Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: Seldom Seen Slim on September 04, 2013, 03:22:29 PM
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Here it is -- a thread dedicated to the 2013 Mike Cook Shootout. Let's try to get all of the Shootout-related posts here so that it's easy to find them - and easy for someone that doesn't know his way around this Forum to find information. Thanks.
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Thanks Jon!
Hopefully, Mr. Cook will let you know how things look early next week after he's had a look-see. We'll all be watching for updates then.
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Mike Cook said there was water from the zero to the three spotty water from the 3 to the 8 and water from the 8 to the 12. Weather shows slight chance of rain to the 7th 0% chance from the 8th through the 13th temps in the mid to high 80’s. If the forecast holds true we should have good conditions for the event. Talked to Denis and Sam today they will be there. Looks like the Triumph guys found out it’s not as easy as they thought they are not coming.
A couple of articles:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1448116
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/499/16933/Motorcycle-Article/Ack-Attack-Primed-to-Break-400-mph-Barrier.aspx
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/09/04/castrol-rocket-motorcycle-aims-for-400-mph/
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Has anyone heard if mike and the jet bike are going to make it this year. :cheers:
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Here it is -- a thread dedicated to the 2013 Mike Cook Shootout. Let's try to get all of the Shootout-related posts here so that it's easy to find them - and easy for someone that doesn't know his way around this Forum to find information.
Glad to see the Shootout thread. Congrats to you, Slim and Ray, on the 2013 coverage. Black Lightning (Lambky's Liner) will be attending the Shootout. Hoping the weather cooperates. BTW how 'bout dropping by my pit. Got a buck or two for you guys. Thanks again for keeping all the folks enlightened as to the happenings.
Yesterday, Stainless towing my liner, and me towing his Boxcar, headed for the WOS. About 180 miles from home we heard that the WOS was cancelled. Big Bummer. Turned the caravan around and headed back. About 20 miles from home on the return trip, blew a tire on the Boxcar trailer.
So. Eight hours of driving, $90 tire, $140 diesel, $110 gas, $40 chow, put us exactly back where we started. Are we having fun yet?
#:^)#
Max
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Here it is -- a thread dedicated to the 2013 Mike Cook Shootout. Let's try to get all of the Shootout-related posts here so that it's easy to find them - and easy for someone that doesn't know his way around this Forum to find information. Thanks.
Ooops. Sorry about that. Can't seem to figure out how to work this thing. However, I've JUST ABOUT got my homemade fuel injection working on the bike after 24 years trying. :)
Max
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I was reading an article about the Shootout this morning - and see that there's a "rain date" for October in case the track can't be used this coming week. I know nothing further about the October possibility. Have any of you heard things?
It's not that I want to jinx the Sept. 12 - 16 version, but rather that I'd like to be ready - just in case - to head out there in October. Gee, whiz - let's see. Nice cool air, good track, a month of healing the surface after a few events and a few rainstorms -- all that might equal a dang good track. :-D :-D
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Max good going!!
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what is the rain date anyway? I know Mike Cook has one. Ack did not know yesterday when I spoke with him. I think it is after World Finals.
Don't want to jinx either but would like to know.
hey Jon SSS how do I post photos on here? Fell dumb but I do see the insert image tab. do I post the image in there? Or is there a way to get to a file and post that?
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Dick, you go to "Additional Options" which is left and below the blank for your message. Click there and you'll see a little blank and the word "browse". Click on browse and find the image you want to post. One at a time, though, and remember the caveat that you're limited to no more than 4 total images/500k total file size. Once you've got your chosen photo(s) in the additional options location all you need to do is click to post.
If you've got bigger files or lots of images - you oughta do what I and many of the other yay-hoos here do, and that's use an image sharing site such as Photobucket. Basically -- you put your image(s) on the Photobucket album that you create and then link that image to your post. It uses very little of the Forum's file limitations, so it's fine with everyone to post as much as you want. About the only drawback is that all those bits of data take a while to load into the viewer's computer - so you might find that folks get bored waiting for the images to appear.
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got it. I will do it in a bit....got a couole of things to do right now and then will reduce the size of some photos and post.
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Very nice 2013 Poster shown on this home page,
but unfortunate they opted to not include even one motorcycle,
as this may be a noteworthy year/event for the MC streamliners.
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Has anyone else noticed that right now the Wendover weather page says "Thunder"? Not rain, not thunderstorms -- just "thunder". The radar doesn't look very dry, though. Anyone know anything more than what I see?
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Jon, look at the USFRA website. Dan posted more pictures a short while ago showing it raining pretty hard.
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Jon, look at the USFRA website. Dan posted more pictures a short while ago showing it raining pretty hard.
One of our crew from England was in the air when he found out that the WOS was cancelled. He's in Wendover now. I asked him to check out the conditions. Got this from him a couple of hours ago.
"It is drying out. Speaking to Stacy, Carlos and Tom, who had just inspected it. It's drying well, very hard and smooth. No rain overnight. Light shower this morning. Now clear but rain passing to the north. They think it will be O.K. and that no rain is currently forecast." Gerry Jenkinson
Max
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Here is the raw data from Wendovers.....red shows thundershowers last night.
Weather ObservationsTAF/METARsPIREPsNWS ForecastGuidanceTAF TDARUC SoundingSatellite
Last 24-hours Show 7-Days Show 30-Days Show Raw Observations
Weather Conditions for:
Wendover / Air Force Auxillary Field, UT (KENV)
Elev: 4236 ft; Latitude: 40.72056; Longitude: -114.03583
Current time: Sat, 07 Sep 8:42 am (MDT)
Most Recent Observation: Sat, 07 Sep 8:35 am MDT (MDT)
Time Temp. Dew Relative Wind Wind Visibility WX Clouds Altimeter Station 6 Hr 6 Hr Quality
Point Humidity Direction Speed Setting Pressure Max Min Control
(MDT) (f) (f) (%) (mph) (miles) (inches) (inches) Temp Temp
OK
06 Sep 8:15 pm MDT 72 55 57 NE 15 10.00 OVC110 30.05 25.737 OK
06 Sep 7:55 pm MDT 72 54 53 NE 6 10.00 BKN110 30.06 25.746 OK
06 Sep 7:35 pm MDT 73 52 47 N 9 10.00 VCTS FEW120 30.06 25.746 OK
06 Sep 7:15 pm MDT 72 57 61 NNW 15 10.00 SCT120 30.07 25.755 OK
06 Sep 6:55 pm MDT 70 57 64 WNW 24 8.00 TS SCT100 30.09 25.773 OK
06 Sep 6:35 pm MDT 75 55 50 ESE 8 10.00 BKN100 30.07 25.755 OK
06 Sep 6:15 pm MDT 77 52 41 CALM 10.00 SCT100 30.06 25.746 OK
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weather.com forecast for the next ten days:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Bonneville+Race+Park+UT+1265:19:US
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I'm sure hoping the weather holds out. The only good part about the WOS rain out is I'm working on the car instead of watching everybody else race.
Seriously thinking about making the trip to watch the Shoot Out!
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If we actually have the weather reprieve that is expected the Treit and Davenport Target 550 'liner will be
at the Shoot Out.
Testing of various systems and seat time will be available at this meet and there is no where else that
we can accomplish this.
We hope to see you there.
FREUD
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That is good news Doc.
I am headed that way tomorrow morning. I will on the salt with Mike Cook Monday morning for his assessment. If the salt needs work there is on one better than him to fix it. I have seen Mike save race tracks when everyone else has turned heel.
DW
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If the weather holds out and things go as scheduled, what time do the festivities (i.e. the drivers' meeting) start on Thursday, Sept. 12?
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We've just had a real heavy rainstorm come thru northern Utah from the south...it's knocked out the weather radar and has a local college football game in a weather delay (I heard that BYU stadium looks like a ghost town...but the U of U Utes won big time!) I'm hoping that the storm track has moved east and missed the salt. I got my fingers crossed.
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It was lightning that caused the Lavell Edwards stadium to be evacuated.
It is all steel construction; that is the NCAA rule about danger in the area.
At least a 1/2 hour delay.
This storm traverses 3/4 of the East-West axis of the state, and at least 50 miles N_S.
Winds reported in Provo at 78 MPH.
A little chilly in your tank top?
"HOOK 'EM HORNS!'
Jim
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Driver/rider meeting at approx. 5 PM. All must attend, rules of conduct for the event are discussed and the ever popular 'who wants to run first' lottery is done.
Looks like Ron made wrong turn:
http://knoe.images.worldnow.com/images/15707043_BG1.jpg
DW
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Ahh, those pesky "supplemental time slips" we all know and love, right Dan-oh? But I guess since salt is for racin' and pavement is for gettin' there, somebody's gotta pay for the black part, right?
I want y'all to know there's about 50 yards of the Silver State 100 race course (Hiway 318) that is "mine", so if you come that way, be grateful.
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Driver/rider meeting at approx. 5 PM. All must attend, rules of conduct for the event are discussed and the ever popular 'who wants to run first' lottery is done.
DW
5pm on Thursday - or Wednesday?
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Current weather Wendover AWOS
http://w1.weather.gov/obhistory/KENV.html
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Max good going!!
:(
After three days of tuning and fixing in my driveway, it is my displeasure to announce that Black Lightning won't attend the Shootout. A lot of unforeseen problems, many of them fixed, many not. Too much to do. Not enough time.
Max
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I took one for the team yesterday regarding the weather. I stopped by the Salt on my way home from Idaho and when I left I tricked the rain into following me. :wink: I headed East then went down to Dugway then over the mountain to Rush Valley and got hit by a torrential downpour. I'm pretty sure there's no Salt left under my pickup from Speedweek. :roll: Wayno
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Max good going!!
:(
After three days of tuning and fixing in my driveway, it is my displeasure to announce that Black Lightning won't attend the Shootout. A lot of unforeseen problems, many of them fixed, many not. Too much to do. Not enough time.
Max
SORRY to hear that!
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same here, max.
not good to hear.
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Sorry to hear you won't be at WoS. Gotta be tough, knowing this may be your final run on the salt. Best to you and the crew who gave it their all.
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Folks, I realize the Shoe Tout is still up in the air, or more correctly perhaps under water, however, let's assume all will be cool for a Thursday start. Assuming that is the case, is the mandatory 5:00pm meeting on Wednesday or on Thursday? I need to know which happy hour to schedule myself for ya' unnerstan'.
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Any word if COOKS is a go?
Cheers,
Scott
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No, there's no word yet on whether or not the Shootout will begin on time - or at all. Mike is on the salt and will be letting us know what he thinks of the situation. In the meantime -- hang around and keep your eyes open. You'll know soon after I do -- unless you hear from him first, in which case -- please let me know, hey?
Thanks.
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Were just going to be confident of a dry fast track and leave today :-D
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Mike is at the salt this morning reports no water on the international course from the 0 to the 5 1/5 to 6 white salt all the way. From the 6 to floating mountain wet about 1/2 of water. Yesterday 0 to 6 under water. No water on the Speed Week courses yesterday they were under water. 30% chance Wednsday and Thursday if no significant rain those days the rest of the event looks pretty good weather wise.
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lets hope it does not rain. Really looking forward to the motorcycle streamliner shoot out this year!!!
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Time to "salt-proof" my pickup. I'll drive up Wednesday morning unless I hear otherwise. :cheers: Wayno
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My sources indicate it is a go, wish I could be there but I will be glued to this website.
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Pssssssssssssssssssssssst.....
My trailer goes out Wednesday............I go on the clock Friday morning at 6 a.m. :-D Got my time off from work confirmed..... :cheers: Sounds like IT'S ON!! to me!!! :-D :-D :-D :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Lynda
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Flying in Wed.
See you all there.
Gary
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Would not be an "Official" event without you!
Pssssssssssssssssssssssst.....
My trailer goes out Wednesday............I go on the clock Friday morning at 6 a.m. :-D Got my time off from work confirmed..... :cheers: Sounds like IT'S ON!! to me!!! :-D :-D :-D :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Lynda
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looks like "Cook" is on. Course still too wet to groom. Maybe by Weds...Thursday [my guess....I am not there] .....also pray no more rain.
Looks like the big guns will be going and hoping for good conditions.
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Anybody get an official word from Mike yet?
I guess we are all praying for dry as usual before racing.
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Okey-dokey -- I just got off the phone with Junior (Cook). Here's the true scoop:
The driver meeting will be this Wednesday -- day after tomorrow - September 11 -- at 5PM. Assuming weather permits, racing will start at sunup Thursday morning, the 12th. If the course has not dried enough by then for racing -- there'll be another driver meeting Thursday at 5PM and racing will start Friday morning first thing. The event is scheduled to go through the 16th. BUT - -
In case the weather does not allow things to start on time - Mike has arranged to extend the meet up to four additional days. That is -- as of now the event ends the 16th, but insurance and other permits are in place to continue four more days after that.
Dang it -- I thought I'd heard that the driver meeting would be Wednesday, but I couldn't get confirmation -- so won't arrive at SLC Int'l 'til Wednesday evening, and that means I won't be at the salt 'til morning on Thursday. I'll try to get there in time to get things up and running for youse guys out there in internetland -- but even if I'm late -- hold on, I'm on the way.
There you have it, straight from the Cook's mouth (if you will). . . See you on the salt.
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Jon:
Thanks for the info! I should be able to get there by 5pm on Wednesday. I'll take notes and try to track you down later that evening.
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To add to Slim's comment, I spent the afternoon at Lands End and on the salt. I shot a lotta photos of the salt conditions and Mike Cook took me for a drive from the zero to the 6 mile point. As I was there, I could see the dry salt area growing before my eyes. But since it's gonna take me a bit to put the post together, I'll include a photo of my Camaro (yes, I really like it) just cuz I can. :)
I'll have the photos of the salt posted asap.
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I'm due to land in SLC about 7.30PM, have to find son in law to fetch the streaming equipment, and then head to Wendover to crash at the motel for the night. I'll try to get on the salt bright and early (well, maybe dull and early. . .).
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Looking from Lands End at 12:12 pm:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-k57tdxk/0/L/20130909_4812r8-L.jpg)
At 1:47 pm:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-5QzbbSL/0/L/20130909_4838r8-L.jpg)
At 2:09 pm:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-ztZ9KLw/0/L/20130909_4844r8-L.jpg)
Looking at Mile Zero:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-PfPkwdD/0/L/20130909_4850r8-L.jpg)
Mile 1
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-mbz4Mtk/0/L/20130909_4855r8-L.jpg)
Mile 2
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-Ttcn6xd/0/L/20130909_4857r8-L.jpg)
Mile 3
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-xbzKfHv/0/L/20130909_4860r8-L.jpg)
Mile 4 (Cook was talking to Al Lamb at the time.)
