RARE BEAR MUST READ

[gp70442]

Re: RARE BEAR MUST READ

Speaking of the Bear crew, you gotta say this: Those guys are troopers for sure. Last 2 years have given those guys fits. Last year they pulled off an unbelievable win. This year not so lucky but still, they work their butts off all night, every night seems like.

Here's hoping they get to come to Reno next year well prepared, well ahead of time and get to relax a bit more (okay some). The Mayday per flight ratio needs to come way down before something ugly happens. With the current owner and funding, I'm betting next year will be a lot different.

Sorry for the hijack, now back to the stories.

GP

[Stevo]

Re: RARE BEAR MUST READ

Here's a little story for ya.
After a hot lap during the air races in 2004 we pulled the oil screen like normal. This time we found a few little peaces of metal in there. Not knowing exactly what it was we sent an oil sample to the local oil sample analysis company along with some of the metal chips. They said it was part of a piston. We pulled all the plugs and boroscoped the cylinders, no damage. We then pulled 4 jugs, 2 on the front row and 2 on the back row. We boroscoped every cylinder on the back side of the pistons, no damage there either. We called Mel for advice. He said e-mail me some pictures of what we found in the screen. After 1 look he called back and said one of our super charger gear bearings was going south and advised us to pull the back plate of the super charger and check it. Sure enough it was one gear of 4 getting ready to let loose. We worked all night (again) and replaced the big rear plate along with all the gears in the back of the super charger.

We won that year and all thanks to Mel.

MEL, YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!

Seeyaontheramp
Scott

That gear look anything like this? --->

[bulldawg66]

Re: RARE BEAR MUST READ

Sorry for bringing up an old topic, but does anyone have a good picture of Mel's tattoo? I'd like to get one in honor of him. A great man that always had time to bs with my brother and I. Blue Skies, Mel, and sh!tloads of horsepower!
Thanks,

Tom