Malcolm and all other interested speedsters
There is more than one World Record -- not just the ThrustSSC mark -- just
ask Al Teague or Bill Summers. All are governed by the FIA and while you may
or may not respect the sanctioning body, they have been the "keepers of the
speed" for quite awhile. One must decide if tradition has merit.
I recognize SCTA/BNI records as National Records, the timing and record
keeping being of a professional caliber. I do not know enough about the
USFRA to make a comment about their records, except to say that every event
I have attended has reflected a professional approach to safety and that
speaks volumes.
Any sanctioning body has its political baloney that tarnishes credibility
from time to time. None are exempt.
SCTA has been conducting speed trials for more than 60 years, in all aspects
of my research for the Bonneville book I found no indication that their
methodology was flawed, or that the sprit of fairness was compromised. This
is not to say that the organization has not had its problems, but if one
were ask me if I recognized SCTA records as National Speed Records, my
answer would be, "Yes," for the reasons stated above as well as others that
I won't burden the group with at this point.
At one time the AAA Contest Board was the almighty American power that was.
However, there is plenty of documentation that shows it was a dandy fine
"good old boy" network at times which eventually lead to its severing by the
AAA that prevails today in order that the common good of motorists might
continue to be served.
This is a VERY brief overview of sanctioning bodies and recognized speed
records. Arguments may be made for and against any named, but the point I
would like to stress is longevity . . . the group that stays around must be
doing something right and therefore worthy of at least acknowledgment, if
not down right respect for keeping the torch burring for those among us who
enjoy the speed of it all.
Speedy Regards,
LandSpeed Louise Ann Noeth
Storyteller
LandSpeed Productions
Words / Pictures / Graphics / PR
"Against the ruin of the world,
there is only one defense -- the creative act!"
Speedy Regards,
LandSpeed Louise Ann Noeth
Storyteller
LandSpeed Productions
Words / Pictures / Graphics / PR
"Against the ruin of the world,
there is only one defense -- the creative act!"
----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Pittwood <MPittwood@compuserve.com>
To: <Land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 11:38 AM
Subject: On line chat topic
> Hi everyone,
> Due to the time difference with Britain I will not be able to join the 3
am
> chat with a working day to follow.
> Just to help the topic of BNI/SCTA/USFRA times for runs, working time in
> impound and FIM & FIA record attempts, heres by two pence worth.
> If your club or sanctioning body is not an affiliated body of the FIA or
> FIM then why worry what you call your records. To these two World
> governing bodies you are just running club events for "local" records -
> that may offend some of your organisers and many of the racers but that is
> how they are seen. Remember there is no differentiation by body style in
> their rules, only capacity divisions. Your 'local' record in the classes
> may be faster than the FIA or FIM listings but these two bodies will never
> ever acknowledge them as International/World records.
> On four wheels, as Mike Jenkins explained last week there is only one
> "World Record" - the Thrust SSC outright speed of 763.035 mph. On two
> wheels there are FIA World Records for ALL capacity classes for the
> variety of distances and duration records.
> ACCUS is one USA based FIM affiliated organisation as is USAC but I do not
> know if they have any input into anything other than individual ouright
> records. Perhaps someone could explain from your side of the pond why
they
> are not at Bonneville ? The AMA is the USA motorcycle affiliated body
and
> they seem to interact only with the "Land Speed Authority" organisation.
> Is that so ?
> The 'four hour maintenance working rule' in impound makes little sense to
> me, as the return run to achieve a record is the day following the first
> pass any way.
> The FIA 1 hour ruling and the FIM 2 hour ruling for 1 mile timed
distances,
> is to ensure that the two runs occur in (almost) stable conditions on one
> day - much more difficult to do ? Because little work is allowed by
either
> sanctioning body except general safety checks and maintenance on the
> vehicle between runs you do not need time to "rebuild the vehicle from the
> ground up".
> With strong comments expressed on the list I do not expect to see any
> changes in the way the USA do things in general at Bonneville meetings.
> Some US racers will dip deep into their pockets to get International
> (FIA/FIM) recognition because they can rightly be compared directly with
> the best of the past. Brits will come across to your US deserts to set
> World Records in their own events. Bonneville Speed Week will continue
> for another 50 years as a wonderful sporting event. Can anyone see this
> changing ?
> Have a good chat tonight.
> Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England.
>
>
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