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-BthkMQq/0/L/20130909_4863r8-L.jpg)
Mile 5.5 (surveying equipment)
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-CNWK6Nn/0/L/20130909_4866r8-L.jpg)
Surveyors pounding a stake into some VERY hard salt. One of them said that the salt had cleared by 70 percent today alone.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-26ms2ZH/0/L/20130909_4869r8-L.jpg)
Breach in the dike where water had blown onto the salt.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-tqxJ5K4/0/L/20130909_4862r8-L.jpg)
Mile 6
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-wP4kDtg/0/L/20130909_4874r8-L.jpg)
The point where the SCTA course crosses Cook's course:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-8NNv6nW/0/L/20130909_4880r8-L.jpg)
Surveyors marking the edge of the course. You can see that the water is 1/2 inch or less...and spread over a large area. The wind was from the south at 10-15 mph at that time.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-5tM57MH/0/L/20130909_4877r8-L.jpg)
The tent set up at Lands End, sponsor signs and Dan Warner's pickup with graphic on the tailgate.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-QGjdKDt/0/L/20130909_4884r8-L.jpg)
Italian tourists playing in the salt water near Lands End. Not deep at all and you can compare this with the first photo to see the amount of dry salt visible. To me it seems to have changed noticeably in an hour and 45 minutes.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130909/i-bXQtZhs/0/L/20130909_4885r8-L.jpg)
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Fantastic, thanks for posting. Hop to see you all Thursday morning :cheers: Dean
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Nice!
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Hey, I'm going with Maihk (Poteete speak, okay) and his view of the salt "It's getting better all the time!" We're heading out Tuesday morning for the two day trip. Besides The Legendary Barnyard Bearcat has reputation to uphold as the... as the... the... ummmm....
Oh well, never mind. We're just going because it's the most fun Bonneville event of all. And besides, you can do your record return run at a respectable hour... like right after you do your qualifing run.
Stainless head on out if you can. It'd be a gas having you on the pit crew of the "gun" carrying the most bullets. True, George has more bullets in the pits, but I don't feel like going back there to get mine so I take 'em with me.
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See ya there, Jim. Have a safe trip.
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Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon. See you when you get there.
Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...
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Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon. See you when you get there.
Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...
You ain't just a'woofin' Buddy. See you there. 8-) Wayno
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Great pix as always Ray. :cheers:
This is getting very exciting.
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Will be leaving for the Shoot Out in a few minutes, will take a lazy trip out there and do some quick side trips on the way since the salt is still drying out.
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Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon. See you when you get there.
Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...
Amen to the history thing! There otta be some great head-to-head shootouts.
Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon. See you when you get there.
Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...
You ain't just a'woofin' Buddy. See you there. 8-) Wayno
Lookin forward to seein ya, Wayno. I agree about history bein made. As the Chinese curse goes, "May you live in interesting times." I think we're right in the middle of 'em. Not many events with ultimate record holders/contenders goin on with sub-plots in the background.
Great pix as always Ray. :cheers:
This is getting very exciting.
Thanks, Papi. It otta be real kool!
Will be leaving for the Shoot Out in a few minutes, will take a lazy trip out there and do some quick side trips on the way since the salt is still drying out.
See ya when ya get here, Larry, Stop and smell a few flowers for me, k? LOL!
G'nite, y'all,
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This here tub was filled with water just after the 2012 BUB meet. I washed the salt off of the bike parts in it. No water has been added and it is either out in the sun or under the porch. I just washed off the parts from the 2013 meet. There are a couple of inches of water left in the tub.
I read about this evaporation phenomenon in books. I guess there is a lot of it around Utah. Can you send some of it out here to Oregon? We need some.
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Ray, Our team photog arrived safe in Denver, going to send him back to you Wednesday. He has been enjoying his travels.
John
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Lets just hope that we don't get another storm this week. Forecast for Wendover is for a possibility of TS Wednesday night and Thursday. These can be very unpredictable localized so it could miss the area of the salt we need, or could not happen at all.
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I just talked with Junior and his dad -- it's 10.40AM Eastern time Tuesday morning. Here's the story as of now:
The Cook family has bought and drunk all of the Maalox in Wendover/West Wendover. Does that tell you anything?
Seriously: Mike reports that the wind was very strong overnight and blew the water that had been near the mountain -- over to the course at the 1-2 mile area. But that's a good thing -- because it's moving, and that means it's drying. It's cloudy now, and that isn't helping the evaporation, but the wind is moving the water.
No standing water here, damp salt there, dry the other, wet the other other. 6 & 7 damp, 8 - 12 dry. The water that had been blown around through the notch in the dike - has ended up on the course, but then -- that's good 'cause there's no ore water on the other side of the dike and therefore it can't get out to the course to make things worse.
Still with me? Right now it's not likely that we'll be able to race starting Thursday morning, I guess, but -- maybe Friday, maybe Saturday. The course has been surveyed, as we saw in yesterday's posts, and Junior and Tommy are going to start putting out cones and flags/signs this morning.
In toto (not Dorothy's dog, by the way): Not yet, but still looking good. Stay tuned here, folks. Mike Cook is using this site as a main avenue to let you racer fans know what the true story is, and I'll do my best to keep up to date for you.
See you on the salt (but just in case, have your boots with you). :? :? :cheers: :cheers:
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Thanks to Slim and Mike for keeping the info coming! :cheers:
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Thanks to Slim and Mike for keeping the info coming! :cheers:
YES....THANKS.....so glad you are there!!
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Updates on the weather conditions have been great! I've got rooms booked and should be there Friday morning!
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I'll be there midday tomorrow (Wednesday.) I'll have photos and info from the (probably first) drivers meeting.
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Thanks Ray. Have a safe trip there. :wink:
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How the hell did "wink" get in thee? Lets try this :cheers:
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Yeah. Thanks a ton for the updates, guys...
I really look forward to coming out this weekend.
Come on, sun and wind!
Abe
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I don't mean to sound like I'm being negative -- but in the two hours since I left the store and headed out to get last minute stuff for the trip to Bville tomorrow -- the weather forecast for the Wendover area went from 50% chance of rain Wednesday, Weds evening, and Thursday -- to 60% chance. If you can -- kep a close eye on the weather and this website for updates. And hope for Mr. Weatherman to be wrong, too.
You know, just for the heck of it, I really did try today. One of our customers at Kudos Laser is an employee of the local weather station, and when he called today to get some work done I offered him a great deal: We'd do the engraving for free if he'd crank the weather levers to "dry" and push the "sunshine and warm breezes" button three times. He said he'd give it a try. . . :cheers: :cheers:
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Just left Land's End. Mike said NO driver's meeting tomorrow, maybe Thursday everything is day to day. Wind is moving the water around the road to the south and then west towards Metro. Mike headed out to check the course as I was leaving. Lotsa water at Land's End, but the pit area and course look dry....well, there's no standing water on 'em anyway!!!
I'm headed out there tomorrow....unless the "Buckets" don't get there, then I'll wait at home 'til Thursday!! :-D
See ya at Land's End!!!!
Lynda
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Sure do miss seeing your lovely face Linda. :-D
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National Weather Service 5:00 pm Tuesday
Forecast area about the center of the course.
Wednesday
Heavy Rain
Chance for Measurable Precipitation 60%
High: 79 °F
Wednesday Night
Heavy Rain
Chance for Measurable Precipitation 60%
Low: 63 °F
Thursday
Showers Likely
Chance for Measurable Precipitation 60%
High: 76 °F
Thursday Night
Showers Likely
Chance for Measurable Precipitation 60%
Low: 61 °F
SYNOPSIS...A SLOW MOVING UPPER LOW PRESENTLY IN ARIZONA WILL DRIFT
NORTHWARD INTO THE GREAT BASIN WEDNESDAY AND REMAIN OVER THE AREA
INTO MID FRIDAY. A VERY MOIST AIRMASS WILL ACCOMPANY THE STORM AND
SPREAD RAIN OVER THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
&&
.DISCUSSION...UPPER LOW OVER ARIZONA DID NOT MOVE MUCH TODAY. A
NEARLY CONTINUOUS STREAM OF MOISTURE KEPT SHOWERS AND A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS GOING OVER SOUTHWEST UTAH ALL DAY. NUMEROUS REPORTS
FROM THE SOUTHERN PARKS AND MONUMENTS INDICATES WIDESPREAD
FLOODING AND IMPASSABLE ROADS IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. HAVE EXTENDED
EXISTING AREAL FLOOD WARNING UNTIL 915PM MDT AND FLASH FLOOD WATCH
HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MID SHIFT MAY CONSIDER
EXPANDING WATCH INTO BURN SCAR AREAS OF NORTHERN UTAH...BUT HAVE
HELD OFF FOR NOW.
700 MB CIRCULATION FORECAST BY ALL MODELS TO BE OVER THE GRAND
CANYON BY 12Z WEDNESDAY. EXPECT RAIN TO CONTINUE OVER SOUTHERN
UTAH THIS EVENING AND THEN INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY
WEDNESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. ANOTHER 1
OR 2 INCHES OF RAIN LIKELY IN FAVORED AREAS WEDNESDAY. EXPECT
WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF WASHES AND SLOT CANYONS AGAIN WEDNESDAY...A
BIT MORE SO THAN TODAY.
WITH NORTHWARD MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER LOW PRECIP WILL SPREAD NORTH
AND SHOULD COVER THE REST OF UTAH BY LATE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. EASTERLY DOWNSLOPE FLOW MAY LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PRECIP
ALONG THE WASATCH FRONT FROM SLC TO BRIGHAM CITY. SOME CANYON
WINDS LIKELY TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING AROUND WEBER
CANYON...FARMINGTON CANYON AND PARLEYS CANYON.
AT THIS TIME...THE RAIN OVER THE NORTH LOOKS TO CONTINUE ON AND
OFF THROUGH AT LEAST FRIDAY...MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENINGS. IT
LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE MORE STRATIFORM THAN CONVECTIVE AND THUS
LESS LIKELY TO PRODUCE DEBRIS FLOWS FROM THE BURN SCARS...BUT
EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE AND GIVEN WET SOILS
ALREADY IN PLACE IT MAY NOT TAKE MUCH TO CAUSE PROBLEMS.
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Bear in mind that the forecast you see is for the "Wasatch Front", in other words, Provo, Salt Lake City and Ogden, Ut. There are 3 separate valleys that the storm track can move thru on its way North (which is a somewhat unusual path for this area, since it usually comes out of the West.)
Predicting weather here is accurate to the next hour or 2.
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Right, but here is the Wendover forecast from the National Weather Service - NWS
Tonight Tuesday.....Scattered showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. North northwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind 6 to 16 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. East wind around 6 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Saturday A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Saturday Night A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61
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Agreed, Monsieur Lague. :) Wunderground.com states the same for Wendover. I'll be there tomorrow and will collect and post first hand observation. Yeah, I know that the drivers meeting has been postponed until Thursday. But since I have the room reserved...well...I might as well take advantage of it.
Just a note of thanks to SSS for providing this forum that serves as an information hub for fans and racers alike.
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RtR.....now go get some sleep.
FREUD
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We are going up on Thursday.....that is the current plan anyway.....give us a weather forecast tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you....I owe you at least a beer or 2. Is Marlo going?
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I just got this morning's first salt report from Junior. here's the scoop:
There's some standing water on the course from the zero to the 1 3/4 or so. Not lots -- but some. From there to the 12 mile the course has no standing water -- "We could run on it if we wanted to, and we could run right now if we moved the start to the 2 mile", he reports. But then -- this isn't about running on a shortened course -- the most is what we want. About the only large amounts of water is the ankle-deep stuff on either side of the pavement leading to Land's End. But it's all there -- not on the race course.
The bad news: Right now the skies are black in every direction. That doesn't sound good, does it? The driver meeting is now set for Friday evening with racing to start Saturday morning - if no more water appears. The forecast isn't very optimistic, either.
Mike Jr. reports also that everything is in place to run the event starting late -- and ending by next Saturday, the 21st -- if that's what it takes. To be honest -- I can't stay out there that long, folks -- I've got to get back to home and work before then -- unless I can wring some pretty good miracle-type stuff here. So - -
Stay tuned. I'll be on the airplane through midday but will post while I'm at the O'Hare layover in Chicago. Junior said he'd call with an update at noon and 7PM Wendover time.
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Just started to rain at motel 6. Nuts.
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Crrrrap
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How bad is the rain? Just a little or......
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No rain on salt yet sitting on course at the 4 mile
Remember it can rain like an SOB in town and not a drop of rain will hit salt fingers crossed
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I am hoping things will work out and that everyone will be able to run. Am wishing the best for all
involved.
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It looks like most of the storm is staying just south and to the east. For storm rainfall totals so far they just show a possible trace for the area of the track. This has been a really strange system the past week for this area. It moved into SE Utah 2 days ago and has just kind of hung here but not much actual rain fall in the last 24 hours.
Hoping the best for you guys,
Sum
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I am hoping things will work out and that everyone will be able to run. Am wishing the best for all
involved.
You are looking REALLY smart for your decision to cancel :wink:
I wish Cooks luck and good weather.
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I'm heading up there now. It is going to clear up and everything is going to be bichin. :cheers: Wayno
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Wayno thanks for updates, enjoy the meet. :cheers:
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I'm all the way to O'Hare - and the weather forecast for out at Wendover looks like we can save the suntan lotion for later. I don't see any fresh comments, so that's a good thing - I guess. This next flight takes me to DFW - won't be there for about3 1/2 hours - so keep me posted, please.
Jon a/k/a SSS
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blue skies now in wendover and surrounding area. Had light showers earlier
Lynda
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Thanks Lynda, wish I was there. We are still planning for the world finals with boath cars. :cheers:
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September El Mirage has just been Canceled. :cry:
-AR9.....
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All this weather info is informative. I came to the conclusion that a weather man is the only job where the person can be 100% wrong, 100% of the time and still get 100% of their pay.
Next course update at 6PM MT this evening. The ONLY OFFICIAL meet information comes from Mike Cook or Mike Cook Jr.
DW
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I understand Dan.
They will make a decision unless they can't make a decision.
That makes sense.
FREUD
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I'm at DFW -- waiting to leave about an hour and a half ago. But that's another story. Junior just called. They dodged today's rainstorm bullet - had someone at the 12 and someone at mid-track and no rain fell from the dark and nasty clouds that were around. It's still wet around the pavement going to Land's End -- but better there than out on the race track. And that means that as of right now -- if things don't change -- the event can start on Saturday. I haven't looked at the forecast in a while so don't know what else might be in store, but you can hope, hey? SLC by bedtime tonight and Wendover by lunch tomorrow. C U Later.
