Well Shoot!
I had no time to do it right and I still don't. I bought a new airspeed indicator and it came in the mail early thursday morning. I just installed it and flew to Jasper it seemed OK but after flying with one configuration for 8 years the new one seemed well, less quality, with a smaller speed range, MPH on the outer ring and Kts on the inner ring ... it was kind of like reading pig latin - you can figure it out but you are always translating.
I figured I would get used to it eventually but after the race I experienced it go way high in airspeed indication after the race at Jasper when I was going through the pull up, slow down and enter the landing sequence. I think this one only goes up to 230 mph and I'm sure I blew right through that during a descent leg in the race. I have gone through the mental gymnastics of differential pressure driving a needle movement and nothing but mechanical over stress seems to fit the symptoms I am seeing. I did some cursory inspecting before I bought the new gauge and saw nothing amiss with the pitot or the static ports. I can kind of imagine a check valve like obstruction in the pitot line but I hate to waste time if I have just over stressed another gauge and need one with a broader scale (higher top end).
Enlighten me in the failure modes of airspeed indicator systems at your leisure - I will be working the problem but I welcome tales of experience with these little beasts. I have never had one fail before.
Bob Axsom