349 CI on the cheap
Mal,
The air changed drastically, and the altitude dropped almost 1,000 feet. The day started at near 100* and when the engine went away it was 20* or more cooler, let alone the humidity went from 52% to 88% and air pressure went up .2. What this means is that the air was getting alot better and the need for more fuel was warrented, but I didn't have the time between rounds to make the corrections. Had the air not moved so much so fast everything would have been fine. I've ran into this a few years back and it did the same thing. It's just one of those times when theres nothing that you can do except hope for the best and go. Could it have been prevented, yes I guess it could have, had I had more data on this engine. But the engine was new and not yet settled, so I gave it what it wanted, I made 6 changes in 4 passes. Between chassis and fuel and timing. Everything was going the right direction until the air changed. So I guess you could say it was my fault for getting too greedy to fast, and wanting the engine to do the best that it could on day 1.
What I should have done in hind sight is, just went to test and tune and not raced. But I had alot of confidence in myself and the engine. And in the end I stubbed my toe. Hey thats how you live and learn. Now I won't see the air do that again for another couple of years. As it does it about every 5 years or so, where the air changes quickly at night. It'll more than likely get me again then, as you tend to get into a comfort zone. And you never know when it's going to happen.