[elky] Re: Bonneville Salt Flats Racing Report
- From: John Christensen <johncgg@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:57:45 -0500
If I had an overdrive transmission ..... working on that, it is *6 hrs 20
mins* / 367.08 miles to Wilmington from here.
I can say I built my car...... I like it that way.
*
JC
*
On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 8:45 PM, Ray Buck <rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Well, I can tell ya that building a race car is a mixed bag. It's very
> satisfying to take it to tech inspection and, when asked, say, "I built it
> myself." On the other hand, as my experiences at WoS point out, there are a
> whole lotta things that can go wrong and stuff that can get overlooked,
> especially if there's a time deadline. My goal for the last 7 or so years
> has been to run 200 mph in a car I built myself. That may have to be
> compromised to a speed of 155 or so in the 150 Club. When I get to that 150
> thing, I'll have to make a decision about what to do with the car. Note
> that I wrote, "when" and not "if." I'm planning to make it sooner or later,
> after making the 130 Club. I've heard that some people have done exactly
> that: build the car to 150 Club rules, run it (and make it) in the 130, then
> re-enter/re-tech for the 150 at the same event. But that's way down the
> road. Right now I have to deal with the current status of the car...I've
> started a "to do" list and it keeps getting longer and longer and...
>
> But you're right, Mary. Anybody can buy a race car/street rod, etc. I
> dunno how many times I've talked to an owner at a car show or cruise night
> and found out that they didn't know jack about their car: "It was like that
> when I bought it." Some of us refer to that type of rodder as the "1-800"
> rodders. They pick up the phone, dial a 1-800 number and order a hot rod.
> Completely out of the hotrodding paradigm. Dorks.
>
> Chris nailed it when he said I was frazzled. Seems like I've been that way
> since February, but for sure since the beginning of August. I'm still
> thrashing to get photo CDs/DVDs ready to mail to people...and World Finals
> starts next Tuesday. At least it's not a big meet like Speed Week. Only
> 100 or so pre-entries. Maybe I can "decompress" a bit after that.
>
> Chris, it appears that ECTA will only have one more meet at Maxton, NC.
> They they'll make Wilmington, Ohio their home. Google maps sez it's roughly
> 350 miles to Maxton from Marrietta and about 500 from Marrieta to
> Wilmington. Not exactly a hop, skip and jump, but a whole lot closer than
> the salt flats. I hope yer LSR enthusiasm blossoms into a severe case of
> Salt Fever (or whatever ya might call it for ECTA.) It's incurable, yanno.
> :)
>
> r
>
>
>
> On 9/30/2011 5:25 PM, Mary McCarthy wrote:
>
> that's pretty good for a stock pickup. Glad you had a good time.
>
> I'd prefer build to buy because any yahoo can buy, it take talent to
> build. But that's just me.
>
> Mary
>
> Part 2:
>
> Jim graciously offered to let me make runs in his '09 Colorado. This is
> the truck he and Ray raced last year. I did not want Jim to rush through
> his runs (since each driver had to make his 5 runs before the next driver
> could race). We worked together to get the truck ready to race, taping the
> seams, removing extra weight: passenger seat, camper shell, bed protector,
> side mirrors, etc.
>
> Jim made a couple runs with the speeds at 108MPH. We were trying shorter
> tires to get more gear, but it looked like this was reducing top speed. We
> swapped the stock tires back on, I guessed he would run 111MPH, and he did.
> Jim also tried a run where he shifted to 5th gear, but this also dropped top
> speed. Jim hot lapped his last runs, he wanted to make sure I got to run.
>
> We went back to tech to get my registration. This was quick and I was in
> line ready to make a pass. Although the line wasn't long there was a wait:
> someone had dropped parts on the track, then there was a car stuck on the
> return run waiting for it's tow truck (I don't know why this stopped
> racing). When I finally got to the front of the line there was confusion
> about my registration, they had Jim listed as driving, so I had to get out
> of line until they figured it out.
>
> Finally I got to run:
>
> 2/10 mile: 73.7 MPH
> 1/2 mile: 97.6 MPH
> 130 Club: 112.5
>
> then
>
> 2/10 mile: 73.8 MPH
> 1/2 mile: 97.7 MPH
> 130 Club: 112.9
>
> The next morning it was very windy and overcast, but eventually the wind
> subsided enough to run, I was 3rd in line, here are the 3 runs:
>
> 2/10 mile: 74.3 MPH
> 1/2 mile: 98.2 MPH
> 130 Club: 113.9
>
> 2/10 mile: 74.3 MPH
> 1/2 mile: 98.6 MPH
> 130 Club: 114.1
>
> 2/10 mile: 73.5 MPH
> 1/2 mile: 98.0 MPH
> 130 Club: 113.3
>
> The time slips read "130 Club" rather than "1 mile" since the distance is a
> bit longer than a mile, but the MPH is derived by the time calculated to
> cover the distance, so the length is not important. There were "1" signs on
> the track that tell you when you're done, which are actually beyond the
> timed distance: they do this because in the past people would let off at the
> "1" signs and end up with a lower MPH. The 114MPH run probably had a tail
> wind.
>
> Our new friend Bob (also racing a 4 cylinder / 5 speed Colorado), Jim and I
> discussed how a Colorado could get into the 130 MPH club. My thoughts are
> it will take a turbo, and since there are no kits available you'd have to
> fabricate everything. Also the compression would have to be lowered from
> the stock 10:1. Lastly I'm not sure you can program the stock ECU to
> compensate for boost. Adding up the costs you wonder if you would be better
> off starting with a different platform... like a 3rd generation Firebird?
> These are aerodynamic, have a huge aftermarket, and can be powered by almost
> every GM engine built: small block, big block, LS, turbo Buick...
>
> Which brings up another topic: which is best: build or buy your race car?
> Bob was kind enough to loan out his fire extinguisher and helmet to a family
> with a brand new Camaro SS. They had no problem running 130 MPH twice, thus
> getting into the 130 MPH club (with 2 different drivers). We were thinking
> guys would be happy to pay to rent a 130 MPH capable car... Bob told the
> family about the idea, and they let him race the Camaro, no charge (other
> than the registration fee). Bob had to tap the brakes to stay below 140
> MPH. So we found out what's even better than building or buying your race
> car: borrow one!
>
> Ray was frazzled. When you think about what he had on his plate it is
> understandable: getting to the salt, getting the Monte ready to race, racing
> the Monte, planning to have others race the Monte, AND taking photos of the
> racing: it is too much.
>
> It was such fun to meet and hang out with everyone... I hope to do it again
> someday. I found out the East Coast Timing Association has events in Ohio
> and is planning one in North Carolina...
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
> Rules: Please play nicely with others.
>
> -List members page (text & pic links):
> http://www.myelcamino.net/eclist.htm
> -List members page (all pics):
> http://www.myelcamino.net/ec_list.htm
>
>
>
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