Rear Bear update

[Dialtapper]

Most of the core group of Team Rear Bear met this past weekend, first time since the big race, primarily to inspect our engine.

There have been some rumors and speculation so this update is to set the record straight.

Not all of the mechanics that Dave Cornell picked for this new team where former Rear Bear team members. There are some and they the best of the best.

The engine oil screens are as crystal clean as they where before Sundays race.

There is no internal engine damage after ingesting the "aerodynamic filler" A small piece was found in the carb, possibly what caused the throttle sticking.

We bled down all of the cylinders, All where very good for a cold engine, with a lot of them were better than 75 over 80.

With the exhaust fixed it would be ready to run just as hard as it did at the start of Sundays race.

Now the airframe is a little different story. That might take a few days.

DT/CC

[Trey Carroll]

Re: Rear Bear update

Good deal!

Now for a question that isn't as important: Is it true the paint-job is temporary?

TC

[ebutner]

Re: Rear Bear update

Most of the core group of Team Rear Bear met this past weekend, first time since the big race, primarily to inspect our engine.

There have been some rumors and speculation so this update is to set the record straight.

Not all of the mechanics that Dave Cornell picked for this new team where former Rear Bear team members. There are some and they the best of the best.

The engine oil screens are as crystal clean as they where before Sundays race.

There is no internal engine damage after ingesting the "aerodynamic filler" A small piece was found in the carb, possibly what caused the throttle sticking.

We bled down all of the cylinders, All where very good for a cold engine, with a lot of them were better than 75 over 80.

With the exhaust fixed it would be ready to run just as hard as it did at the start of Sundays race.

Now the airframe is a little different story. That might take a few days.

DT/CC

Thanks for the update. You all did a great job! What a race that was... Looking foward to maor updates and seeing the Bear in 08.

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Rear Bear update

Shouldn't it be "Rare Bear" & not "Rear Bear"?

[TWD]

Re: Rear Bear update

Shouldn't it be "Rare Bear" & not "Rear Bear"?

Now if Captain Obvious is finished, maybe we can come up with a decent question to ask Dial Tapper.

TJ

[wingman]

Re: Rear Bear update

Such as exactly what was the problem that they chased all week that was preventing high power settings, and how did they finally figure out the solution? Things looked pretty dark after the Saturday heat race and by Sunday afternoon they were cooking. There were a zillion rumours going around all week, and even Sunday evening, but I've heard no authoritative comment at all...

And what are the concerns with the airframe, other than the overzealous work by the paint shop?

Has the cowling always had the rather remarkable amount of bondo that was revealed on Sunday?

And Thanks Chris, for the great update!!

Neal

[David E. Wells]

Re: Rear Bear update

Looked to me, and others, like they were running it a little richer, judjing from the trail of smoke...D.

[Sailing South]

Re: Rear Bear update

Thanks for the update C.C.

Just got home a couple hours ago. Yes indeed it's all good, lots and lots of work ahead but all in all its all good.

To answer some more questions out there. The paint is coming off along with all the bondo the paint guy put on. It was a huge mistake on our part for not being with the painter 100% of the time. No one has said it publicly but I'll say it. If you claim to be an aircraft painter guy, you don't bondo over th static ports,Nuf said bout that. .

As far as the other problems during the week. We had an alternator fail, a hydraulic pump failure and a carb that was acting up. Not making power was a simple fix it was just a matter of getting the right adjustments after the carb change. We were truly out of time, no more test hops available.

Seeyaontheramp
Scott

[hm66sk]

Re: Rear Bear update

There is no internal engine damage after ingesting the "aerodynamic filler" A small piece was found in the carb, possibly what caused the throttle sticking.

Tough engine that 3350. Try THAT with your Chevy!

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Rear Bear update

Tough engine that 3350. Try THAT with your Chevy!

(cough cough) or your Merlin... (cough cough) <hides head as he leaves room dodging cups of Palazzo Red....

[MMPerk]

Re: Rear Bear update

A few pictures to go along with the update.

[SCEPTER]

Re: Rear Bear update

Any plans of taking Rare Bear to any airshows?

[Dialtapper]

Re: Rear Bear update

Good deal!

Now for a question that isn't as important: Is it true the paint-job is temporary?

TC

Yes, the paint job is temporary. It was the best we could do with the time we had. A very good paint job has been drawn up, if we have the time, I think we will you should see something close to what David W. put out.

[Dialtapper]

Re: Rear Bear update

Shouldn't it be "Rare Bear" & not "Rear Bear"?

Yes Captain Obvious. We have spell check but not a stupid check. I was very tired after getting home, but I think most people got the Idea.

[Dialtapper]

Re: Rear Bear update

Such as exactly what was the problem that they chased all week that was preventing high power settings, and how did they finally figure out the solution? Things looked pretty dark after the Saturday heat race and by Sunday afternoon they were cooking. There were a zillion rumours going around all week, and even Sunday evening, but I've heard no authoritative comment at all...

And what are the concerns with the airframe, other than the overzealous work by the paint shop?

Has the cowling always had the rather remarkable amount of bondo that was revealed on Sunday?

And Thanks Chris, for the great update!!

Neal

Well Neal, we found a lot problems, as you might expect given the time we had before Reno. Dave had said those where problems that could have bit us in the ass later if we hand not found them. Besides some of the problems Scotty already talked about, we changed the Mag Generator, both distributors, some leads a coil or two and more things I can think about right now. From the weekend before qualifying till Saturday night before the big race we didn't get back to the hotel before midnight. Then got up at 5 or 6 the next morning and started all over again. The Saturday night before the big race we where running the engine at 1am, got to the hotel at 2 and got up at 5. As Dave said in an interview " If some one can beat us they deserve it." How right he was. We did not have all the problems worked out till after the second test hop on Sunday.

It wasn't like there was just one fix we needed, what we found and fixed on the secont test hop just made all of the other work come together. Finally we could give John an airplane that would preform up to his ability's, and what a job he did.

A lot credit goes to Tom Dwelle and Critical Mass Race Team. I told every body all along this motor was rock solid, and caught a lot of grief. I was with the CM team when we built this motor, and I don't think such loving care and family support ever went in to building of a race motor. When we where in the hanger after the race and the banquet was going on, there where a few speeches, Tom was there and everyone in the place was shouting "DEWLLE! DWELLE! DWELLE!" It was great.

As far the bondo we had no Idea it was that thick. As Scotty said " It was a huge mistake on our part for not being with the painter 100% of the time. " This is what happens when you have a guy use to doing 32 Fords.