Flying out 8/26 to OK and driving my Brunton Super Stalker Home!!!

[Bster13]

Got in a few minutes ago and have been uploading picture from my phone as I go to Facebook...

 

First gas stop, 19.4 MPG pulling a trailer at 70-75mph. Not bad:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs296.snc4/41157_568302086076_17506531_32876300_5164640_n.jpg

 

Some of my friends think I'm cool, others think I'm nuts:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32876300&l=f0d4659389&id=17506531

 

Here I am running with the truckers in the night with a near full moon....was pretty cool, but I was watching for deer:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs407.snc4/47037_568307430366_17506531_32876476_3765793_n.jpg

 

And here is the SS asleep for the night in Conway, AR:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs205.ash2/46799_568314461276_17506531_32876873_5752873_n.jpg

 

Random comments:

 

-I am glad I brought my watershoes, as there is NOT a lot of room in the footbox w/ the pedals.

 

-Need to add some lumbar support, otherwise, comfy seat and ride.

 

-It goes like stink.

 

-Glad I had earplugs and a helmet, or my hearing would be gone. As it is I may want to quiet down the exhaust later on.

 

Tomorrow I pass through Birmingham, AL...can anyway guess what museum I plan to stop by late in the afternoon?

[solder_guy]

Tomorrow I pass through Birmingham, AL...can anyway guess what museum I plan to stop by late in the afternoon?

 

Great pics .. glad your drive is smooth! At Barber .. expect to be there .. about 5 hours .. Say Hi to our club secretary, Jon, who works there ..

 

I-20 can get a little bumpy between Bir' and Hotlanta ..

 

(According to Weather.com the weather will be great this weekend .. but as I write this weather.com says cloudy in atlanta while it rains outside my window.) (whatsupwiththis?)

 

Rob

(Wish my Seven had a hitch)

Edited August 27, 2010 by solder_guy

[Bster13]

I prob won't have time to go into the place, as I'll be getting there late but I'd at least like to see the outside and get a pic or two.

 

An observation I forgot last night, but you all knew this already..... damn this car is an attention getter. I've never had my picture taken so much in my life, haha.

[MHKflyer52]

An observation I forgot last night, but you all knew this already..... damn this car is an attention getter. I've never had my picture taken so much in my life, haha.

 

Great photos and the trailer looks to be taller than the Stalker so people seeing it from behind must wonder what is pulling it down the road. I bet the truckers are getting a kick out of seeing you on the highway. You should put a sign on the trailer that says "Hot Shot Service by a 7" as that would make the truckers laugh and smile.

:driving::auto:

[snookwheel]

That trailer looks like a Jacuzzi on wheels! A rolling party!! Enjoy the Stalker Ambush. Wish we could be there.

 

PS. You are right about the attention. SuperStalkers (any Se7en for that matter) are strictly forbidden for anyone in the Federal Witness Protection program.

 

Scott

Edited September 1, 2010 by snookwheel

[BulletBob]

Hey Bryce,

I met you at Ambush this weekend, I was riding the Hawk. Great roads, huh? It was a pleasure motoring around with you. I hope I didn't hold you up too much!

 

See ya,

'Bullet' Bob

[Bster13]

Hey Bob,

 

Incredible roads....highly recommended to all. I had a great time tearing it up with you as well. I'd drive with you any time....seeing as how the Stalkers were both new to us, I suppose we did alright.

[Bster13]

Alright, I got lazy with the updates because either I was troubleshooting a trouble here or there or out having Fun...so here goes.

 

I left everyone off in Conway, AR for the night. The next day I was to travel to Woodstock, GA and stop by the Barber Motorsports park along the way. I merely passed by the exit and shed a tear as I puttering along. :cuss:

 

But....I did enjoy the early part of the day, with people waving and snapping pictures. Once interested guy owned the same car as me, an EVO IX:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs187.ash2/45013_568343677726_17506531_32878425_1958745_n.jpg

 

We goosed it for a bit and the GPS registered 118MPH while pulling a trailer and suspect fuel system. Not bad! We were both laughing.

