Jun 03

TEAM CHAMBLISS SUFFERS ENGINE TROUBLE DEJA VU


This week began with an overwhelming amount of excitement. Finally here in Windsor, our new, hot-rod engine arrived ready for installation in the #4 race plane.  Paperwork and authorities approval kept the engine from racing in Abu Dhabi and Perth, but the team was prepared to race the engine in Rio de Janeiro. A successful installation in Brazil was followed by engine malfunctions that had us sifting through metal in the oil filter. Much to our disappointment the new engine had to be pulled off and shipped back to the U.S. before ever seeing the race track.

With a week’s time between races, our engine builder, Tim Hess, was able to completely repair the problems we saw in Rio. The engine was shipped to Windsor where we prepared to once again face an engine install.

The install in Windsor went very well and things seemed to be moving along smoothly. We were able to put a few hours of hard running in on the new rig and the results were very promising. But things turned when Kirby was called to immediately land after taking off for a final test flight.

Upon landing we were informed that Team Goulian’s plane suffered what was deemed  “catastrophic” engine failure.  Since their engine was made alongside ours, sharing parts from the same batch, Red Bull Air Race officials concluded our engine would likely suffer the same fate. With safety being the utmost priority, the Technical Director declared our engine unsuitable to fly in the race this Sunday. Given these circumstances we had no other choice but to tear the engine off and begin the process of once again installing our former engine. The team started the process late yesterday afternoon and has been working tirelessly through the night to get the plane ready for training today.

“It’s extremely disappointing to hear we won’t be running the engine. We’ve put a lot of time into its development and still haven’t had the opportunity to even see it on the track.”

Frustration echoed from technician Jason who was completing his fourth engine change in just over two weeks,

This may be another setback in the overall goal of winning a championship but you have to take great risks to see the results we’re looking to achieve. More horsepower doesn’t come easily and unfortunately we’re learning that the hard way. But with that, the Team isn’t going to let this affect the race this weekend. We’re already shifting gears and evaluating what we need to do to gain every second, making ourselves as competitive as possible here in Windsor.

“My outlook is still to push hard, just like we do at every race. In order to finish up high we’re going to have to be going all out, all the time.  The only way to win is to barely make every gate, and that’s what we plan to do come Sunday.”

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