	x	1	2nd year	in	Listowel
13121	Truck & Trailer Service Technician	x	1	4th year	in	St. Agatha
13096	Heavy Duty Equipment Technician	x	1	1st year	in	Hamilton
13093	Refrigeration & AC Mechanic	x	1	3rd year	in	Dundas
13091	General Carpenter	x	1	2nd year	in	Glanbrook
13090	Truck & Coach Technician	x	2	1st year	in	Stratford
13068	Heavy Duty Equipment Technician	x	1	1st year	in	Stoney Creek
13050	Automotive Service Technician	x	1	2nd year	in	Palmerston
13022	Automotive Service Technician	x	1	3rd year	in	Auburn
13013	Truck & Coach Technician	x	2	2nd year	in	Baden

---

To apply to these apprenticeships and more login, or register and login to www.apprenticesearch.com

SAFETY: Occupational Health Risks for Roofers

For more info about occupational disease and workplace health and safety, contact the Workplace  Safety and Insurance Board: 1-800-465-9646.

Tasks and possible hazards

 All tasks

• dust and insulation fibres on construction sites
• hazardous materials from industrial work sites (coke ovens, refineries, chemical plants, glass plants, factories,cement plants, pulp and paper mills, power plants)
• awkward postures, vibration, and hazardous noise whileusing power tools, grinders, saws, and mobile equipment
• extreme tempuratures (hot and cold environments)
• musculoskeletal injuries from carrying or lifting materials and tools

Installation and removal

• asphalt fumes/coal tar pitch volatiles
• asbestos/insulation fibres (could be part of the insulation or in building materials)
• lead adhesives, solvents, epoxies
• exhaust fumes from gas- or diesel-powered equipment
• noise and vibration
• animal and bird droppings

How to protect your health

✓ Ask your supervisor or employer for safe work instructions and training.
✓ Consult industrial clients on site-specific health and safety procedures.
✓ Ask about any hazardous materials or unknown chemicals when entering an industrial site for work.
✓ Ensure proper ventilation.
✓ Wear a proper respirator when you suspect asbestos may be a hazard working in dusty atmospheres welding using solvents, adhesives, or other hazardous substances using metalworking fluids (cutting oils).
✓ Wear gloves, coveralls, welding jackets, or use barrier creams to protect the skin.
✓ Consult material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for information about hazardous chemicals used at work, and obey workplace health and safety rules.
✓ Never eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in areas contaminated with asbestos, lead, or toxic chemicals.
✓ Wash or wipe your hands clean before eating, drinking, or smoking.
✓ Always clean up and change out of contaminated clothing before going home at the end of a shift.
✓ Wash work clothes separately from casual and other family members’ clothes.
✓ Report hazards to your employer.

 to read more about this click here for PDF

This booklet was prepared by the Ontario construction industry’s Occupational Disease and Research Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee with assistance from the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and labour and employers in Ontario construction.
The information presented here is for general information only. It should not be regarded or relied upon as a definitive guide to health risks in the trade. This information is, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of publication. For more information, contact the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association. 1-800-781-2726 info.construction@ihsa.ca  www.ihsa.ca 

Some unfilled apprenticeship positions in Western Ontario

Job# Trade #  level City  13125 Truck & Coach Technician x 1 2nd year in Listowel 13121 Truck & Trailer Service Technician x 1 4th year in St. Agatha 13096 Heavy Duty Equipment Technician x 1 1st year in Hamilton 13096 Refrigeration & AC Mechanic x 1 3rd year in Dundas 13091 General Carpenter x 1 2nd year in Glanbrook 13050 Alignment & Brakes Technician x 1 2nd year in Palmerston 13022 Automotive Service Technician  x 1 3rd year in Auburn 13013 Truck & Coach Technician x 2 2nd year in Baden 12983 Automotive Service Technician  x 1 2nd year in Guelph 12959 Electrician x 1 3rd year in Stoney Creek 12960 Industrial Mechanic Millwright  x 1 3rd year in Stoney Creek 12929 Auto Body Repair x 1 1st year in Waterdown 12893 Hairstylist x 1 1st year in Waterdown 12892 Powered Lift Truck Technician x 1 1st year in Kitchener 12861 Truck & Trailer Service Technician x 1 3rd year in Guelph 12854 Auto Body Repairer x 1 2nd year in Waterdown 12837 Automotive Service Technician  x 1 3rd year in Hamilton To apply to these apprenticeships and more log in or create a profile and log in to www.apprenticesearch.com

A rough time at the Beach

Varney's race was a wash as Mother Nature dumped rain on the whole province.  That allowed some time off for the Pro Challenge drivers.  When we arrived at Sauble Beach, the track was in rough shape.  It was full of dirt, sand and was making teams change the set ups on the race cars.  We did the same, made the suspension softer, added some spacers and that seemed to help the car turn.  In the heat, we made a great last lap pass to get to second place.  The common theme was drivers trying too hard.  The cars were sliding the front wheels across the track every time you tried to go a little faster.  Rusty drivers, a few weeks off and a slippery track made the feature a wild one.
Starting in 8th on the outside, I was cleared to the inside of turn 1 on lap 2.  I moved down and went to work on the car in front of me.  Then on the lap 3.... BANG... I was drilled in the back by the guy behind me.  This sent my car sideways into the infield.  Sliding across the wet grass makes controlling a car nearly impossible.  I managed to keep the slide going until the middle of turns 3 and 4.  That's when I slid into the side of the 02 car and saved myself from wrecking.  I also passed 2 cars in the process.  This is not the way I wanted the night to start.  The 02 car took offence to my body check and proceeded to try and smash the rear bumper off my car.  After trying for the third time, he simply took us out of the race by spinning us out.  I was very fortunate not to hit anything and all the cars missed me as I was parked on the track facing the wrong way.   That is when I was struck by Lightening.  Not real Lightening, the 00 car of "Lightening" Lilycrop.  And that is where it all ended, the right front was completely destroyed.  I started the car to see if it would move, it did but I could not steer it.  On the tow truck hook we went for the ride of shame back to the trailer.  Our first DNF in 3 years.  Back at the shop on Sunday morning I ripped the front end off.  Lots of damage to the suspension, shock, spring, A arms, spindle, rim, tire, bumper and cover. That made for a Happy Father's Day. Ouch!!!!!
Good news is that I have the spindle cut apart and will weld it back together tonight. 
Should be running on Tuesday night for practice if all goes well.
Battle Scars make the car look mean...I just hope they make go fast again too.

First at Flamboro

After a great start to the season at Sunset we headed off to our home track.  I always feel pressure when I arrive at Flamboro.  It seems my whole family and a bunch of friends  always attend.  They all ask me the same question.  Are you going to win? 
The car worked great during practice.  One turn on the sway bar and we were set for the heat race. 
I could drive the car anywhere on the track.  Passing cars on the high side and the low line.  Quickly we were in the lead and first to the checkered flag.  Up next was the feature.  Time to make sure our new GoPro camera is turned on.  I found that the case was open in the car and the camera was gone.  I asked the team, but nobody had removed it.  I was upset about the camera and used that as motivation in the feature race.  Starting 7th and chasing down some really fast cars.  I had a solid lead at the halfway point when a caution came out for the 20 car.  He was almost completely on top of the back straight wall.  Not sure exactly how he got there, but he says someone helped him get there.  From there out I drove a solid race keeping the lead to the finish.  Now we are tied for the points lead.
Looking forward to Varney.