 

Near Hamilton, AL to car began to cut out, and would not accelerate, finally it died by the side of the road in the baking sun in the middle of no where. After checking some vacuum lines on the engine, and the check valve to make sure the gas tank was venting properly, I suspected the fuel filters as the fuel pump was hot enough to fry an egg on it:

 

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/bster13/Freds_Stalker/26600024.jpg

 

 

 

I did not have the tools to inspect fuel filters, so I gave myself a good sunburn and hoped the fuel pump cooled off enough to nurse myself into town. When I rolled in, I went to the first place I saw:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs299.ash2/57939_569068779616_17506531_32897320_2243045_n.jpg

[Bster13]

Turns out the fuel filter between the tank and the suction side of the pump was gunked up:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs435.snc4/47871_568381057816_17506531_32879570_1667091_n.jpg

 

It prob. had some old gas in it, or I got it from a station along the way. The little flecks u see are the foam from the fuel tank. I think the foam is good, but the filter probably caught the few flecks of foam that were shaved off when the foam was installed.

 

We pitched the paper filter and took the 100 micro filter from the outflow side of the pump, cleaned it with some carb cleaner and installed it on the inlet side of the fuel pump.

 

Running with one filter to get me to Woodstock, GA, but not before the worse sunburn of my life. I kept checking each gas station for sunblock, but no dice and I was too stupid to divert to a Walmart, so that plus the long time by the road in the hot sun got me this:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs427.snc4/47066_568391706476_17506531_32879932_7665742_n.jpg

 

Between Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA, I ran into some nasty construction traffic. The car has no radiator fan and this was the first where I wish I had one:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs201.ash2/46420_568380823286_17506531_32879564_2165949_n.jpg

Edited September 4, 2010 by Bster13

[Bster13]

I spent 1.5 hours w/ "Jean" the 70 year old night watchman from Louisiana who was watching the construction trailers while I waiting for the traffic to lighten up. He smoked a pack an hour, was NOT fond of the current President, talked of methamphetamine he used as a trucker, working oil drilling rigs, and his pacemaker. Not the best company I had for 1.5, hours but he was interesting to say the least, and not a bad guy:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs159.ash2/41312_568384091736_17506531_32879690_3154466_n.jpg

 

I made it to Woodstock, GA at 1am and went to bed at one of my bud's house from HS. I spent the rest of the wknd with him and his wife doing things other than the Stalker, but I did give each of them a short test drive the morning I left. Big smiles....

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs157.ash2/41169_10150245692910068_677345067_14426538_7236452_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs157.ash2/41169_10150245692930068_677345067_14426542_712340_n.jpg

[Bster13]

Sunday morning I was supposed to head North to Helen, Ga, but thought better of it and detoured 120 miles round trip to McDonough, GA Summit Racing's warehouse. My car has Aeromotive fittings and fuel pump, so I couldn't just run to the local automotive parts place to get new filters just in case:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs421.snc4/46406_568493482516_17506531_32883198_8202635_n.jpg

 

The place was like a toy store for motor heads.

 

Sunday afternoon I arrived at the Riverbend Motel to what I like to refer to as "heaven:"

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs435.snc4/47868_568499061336_17506531_32883321_7744540_n.jpg

 

The place was very accommodating for all the trucks and trailers as well as noisy cars. Nice place by the water where u could float down in a tube if you wanted to relax.

 

Next I got some major help in troubleshooting my weak brakes. We noticed a leak in the hard line and I braced for the worst...having to trailer the car home. But in the end it was just some loose fittings, and once tightened we used a little improvisation to refill the reservoir:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs376.snc4/45918_568549709836_17506531_32885007_5805885_n.jpg

Edited September 4, 2010 by Bster13

[Bster13]

The next morning I came out to a puddle underneath my car....coolant. Turns out the clamps on the silicone hoses were lose and eventually I sprung a leak. Some helping hands from some Stalker owners, and I was on the way with some Poland Springs water for the day. hehe.

 

The day also included twisties (of course) and a stop at the local racing hall of fame. We stopped for a few photos:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs408.snc4/47169_568567324536_17506531_32885242_5672401_n.jpg

 

We also stopped at a very tightly packed used/antique motorcycle shop:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs375.snc4/45773_568570817536_17506531_32885311_8230907_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs201.ash2/46376_568570907356_17506531_32885313_2129388_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs298.snc4/41262_568571381406_17506531_32885366_1434354_n.jpg

Edited September 3, 2010 by Bster13

[snookwheel]

What a great road trip! Thanks for sharing. It looks like all the 'bugs' will be easy to work out. Enjoy the new ride!

