Day two started well with a short blast through Relbia, with no complications. Then a leisurely drive to the country for the start of a favourite stage, Sidling. This a a great road, climbing up to the top of a ridge, and then falling down to follow the valley towards Scottsdale. With no sign of rising temperature during the 1st stage, this one was attacked fiercely, and went well until the drop down the other side. The temp gauge jumped skyward. and caused us to slow up and nurse the car a little til the end. We then proceeded on to a rendevous with Scott and Kai to assess the problem, and make the hard decision to pull the pin on the day. The realisation that the motor was unlikely to survive the constant heat soaks meant that we would head back to Legana to piece together a plan for a change of headgaskets, this being the most likely reason for the issue.
A call to the ever-helpful guys at LWR scored a gasket kit and bits (and a clutch just-in-case), and some chasing by Craig Brooks in Burnie stirred Pete O'Reilly into action. He drove over with the correct thicker head gaskets, and some good advice. The team pulled the motor out (the only way in a flat-four Subaru) and proved the theory. At higher loads, the combustion pressure was pushing past the gasket into the cooling system, and over-pressuring it. So they set about changing the gaskets, and as of midnight, are now putting it all back into the car, whilst I attempt to get some sleep. An early rise is needed as the car must meet scrutineers at 7am to re-enter the event for Day 3. I am not sure how this affects the standings or running order, but will let you know next post. Thanks to all the helpers who chipped in for this, and to LTA for the use of their workshop.
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