Margaret and I left Redding at 3:30 PM Thursday 8/10/00 for the Salt,
stopping in Lovelock NV Thursday night and continuing on Friday AM
arriving about 2 PM in the pits. I was totally unprepared for what I
saw when we entered the pits. There must have been 300 cars already on
the Salt and pit space was already getting hard to find. We did locate a
spot. unloaded the car and headed for inspection. We got in under the
wire for Friday inspection, getting the car inspected by none other than
John Beckett and Joe Timney. Somehow we passed inspection anyway and
went to the pits, bedded the car down for the night and headed to the
hotel for much needed rest.
Saturday 8/12/00: - Our big change this year was to install a 700-R4
transmission.
We presented the car at the line only to have the engine fail to fire.
Back to the pits for analysis! We could find nothing really evident
except the plugs seemed a bit too cold.
Sunday 8/13/00: - Purchased a set of C59 plugs and made our way to the
starting line. The first run got off the line well but when I shifted to
4th gear (OD) the transmission didn't shift. We had lots of Rs before
we reached the traps, so it was a turnout. Back to the pits to mull this
over. My trans builder said that it might not shift with full throttle
pressure, rather than play with the adjustment, I decided to gear up and
run 3rd gear. On our second run I got a vibration that stayed with me
after about the 1 ½ Mile, continuing through the 3 mile where I shut
off. On inspection in the pits we found that the bell housing was broken
and a cooler line had blown off. Its time to install the trusty
Powerglide.
Monday 8/14/00: - Jeff made a run @ 193.352 (1/4), 214.509 (3), and
215.477 MPH (terminal)
After putting 3 degrees more advance in it, I followed with a 194.769
(1/4), 215.781 (3) and 217.099 MPH (terminal) Engine temperature pegged
the 250 degree gauge on both runs.
Tuesday 8/15/00: - We leaned it .002 and Jeff ran 195.154 (1/4), 213.534
(3) and 214.215 MPH (terminal). I richened by .004 and ran 186.664
(1/4), [too rich, leaned .002 in the ¼ trap], 219.938 (3) and 221.894
MPH (terminal). Our ¼ times have been soft, so I decided to advance the
timing from the 42 degrees we were running to 45 degrees. The next run
gave me a 200.615 (1/4) and a 206.164 MPH 1st mile and I turned out.
This was a rare family week for us on the Salt. We had started the week
with Jeff who flew in from Red Bluff on Saturday and Dan (#2 son), his
wife Shirley and two of their children, Tim and Tammy came in Saturday
noon. Dan and family went home Tuesday AM and Jeff left Tuesday
afternoon to fly back to Redding and pick up our youngest son, Barry.
Jeff arrived back in Wendover at noon on Wednesday with Barry (our
youngest).
Wednesday 8/16/00: - Barry had been very patient through the years,
although wanting to drive, had always yielded to our thrashing for speed
and records. He had made two runs in the car a couple of years ago at
the WOS with a top in the 140s. Before we left for the Salt this year,
it was decided that this year Barry would get his "A" license. This was
his day. His first run was 155.172 (1/4) and 157.167 mile, second,
171.139 (1/4) and 176.269 mile, and finally 178.407 (1/4), 203.981
middle mile and shutting off in the last mile and coasting out with a
mile speed of 204.994 MPH. Mission accomplished!
Thursday 8/17/00: - Today is the "go or break" day! Jeff ran 196.314
(1/4), 216.533 (3) and 218.216 MPH (terminal). We added 2 more degrees
of timing and he ran 199.1325 (1/4), 218.213 (3) and 219.396 (terminal).
Two more degrees of timing yielded a 202.482 (1/4), 222.138 (3) and a
223.212 MPH (terminal). Our last run was with one more degree of timing
and .002 leaner. Not the correct way to go. It detonated, Jeff richened
it by .002 but not before we lost #4 & #6 plugs. It was down on speed
and a turn out. On inspection we had water out of the right side header,
what appears to be at least a head gasket, I will get the engine out
today and inspect it for damage.
All this said, it was a great week. I met several of the people on the
list, unfortunately, I missed some others that were there. We had the
best salt in years, an incredibly good course, great weather and some
had great speed. I guess I was most impressed by the big green diesel
with Carl Heap at the spoke with a 252 out the back door. He entered the
200 Club with his 19,000 pound monster. He says his next goal is 300
MPH. I wouldn't count him out.
Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/GCC
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