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So, if the current plan is to run on Saturday, is the drivers' meeting now scheduled for 5pm Friday, or ???
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Now that we've heard from Junior, I'll post some photos. I'm in Bendover and I'll be here for a coupla daze, anyway, depending on what happens.
First a coupla photos by Larry Ledwick, aka Hotrod...some tourists wading/bathing in Lake Bonneville.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-pKzKnCL/0/L/13C_5856r8-L.jpg)
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-vQQTTX6/0/L/13C_5860r8-L.jpg)
Then the weather, This is what things looked like in Taylorsville around noon as I was about to leave.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-mXm2Vwq/0/L/20130911_4898r8-L.jpg)
About 50 miles west, the horizon started lookin kinda poorly.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-dXbznmd/0/L/20130911_4903r8-L.jpg)
Five or ten miles further west, it got real wet. I almost pulled over to wait for the rain to ease up.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-fVq6BCg/0/L/20130911_4904r8-L.jpg)
When got to Lands End, some competitors showed up, but there was no tech inspection for kayaks, so they gave up and left.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-6zWK7GJ/0/L/20130911_4905r8-L.jpg)
After hanging around for a while and visiting with folks, (and watching the weather radar that showed 2 cells heading in our general direction) I made a shot of the eastern-most cell approaching Floating Island:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-b4KJwBC/0/L/20130911_4920r8-L.jpg)
Then there was a sort of break to the southeast:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-NgnQswQ/0/L/20130911_4923r8-L.jpg)
And another cell to the south:
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-NK5fjHj/0/L/20130911_4924r8-L.jpg)
Looking back toward the southwest, the sun was shining. Dan Warner pointed out the little mound above the cone on the right and said that it had been pretty much under water this morning. Things could be worse, I spose.
(http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20130911/i-TNSHPp8/0/S/20130911_4931r8-S.jpg)
Apparently both cells missed the salt and right now the weather is partly cloudy with a slight breeze. Ohh..and the flies are back. Good thing I left the fly strips, swatters and spray in the Burb. I can amuse myself by wreaking vengeance on 'em when I get bored.
We'll see what happens in the morning.
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Ray. If you can get close enough,,,,,,,,can you check and see if the fly's are wearing waders and little yellow vinyl hats? Thanks, Mark. :-D
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If I could get that close, I'd prolly fire a pistol shot at 'em. :-o
Ohh...here's an animated loop of the weather radar from about 7 pm MDT.
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Well as of now, that does not look to bad. But lets see what daylight brings. Hope it holds off. Mark. :cheers:
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Had an unavoidable sitchyashun ta home, but it's taken care of now so I'll be out in the morning!
Lynda
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No predictions, but here's another radar loop.
In other news, we'll have a VERY kool Target 550 post later today.
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Hey, can Rats swim? Are you at home or in Wendover?
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Outstanding! Got my fingers crossed. I have been doing everything I can to keep the rain moving east until it gets to my part of the world. Apparently it's working, seeing that it has been raining here for two days straight!
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Hey, can Rats swim? Are you at home or in Wendover?
I'm in Wendover. About swimming. For me, it means staying alive until I get to dry land. :)
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How's the weather looking, we have thunder, lightening and rain at Hill AFB. I was at speed week but didn't have a chance to catch up with you.
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Hey, can Rats swim? Are you at home or in Wendover?
I'm in Wendover. About swimming. For me, it means staying alive until I get to dry land. :)
Ray I don't care about swimming, but I have some questions:
OK how does it look in Wendover?
Any rain over night?
How does it look now?
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I hear the salt is flooded again from a big storm last night.
It is my understanding this site is the official word from the Cook meet. So what is the official word? The silence is a bit deafening.
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I am sure they are on the salt and inspecting all 12 miles of it. They will update us soon.
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Hey, can Rats swim? Are you at home or in Wendover?
I'm in Wendover. About swimming. For me, it means staying alive until I get to dry land. :)
Ray I don't care about swimming, but I have some questions:
OK how does it look in Wendover?
Any rain over night?
How does it look now?
This isn't the "official word." Those of us who post here can only report what we get from Cook, Jr or Sr.
Continued demands for information that we don't have only prevent us from doing the other parts of our jobs.
To answer your questions, it looks cloudy in Wendover, I heard that it rained last night and it still looks cloudy in Wendover, since that's where I am. I'm trying to finish a Target 550 post and haven't gone to Lands End yet today. I was on the phone with Freud when you called him and he has the same info I do.
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Unh, official? Well, here's the latest. First of all -- i was in the truck heading out here this morning when I talked with Junior -- and I can't type and drive at the same time. If Nancy were here - - but she's not. Anyway:
As of this morning Mike Junior reports that indeed, it's wet out there on the course. I haven't yet gone for a look-see in person, but it isn't very great, that's for sure. But - the Cooks polled the racers that are here in town -- and they all are willing to sit tight for the time being and see if the course gets better - as are Mr. Cook and son and everyone else on the crew.
That's all I can say for now. I'll head out for a personal visit in a while - after taking care of a few minor little details here in town. And maybe after visiting Marcello's to see if there's anything new on the menu (like that'd happen, hey?)
By the way -- Ray's right about the flies being busy. I stopped for a quick chat with Mike Crawford - and he handed me my own fly swatter - the one that he was using couldn't keep up with the flies. Here in the motel XXX parking lot (using their wi-fi without being registered -- can't tell you where -- the flies are swarming. And I did take a shower this morning. . .
More later. Stay tuned. Oh, yeah -- it's mostly cloudy and high 60s here, with mild to no wind. Skies show some blue to the west and even the south - grey and dark to the east.
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Keep up the good work Ray, weather reports are mostly useless, we take what the salt will give us. If folks are trying to use the weather reports to figure out to travel to the shoot out I have a word of advise: don't bother with the weather reports ! Anyone who has spent any amount of time on the salt knows that it is unpredictable, what things look like in Wendover are totally different on the salt, let alone in L.A. on a website weather post !! I for one will be watching the posts here to get the straight scoop !
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....don't bother with the weather reports ! Anyone who has spent any amount of time on the salt knows that it is unpredictable, what things look like in Wendover are totally different on the salt, let alone in....
Yep and it isn't necessarily the amount of rain that falls on the salt that means much. It is if it rains hard on the hills just to the west and it runs from there out onto the salt. You can see a lot more inches of water on the salt at times than is just possible from rain directly on it. It comes from those hills.
This has been the strangest weather pattern I can remember in this area. We usually only get a couple hours or maybe a day of wind from the east but now it has been a couple days. The storm that moved east has now circled back west again and there is like a mini-low that is circulating moisture back towards Wendover.
It does look like the whole thing will finally move east a day or two from now and if not much moisture finds its way to the salt then things look good from Saturday on. I sure hope so for all of the crews and Mike and his guys that have put so much into making this happen,
Sum
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Weather patterns were odd this year at the BUB event as well, but I agree, lets hope the Cook meet gets a break and we can see some history made !
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The later in the year that it gets the less heat and wind.
We need both. If the wind was to blow it away it could come back.
It must evaporate and that is a function of heat and dry wind.
So be it.
FREUD
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The world finals are only a few days away and we are all hoping this weather pattern stays to the east. We need some test passes on the Turbinator ll as well.
The new car bugs hopefully are sorted out and a couple of good passes would answer a lot of questions so next season we can kick A$$. :cheers:
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Ray, you guys do a great job and I appreciate it. I apologize for the post and coming off as being pushy for information.....sorry.
I guess I am just frustrated by having equipment rented, rooms reserved and changed every day, film crew members on standby, cancelling airline reservations, etc.....
But of course I am not alone....many are in the same boat......and I should know Bonneville by now after spending so many days and weeks waiting for the salt to dry.
My response was to what I saw on the weather observations from Wendover last night, and an e-mail from a competitor whose crew was there. I was relying on Landracing to keep me filled in.
Sorry please accept my apology and will buy your a beer or 6 when I get there. OK?
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Apology accepted. I'll go for cream soda, thanks. :)
SSS has done a wonderful thing for racers, fans and media people by providing us with a centralized hub where information can be disseminated and received. I use LR just like call phones and email; I know that I've become used to getting my info about anything in the LSR sphere here on LR. But like any centralized resource, I get frustrated when the info I want isn't available. Fortunately, I've kicked the tv habit, so I don't depend on the idjit box to keep me informed by the "bubble-headed bleach blonde" (apologies to Don Henley).
The other issue is that we're at the mercy of Mother Nature. Until weather control is invented and put into world-wide use, if She sez it's gonna rain...well, She gets her way and we mortals ain't got much of a vote in the matter.
Finally, I've gotten the message from 2 members of Cook's staff that incorrect and/or incomplete info is very high on the rh*t list. Since I'm on the salt by their permission, I figger that I otta do as they ask. Once SSS posted what he got from Junior, I now feel ok about posting the info I have. Like this table of weather data ( http://w1.weather.gov/obhistory/KENV.html ) that, when examined closely, shows that 0.91 of rain fell between 11:23 pm and 12:02 am....but that was at the Wendover airport. Until a weather station is established at Lands End, that's prolly as close as we're gonna get. Nonetheless, that's still a lotta water falling outta the sky in a relatively short time.
Now it's time to get back to the Target 550 post preparation.
To answer your questions, it looks cloudy in Wendover, I heard that it rained last night and it still looks cloudy in Wendover, since that's where I am. I'm trying to finish a Target 550 post and haven't gone to Lands End yet today. I was on the phone with Freud when you called him and he has the same info I do.
Ray, you guys do a great job and I appreciate it. I apologize for the post and being pushy for information.....sorry.
I guess I am just frustrated by having equipment rented, rooms reserved and changed every day, film crew members on standby, cancelling airline reservations, etc.....
But of course I am not alone....many are in the same boat......and I should know Bonneville by now after spending so many days and weeks waiting for the salt to dry.
My response was to what I saw on the weather observations from Wendover last night, and an e-mail from a competitor whose crew was there. I was relying on Landracing to keep me filled in.
Sorry please accept my apology and will buy your a beer or 6 when I get there. OK?
[/quote]
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It's about a quarter after 1 here at Land's End, and I just got a minute with Mike and Junior. Here's the current story and what's what:
As of right now -- if no rain falls and the weather cooperates -- look for a drivers meeting Sunday afternoonand racing starting at sunup Monday morning. There -- that's that.
It's partly cloudy and calm, with temps in the lower 70s. That is not, my friends, good salt-drying-out weather. But the water is slowly going here and there, subsiding and soaking into the ground. The weather forecasts don't offer lots of good news, but what the heck -- we've already discussed the forecasts at great length.
From Land's End I see pretty much unbroken water from west northwest all the way to the dike on the east. As I drove down I-80 getting here a few hours ago I saw lots of mud along the highway - and water where the Zero of the Int'l (Shootout) race course is. That doesn't look good, but that's what I see.
Now the good news: The race teams that are here are all in favor of sticking around 'til the race course is ready for them to put down some astounding numbers. The teams that aren't here -- are calling constantly, asking if they should head out here yet. They want to race, too. David Cooke form the OSU team just stopped by to invite me to visit the hangar and see the new car. They're hoping to test is on a runway tomorrow. That doesn't sound like a team that's ready to book it for home, does it? And so on goes the list. I don't know all of the teams that are here in Wendover - Poteet/Main, OSU, Ack Attack (well, I see a bunch of Top1 Oil awnings and draw a conclusion from them), and so on. I'll probably find more as the day goes on. I walked into the Salt Flats cafe and found a bunch of racers there - that's a sign that folks aren't ready to toss in the towel, right?
I'll post more when I get it. Junior is using landracing.com as the link for updates, so stand by, boys and girls. When he calls -- I post it ASAP.
Later -
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This is not much help; it points the wrong direction, and no date/time stamp.
Appears to be standing water out beyond the runways, and "Refresh" doesn't do anything.
Light and shadow might indicate somewhat near the middle of the day.
http://www.alltravelcams.com/viewer_gwc.php?camcategory=&camname=Wendover%20Peak&campic=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/images/slc/camera/latest/envpk.latest.jpg&sponsor=National%20Weather%20Service&sponsorurl=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/camera/single/WendoverPeak.php&camwidth=736&camheight=480&refreshrate=30
Jim
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same web cam, 2 hour loop
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/images/slc/camera/loopCams.php?camName=envpk&numFrames=24 (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/images/slc/camera/loopCams.php?camName=envpk&numFrames=24)
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Thanks, SSS. Now. To stay here or not. Hmmm.
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I'm back in town at the motel. I sat at Land's End for an hour or two - shooting the breeze with a buncha racers. Who woulda thunk I'd find racers there? :roll:
Well, when I got there I posted about being able to see perfectly smooth water as far as I could see towards the dike, remember? When I left -- allowing, of course, for my blankety-blank-year-old eyes but brand new glasses - I swear I could see some detail on the farthest horizon -- like maybe the water was moving away from the dike and towards the paved road. There was a very gentle breeze that could be responsible for that movement, so maybe, folks, just maybe. But then - I haven't looked at the weather report in the past few hours.
Junior and his dad weren't there when i was -- so there's no new official news since my report of two hours ago. I do want to get a photo from Land's End -- to give some credits to Varta and LucasOil and even USAC and the other sponsors and sanctioning organisations. I might visit the airport hangars to get you some stuff from there, by the way. I got a visit from David Cooke of the OSU team, as I said, and I'll go see the Venturi car. And the Bub #7 is there, and I suppose there'll be others. I see the Jack Rogers transporter parked at Mike Crawford's, so I presume that at least Steve Strupp is in town -- maybe Jack, too. I'll keep you folks in touch.
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SSS.....THANK YOU very much for the REPORTING....
AND.....if you would be able to POST PICS of the RACERS and VEHICLES
as those teams ALLOW...IT WOULD BE SWELL....!!!!
for MANY reasons....it allows the many feverish other racers following, and those they know
able to see them in their beauty, allow for admiration and contemplation...
AND allows for the world to see their presence....who the sponsors ARE (as you indicated so very important to many
aspects of these LSR meets)......
that may shift focus abit on course conditions this and that...of which there is little control....
maybe even be able to share any INSIGHTS from the teams like changes and other such technical stuff
that they may be willing and proud to share to also give props to various entities that deserve mentioning and
recognition....
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SSS, I greatly appreciate all of the updates here!
Sadly, due to my limited time off of work, I just cancelled my room for the weekend. Mother Nature calls the shots, and as much as I'd love to see all of the amazing vehicles at the shootout, it's not gonna happen this year.
