This is the END.

 ... it is quite hard to write this post as it is the last one in this Ford Focus diary blog. Of course, you may ask - WHY? 

Well, let me tell you another funny or dramatic story that we had all together - Ford and 3 friends. The story begins with the fact, that we decided to participate in one more F-Race event. So this time we decided to do it differently - we started to prepare for the race in advance, not the last night as it used to be before previous events. Broken radiator, cooling funs were replaced with used but very good condition ones. New cooling liquid, new cap installed. Fresh tires. Worn out braking pads at front and back were replaced with brand new ones. Ford was thoroughly tested for overheating and breaking issues. This time all seems to be just fine and ready to almost 100 % perfectiveness. Apparently it didn't go that way...

Our happiness of 'being so ready' disappeared when our trailer towing car water pump broke and engine overheated as there was only 11 km left to reach the race venue. There was not enough time left to find another trailer or towing car, so we decided to unload the Ford, take all necessary stuff and risk driving  racing Ford on a road illegally the remaining kilometers.  This was quite a gamble - are we gonna be caught by police or not? To our misfortune, there was a police working in undercover and standing right on the same road to the F-race place. Despite that police let us through, I think we were scanned and we get the fine for driving the car which has no valid MOT and road insurance. We will see.

Finally, we made to reach the race track. Race started as usual. First driver Darius made a great job and we stood at top 3 position. Everything seems to be stable this time. 

When Mindaugas took the steering wheel, all went just fine until the gearbox failure happened. This time gearbox differential has exploded into pieces. Seems that differential satellite axle was rubbed by something and eventually it got very thin and broke. There was correct level of oil, there were no noises or another bad sound from the gearbox or any other sign of possible deterioration but this happened and that was it... Ford gave up running at all. This was another failure that made us thought that this is enough for us as well.

The resolution

We sold Ford as a junk metal box to another F-Race participant which seems to be running scrap yard business and gave us an offer to transport us and the broken car back home but with a condition that we sell Ford to him. We took the offer as there was no other option available in that situation.

It is sad a bit because we spent quite a lot of good time with that car, taking into account everything - repairing it, designing it, taking for a spin just for fun, racing with it... It wouldn't hurt so much as this car would be sold to the person that used it for running in a next races or so because the engine, the hart of this car was in a really good condition and unbeatable. 

Well, it is how it is. I just want to say thank you Ford and goodbye. 

Few last pics made by the event crew, @Kamilė Perminė: