924Board.org

[MikeJinCO]

About 2 weeks ago I had the race car in the garage and had a car fire. I must have reassembled a fuel line improperly so it leaked fuel and a spark which shouldn't have escaped from my new high dollar ignition wire system started the fire. Net result is the car is toast. It is still in the garage as the insurance fire mitigation people will start in 2 days. Within a minute and a half it was boiling black smoke and flames. We have a volunteer fire department so it took maybe 20 minutes for them to show up and put the fire out. The inside of the garage is fried and melted(plastic), the ceiling sheet rock and insulation all over the floor and the wall sheet rock damaged. Right now just an ugly mess. Now to top it off it snowed about 10" last night, spring time in the Rockies.

The garage interior is gone and will require rebuilding, there is no structural damage and the fire was out before it got into the house. Out here most builders are 2 years behind so after getting the place cleaned up by the restoration folks, I'll be doing the reconstruction with help.

So the plan as of this moment. I had been planning on selling my '77 924 street car because I never seem to drive it and I'm not a car collector. So it looks like I'm basically out of the 924 business. I really enjoy the racing tho I'm not a very good driver as I started about 4 years ago at age 73. In our vintage racing group we allow cars made up to year 1981. I'm too old to spend another 2 years building another 924 although if younger I probably would, so last week I bought a 1967 MG Midget 1275 ready to race. There is definitely a shock factor is going from German over engineering to a British poorly engineered in the 1950's antique. If I had an unlimited budget I'd find an old CSR or DSR Bobsy, Elva, Quasar but they start at about $60K and are not easy to find.

I may try to scavenge some parts off the car, they 5 speed Audi tranny is probably ok with some seal changes. The engine might be okay but was down to 80 lbs compression in two cylinders and the oil fill cap melted into the head so close to rebuild time and possibly some of the suspension parts, like sway bars and torsion bars. I'm not trusting of the structural integrity of the tub as there was enough heat some of the steel in the tub and roll cage might be damaged and there is no good way to test that.

I'll be posting my stash in the sale section from time to time. I'd like it not to go to waste. Some of my two 931 motor parts are already reserved. When the car gets out of the garage, I'll post a picture.
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Mike


'67 MG Midget Dp
'71 Ocelot Dsr Kawasaki 1000(under rebuild)

[Fasteddie313]

So sorry for your loss

Crap happens..

I hope I still see your name around once in a while..
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80 Turbo - Slightly Modified

[Kenodog]

Wow, Mike, super sh***ty brother. Sincere condolences.





Leigh
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1979 Euro 931, Olive
1981 931, Sabine
1991 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, Ricky
1996 Ford E-350 ex-FedEx Van
2014 Mazda CX-5 (Kinderwagon)
2019 KTM 790 Adventure
2024 KLX300
2024 KLX140

[morghen]

Sad to read this Mike, i hope you stick around.
Maybe you’ll start driving that street 924 more often.
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[D Hook]

Condolences Mike. Sorry to hear but glad it was confined to the garage only.
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'80 924 n/a SOLD

[Mike9311]

I am so sorry this had to happen to you. My heart hurts for you

You are a great guy and always so willing to help others here

I hope you can somehow recover quickly
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1980 931 since 1989
1981 Ideola 931 Club Sport
1982 931 Entwicklungsfahrzeug
1979 924 NA ohne 650 mit 471
1982 931 Red Resurrection - 951 IC
1982 931 parts car / resurrection?
1980 924 NA (R&D lightweight)
1982 931 wana-be GTR race car

[jacobroufa]

I'm sorry to hear this Mike, but really glad that it didn't get into the house or worse. Thanks for all the input you've had to this community over the years. It's a motivation for anyone who wants to track a 924.
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1980 Porsche 931
1981 Porsche 924 Weissach

[peterld]

Oh, so very sorry to hear Mike, deepest commiserations. Don't e a stranger to this forum.........we still love ya!
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80/81 932/8 ROW

[Mclaren924]

Jeez that's awful mike I'm sorry to hear that, always have appreciated your advice and help. Glad nobody was hurt.
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1980 931 "Salt" Bucket wannabe racer (Dreaming)
1979 924 Sebring "Pepper" -Sold
1977 924 Slicktop "Pennie"-Most likely parts
1979 3/5 gt clone 924- Shop Test Car