Best of luck to all the racers! I hope the weather cooperates and you all can make some runs Monday!
Meanwhile, I'll be thrashing on my own car and making plans for World Finals in a few weeks.
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This is the Wendover Peak cam. You can control it. The picture was from today at 3:24 PST. Floating mountain on the left. Land's End just to the left of the pole.
http://206.197.88.69/home/homeJ.html (http://206.197.88.69/home/homeJ.html)
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The current gathering at Land's End. 3:41 PST.
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Dean......please identify the cars and people.
I only have a 27" monitor and I can't enlarge the image enough to ID them.
FREUD
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It looks like the following,,,,,,,,,,,the best i can tell without my glasses,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
One Lexus Suv,,,,,,very clean at the moment
A 2006 ford f-250 4 wheel drive
A very clean bright red Camaro,,,,,Rays maybe?
Linda's camper and possibly her dog standing outside it
A bearded weirdo riding a 1999 Harley Soft tail
And a Blue Toyota Highlander with a canoe on top.
Cant make out the other one,,,,,,,,,,to much mud on it
Hope this helps :-o
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That camera is amazing!!
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I tell ya what I'm goona do. I'm gonna go out there and see just what's what. And maybe Dean can trigger the camera at just the right time -- for me to drop trou and allow the world to see ALL of my tattoos. Dean --- I think you've got my phone number -- give me a call in about a half hour and let me know when you're ready to click the shutter.
For the rest of you -- don't worry, I'm not risking much by offering the Tooele County Sheriff Dept a chance to see me in the altogether. i won't, really -- just teasing. After all, there's likely to be a crowd out there (I know lots of folks here in Wendover are reading this topic) and I don't want to start too big a riot.
But I am going out there to take a late afternoon look-see in person. I'll be back on this Forum when I return. I'm not taking the 'puter with me -- stay tuned about an hour or so from now (at the earliest) for my update. I've got a call in to RtR for a supper engagement -- but he's not answering. I'd sure hate to miss high tea at the Red Garter. . . :evil:
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I tell ya what I'm goona do. I'm gonna go out there and see just what's what. And maybe Dean can trigger the camera at just the right time -- for me to drop trou and allow the world to see ALL of my tattoos.
Well this should be a "crack up"... :-D
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-- for me to drop trou and allow the world to see ALL of my tattoos. . . :evil:
OK that's it, you are on house restriction, no more going outside with out Nancy to chaperone. :roll:
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-- for me to drop trou and allow the world to see ALL of my tattoos. . . :evil:
Slim, if you need coaching I'll look around the site for the 7 moons picture.
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Good grief !! sure would like to know what's going on with racing !
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-- for me to drop trou and allow the world to see ALL of my tattoos. . . :evil:
Slim, if you need coaching I'll look around the site for the 7 moons picture.
Stainless, please have mercy on us.....Once is enough! :roll: :-o :-D
Gregg
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Good grief !! sure would like to know what's going on with racing !
Me to Larry. But it looks like we will have to wait till Sunday. I am sure Slim will keep us updated along the way. As long as it is not a full moon. :-o
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Oh, crap -- what'd I start now? I should know better than to joke around. So - here's tonight's ending update.
Junior left Land's End about one minute before I got there -- so I didn't ride with. But he did find detailed information showing that indeed, there's less water this evening than there was at noontime. Then the course was not too wet - wet spots, maybe a few puddles - a mile or so either side of mid-course. Say, that is, from about the four and a half to the six and a half. By late afternoon the wind had moved water around so that the not-too-bad stretch was more like three or four miles long.
While he was out on the course in the early afternoon a big ol' storm blew in, bringing light rain for almost one minute. But it was windy -- like 40-50 mph, he said, blowing the standing water hard enough that it was up and over his/their shoes. The rain didn't amount to much, obviously, but the wind moved lots of water. Lots of it blew through the breech in the dike and onto the course, yes, but that water kept moving with the wind -- blowing it from the race course towards Land's End. And that's good. There is obviously less water on the course now than there was earlier today. I took a couple of photos and haven't even loaded them into this machine yet - will post this and then show you the photos in another minute or two.
Maybe in the morning I'll manage to roll out of this luxury lodging facility in time to go with Junior on his first recon mission of the day. I'll try to do it - and bring the first set of photos from out there. But first -- I'll get tonight's photos on here.
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Thank You, SSS.
der FREUD
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Ah, well, the photos ain't great, that's for sure. But you'll get an idea. I took them hand-held using the lens zoomed out to try to let you see Mikey's truck driving through the water. Well, hand held and long lens and Jon the amateur photoshooter -- well, not great, but you'll see some details. I won't try to offer comments - you can see some of the mud sticking up through the water, and you can see other details. Not great -- but less water and more dirt than earlier, and that's the important thing for now.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020908_zpsbec36411.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020908_zpsbec36411.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020910_zps8a1d912d.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020910_zps8a1d912d.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020907_zps54e49f5c.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020907_zps54e49f5c.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020911_zpsb42ffa3b.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020911_zpsb42ffa3b.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020909_zps2b8a7c15.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020909_zps2b8a7c15.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020913_zps38300475.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020913_zps38300475.jpg.html)
There you have 'em. Water, water, almost everywhere - but wait 'til tomorrow, hey? C U Later. I'm hitting the hay - but not 'til I tell you that tomorrow I'll explore around the air base and get some shots of the cars and bikes that are there. I saw some of the crew from the Nearburg car today, and a few form the Ack bike, and I know the Bub bike is at the airport and so it the OSU crew and car and the Drayson Lola (or it is a Lotus? I know it's an "L" word. . .) - and so on. I've seen the Speed Demon transporter trailer - but not the car. You'll all get to see them tomorrow.
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Thanks Slim. Have a good evening. Mark.
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That Poteet and Main bunch can make ANYTHING go fast.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/NEW-Wham-o-Speed-Demon-Slip-N-Slide-with-Motion-Active-Speedometer-/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/3vgAAMXQyURSMiT0/$(KGrHqR,!nYFIu6G1lkeBSMiTzw6dQ~~60_12.JPG)
No joke, honest Wham-O product packaging. Take note of the speed.
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That Poteet and Main bunch can make ANYTHING go fast.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/NEW-Wham-o-Speed-Demon-Slip-N-Slide-with-Motion-Active-Speedometer-/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/3vgAAMXQyURSMiT0/$(KGrHqR,!nYFIu6G1lkeBSMiTzw6dQ~~60_12.JPG)
No joke, honest Wham-O product packaging. Take note of the speed.
Kinda slow for that crew. :-D
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I just got home from Bonneville, had to abandon the quest due to personal reasons, including a need to get home and check on if any of the flooding impacts here in the Boulder Area involved my home or work. Lots of rain from Rawlins Wyo into Colorado, no need to worry about washing the salt off this time.
Good luck to all those who can stick it out until the course dries. I would have loved to stay, but had to make a judgment call about my best guess if the course would be dry enough to run on before my vacation time ran out.
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I made it to Wendover last night. Took the scenic route via SLC to hit the Red Iguana. What little I could see from I-80 looked very wet. Spoke briefly with Mr. TheRat after I arrived at the Ritz. I'll check things out this morning, and may head back to Boise. If Jon is correct about running on Monday, I'll head back then. Blow wind, blow!
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Well, it isn't the wind that's blowing here at Land's End right now -- it's the rain. I left the motel about 6.20 and it was cloudy. As I was on the freeway merge ramp I saw the first raindrops on the window. At the truck scale it was raining hard. Just beyond the scale I started a bit of hydroplaning. Does that tell you something?
I drove carefully off the highway and past the truck stop with the wipers on full and carefuly went around the corner at the Bend. The rain was light, the rain was heavy, and here at Land's End -- well, it's pitter-pattering on the roof as I type. Mike Junior and Tommy report they did some hydroplaning on the freeway, too.
As look towards the freeway I can see headlights, so it isn't pouring too hard -- but it sure as heck isn't bright and sunny. We won't be taking that 7AM tour of the salt yet -- wait for light/wait for the rain to end.
But it don' look too good for right now, folks. Further deponent sayeth not 'til later. I'll keep posting as the rain situation develops.
CRAP!
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Huge down pour in Wendover at 0653MDT.
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It's about 7.30 here at Land's End -- and the rain is continuing unabated. So -
At 10AM -- 2 1/2 hours from now -- we'll be at a meeting at the Enola Gay hangar. The racers and all of us will get together and see what's what. My guess is that the racers will say they're willing to wait and NOT GO HOME. They might say let's fly our people back to the world and come back in a couple of days. They might, yes, say "screw it" and turn tail and go home for the duration. But I doubt it. They might say "Let's wait for the afternoon and see what's going on." But we won't know what they're saying for another few hours.
So sit back, folks, and relax. There's nothing much to report here. Heck, it's even too early for the cafe at the truck stop to be open for breakfast, so I'll hang around, read another chapter in "The Alamosa Trail" by Ralph Compton, and later go have some pancakes. I'll stay in touch. If you have specific questions -- go ahead and post 'em or send a PM and I'll get back with you. I'm shutting the 'puter off each time - don't want to use the precious gigabytes that I've gotta pay for this time - so it might be a while to get your answers back to you. But I'll try.
Rain, rain, go away. :-( :-(
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I just got home from Bonneville, had to abandon the quest due to personal reasons, including a need to get home and check on if any of the flooding impacts here in the Boulder Area involved my home or work. Lots of rain from Rawlins Wyo into Colorado, no need to worry about washing the salt off this time.
Good luck to all those who can stick it out until the course dries. I would have loved to stay, but had to make a judgment call about my best guess if the course would be dry enough to run on before my vacation time ran out.
Larry, I hope things are ok at home. I was just looking at pictures and it looks bad! I have been through a flood up here. Not fun!
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Slim, how do you have access to the Hanger? When we toured the museum last month they said 9-11 had shut down access to everyone except airline traffic?
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I feel like Mother Nature has had enough racing this year and this is her way of saying the salt is closed boys. Man, I hope I'm wrong, really wrong!
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The Wendover camera looks pretty ugly this AM! Looks a bit wet to say the least....
thanks for the early morning posting Jon......appreciate your work....hope you got those pancakes by now!
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I just looked outside my motel room. It ain't pretty...and it's raining, too.
Wunderground.com sez it's clear and sunny. "What we have here is a failure to communicate."
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Only the 'burban is pretty in that photo. That place makes the Nugget look good!
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RtR
I know that hotel.
Hope it is not raining on the salt.
BR
I just looked outside my motel room. It ain't pretty...and it's raining, too.
Wunderground.com sez it's clear and sunny. "What we have here is a failure to communicate."
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The Enola Gay hangar is full of race vehicles for the event, so I guess there's no issue with access for now, at least. I've been invited by a couple of teams - will let you know if a full-body and cavity search is required to get in the hangar.
It's still only my guess - please note that caveat - but I expect that the 10AM meeting will result in the decision to officially put hings on hold and everybody might as well go home for a week or so. I know one of the bigger teams is making airline reservations as I type. If the event is put off -- will it be rescheduled for a week from now, hoping the salt will dry out? I dunno - will the salt be ready in only a week? Or will a decision be made to try again for the FIM/FIA meet during the week around the 24th or so -- and then it'd be ending when World Finals is starting? Or will Mike Cook elect to put it off 'til his "rain date" -- of (I think) 10 - 14 October?
I'll be heading out to the hangar in a few minutes. I'm going to tell the motel desk that I'll take a late checkout and will most likely head the heck for home in the truck and with the trailer. If and when the event gets rescheduled I'll get back out here one way or another if I can. Somehow I get the impression your folks out there in internetland are interested in having me here. I'll see if I can do that for you.
Check in here again around 11AM Wendover time, hokey-dokey?
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Thank SSS for all you are doing. And that goes for Ray as well. I would imagine that it kinda sucks just to hang around to see nothing is getting accomplished.
Just like the army,,,"hurry up and wait".
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The Enola Gay hangar is full of race vehicles for the event, so I guess there's no issue with access for now, at least. I've been invited by a couple of teams - will let you know if a full-body and cavity search is required to get in the hangar.
It's still only my guess - please note that caveat - but I expect that the 10AM meeting will result in the decision to officially put hings on hold and everybody might as well go home for a week or so. I know one of the bigger teams is making airline reservations as I type. If the event is put off -- will it be rescheduled for a week from now, hoping the salt will dry out? I dunno - will the salt be ready in only a week? Or will a decision be made to try again for the FIM/FIA meet during the week around the 24th or so -- and then it'd be ending when World Finals is starting? Or will Mike Cook elect to put it off 'til his "rain date" -- of (I think) 10 - 14 October?
I'll be heading out to the hangar in a few minutes. I'm going to tell the motel desk that I'll take a late checkout and will most likely head the heck for home in the truck and with the trailer. If and when the event gets rescheduled I'll get back out here one way or another if I can. Somehow I get the impression your folks out there in internetland are interested in having me here. I'll see if I can do that for you.
Check in here again around 11AM Wendover time, hokey-dokey?
I think it was four years ago, maybe five, I had clutch problems with the liner and decided to leave it in Wendover, take the clutch home and fix it, then go back to Bonneville to attend the WOS. I knew the hanger was used as a shop to repair the Dave Campos liner way back when. Thought I could do the same thing, leave Black Lightning in the hanger. Turned out to be not so. The guard at the airport told me that the hanger was condemned due to asbestos. So there you are. (Maybe it's who you are that has something to do with it. )
SSS thanks for all of the superb coverage. If you and the Rat see Stainless, he has something for both of you from the BL team.
If the rain date is postponed to October 10, I think I can get the Vincent streamliner ready to run. At least I'll give it a sterling effort.
Max
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During the BUB event the Triumph liner was at the airport for repairs so it seems it can be done fairly easily. Thanks Slim and Ray for keeping us up to date, you guys are the best and your efforts are really appreciated. :cheers:
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SSS keep us posted on the results of the meeting this AM.......I know you will. I spoke to Charlie H the FIM official a bit ago and he had to run to the meeting this AM.
If there is a rain date, is it 10 to 14 October for sure? Well maybe you will know more after the meeting.
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Here's the story, folks:
The consensus opinion is to delay the event start date 'til NEXT TUESDAY, THE 18TH OF SEPTEMBER. By this Sunday we figure we'll know if things are going to be good enough to race. A few racers said they're staying for sure, a few questioned whether even perfect weather from now 'til Tuesday will be enough to make the now-sodden course good enough for 400-mph vehicles.