 

Scott

Edited September 4, 2010 by snookwheel

[Bster13]

The next day involved a trip to my old stomping groundson the bike, Two Wheels Only. The Stalker owners have a special deal with the owners, as we're the only 4-wheeled vehicles allowed apparently. Pretty special eh? The place is awesome to walk around in and the local roads are top notch:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs198.ash2/46125_568666316156_17506531_32889051_2075683_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs408.snc4/47114_568666415956_17506531_32889052_2869300_n.jpg

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs428.snc4/47137_568666475836_17506531_32889053_2022554_n.jpg

 

We also staged the cars for some pics:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs292.snc4/40935_568670627516_17506531_32889312_7059461_n.jpg

[Bster13]

I'd like some stickier rubber for the beast, but they were good enough to get the job done and really see how awesome this car handles. It was like glue on Deal's gap, and sportbikes were merely in my way. haha.

 

No good pictures because there was some traffic that did not lend us to great photo staging, but we had the usual batch of motorcyclists come over and inquire about the cars. Here we are at the overlook at the bottom of the Gap:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs375.snc4/45851_568795751766_17506531_32892056_2584443_n.jpg

Edited September 4, 2010 by Bster13

[Bster13]

7am on Thursday I set off for my near 900 mile trip from Helen, Ga to Norwalk, CT:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs424.snc4/46751_568930192346_17506531_32894368_7795375_n.jpg

 

The trip took me a little less than 17 hours while playing w/ 18 wheelers:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs210.ash2/47299_568912427946_17506531_32894208_8300671_n.jpg

 

And steering clear of oversized loads:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs410.snc4/47346_568934848016_17506531_32894401_6561466_n.jpg

[Bster13]

I thought I was home free with my last Gas stop for the evening as the sun set:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs429.snc4/47181_568941669346_17506531_32894430_5210406_n.jpg

 

....but of course, there had to be some more construction in PA where the road crew almost had to tow my car for safety reasons:

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs627.snc4/58778_568948211236_17506531_32894691_129951_n.jpg

 

Made it home a little before 12am after ~2500 miles in total and boy did I sleep well.

 

Thanks for following along....now I begin the long process of going through the car further to learn all it's inter-workings and preparing it for CT kit car inspection *groan*

 

Unfortunately I won't have the Stalker owners by my side (though they will be online and on the phone) to help out as they did time and time again with my car. If I didn't have them to troubleshoot some my my car's teething problems, I wouldn't of made it. They really are a great group of drivers and mechanics, but most of all just enjoyable people to be around. They were awesome and I can't wait for next year!

 

Til next time!!!!! :seeya:

Edited September 4, 2010 by Bster13

[S1Steve]

Nice trip !!! You have sorted out months worth of little problems in a week, so your way ahead.

Look forward to seeing your SS on our next Pa-NY-NJ blat.

 

Steve

[Bster13]

Yeah I would say so Steve. The previous owner has some incredible fabrication abilities, so in the end the few teething problems were just part of the experience and let me get to know the really helpful owners who were more than willing to go out of their way for me.

 

God knows I could not of built something to that high a standard and the thing goes like stink!

 

 

Nice trip !!! You have sorted out months worth of little problems in a week, so your way ahead.

Look forward to seeing your SS on our next Pa-NY-NJ blat.

 

Steve

Edited September 4, 2010 by Bster13

[Croc]

Hi Bryce,

 

It looks like it was a great journey home with lots of interesting adventures. All great journeys have some tribulations so not surprising you found yours!

 

Between Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA, I ran into some nasty construction traffic. The car has no radiator fan and this was the first where I wish I had one

 

I dont understand your comment here though? No radiator fan? Just relying on air passing through the radiator to cool? This might be a first fix for you - an electric fan with a thermostat switch for when you get caught in the inevitable traffic.

 

Have fun cleaning the bugs off the Stalker!