I only have one thought on trap length. I am in favor of
several traps located along the course. The reason for this
is, if we have a record for the kilo and one for the mile,
then why not one for 132 feet? It allows more places to be
used that do not have as long a distance to run up to speed.
Also multiple mile or kilo traps going down the course help
a great deal to tune the car. there have also been
situations where you might have a run that the trap speeds
progressed well in one direction but on a return run had a
problem with what you considered the target trap and the
previuos trap was a higher speed. As long as the record is
set on the same piece of real estate I do not see where it
matters how long the run up was in both directons.
ex.
down run
trap 1 300
trap 2 350
trap 3 355
return run
trap 3 325 ( turned the boost up)
trap 2 300 ( its going away)
trap 1 200 ( blew it up)
so the averages are
trap 1 250
trap 2 325
trap 3 340
so the record would be 340 in trap 3 same real estate in
both directions
If you only had the 1 central trap (trap 2) the record would
be 325.
With this type of course it would be advatagous i would
think to have a central 132 foot trap so the smaller tracks
could have a record for the shorter distance. basically have
3 different length records for each class mile, kilo,132
ft..
My 2 cents anyway ..
Dave Dahlgren
Malcolm Pittwood wrote:
>
> This was my response to Keiths e mail a week ago, now is time to share it
> with the list and John Beckett.
>
> " Keith
>
> I have tried to be as open minded as possible on this subject but this may
> not occur all the way through as I have been conditioned by 100 years of
> record history (World Outright that is) as well as the 'British Way'.
>
> Your last sentence is the important one - we need a World wide STANDARD for
> record speeds which will allow records to be set anywhere and we all accept
> that they are the best.
>
> But... then the problems start - whose methods do we adopt? Which are the
> fairest? Who should administer the whole thing? Here goes .......
>
> The rules will have to suit a solo attempt (effectively a Thrust SSC bid)
> or a multiple attempt such as at the World Finals.
>
> DRIVERS LICENCES - a form of qualifying to drive at the highest speeds
> would be needed to protect the sport from the dangerous individual. A
> graduated system is good. (We do not have quite that in the UK but most
> drivers do progress from slow speeds to high).
>
> VEHICLE Construction - the FIA have only basic definitions and do not
> dictate the build quality of a vehicle (unless it is totally unsafe). Thus
> we look to other race groups to put together classes for all types of car
> raced around the world. Cubic capacity or weight divisions are probably
> not a concern - they seem to be widespread at the same figures (except
> electric bikes). The FIM bikes and any other groups rules seem much closer
> with a few exceptions. The importance to all racers will be that that the
> Scrutineers/Technical Inspectors have a standard interpretation of what
> fits the rules and that these officials are impartial.
>
> Next comes the DISTANCE over which a record is set. For absolute speed we
> are looking at a flying start short distance which could be the MIle, the
> Kilometre, a half kilometre or a quarter mile. In America the 132 foot
> long 'speed trap' is used although this is nearer to recording a peak speed
> of a vehicles passage. Not every country in the World will be able to have
> a mile timed distance. My choice would be a Quarter mile (440 yards, 404m)
> but for International involvement this may need to be 500 metres. the
> distance would be surveyed by an independent certificated surveyor to a
> certain accuracy. There would only be one trap (which will be centred on
> the available space). (I could never accept that a speed measured over 132
> feet could be compared with one averaged over a mile).
>
> *** I have changed back to 1 mile or 1 kilo now after reading the list
> response, but this makes it difficult for all countries to join in at high
> speeds. ***
>
> TIMING equipment - electronic actuated by the passage of the vehicle - No
> radars and no on board systems. Certified clocks again operated by an
> independent timer(s).
>
> RETURN RUNS - to avoid any doubt about the car/bike average speed it should
> be calculated from two consecutive runs.
>
> So far our new 'rules' will probably be agreeable, but now the problems
> between us will arise I feel sure.
>
> There must be classes available for THRUST POWERED vehicles.
>
> I would suggest that no more than TWO HOURS should elapse between these
> consecutive runs and that the amount of work on a vehicle/bike should be
> servicing not rebuilds!
>
> I would also suggest that the runs are through the timing trap in OPPOSITE
> DIRECTIONS - as they used to be at Bonneville and have to be here in the
> UK.
>
> This will therefore confirm the need for a centralised timing trap position
> - you pass over the same piece of ground (well, you may drive down the
> right side both times to avoid the ruts from the first or earlier passes
> etc).
>
> There should be an independent OBSERVER present to make sure that
> drivers/riders comply with all the rules. I do not feel that an observer
> from a country that is not where the track is located is important (ie the
> FIM way which meant I paid for a Swiss to travel to America and observe a
> British team). Each participating country should have a number of
> individuals who can act as the observer of the attempt(s). I do not feel
> that the FIM rule is needed today when in most sports the officials are
> 'neutral' regardless of their Nationality.
>
> RATIFYING RECORDS need not be a Committee matter unless the driver/rider
> disputes a ruling from an Observer. Whilst I hold an FIA stamped Licence
> to drive, we would not need the FIA or FIM in this new World of Records.
>
> Therefore if these methods are adopted I would be prepared to accept that
> the fastest car / bike / driver / rider in each class would be a World
> Record Holder. I also would be prepared to accept that the absolute
> fastest in the World might come from a different organisation all together
> and that Standing Start, Time Elapsed, Endurance Distances (SS) and Longer
> distance (5 & 10 miles flying start ) records would be adjudicated by
> another body.
>
> Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England. (only confused over the trap length).
> 23/01/2001. "
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