John Hanson from the Rainbow/Peppermill/.Montego was at the meeting and he's offered to work with racers and teams to modify reservations as best as possible. FIM Charlie and Drew Gatewood (AMA) are teching bikes TODAY to make sure that if the word is "GO" that everyone can run right away.
Mike Cook reports BLM has been really good -- allowing rescheduling of dates and permits without the usual 30-day in writing permit process. Insurance, fire and ambulance, and most of all -- sponsors -- are in favor of letting the racers and the Cook team work to have a Top Speed Shootout 2013. Denis Manning (and Delvene) are working on the event and the bike and are in favor of sticking it out 'til the rain stops and the track is dry. And so is George Poteet. And so is Mike Akatiff. Shall I go on?
I'm going to pack up the truck and hit the road for home. I'll leave the race trailer out here -- John Hanson is letting me store it at his facility again - and will make good time on the return trip. And if I leave the trailer out here -- hey, I've gotta come back to get it, right? I might as well go home and get a hug or two from Nancy and see how she's doing in painting the shutters and the deck, and without the trailer -- I'll make better time, right? I do intend to continue giving you folks updates as I travel. Junior will continue keeping me updated with his reports, and I intend to set it up so there's a direct link on the lr.com homepage to the Shootout Forum thread -- so not only you regulars can get there, but so can Mr. and Mrs. Six Pack when they hear what's going on and want more information.
That is it for now. Pack up, start the truck and drop the trailer, and I-80, here I come. I won't have the 'puter on as I drive, so as per usual - if you've got questions, either post 'em and I'll see them when I break for lunch -- or call me if you've gotta know right now. 906 Three Six One 6282.
TTFN
Jon a/k/a SSS
PS I did get a bunch of photos in the hangar. I'll post 'em later on.
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Tuesday the 18th . . . through Saturday the 21st? ????????????????????????????????????
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We probably need a little clarification. Tuesday is the 17th. :? :? :-D
Pete
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That should be WEDNESDAY the 18th, at the earliest.
-AR
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. . . I'm going to pack up the truck and hit the road for home. . . .
Jon, If I recall correctly . . in the past you sometimes stopped in Denver when traveling to/from home. If that is the plan, DON'T! We have major flooding and many road closures in and around Denver. . . safe travels, Art
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Someone should go buy a dozen pinewood derby cars and give it to the teams to perform their magic upon -- I'm sure that given the creativity and skillsets in the hanger that it would be an interesting design competition with various classes created along the way!
Hopefully the rain will relent and the course dries out upcoming -- and a good reminder for myself upcoming to maximize the time on the salt when the course is good.
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SSS was talking about actually checking in with the racers to show us whats going on behind the scenes...modify: I see that SSS may post some pics later as he has hit the road..................................
OSU testing...etc...
hoping he does....
i dare say that there may NEVER be this grouping of world class contenders stuck together
with near undivided attention..with no racing going on to distract them.....to SOMEONE interested in getting some great STORIES...info and
the like....
usually all teams are all hands on deck with tasks at hand....infinitely rare to have them somewhat available to share in the stories of journeys
to get where they are poised now....changes made...etc...
im sure some are eager to make mention of certain sponsors and the like who would love the exposure....as they are deserving and to add
to the build up.....
the salt will be ready someday....this year or beyond....after nearly a week....and 12 pages of posts...there is alot of missed opportunities....
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JoeA :cheers:
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Well said :-) :-) :-)
Ah.........the stories.............and the jargon............How about a report from the Black & White :lol:
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Hope the media can put something together, maybe Bonneville racing news if they are there,like Joe Amo said a chance of a life time with all of that talent in one place :cheers:
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I personally would stay away from those guys at this time. I can only talk for myself but I would be just a little cranky (OK a lot) after several days of not doing what I was suppost to be doing. It could be another week before the salt drys out, so that would be almost two weeks of doing nothing but costing money for rooms, meals etc.
I would tread lightly around those guys. JMO.
Tom G.
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We are having a great time at the Wendover Airport (even if we all wished we were racing instead, of course).
There wasn't a dull moment for the KillaJoule team today - tech inspection, visit from one hundred elementary school kids, and barbeque by Al Lamb. :-)
Read more here: http://killacycleracing.com/2013/09/13/still-waiting-for-the-weather/
// Eva & Bill with team
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how about some photos of the airport action?
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I'm headed east -- stopped for breakfast and fuel in Miles City, Montana. I left Wendover yesterday before noon. Here's the story -- and yes, I do have photos -- but still haven't got 'em into the laptop. They aren't all that great or numerous -- because there weren't all that many race vehicles in the hangar.
I left town because I heard more than a few of the teams making plane reservations to fly back to home (wherever that might be for 'em) for a few days and then return. The Bub bike was out, so was the Killajoule sidecar, and the sit on bikes of Al Lamb and Jamie Williams. And that's that. Well, no -0- the Drayson car was over in one corner and I did get some photos. But other than that -- well, I guess OSU was in a different hangar, and I know they'll be staying for the duration, they said.
But I can't do much good just hanging around Wendover and hoping to find something that's worthy of me missing time at home and at work. I intend to stay near the phone and hear what Junior reports - and will turn around, if that's what it takes, or head back when he reports there is a real starting date. When I left there yesterday things stood at the likelihood of figuring out by Sunday (tomorrow) night whether there was a good chance of starting the event early in the week.
And that's why I'm not out there gathering stories. I'll head back when there's something to send along to you folks. Right now I'll head out for the camera and load those photos, okay?
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Here are shots from yesterday's meeting in the hangar - and some of the half-dozen vehicles that were in there. First of all -- get your drool cups in place, folks. I wonder -- how much do carbon/carbon brakes cost compared to, say, my Mastercard available balance?
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020920_zps93975a98.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020920_zps93975a98.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020922_zps27b7c98b.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020922_zps27b7c98b.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020919_zps10e04a01.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020919_zps10e04a01.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020916_zps84476038.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020916_zps84476038.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020921_zps51f5367b.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020921_zps51f5367b.jpg.html)
From left: Charlie Hennekam (FIM Charlie), Dave Petrali (USAC/FIA), Mike Cook
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020924_zps47142991.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020924_zps47142991.jpg.html)
The Kiiajoule trike:
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020927_zps3681eee8.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020927_zps3681eee8.jpg.html)
I don't know the bike well enough to recall. Eva, I see you're posting here -- please tell us -- is it joystick controls?
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020926_zpsc92b5743.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020926_zpsc92b5743.jpg.html)
Front wheel detail of the Bub bike:
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020932_zps0bbae700.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020932_zps0bbae700.jpg.html)
Side shots:
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020931_zps31787944.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020931_zps31787944.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020933_zps8d0b0814.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020933_zps8d0b0814.jpg.html)
Final one for now: Why is there an airplane in there? Oh, yeah -- it's a hangar. . .
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020934_zps063799ad.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020934_zps063799ad.jpg.html)
No call from Junior this morning, and the NOAA weather radar out of SLC is down, so I don't know what's what. The forecast looks like some small chance of rain -- but no strong winds or bright sun. I'll hit the road out of here in a few minutes -- if there's great news -- give me a call. Later --
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:x Well I bailed out Friday morning and drove 14 hours straight home. I am not much of a sit around guy and would have been parked for a week in the motel room for the earliest guestimated start time. Sure hate to miss it if it happens but the rain won this year.
Best of luck to everyone in their quest for speed.
Howard Nafzger
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Hi Slim
Is that car with the carbon stoppers a ' LeMans GTP ' coupe ?
What kind of engine ?
Thanks. Don
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Spent three hours with Chris Carr and Rocky Robinson talking about their march towards 400MPH. The congenial, talented riders offered up insights on their record runs, riding styles, best and worse runs and future plans. We got so lost in LSR talk that we closed down the restaurant.
While I'll reserve most of the conversation for my article for the New York Times, they both agree they are only limited by the the harmonious balancing act of traction, aerodynamic drag and horsepower. Neither has any desire to "beat" the other, rather they view the record runs as a never-ending race, where there is no checkered flag, only different leaders for awhile.
These two gentlemen are both grand ambassadors of the sport of land speed racing and it is a privilege and honor to know them both. It is people like this that make land speed racing the most enviable in all of motorsport.
Paul Drayson's beautiful electric Lola is packed up -- the team has commitments elsewhere to honor. The team hopes to return to the salt or may have another venue where the electric car can flex its stuff. The whole crew is sad to leave Wendover without a record, but they are ready to roll with a new set of salt-specific wheels and tires. A few photos are included here.
Al Lamb is ready, as are Mary and Jim True have their new red,white and blue Truz Missile teched and tuned for speed -- all they need is dry salt.
Buckeye Bullet scampered down the runway today, no word on speed, I am guessing with was a system check of some description.
Can't tell you anything about Jamie Williams; he's too busy to talk.
After a ping-pong conversation I am thoroughly confused by the Killajoule program but sincerely hope they find their way forward.
Going to the international course with Mike Cook on Sunday, will post pix tomorrow night.
LandSpeed Louise
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a couple more photos
LSL
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Hi Slim
Is that car with the carbon stoppers a ' LeMans GTP ' coupe ?
What kind of engine ?
Thanks. Don
http://www.draysonracingtechnologies.com/projects/B12/project_article_B12.html
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I'm sure sorry that we won't get a chance to see the green car run. A reliable source told me that his former LMP1 unit had been converted to battery power.
Lord Drayson was at Miller Motorsports Park a few years back with a very loud and fast Aston Martin, if memory serves.
Here's more, from a Google search.
http://www.gtspirit.com/2013/09/11/204mph-just-isnt-fast-enough-lord-paul-drayson-planning-bonneville-record/
Our slow moving low pressure appears to have moved elsewhere.
Jim
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while waiting we have been busy, spent some time with Scott Horner checking and adjusting out altitude tune, one of the bikes is not much affected and the other a lot, i think were well prepared to either run now or next yr , sort of missed the shakedown of WOS
And spending a lot of time checking out the sights around Wendover,
couple of views of the lake
from the silver mountains looking toward the 4 mile , you can just see the track as a white stripe in the blue
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/maj750/2013-09-14131550_zps8afabb81.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maj750/media/2013-09-14131550_zps8afabb81.jpg.html)
and a few days earlier from the needle at back of town looking over the radio towers to the end of the road
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/maj750/2013-09-10135344_zps9fd65c85.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/maj750/media/2013-09-10135344_zps9fd65c85.jpg.html)
also looked at Blue lake , a thermal spring out the Ely road , and a nearby disused target range where there is lots of schrapnel and at least one large decommissioned piece of ordinance
untill racing begins or is cancelled we are looking at a walk up Pilot peak and further exploring of the silver mountains
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FYI folks
New article posted on the New York Times Wheels blog about the new Castrol Rocket motorcycle streamliner:
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/13/resurrecting-triumphs-glory-out-on-the-salt/?_r=0
LandSpeed Louise
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Hey, girls and boys -- I'm still alive and driving home. I'll be at Lowe's for a visit with Nancy in about an hour -- and back to the house an hour or so after that. But I doubt that you care.
I just got off the phone with Junior. Here's (about) what he said:
It's sunny and dry - and cool at the race track. It's not raining -- but it isn't drying much at all. It sure doesn't look good at this point. He went on to say that they've decided to make a final decision at about 3PM Wendover time -- that's 5PM for me - on whether to keep waiting for the track to get good or to toss in the towel (so to speak - a really big towel might help the track, but that's not what he meant here) and declare the event postponed. If that's the case - if they decide there won't be a Shootout in the next few days -- they'll plan on the mid-October rain date. I think that's 10 - 14 October 2013.
But for now there's no official word. Keep waiting and I'll get back on here as soon as he calls - in about five hours.
In the meantime -- since I'm still on the road, thanks to all that have been posting photos and stories. Thank you very much, Louise, for the Rocky & Chris stuff. It's all good.
Ta-ta for now. Back to US 41 South. Skandia, Michigan, here I come (via Lowe's hardware and tool department, of course :evil: :roll: :cheers:).
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THANKS much Louise....the teams have much to tell so glad you could capture it...!!!!!!
thats one of the many reasons YOU have so much support....you have the passion to pursue the passion of
the LSR world....that are sitting there for you on a silver platter...
i didnt even know abou the Drayson car had to google search it....
pictures are one thing.....the story with it is priceless....
SSS thank VERY MUCH for updates...! and DRIVE SAFELY..:)
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It's official -- the 2013 Shootout has been postponed. Junior Cook called me a couple of minutes ago to announce that at 10.36AM Wendover time -- Mike Cook said the consensus of the teams and drivers and riders and so on, meeting in the hangar, was that the conditions won't be good enough to race in the immediate future. So -
The rain date is 10 - 14 October 2013. Take that information, make your plans, and accept the bummed-out feelings from dang near everyone3 that we didn't make this September event work out. It's been a crappy year, mostly -- what with kinda "iffy" conditions on the tracks at SpeedWeek, Bub's being ended early because of water, WoS being cancelled for that same wetnessosity (my new word for the day), and now the Shootout being put off for at least a bunch of weeks.
Stay tuned, of course, and let's see what happens to the course. There's still World Finals, at the end of September and beginning of October, to be followed by the Shootout. I look forward to seeing you on the salt. Thanks for hanging in there to get this final word. I wish it were better news. But still -- it'll all be good news sooner or later. :cheers: :cheers:
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It's a tough time of the year for drying and
the later it gets the less chance of success.
D A M N I hope I am wrong.
We hope to see you at WF.
FREUD
Target550
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Speedweek may be the "Daytona 500" of the land speed racing community, but the Shoot-Out is like the Olympics.
Hoping for dry, breezy conditions for the next month. There is so much talent, craftsmanship and potential sitting in that hangar.
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......and lots more out of the hangar that will be there when the salt is good.
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......and lots more out of the hangar that will be there when the salt is good.
:cheers:
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Well, Jon, in light of these recent developments, howze about a 2013 World Finals thread, for us salt junkies?
Wunderground is currently showing a 20% chance of precip for Wendover today and tonight, but the radar is back up and it looks OK now. I'm hoping for at least one more trip down there this year!
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Really hated to read this for the Cook's and all racers involved.
Fingers (and everything else) crossed for the October meet.
I'm really glad I made the decision to come home to NC after the WoS was canceled.
Had a great time on our big adventure even though we didn't see any salt.
The USA is a beautiful country!
Gregg
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Really hated to read this for the Cook's and all racers involved.
Fingers (and everything else) crossed for the October meet.
I'm really glad I made the decision to come home to NC after the WoS was canceled.
Had a great time on our big adventure even though we didn't see any salt.
The USA is a beautiful country!
