[Land-speed] British Steam effort 139.843mph

[Rick Byrnes]

To further the topic, in 2007, with state of the art equipment, the Ford 
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Team tried to use real time data with what we might call 
updated telemetrics equipment, and still had no data.  Until the race car 
was on the return road, then they could remotely download everything rather 
quickly.
Actually this was VERY successful in that the data was transmitted back to 
the scientists and engineers in the pit just while the car was being towed 
back.  By the time we reached our area at the far end of the pits, the team 
knew virtually everything that happened during the run and were in the 
middle of planning or correcting the problem.
Since refueling and re hydrating the fuel cells had to be done within a 
specific time frame for stack durability and efficiency they had information 
to make the right decisions.

Jon, when experimentation results in lost runs by racers that depend on the 
reliability of SCTA/BNI and the timing personnel and equipment, it kind of 
squashes experimentation.  I have not had that misfortune, but have seen it 
occur.  NOT often, but I certainly wouldn't want to be that guy.  Especially 
on a particularly hot return run.

I agree with you that a wireless system would be far superior to running 
miles and miles of wire, and all the guys and gals that string, remove, and 
repair that wire agree, Hell, you and Nancy probably were helping with that 
wire in recent years.  I do think though that losing runs is an awfully high 
price to pay unless the technology is VERY proven in many other venues.

Respectfully

Rick