Been in the gravel - heartbroken
Discussion
Yesterday at Donny lost my line and concentration and dumped it in the gravel at Mcleans. (First time in 6 years) :-((
One rear wheel look like its been shot blasted but
Whats the correct procedure for checking the car over and getting rid of what sounds like a ton of gravel?
Any help gratefully received.
One rear wheel look like its been shot blasted but
Whats the correct procedure for checking the car over and getting rid of what sounds like a ton of gravel?
Any help gratefully received.
I am not a track man (too scared of putting mine in the kitty litter) so I can't really help.
However, if your car has PCCB get them checked over by your OPC as my OPC service chap suggests the disks can crack very easily when hit by stones at tracks.
Good luck - I hope there isn't too much damage
However, if your car has PCCB get them checked over by your OPC as my OPC service chap suggests the disks can crack very easily when hit by stones at tracks.
Good luck - I hope there isn't too much damage
depends what way you went in - if sideways then you might want to get geometry checked as it could throw it out - apart from that generally you'd be unlucky to sustain any long term damage - the car will rattle out stones for a couple of months - if possible get the wheels off and brush out stones trapped in the suspension, same with brakes - drop the pads and make sure no stones are trapped in around the pistons. If you went in nose first you might want to take off the front bumper as it acts like a big scoop and a lot gets trapped way in deep.
I went through the gravel about a year ago and the worst effect was the paintwork - as you said the wheels looked rough and lots of minute scratches on the clearcoat down one side - fortunately a friend with a bodyshop managed to polish these out no problem. In fact the worst damage was to the car behind me on the way home which got shotblasted with the gravel coming loose
I went through the gravel about a year ago and the worst effect was the paintwork - as you said the wheels looked rough and lots of minute scratches on the clearcoat down one side - fortunately a friend with a bodyshop managed to polish these out no problem. In fact the worst damage was to the car behind me on the way home which got shotblasted with the gravel coming loose
Lots of firm braking, accelerating and swerving to dislodge the gravel, and be aware that any gravel that does come out will probably drop in front of the wheels and leave you driving on marbles at the worst possible moment. Also note that you've probably lost paint from the underside and it's worth making sure it's all protected before corrosion sets in. It's worth a visual check for any exposed battery leads, brake lines, fuel lines etc that might have been damaged, especially in the region of the calipers where there are often exposed unions.
GreenV8S said:
Lots of firm braking, accelerating and swerving to dislodge the gravel, and be aware that any gravel that does come out will probably drop in front of the wheels and leave you driving on marbles at the worst possible moment. Also note that you've probably lost paint from the underside and it's worth making sure it's all protected before corrosion sets in. It's worth a visual check for any exposed battery leads, brake lines, fuel lines etc that might have been damaged, especially in the region of the calipers where there are often exposed unions.
Just please don't do it when you have cars following you like some nice chap at the Brands PCGB track day did. Result was three cars with broken / chipped windscreens and some very unhappy drivers.
Steve
Front wheels stayed out of gravel but back wheels didn,t sort of went in sideways.
No when i got out of the gravel, i slowly drive back to the paddock off the racing line.
Thanks for the tips, looks like i need to get it over a pit and have a good look under. will look at the brakes as well.
cheers
No when i got out of the gravel, i slowly drive back to the paddock off the racing line.
Thanks for the tips, looks like i need to get it over a pit and have a good look under. will look at the brakes as well.
cheers
As Lemon Yella RS says - definitely get the undertrays off if it is a 911 and maybe even go for a drive down a quiet road with them off, braking and getting lateral movement into the car to dislodge the stones. You'll be amazed how many stones you've picked up - speaking from experience 
- you'll be finding them for months !
Maybe get someone to check over the car ?
- you'll be finding them for months ! Maybe get someone to check over the car ?
Couple of years ago I was transporting a few years (£300) worth of small change collected to Sainsburys to chuck into their counting machine. Plastic bags on floor of RS. Braked hard it all came out and went every fu@#ing where! Took me an hour to get it out. I still find coins on every track day I do!
roygarth said:
Couple of years ago I was transporting a few years (£300) worth of small change collected to Sainsburys to chuck into their counting machine. Plastic bags on floor of RS. Braked hard it all came out and went every fu@#ing where! Took me an hour to get it out. I still find coins on every track day I do!
mental image of 911 driving down the high street throwing coins to all the great unwashed
I have taken the plastic guards off and there was still some gravel in there.
The brakes are fine but a couple of electrical plugs had come away from their mountings and the plastic clips that hold a pair of pipes that run across the gearbox were also loose, however they had been rubbing against a mounting lug and had rubbed a groove in the aluminium, it may be that these pipes were loose for a long time.
I did also notice the absence of any meaningful underseal, so i sprayed some on the rusty looking areas.
However when i drive the car there is a sound of gravel moving what sounds like the whole length of the car - its like there is one or two stones that are trapped in a box from front to back on the passengers side.
I have taken the guards off so where could it be ?
The brakes are fine but a couple of electrical plugs had come away from their mountings and the plastic clips that hold a pair of pipes that run across the gearbox were also loose, however they had been rubbing against a mounting lug and had rubbed a groove in the aluminium, it may be that these pipes were loose for a long time.
I did also notice the absence of any meaningful underseal, so i sprayed some on the rusty looking areas.
However when i drive the car there is a sound of gravel moving what sounds like the whole length of the car - its like there is one or two stones that are trapped in a box from front to back on the passengers side.
I have taken the guards off so where could it be ?
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