Gregg
Well, it you had made it all the way out to the WOS, here's what you might have seen: me showing some folks from Belgium how to run a 155 ON the trailer!
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Really hated to read this for the Cook's and all racers involved.
Fingers (and everything else) crossed for the October meet.
I'm really glad I made the decision to come home to NC after the WoS was canceled.
Had a great time on our big adventure even though we didn't see any salt.
The USA is a beautiful country!
Gregg
Well, it you had made it all the way out to the WOS, here's what you might have seen: me showing some folks from Belgium how to run a 155 ON the trailer!
Yes sir Mr. Pepperoni, looks like a good clean 155 pass to me! :-D Nice tuck by the way! :cheers:
Gregg
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any news on the shootout? Still the same dates?
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Here is the new belt drive and rear swing arm on the Wheeler liner
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any news on the shootout? Still the same dates?
You gotta keep up with the posts, man. It's been discussed thoroughly in the WF thread, on FaceBook and on my own website's calendar. Check here for the official Land Speed Enterprises site with current date info:
http://landspeedevents.com/blog/ (http://landspeedevents.com/blog/)
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any news on the shootout? Still the same dates?
You gotta keep up with the posts, man. It's been discussed thoroughly in the WF thread, on FaceBook and on my own website's calendar. Check here for the official Land Speed Enterprises site with current date info:
http://landspeedevents.com/blog/ (http://landspeedevents.com/blog/)
DUH I guess I am stupid.....I would guess it would be in a thread entitiled "SHOOTOUT 2013" but what do I know?
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so Ray, How does this work? do you put the cancellation of the World Finals in the Shootout thread and the change in date of the shootout in the World finals thread just to keep us guessing??
CONFUSED!
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any news on the shootout? Still the same dates?
I looked on his web page and just talked to Mike Cook himself:
2013 Bonneville Shootout October 7 – 11, 2013
I assume that setup is on the 6th.
This is a change from what I had heard before so I thought I would post it here.
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HERE is the heat insulation on the the Vance & Hines turbo motor
And the new front ice water tank over and in front of the front wheel
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Why is there not a separate Sam Wheeler thread, moderators?
DW
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Why is there not a separate Sam Wheeler thread, moderators?
DW
There is a Sam thread... he just chose to post pictures here.... Maybe he will post them there also... :cheers:
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Why is there not a separate Sam Wheeler thread, moderators?
DW
There is a Sam thread... he just chose to post pictures here.... Maybe he will post them there also... :cheers:
no thats it for tonight. This software has burned me out and given me so many error messages as I try to post anything, I am going to bed. Maybe tomorrow.
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Maybe the elves who work over night will put things right. It takes a good red for me to stay up and watch the magic.
DW
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I just followed the link to Cook's site for the Shootout and I, too, see the dates have been moved up. It does say 7 - 11 October, doesn't it? I'll call Cook later to confirm or deny the dates. In the meantime -- Dan do you care to let us know what you know about the date for the event? (Dan is the guy that gets to check displacement on the vehicles that qualify for records, so I'd expect that he'd know the date - since he's got to be there).
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The dates have been moved up to October 7-11 of course depending on track conditions and mother nature.
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also...just as an overall fyi on trips to Wendover...
instead of paying sometimes around $200 a night at a crappy hotel
you could fly into Wendover with roundtrip airfare, limo picks you up, stay at
one of the nice casinos, three night accomodations for ......$149 total...no strings attached
when going to the main site wendoverfun.com then flights then in middle of page "departure times"
https://wendoverfun.com/admin/library/dump/Flight_Schedule.pdf
it looks like Stainless could fly in from Wichita for Shootout, whether it happens or not, i hear he has
a motorhome coach to retrieve anyway...others may have similar situations or reasons to drop in during the year..
Joe
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Mike was calling the key competitors this week to see if they could make it on those dates.
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If the Shootout is now scheduled for Monday, Oct. 7, is the drivers' meeting now scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 6?
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Sam attching oil return line to the new ceramic bearing turbo
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Sam in shop.
Body after fresh paint and new sponsor signage
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Weismann custom trans. Low gear for starting and delivers power to jack shaft. Rear suspension is multiple machined pieces.
Intake plenum and throttle body with injector mounts.
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Art expressed with metal.
FREUD
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front water tank carries ice water for the air to water inter cooler. A heat exchanger connects the engine cooling system to the ice water system but the fluids stay separate.
frint wheel is solid aluminum no tire.
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Here's a "Heads up" for our friends coming to the Shoot out from the East:
Utah is actually increasing the speed limit from Exit 99 (Tooele) to the state line; now you can run 80 with no fear.
That is, if the signs are posted.
Won't save a lot of time, but a few minutes here and there can add up.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56883181-90/mph-speed-hull-zones.html.csp
Leave it to the Tribune to hit the wrong key! -^-
Jim
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Long wide view of shop with sam Pondering corner. Body still in green.
Swingarm pieces back from first machining. Sam designs everything in CAD so his drawings can be uploaded to CAM machining.
New chassis pieces. Aluminum lattice is water jet cut.
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Art expressed with metal.
FREUD
Sam is amazing! It is ART! Thanks for noticing.
He schemes all this and draws is and makes it........and then drives the liner. He has farmed out pieces like the pulleys that are pretty exotic, and the water jet cutting and billet machining only because he does not have the equipment. He fortunately has a shop next door where Joe does great CAM work and aluminum fabrication. He knows what transmission, suspension, MoTec guys to trust.
His MoTec system for example measures all engine functions and all suspension funtions and measures everything you can imagine. Even has GPS and HD camera in the cockpit to monitor Sam!
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What a gorgeous job of functional fabrication. Art for sure!
Amazing work Sam!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Pete
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It's going to be almost impossible to achieve todays quality with a cutting torch and a bench grinder.
FREUD
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front water tank carries ice water for the air to water inter cooler. A heat exchanger connects the engine cooling system to the ice water system but the fluids stay separate.
When I visited with Sam in early 2012, he was still imagineering how everything would work in the front with the tanks. Additional weight is needed to offset the amount gained at the rear with Weismann gearbox and a few other items changed/added.
Thanks for posting of the pictures!
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It's going to be almost impossible to achieve todays quality with a cutting torch and a bench grinder.
FREUD
Yeah. You need modern stuff like I've got. My mill is a 12" disk sander and my band saw is one of those HF hand held jobs clamped to my bench. :roll: I'm obviously not in the same class as those guys but doggonit I'm running. :cheers: Wayno
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New rear wheel and rear sprocket. Sprocket was wire EDM machined.
Detail of jackshaft and rear of trans on the left.
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That is very neat stuff but it is kind of a sad note that racing is so hi-tech now, and moved away from the good old hot rodding like us racers did in the past and still do now too
G Don
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Sam is still a Hot Rodder and the modern tools make the parts better and they are not that expensive any more......
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I'm sure not knocking the way Sam does it. I was just playing off of what Freud said. :cheers: Wayno
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That is very neat stuff but it is kind of a sad note that racing is so hi-tech now, and moved away from the good old hot rodding like us racers did in the past and still do now too
G Don
Sam has done this for a long time and has just changed with the times and improved his method of getting things done. :cheers:
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Carbon disk rear brake. Caliper pads are also carbon.....very high end built by Lamb Components. Roger Lamb and Sam built their first streamliner when they were 18.
Roger Lamb and Sam confer on carbon-carbon brake design in their after hours engineering conference room.
Swing arm center section after first machining. Upper section will be shock mount for the horizontal rear shock.
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there is still plenty of opportunity to "hot rod" in the lower classes but when you are pursuing 400 + mph do you really want that? I know I would not want that.
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one old friend from the Los Angeles with 50+ years experience made it very clear to myself a few years ago in regard to Bonneville ala something like this: "Some of the stuff that is spooky and scares you in how it was built -- don't poo-hoo it until it runs down the salt and it might surprise you." (and he smiles!) He then goes on: "Some of that medical grade machinist stuff that is to purty and makes machinists eyes sparkle with dollar signs -- it might go down the salt real slow. Only real important thing is does the total assembly of parts work and is it fast on the salt... nothing else truly matters except for breaking of a speed record..."
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nothing else truly matters except for breaking of a speed record.
Sorry but I would have to add that safety is just as important as breaking records because if we have too many accidents and folks dying there will not be any racing at Bonneville. There are just too many people looking for an excuse to shut down racing at Bonneville and if we have too many incidents the BLM will start to agree with them.
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That is very neat stuff but it is kind of a sad note that racing is so hi-tech now, and moved away from the good old hot rodding like us racers did in the past and still do now too
G Don
Gotta agree with you. I bought a seven axis milling machine that unfortunately bears more than passing resemblance to an angle grinder.
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... Sprocket was wire EDM machined...
Unnecessary; easily machined traditionally (unlike other pieces pictured here). Was it perhaps EDM'd due to lower cost?
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A lot of the time hollowing a part out and making all sorts of lightening grooves and fancy recesses compromises the strength and concentrates stresses. A big ugly looking plain part can often be the better designed piece. Bike triple clamps are an example. Folks hollow out the underside and this is exactly what they should not do.
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Mr. Wheeler,
A dream becomes reality over time.
One Helleva job.
Looking forward to seeing the best of the best on a safe, fast, dry race track in a few days.
My bags are packed as the weather report looks dry for the Cook's Shoot Out.
Ray C Wheeler
Performance Editor
Bikernet.com
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rlague,
Thanks a million for posting all those pix.
viewing your posts is like visiting an Art Museum.
And wheeler & lamb conferring over Bud Lights?
No one is going to tell me those guys aren't hot rodders at heart :cheers:
Carbon disk rear brake. Caliper pads are also carbon.....very high end built by Lamb Components. Roger Lamb and Sam built their first streamliner when they were 18.
Roger Lamb and Sam confer on carbon-carbon brake design in their after hours engineering conference room.
Swing arm center section after first machining. Upper section will be shock mount for the horizontal rear shock.
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... Sprocket was wire EDM machined...
Unnecessary; easily machined traditionally (unlike other pieces pictured here). Was it perhaps EDM'd due to lower cost?
Sam used the supplier and process recommended by the belt manufacturer, GATES. Gates warned that this part is very critical at the RPM it will be running. By the way the jackshaft center is the same as the swing arm so the belt has no changes in tension with suspension travel.
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... Sprocket was wire EDM machined...
Unnecessary; easily machined traditionally (unlike other pieces pictured here). Was it perhaps EDM'd due to lower cost?
Sam used the supplier and process recommended by the belt manufacturer, GATES. Gates warned that this part is very critical at the RPM it will be running. By the way the jackshaft center is the same as the swing arm so the belt has no changes in tension with suspension travel.
This is very interesting. Is it that the surface finish is the more important feature?
I would have thought that small holes for air escape at the root of the groove would be important at high speeds also.
Thanks for posting all this info on Sam's machine.
Frank
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Hello everyone we have dates for oct 7-11 for the shootout I don't know if its been posted here or not so don't hang me if it has. We have had some cars and bikes fall out of the line up but we have add a few in there place also we our offering a few test spots to fill the void if interested call dad or email us stay tuned for an updated entry list
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It's been posted, however it's nice too hear the confirmation from you.
I'm interested in the lineup list, as that may get me off the fence about coming or not.
Rouse
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Hey,
If the salt cooperates the Barnyard Bearcat will be there, searching for that ever elusive wardrobe adjustment. We're still in the trailer from the x'd WF.
Hope that tips your fence enuf.
Knapp
P.S. BTW anyone know how we're (the salt) doin'? I haven't heard any updates
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Not that the sit on bikes are as important as the liners , we even put down tools to watch some of the fast guys run
but Kim, Jim and i cannot attend the later date , work commitments , flights home and shipping arrangements had us running to a tight schedule as it was
Many tempting offers of storing our bikes so we could fly back for the Oct meeting , but it was just not possible
I want to thank the Cooks from all of us , they put in a huge effort to try and have a great course ready for the Sept date , always positive even though the state of the salt and the high chance of rain must have been quite a worry :cheers:
If they have room for a few motorbikes next year we will be there :-D
Last i heard before leaving Al and Jamie are still planning on riding , i am hoping conditions are great and the record smashing can begin
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Sorry to hear that Greg. :cry: See you next time. Say HI for me. Wayno
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I think we should Thank You for your commitment to even attend Bonneville events.
Hurry back.
FREUD
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It was nice to see you all this year. There were a few good days of racing, at least and you saw some pretty country while hiking.
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That would be like thanking a kid for eating sweets or chocolate :-D
Wayno will catch up with you and all our friends we missed this yr ,as is common in salt racing , there's always next year
Bo every year is an adventure, this was no exception
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We would be thrilled to buy one of the test spots.
I sent an email through the link on landspeedevents.com.
We blew up on the third run at Speedweek. We've rebuilt our engine, made a bunch of little changes, and really need data and an opportunity to test our car at 220+.
Thanks Mike!
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Here it is, the Sunday before the start date of the postponed Shootout. I've been watching the weather and while it isn't very warm, and sunny only some days -- it isn't raining either. So maybe there'll be a Shootout after all. I'd sure appreciate it if we'd get an update from Junior or his dad, though.
If I'm going to be there -- and I do plan to be if there is an event -- I need to leave home three days before things start. 1,900 miles don't go past the truck without a bunch of seat time, and doing a straight-through ride of such epic proportions isn't for me any more. Inspection on the 6th, right, and racing 7 - 11 October? That means leave home some time Thursday. Let me know so I can start packing. Thanks. :-D
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SSS, are you pulling rank and asking for special treatment?
Move closer.
Bad boy.
FREUD
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lol
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Whadayamean, Freud? I'm giving up special treatments when I have to leave Nancy at home while I'm going to Bville. Thoe special treatments are what keeps me going while I'm out there. :evil: :roll:
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Jon--That is too much information... :-D PS; My daughter says Hi to Nancy...Caroline really enjoyed their time in the Sales Trailer at Speedweek. Also--it was good to see you and attend Salt Talks for the first time.Yes, it sometimes takes a while for me to filter these things through. I need more Special Treatments myself.... :-P
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Nancy sends her howdy right back to Caroline -- and also "We'll see you again next year."
Thanks for attending Salt Talks, too. Maybe we'll see you again, too.
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Jon,
I have it on good authority that Freud is a little lonely on the salt too.
Maybe you two could get toget....
No wait....ummm....
Oh never mind.
JK
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We're sitting here, at our favorite dry lake, Northwest of Bviile. Been raining and wind blowing like hell. Hope it clears off
in the next couple days. Hard to find a good track to set up our course.
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Jim, Slim & Doc,
That's what the Kilo Klub is for.
