Rough day on the Rally

["schab932000" <schab932000@xxxx>]

I was 1 of 17 cars that showed up for the Ausitn Healy Rally 
before the big car show on the 4th of October. 

I was the only Delorean on the course and with years of Rally 
experience, felt I would be a strong contender with my dad as a 
co-pilot.

Trouble began midway through. I was at a stop light and couldn't 
get into first without some severe grinding. I knew something 
was up, because the clutch pedal didn't feel right. I turned the car 
off and put it in first, then started back up and went to a lot to 
check things out. Everything looked good. Master cylinder was 
full, no leaking I could see, but there did appear to be some fluid 
around the cap. I wipped it clean, and replaced the cap. I got 
back in the car and pumped the clutch a few tiimes and started it 
up. It seams to work fine, but throughout the Rally, I felt the same 
issue with the clutch pedal. It wasn't giving the same resistance, 
but not not all the time. When this happened, it didn't shift 
properly. I should note it wasn't just a first gear issue. From a 
dead stop, I couldn't shift into any gears without it grinding.

I had to turn the car off several times to get into first during the 
rally. A few notes: Clutch and throwout bearing was replaced with 
17,000 miles. It now has 24,000. The hydrolic line is braided 
stainless steel, not plastic. 

Please provide advice. 

Now you would think one failure would be enough, right...

Not so. We decided to make a pit stop in the middle on Oswego 
near a farmers field. We both go out and returned to the car. I 
turned the key and the engine cranked fine, but wouldn't start. I'm 
guessing the fuel pump since I didn't smell any gas, and I didn't 
hear a buzzing noise from the fill cap when I turned the key.

Help again!

That did it, after waiting for the engine to cool (thinking it was a 
hot start issue, with no results), the farmer came by and lent me 
his cell phone to call the tow truck. Thanks mister farmer!

I never finished the rally of course, but I have another one coming 
up at the end of this month if I can it back on the road with all of 
your help.

Thanks, Pat vin 5443