We got up and where ready to go and after our last experience at the Motel, we thought we where having better luck this time. I didn't have any stabbing pains in my back this time :) My Miata on the other hand was a little jealous of me getting all the attention last time we where here, so it decided it wanted some too. There are not many pictures to follow as we where to busy to take any. Just follow along today :)

When we got in the car and started it, it started fine. Only problem was that it was making a nasty rattling noise coming from the transmission. If you pushed in on the clutch it would stop & if you let out it would rattle. I thought that meant the throw-out bearing, but was not really sure. We decided to drive a little bit and see what happened. After a couple of miles of driving it started to get worse. Now it was making metal squeaking, rubbing, & grinding noises along with the original rattle. It sounded like something was going to fall off the car at any second.

Being a little nervous, we drove to the closest town and checked out the price to rent a truck and trailer to tow it back home. The price was $400+ not including gas. Since we where still so close to RSpeed, we decided to call them and see what they thought it would be. They said the same thing, throw-out bearing. We asked if we could hobble it in to them, could they fix it, & they said they would try to squeeze it in. So...back to RSpeed we went.

Now the problem is how do we get it there? We could call for a tow, but figured that would be expensive. If we try to drive it there and it breaks part way, we would have to pay for a tow anyway. If we make it there with out a break we where on the cheaper side. So we decided to chance it and drove. Pat drove while I followed along on the laptop with the GPS attached so I could lead her the straightest way to RSpeed. It worked and we made it there a little after lunch. This time I got a close up of their front door. I had to get a picture as it has several things on it I enjoy. Click to enlarge so you can see 3 reflectlions of MIata's, Home Star Runner stickers, and an Apple Logo.

Once there we just hung out and waited to see if Hector was going to have time to change my clutch. He did have the ACT Stage 3 clutch in stock, which I had in my garage waiting for me to put it in. We hung around waiting all afternoon and finally he said he was not going to be able to get it done. As a matter of fact he was not sure he was going to be able to squeeze it in the next day either. He said it may be Monday before he can get it in. We where very disappointed about that & kept talking with him about it. He saw how much we needed to get home Sunday night and said he would come in on Saturday morning a couple hours early to work on the car, do some of the other jobs, and then get back to mine to finish it up. So we all decided to meet at 7 am to get started.

We went to a hotel that was about 3 blocks away. We got there at about 6pm and had to just sit there with nothing to do. We couldn’t even drive around to see what was is the area.