DW
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My Kilo Klub dues are paid until Jan 1, 2014 and I plan to
stay here at the club until then.
I've developed the ability to survive on Salt Water.
FREUD
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Hi Freud. I hope you are OK in Washington. Its pretty wet and windy down here. Hopefully this storm will not be blown by the jet stream over to Bonneville.
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Wobbly...Doris and I snuck out on the last flight before
the storm and we are in Palm Springs for this week.
LOVELY...........
FREUD
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Thunder and lightning up here this morning, high winds and lots of rain, hope it doesn't swing south and east.
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For the record, Mc Cleary, Washington is about 1,000 miles from Bonneville. :wink: Wayno
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For the record, Mc Cleary, Washington is about 1,000 miles from Bonneville. :wink: Wayno
Hey Wayno you are exaggerating....it is only 852 miles 8-). I was in the Navy very close to there and it might not actually quit raining there until maybe next June :-), still beautiful country,
Sum
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Got this report a few minutes ago
Shootout course
0 – 2 damp
2 – 3 puddles
3 – 3½ wet no puddles
3½ - 8½ damp/dry
8½ - 9½ dry
9½ -10 wet
10 -11½ dry
11½ - 12 sloppy
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But still no firm "Go/No Go" decission. Senior says we'll see how it looks on Wednesday afternoon. Currently in the 70's and 20-25mph winds.
So the wind is good, but as we all know, the wind is bad.
Hmmmm.... Well, we're still not unloaded from last meet.
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here is another tool to view the water loading of the salt flats, one of our DLRA guys put us onto this to check the Aussie salt and be able to see historical data back to 1999
next pic of Bonneville should be due soon
http://landsatlook.usgs.gov/
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But still no firm "Go/No Go" decission. Senior says we'll see how it looks on Wednesday afternoon. Currently in the 70's and 20-25mph winds.
So the wind is good, but as we all know, the wind is bad.
Hmmmm.... Well, we're still not unloaded from last meet.
Hmmmm..... is right. I'd planned to make another recon visit Thursday, since the weather in the SLC area is supposed to be terrible (snow) but I'll wait to see what happens when Mike Sr. makes his check on Wednesday before I decide on that...or maybe go on Wednesday to get some photos as Mike does his checking.
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Thank You Ray. I hope you are having fun with our German friend :cheers:
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Thank You Ray. I hope you are having fun with our German friend :cheers:
He's up in Montana visiting the Salt Cat folks. Should be back on Thursday.
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I saw where the gubment shutdown is affecting national parks.... Has anybody heard if it will have any effect on an event that takes place on BLM land?
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Possibly. but they're only shuting down "non-essential" services. Which sorta begs the question - If they're not essential, why do we have them?
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Okay, it's not "possibly" anymore it's O-fi-shul. BLM has pulled the permit for the 7-11 dates but (somehow) has re-issued them for the 10-14. Sooooo, weather permitting we will give it a go, then.
Unless of course the Buck Passer in Chief (Harry T. is probably rollin gover in his grave) decides he needs some extra salt for one of his dinner parties.
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Possibly. but they're only shuting down "non-essential" services. Which sorta begs the question - If they're not essential, why do we have them?
National Parks are "non-essential", but i like em. :-D
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Jim, did you get that from Sr or Jr? it is off until the 10th?
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Cooks web site updated today, new dates are 10-10-14- 2013.
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I worked for a car company that would issue a memo before every holiday break that "all non-essential associates" can leave at 12:00pm. All essential associates had to work until 5:00pm. They never told us who was and who was not essential. I never had the security or the stones to admit I was "non-essential" and thus worked until 5pm the eve of every holiday break for 25 years.
:?
BR
Possibly. but they're only shuting down "non-essential" services. Which sorta begs the question - If they're not essential, why do we have them?
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Let me guess. The early leavers, deemed to be "non-essential" in their opinion returned with no consequences.
Government employee mentality. I could not leave early because my ride home, my father, considered himself essential in his own business.
DW
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That reminds me of my first "real" job -- working at the university's public radio station. When I was hired they said I'd be classed as an "exempt" employee. There were exempt, non-exempt, and faculty. So I asked, thinking I was something cool by being exempt -- and was told that I was exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. In other words, I could work all the hours over 40 that I wanted to -- and they didn't have to pay me overtime. Sheesh. . . :-o
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I just talked to Mike Sr. He confirmed that setup is now on Oct 9th, Racing Oct 10-14.
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I had a thought while outside watering.
If we were on the salt now, running the World Finals, would the government send in black helios to arrest us?
DW
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I had a thought while outside watering.
If we were on the salt now, running the World Finals, would the government send in black helios to arrest us?
DW
Depends, are the pilots of the black helicopters essential personnel or not?
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They must be. They still get paid because they are military.
DW
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Due to the lapse in appropriated funds, all public lands managed by the Interior Department (National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management facilities, etc.) will be closed. For more information, FAQs, and updates, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.
Hmmmm.
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Only in the last 5 or 6 years have we even seen a BLM person on the salt, now it is closed because they manage it... hopefully that means the miners can't process all the stuff they drug to the other side of the hiway while the BLM is out. Bet not.
Inflict the most pain on the public... that is how this current regime runs the government when they don't get their give aways. Glad the WW2 vets on the honor flights to DC just cut the yellow tape, pushed aside the barriers erected to close outside monuments like the WW2 Memorial and went in to look anyway.
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not all military or military support civ are considered essential....
even some full time nat'l guard are furloughed....ie considered "non-essential"...
it is interesting how some nat'l park type locations....are closed off...considering many dont
require personnel for them to be accessed....
regardless...the American spirit wont be stifled...least of which includes the "hot rodder" spirit...
kudos' and thoughts with the shootout folks, racers, sponsors, families and THE COOK's.....
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That reminds me of my first "real" job -- working at the university's public radio station. When I was hired they said I'd be classed as an "exempt" employee. There were exempt, non-exempt, and faculty. So I asked, thinking I was something cool by being exempt -- and was told that I was exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. In other words, I could work all the hours over 40 that I wanted to -- and they didn't have to pay me overtime. Sheesh. . . :-o
I thought exempt meant you were salaried. so you don't have to punch in and out........It is illegal in all states to not have you work more than the agreed number of hours.
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How is the salt? Mike going to give us a report today? anybody know.
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Yes, I was salaried -- but I was also told the story about "no such thing as overtime". I worked what hours needed to be worked. Remember, though -- maybe the fact that it was in 1971 meant that the laws were different. Whatever -- I had a fine time, recording all of the big (and small) name bands that showed up for concerts. Pipe organ in a church, with a big choir? Great experience. I even got to do a remote with Wally Keskitalo at the Houghton County Potato Show. Top that!! :cheers: :cheers:
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.......but, I digress. :lol:
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Wow Slim .... Wally Keskitalo ... It just doesn't get any better than that ...
Joe
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.......but, I digress. :lol:
LOL!
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Before I retired from the Guard I was AGR (Active Guard Reserve). I was considered essential then. Now I am a civilian consultant doing the same exact job as before, but now I'm considered Non essential.... Anyhow... I just signed up for unemployment for the very first time in my life. Not a great boost for my inflated ego :>) If this goes on for any length of time I may be opening my dreamt of Machine Shop earlier than I thought.
Smitty :cheers:
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Before I retired from the Guard I was AGR (Active Guard Reserve). I was considered essential then. Now I am a civilian consultant doing the same exact job as before, but now I'm considered Non essential.... Anyhow... I just signed up for unemployment for the very first time in my life. Not a great boost for my inflated ego :>) If this goes on for any length of time I may be opening my dreamt of Machine Shop earlier than I thought.
Smitty :cheers:
Smitty;
Be glad that "non-essential" does not mean the same thing as "expendable". In case anyone doesn't know what that means, read W.L. White's book "They Were Expendable", it's about PT boats in the Philippines early in WW II.
Frankly, I think the most "non-essential" people right now are working in Washington, DC. Best of luck to you.
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I think this is getting off subject.
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I think this is getting off subject.
I agree, I thought this was about the shootout 2013
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I think this is getting off subject.
Of course it would stay more on subject if we got a salt report or some sort of warm fuzzy from Jr or Sr that if the BLM is still on furlough in a week the meet will still be held or not. Some of us are in limbo, waiting to see if we should shift plans again or just throw in the towel for the year. Of course maybe they are communicating to the principals, but something seems to be better than nothing.
OK folks, back on your heads, break's over :cheers:
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I heard that Cook sr. was going tomorrow to make a decision.
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I looked at the Shootout website today and see Roxanne, the BLM lady, has said that the 10 - 14 dates will remain viable even if the shutdown continues. And that means all we've got to do is get the track dry enough to go 400 mph.
I'll look forward to hearing one of the Cook gentlemen giving us an update as soon as possible.
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Are we impatient enough to send our roving reporter.....Ray the Rat on another recon trip?
It is just impatience. We know that Cook will tell us as soon as we can.
Lets see what we fell about sending Ray again.
What do we say. I'll vote with my Pay Pal.
I have very limited patience.
Lets make the call after noon Thursday.
FREUD
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good idea, freud
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I don't think it rained in Wendover yesterday, unless it was a quick brush-by. Right now I don't see any impending storms. There's a nasty one (being called "Winter Storm Atlas") cruisin eastward over Doug & Barb's place in Montana (Salt Cat racing). Pork Pie came back to Utah from visiting them a day early to avoid the storm (he goes back to Germany on Saturday) and said the wind and rain was pretty bad.
I've attached an image from wunderground.com showing the western US. The "big one" is well north of the salt and the only question is whether the front that's shown just to the east of Salt Lake City dropped anything on the salt.
We've (Pork Pie and I) tentatively decided that we're gonna go out this afternoon (and take the rubber boat that's still in the back of the Burb) to see what the situation is. We've got a week before the Shootout and things are by no means finalized.
As far as donations are concerned, people were kind enough to make very generous donations for the last recon trip, so I figger I owe y'all one.
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wunderbar!
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What'a pair.
Thanks Ray and Porkie.......
You should be able to get there fasten with the raised speed limit.
Let Pork Pie drive. They won't bring him back from Germany over a speeding ticket.
Then again, he'd like it if they did bring him back.
Just don't let him post in German.
FREUD
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Thanks guys! The storm totals since yesterday till now....
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?product=NTP&rid=MTX&loop=yes (http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?product=NTP&rid=MTX&loop=yes)
....show just trace amounts of rain north and south of the salt. They do still show a possible 30% chance of showers today but maybe the salt dodged the bullet,
Sum
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What'a pair.
Thanks Ray and Porkie.......
You should be able to get there faster with the raised speed limit.
Let Pork Pie drive. They won't bring him back from Germany over a speeding ticket.
Then again, he'd like it if they did bring him back.
Just don't let him post in German.
FREUD
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Uh Freud, people who quote themselves often end up on the Funny Farm.
I will save you a spot............ One Run, out. :roll:
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Uh Freud, people who quote themselves often end up on the Funny Farm.
I will save you a spot............ One Run, out. :roll:
I was thinking the same thing!
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Yeah, 'cept Freud's not funny.
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The Quote wasn't intentional.
Sorry to inconvenience you.
Next time just skip over it and find
humor in the Friday Funnies posts.
Apparently I am the only poster to make
a mistake and not correct it.
FREUD
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FrUd, You make so few, we have to jump on you when we find the rare time s*it happen :cheers:
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We just got back from the salt a little while ago. Here's a short version of the report:
Temperature: low 50s.
Wind: 30-50 mph. (real frikkin windy.)
Salt condition: Not bad. Some moisture between the 3 and 4, the rest is hard and dry...almost. We ran from the 2 mile marker, used Cook's mile posts as reference points. We went out to the 11, maybe 11 1/4 where it was wet again.
Photos: From Lands End. The only standing water we saw was 2 small pools there.
Shot of the salt surface at the 2, hard, solid, smooth.
Pork Pie at the 10, salt hard, dry, smooth.
At the 11 1/4, wet, looks like it wasn't graded any farther and I didn't wanna sink the Burb up to its axles, so we chose discretion and headed back.
Longer report coming up when I get the photos on a server.
Bottom line: For me, the wind was a bigger problem than the moisture. But that's just me.
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FeRd, never sweat the small stuff
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FeRd, never sweat the small stuff
No really :cheers:
:-D
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Thank you two for the pictures and the report That helps a lot. I still have the tank filled with diesel and the bags packed and my fingers crossed. Have a safe trip back home Pork pie. It was good to see you again.
Howard
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Some Photos I shot today are here:
http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20131003 (http://raytherrat.smugmug.com/20131003)
I'd put 'em here, but I'm too tired. Need sleep.
Third image from the last is mile 11. The tongue counts. :)
The last image is past the 11 1/4 where I don't think it was dragged.
I've included 2 more images here. I guess I'm not very observant, cuz I've never seen this line of pilings before. I don't think they liked being in the salt very much.
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Thanks Ray.
The only important part now is Mike Cook's decision.
We just have to wait for that before Treit and Davenport can make their call.
I've been looking for a double deck OlD Maid card game to pass the time.
FREUD
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The last one looks almost like the porcupines have been at it except I can't see them venturing that far out on the salt. :? :? :?
Pete
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(http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13141.0;attach=43340;image)
I might be wrong but I think that is the line of old telephone lines that Craig Breedlove barely missed and then ended up in the salt pond on his last run in 1964. The interstate wasn't there then and they ran very close to what is now the truck stop and the brine he ended up in would of been about where the interstate is now by the potash plant if I'm guessing right.
Here is more....
http://www.samuelhawley.com/lsrphotosspirit5.html
.... and I think I've seen a youtube video on it also.
Someone else might have more detail,
Sum
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After looking at the Sam Hawley site, I think (and so does PP) the poles shown there are these (at about the 1.5 mile mark) which cross the dike:
(I made that shot last year at the Shootout.)
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I'm not sure if those are the Craig Breedlove poles, but I know where they are, Ray. I use 'em as a landmark when I'm driving around at the end of the Int'l course - them and also the underground stream that crosses the course in the same general area. Supposedly I've seen one of the old crossarms from a pole -- again, supposedly, a crossarm/pole that he hit with his car. Is it really? Who noze, these days. It's a nice little story, though.
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Any more news on conditions?
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My Father Mike Cook Sr will be arriving in Wendover around 3;30 AM at first light he is going to look at all and every possibility for an OCT 10 Start.
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Time passes s l o w in Wendover.
FREUD
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Especially if one is waiting for the salt to dry in Oct.
