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Supersprint Round 4 was held today at SMSP. Luckily, the rain cleared and I was able to find some different locations to photograph from. Follow the link for sample photos.Hopefully, the 27 photos represent all drivers who participated. Many more pixs will be added after I do some culling and a little editing of the 453 that I took. https://flic.kr/s/aHskDU3RLw

Once again, sir, thank you! Very appreciative of your time and effort

Well, the day ended very early for me, having completed only the first two laps of the first run. My front subframe cracked while braking coming downhill to the hairpin at the south section of the circuit, causing the left front suspension to collapse. The car was barely driveable after that, just enough to limp back to the pits.
Many thanks to David, for offering to trailer my car (once again ). Anyone with experience replacing a subframe, specially if you have an engine hoist, please make contact, as we will be tackling the job next weekend.




The subframe cracking is the final result of the incident I had during last year's interstate challenge at the South circuit (see link: http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=68466#p855099 ). The car could never get a decent wheel alignment ever since, even after replacing both upper and lower control arms, long bolt, bushes, and tie rod end. The wheel alignment workshop couldn't find the problem.

Wow... Interested to see the subframe once it comes out. Glad it didn't result in more damage... That could have been very, very bad.

Another big thank you for the excellent photos, we love 'em, keep it up please .............

Great day for the Club - 25 competitors, scoring 556 points, to pull back to only 30 points shy of ARDC! No rain fell during the event, though the track was wet to start with it soon dried out. The extended circuit (Brabham) takes in the South circuit, and for this event the cars were grouped largely according to powerful/big, and small/nimble - I think this seemed to work well in minimising the small cars getting held up in the twisties, only to get blown off in the straights.

The next round on the GP circuit (August 21) is open already - have you got your entry (and garage request) in yet? If not, why not? ENTER HERE

See you there!

Well done Wilco! Lots of great shots, greatly appreciated.

Well done Wilco! Lots of great shots, greatly appreciated.

Great photos Rob, well done!!

I have finished uploading the rest of the photos. The album on Flickr now has 365 mostly edited photos. I'm not very good at culling. Thank you all for your kind comments.

guss wrote:My front subframe cracked while braking coming downhill to the hairpin at the south section of the circuit, causing the left front suspension to collapse. The car was barely driveable after that, just enough to limp back to the pits.

"Cracked" is a bit of an understatement.

guss. the damage to your sub frame looks like it is from shock. your shockie could be bottoming out. have you been ripple strip hopping ?

If the shock is bottoming out, the loads will go through the bump stop and into the shock turret, and when that can't go any further the load in bump will be felt x2 or 3 at the wheel end of the wishbone compared to the inner pivot. I would expect to see wheel bearing, wheel or wishbone failure before something like that if it was a bottoming shock. OTOH, if that corner has clobbered a kerb, especially resulting in an outwards impact rather than inwards toward the centre of the car, it might explain it.

It looks like rust around the failure point, is that what it is? Has the car got any accident history beyond what has been mentioned here?

I had this happen to me when the front radius arm mount detached in my 'new' second hand Mini, back in the day. Happened on a straight bit of road, no impact, no warning, but obviously there was some history there, even if it was not evident.

Buy a lottery ticket Gus, you luck may stretch that far!!

The bottom wish bone is very strong. The shock load will transfer to the weakest point, which in this case is where it broke.

pressure pack wrote:guss. the damage to your sub frame looks like it is from shock. your shockie could be bottoming out. have you been ripple strip hopping ?

When has Gus NOT been ripple strip hopping?