The Cornwall Fireball Enduro, the only time of year when I get to build, race and destroy my very own race car!
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The, “E-volvo-lution of my 1989 Volvo 760 sedan has been quite the up and down since it made its way to the Woods Racing camp last year. Pretty much a couple weeks after last years race I picked this up from a fellow MontrealRacing.com member and there it stayed in the back, patiently waiting for its conversion…and death.
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Morbid sounding…well ya, but it’s true, not many of the cars that enter this 50 lapper of destructo racing actually make it home. Most are sold to the local scrap because they simply caught fire, blew a motor, destroyed steering…you name any reason and it’s a reality for us. But, we all know Volvo’s and how they were nicknamed “tanks”, “Sherman’s” or “Brick’s” so this oförstörbar vehicle will hopefully get me across the finish line…and in one piece to be held as a trophy back here at the WR shop.
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Here it is Sept 21st 2010 when I picked it up:
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Unnaturally clean for an 1989 living in Montreal, no rust, just some bad brakes and a broken wiper arm. Otherwise, a daily driver.
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It sat out back for the winter, got covered in snow, didn’t start, didn’t move and was basically ignored till about last month when prep work started.
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In she came and was robbed of anything breakable and flammable, including the windows, lights, carpet…everything. All that is left is basically the seat and steering wheel. It’s really amazing how much stuff comes out of a motor vehicle. The seats, wiring, plastic clips, it’s quite the pile for the recycling guy.
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We got it all torn down and ready to weld and that’s when the trouble started. I’ll tell ya something about these Swedes…they sure think it’s funny to wire the complete car in one on-going circuit of terror. Grounds here connect that and this, this 12v supplies those and them…oh…and all on the same relay by the way.The car outside is basically bulletproof, but step into the electrics and it is fragile as your Grandma’s puddin’. For realz.
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So basically, I cut something somewhere, or something shorted somewhere, or some relay crapped out, but what I was left with was a no start condition, on my lift, 3 weeks before the race.
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Randy came up to help diagnose and we narrowed it down to a no spark issue…somewhere in the coil, but still wasn’t sure.
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So as usual in a jam, I called up Hugh from DeBoer to aid in my Swedish situation. It took a couple days, but hey, what a sound that thing made when it finally started again. The final diagnosis was a no start condition caused by no injector pulse. It was getting fuel, but not properly passed the injectors. A hot wire to a 12v, to a switch and direct to the coil solved that and I was free to weld the doors and trunk shut, replace the windsheild with grate, and head to paint!
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As of right now, it’s all done but the paint and I’ll be adding pics tomorrow when it’s all set so hang tight..pics are coming!
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This Volvo will be in the V6 class of the race and mark your calendars..Sept 11th 2011!
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Now, onto our 4-Banger class.
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My brother if you remember from last year finished the race in the 92 Cavalier. Just finishing this race is something short of a miracle, and he did it in this Irish coloured beast of a car.
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This year, on the starting grid in his class, will be this lean…(and not so mean) Toyota Corolla. It too sat out back for sometime awaiting it’s final run but is now finished and ready to go racing.
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It started out pretty simple I guess…
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We brought it in, stripped it, welded it, secured it and painted it…all in the name of Enduro racing.
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Danger SR. here gettin’ jiggy with the paint gun
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And finally it’s set colors ready to go!
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The logo’s and stickers have yet to be put on but you get the drift…it looks pretty good!
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I’m not sure why we put so much attention into these cars that we’re simply going to destroy. Maybe it’s because we are proud of what we do here at Woods Racing and want to make the best of things, even if we blow up 3 laps in. We sure do stand tall though. A lot of work goes into these things and we’re happy to show em off after…even if they do look like major hill-billy, redneck, wreck’em’ups.
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Last year as some may remember we entered the 2 cars, and here is the link to that blog if ya wanna check out the history!
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2010 Fireball Enduro
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So if you’re not doing anything Sunday…hell, even if you are, cancel it and come on down to Cornwall Speedway and cheer for Woods Racing as we do our best to bring her home!
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I’ll be updating this single post as I go along so look for updates!
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Sep 07th by Bannon
