John,
Sounds like you guys did great and had a good time doing it. I could be
all wet here but I think that dense cool air that builds horsepower is also
a lot harder to push the car thru. Air density is one of the factors
considered in calculating how much power it takes to go a certain speed with
a known Cd of the car. For what it's worth.
Howard Nafzger
448 B/FS
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Beckett" <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
To: "LandSpeed" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 6:45 AM
Subject: My WOS adventure Part 1.
> List
>
> What a wild ride (part 1). Out first WOS event was great. The people at
> USFRA are a great bunch. Great Salt too and interesting weather.
>
> Well to start thing off Joe, Lionel, Airtight and I picked up the Chevette
> in Heber City, UT on Sunday where Bud McManus was keeping it all safe and
> sound. We then changed the blown engine from Speedweek. The "E" was not
> rebuildable so we brought the "D" from GA. instead. Thanks again to Bud we
> got everything put together and running in fine form buy the end of the
day.
>
> We were on the Salt by Monday set our pits up, visited with old friends,
> made a few new ones, visited the timing tower and even put out a few cone
> with Woes.
>
> OK, Wednesday we rolled the Chevette off the trailer and Joe made and
> incredible 231 MPH pass 233 MPH out the back door on our 226 MPH
> record...Hmmm this is only his third pass in the car..fearless. Now this
is
> the interesting part of the story. During the shut down, at about the six
> mile, the brake rotor broke, chucked a piece 90 deg., and cut the opposite
> tire..bam. (We didn't know what caused the tire to blow at the time). Well
> the tire tore up the out side fender the inside fender and quarter window.
>
> Got get to impound...no time to stare...get to work. Back to the pits from
> the six...get a trailer tire...back to the car...bolt on and head to the
> pits...BAM. The other Mickey blows..what the? Well the rest of the brake
> rotor parts company from the hat and cuts the tire...back to the
> pits...borrow another trailer tire...back to the six pick up the car again
> and head to impound.
>
> Now what? We have to make a return run. OK, Joe and Lionel head off to
find
> some tires...not an easy task...Airtight and I begin to disassemble the
> Chevette for repairs. Now tell me that Land Speed Racers aren't the best
> people in racing. Joe had four owners who offered the tires right off
there
> cars in order to make a return run. OK, we've got a fall back plan, but
lets
> see if we can find some tires to buy so we can race the rest of the meet
> too.
> John MacKichan came up with one and the McDonald and Pits team came up
with
> another. Now they have to run into Wendover and get them mounted. In the
> mean time I'm beating and banging with a ball peen and 2 x 4 to straighten
> things out...Airtight is getting real good with the 200 MPH tape. Feeling
> like this is a NASCAR pit thrash to get the car out before we loose a lap.
> What a day, but we made it, never had a chance to even look at the
> engine...hope it's OK.
>
> Next morning we all pull out of impound and line up. Joe is ready...sure
> hope
> the Chevette is. It's our turn and Joe rips off a 225 MPH...this thing
> always goes slower in the cold...figure that one out...air density is not
> all about engine HP. Anyway its enough for a 228.697 MPH record average in
> D/GCC.
>
> Part 2 to to follow.
>
> John Beckett, LSR #79
>
>
>
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