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And not only are we waiting, but I hear there's a snowstorm in nw Sought Dakota. The NoDak forecast isn't bad, nor is the Montana, but still -- take a look at the weather for just west of Yellowstone for a few days from now -- snow above 6100 feet. And guess who goes through that neighborhood -- at about 6,800 feet? I don't mind a bit of snow, but if I'm trying to make time -- the white stuff doesn't help. It'd be okay if I had the snow tires on the pickup already -- but I don't. :-(
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Jon, have you considered going a bit South? According to Yahoo Maps it's even shorter. Actually a bit longer but quicker. And if it misses the storm.....Wayno
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Yup. We've taken most of the various roads from home to the salt - including I-80 and I-70 and once even we crossed way down on I-10. I prefer the northern route for the reduced traffic and somewhat more gentle hills. Yes, I realise that driving out there this time of year will likely not involve lots of vacation travelers. It's a few miles longer, I think -- like its 1,830 by way of North Dakota and Montana and Idaho - vs. Nebraska and Wyoming and about 1,800 even or so. We've been taking I-94/I-90 for the past three or four years and are used to it - know which towns to call ahead of time to get motels, etc.
But -- here it is, nearly 6.45PM, and still nothing. I just finished power washing the back steps -- thinking maybe if I spent some time doing chores that the word would come down from on high. Nope. :?
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Jon, I'm in the same boat. It's just a closer boat. :wink: Wayno
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Me too.
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And Ray and myself make at least 4.
Jim
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Jon, we had quite storm here in wester SD....lots of rain thurs...then 31 inches
of snow thru sat, in Rapid City, 43 inches in the Black Hills...but here in RC and
I-90 melting quickly...interstate should be dry in a day or so...
you know you and any other LSR's are welcome to stay at our place in Rapid City if ever
coming through....
plenty of "Monuments to see"...you can help me relocate some cones the Fed Govt. ordered
to be placed along the shoulder of the public Highway to block people from "views" of Mt. Rushmore (apparently
closing access to the monument wasnt inflicting enough pain)...
ok pot stirrer...on standby...
thoughts again with the Shootout racers and THE COOKS...!
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Well, well -- so much for Junior calling me to tell me the news. Nancy just saw this on her Facebook page:
Mike Cook's Land Speed Shootout
Its on fellas!
Unless something changes the Shootout will begin on Thursday Morning. Watch this space tomorrow for another update. The accompanying photos were taken at the 3-mile looking toward floating mountain and back toward the highway.
10/06/13 5:00 pm
...
So there you have it. Now I've got to figure out how to get there - if I can get there at all - in time. I admit I wasn't expecting to go -- have the sale of the business (storage biz) to attend to. I'll see if that can be put off a week or so.
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:cheers: Hubba Hubba See you all there
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Howard, Johnboy and I are looking forward to seeing you again.
Jim, we can help if you need crewdogs.
See ya on the salt 8-)
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I've heard from an "unnamed source" that Mike Sr. is moving ahead, planning to run the event, but as of today (Sunday) there are only 4 or 5 miles of useable salt. Another call is to be made tomorrow (Monday) which could be the final word, since we ain't got much time left. Mike has a permit that expires on the 14th, so things is still up in the air...more or less. 'Course if the gummint is still shut down, how would they be able to do anything if it went a day or 2 longer? Aren't all the BLM rangers furloughed until further notice?
Only half-kidding,
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Talked to Mike a couple of hours ago it's on Denis wll be there Tuesday dragging Mike will be dragging Wendsday. Set up Wendsday run Thursday.
Always go to Mikes website fo the latest Information
http://landspeedevents.com/blog/
Confirmed entries so far:
Cars:
Speed Demon, Sperit of Rhett and Barnyard Bearcat
Bikes:
Wheeler, BUB, Ack Attack, Al Lamb and Jamie Williams
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'Course if the gummint is still shut down, how would they be able to do anything if it went a day or 2 longer? Aren't all the BLM rangers furloughed until further notice?
I think all the Law Enforcement types are considered "essential", so they'll still be working.
As a lowly aircraft inspector, I'm "non-essential" and furloughed, so see you there!
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Talked to Mike a couple of hours ago it's on. Set up Wendsday run Thursday.
So, does that mean Drivers' Meeting in the pits at 5pm on Wednesday?
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Bummer -- I couldn'tget my phone to work wi-fi so had to find a McDonalds to p9ost this.
Mike Cook called me a while ago with a report on the salt. It's not ready yet -- there's the long and short of it. From the 0 to the 7 it's hard and fine for racing -- but from the seven to about the 10 or so it's wet enough that -- while you can't see water on the surface, drive down it and you'll see water filling the tire tracks. That's not good.
The weather forecast is favorable for drying -- some winds today and high in the upper 70s - so maybe it'll continue to get better.
Mike says they've got the course pretty well set up. All of the cones are in place, and the PVC for the mile markers is there. He also said that, just for a test, he dragged the cutting drag -- not the polishing one - for a abot a mile over near the dike (where it wouldn't interfere with the race track. He said he found good salt and not water -- so that's a good sign, too.
Akatiff, Manning, Nearburg -- they're all still looking forward to racing. There well may be others -- but I was driving in the boonies and couldn't write 'em all down. So -- stay tuned. I'll post whenever I get more information. IOn the meantime -- I'm about 150 miles or so from home, about to cross into Wisconsin from the U.P. I look forward to seeing you on the salt.
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even though we had 3-4 ft of snow here in western SD....I - 90 should be good to go
by the time you may come through....77 degrees here today....:).....
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even though we had 3-4 ft of snow here in western SD....I - 90 should be good to go
by the time you may come through....77 degrees here today....:).....
Crazy, it was 74 this morning at Mt Rushmore, lets go mess with those cones! :-D :evil:
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Hey, SSS, not that it would matter anyway since the Bearcat is loaded (and the driver and crew becoming so). We are heading up tomorrow unless we get a DEFINITE NO. But I'm not sure what diff it makes if M.C. drags near the dike. The report is that the northbound course is good, meaning up through the end of the trap (mile 6). Dragging "near the dike" means about mile 2 - 3, part of the "good part" anyway.
Now I KNOW M.C. had a good reason to do this so this is not to flame him but wouldn't it be more informative to drag out near the 7 - 8, (in the region where there is no dike) so we could get a reading in the areas where we need one?
Jess wunderin'.
Jim
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Jim, the dragging near the dike wa mostly to see if the drag would damage the course there -- before he'd move to the real race course. I guess I should have been clearer.
So -- now it's about 4.20 Wendover time - 6.20 here in west central Minnesota. Mike just called. The car people have decided that they will not take a chance on the course becoming good enough to race. As of 4PM Mountain time, the F I A meet is cancelled for this year. Cancelled. No more waiting 'til further word, or until Wednesday. No F I A meet in 2013.
Mike said that Mike Akatiff is willing to wait more,m and Denis is, too. Denis will be arriving on the salt tomorrow, and between him and Ack and Cook they'll decide if they can find a place to run the bikes. Maybe on the same course -- maybe not? So therefore the FIM part of the meet IS NOT cancelled - at least at this time - 6.27 Minnesota. Dan Warner is there with Cook, as is Tiny Roberts, and with Manning -- they make a pretty danged good crew to assess the salt and try to make it worthwhile for racing.
No to FIA, so far YES to FIM. Stay tuned.
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So -- now it's about 4.20 Wendover time - 6.20 here in west central Minnesota. Mike just called. The car people have decided that they will not take a chance on the course becoming good enough to race. As of 4PM Mountain time, the F I A meet is cancelled for this year. Cancelled. No more waiting 'til further word, or until Wednesday. No F I A meet in 2013.
No to FIA, so far YES to FIM. Stay tuned.
Good to hear. Safety first.
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maybe they can change the shootout poster from all cars...to all bikes...?...
cheap shot...couldnt resist...
thoughts cont. for the remaining racers, friends, families and THE COOKS...!!!
also wondering about project 550..?...
and confirmation of Mr. Sam Wheeler...listed yesterday as confirmed ..
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Quote from Mike just now: "Does nobody do any work? Is everyone reading that internet thing?"
I guess I'm busted.
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See the latest on facebook and the shoot out web site
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:-( I hate to do this but since Charles won't be running my old car I guess I am not coming. Let's face it, that was my main motivation for being there. Even tho a lot of changes have been made I still can't help calling it my old car.
I have more than enough important stuff to do at home with 40 acres to look after so I guess I will look forward to seeing you all next year. Be safe and see you later.
Howard
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Hi everyone, John Baechtel here. I'm a racer and 2-club member helping Mike Cook with the Shootout.
I manage the Shootout web site and and I'm also a co-administrator along with Cook Jr. on the facebook page. That's me whose been making all those posts and updates you see. I am in direct contact with Mike almost all the time so what you see on facebook or the web site is based on Mikes current thinking at any given time. We are trying to post accurate information as often as possible or as soon as we know it. As noted by Ray and Slim, the FIA portion of the shootout is fully canceled. The 7-9 mile is still too damp for heavier high horsepower cars. We may still be able to run the motorcycles and that will be determined on Wednesday when Mike examines the course with Mike Akatiff, Denis Manning and some of the others. If you have questions between now and then you can send them to me at jbedit1@aol.com. I check it frequently and will try to get you an answer as quickly as possible. My function is to try to take some of the load off of Mike so he can maintain focus on the Shootout and course prep. I'd be happy to help anyone here to the best of my ability.
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So -- now it's about 4.20 Wendover time - 6.20 here in west central Minnesota. Mike just called. The car people have decided that they will not take a chance on the course becoming good enough to race. As of 4PM Mountain time, the F I A meet is cancelled for this year. Cancelled. No more waiting 'til further word, or until Wednesday. No F I A meet in 2013.
No to FIA, so far YES to FIM. Stay tuned.
Good to hear. Safety first.
Right on, Mark. If it can't be done safely, there's no sense in putting peoples' lives and limbs in danger.
Joe, I emailed Marlo, who called me and asked a couple of questions, at which time some form of electromagnetic Armageddon took place and my computers and phone (cell) went completely apesh*t. As I was rebooting everything, he called and left voicemail telling me that he was gonna call Cook. I haven't heard back from him, but I've been on the phone a lot (yeah, I got call waiting) and I figger that like other 4-wheeled FIA teams, he's gonna stay at home. He might show up at the November El Mirage meet, but that would be to support another car/team.
I haven't decided if I'm gonna go to do the photo thing or even go to ElMo for that meet. Right now, I'm tryin to decompress after all the mental/emotional ups and downs. I know that I'm only 120 miles from the salt, but it's still been a roller coaster...I can only begin to imagine what it's been like for others. As you said, my good thoughts and positive vibrations +++++~~~~~ to Mike Cook(s) for all the effort they've put into it and workin so hard to make the meet happen in the face of some nasty Ma Nature-type adversity...and having the integrity to call it off when safety could be at stake. :cheers:
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If the meet does go on is sam wheeler still going to be there.
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If we are going to have a baby what will it be?
FREUD
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...one with a Dodge feverish smile...intent to cause mayhem...funloving as heck...naked...
straddling something......
modified: when i say "feverish" i mean a smile that expresses a very devilish look but a very
angelic heart.......
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.... I still can't help calling it my old car....
You definitely have the right to call it that :-). I still have the build pictures I took from your build scrapbook,
Sum
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I will be in Wendover tomorrow early to go over the course with Mike. Denis will be out later in the day. We will try to make a call by tomorrow evening if the bike event is canceled. So far it is a go I have AMA and FIM officials flying in Wendsday. Mike may run some cars that want to test and tune.
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If the meet does go on is sam wheeler still going to be there.
The KillaJoule electric sidecar streamliner team will also be there. The trailer is (still) packed and we are ready to leave Colorado Wednesday morning.
With "only" 300 HP, 1600 lbs, three wheels and a target speed of "only" 225 mph we have higher tolerance for track conditions many (most?) of the other streamliners. As long as it doesn't rain and there is no standing water, we can run. :-)
// Eva Hakansson & Bill Dube'
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Hi everyone, John Baechtel here. I'm a racer and 2-club member helping Mike Cook with the Shootout.
I manage the Shootout web site and and I'm also a co-administrator along with Cook Jr. on the facebook page. That's me whose been making all those posts and updates you see. I am in direct contact with Mike almost all the time so what you see on facebook or the web site is based on Mikes current thinking at any given time. We are trying to post accurate information as often as possible or as soon as we know it. As noted by Ray and Slim, the FIA portion of the shootout is fully canceled. The 7-9 mile is still too damp for heavier high horsepower cars. We may still be able to run the motorcycles and that will be determined on Wednesday when Mike examines the course with Mike Akatiff, Denis Manning and some of the others. If you have questions between now and then you can send them to me at jbedit1@aol.com. I check it frequently and will try to get you an answer as quickly as possible. My function is to try to take some of the load off of Mike so he can maintain focus on the Shootout and course prep. I'd be happy to help anyone here to the best of my ability.
Thanks John B.
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Eva,
You are such a stud!!! We are so lucky to have you in the LSR motorcycle ranks.
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I will be in Wendover tomorrow early to go over the course with Mike. Denis will be out later in the day. We will try to make a call by tomorrow evening if the bike event is canceled. So far it is a go I have AMA and FIM officials flying in Wendsday. Mike may run some cars that want to test and tune.
Could you clarify the part about cars and test & tune? I'd love to run my Camaro, but it's a street car and additionally I can't afford the FIA, etc. fees.
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Update: Mid-day, Tuesday 10/8
Cook reports some water blew in from the edges overnight, but the sun is bright and the wind is blowing so the damp sections are still drying out. Mike Akatiff and Manning haven't arrived yet so Mike is cruising up and down checking for damp spots. He remains optimistic about making the final call tomorrow. It will be a mutual decision with input from the racers. Most of the racing surface is already good, but there is still concern about the damp section between the 7 and the 9 mile. We will try to update again late today after we see how well the sunshine and wind improve the course. It's not bad, just a bit soft in spots and we want to see that improve. Watch this space for updates later today. The latest information will also be on the facebook page and the web site at www.landspeedevents.com
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what a terrible year for weather. First Bubs get called short due to rain, then WOS and finals are cancelled and now at best the Shootout will be bikes only. I hope all the racers that had their plans cancelled this year are able to run next year!!
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Thanks to the Cook's and everyone else who put so much effort into trying to make this happen. Sometimes Mother
Nature just wins but it was not due to lack of effort.
Howard :cheers:
Howard
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Attention Racers!!!!
Tuesday 5:30 PM
Pack your bags and fill the gas tank!
Cook just called from the salt after an extensive inspection of the course with Mike Akatiff and Denis Manning. They are all happy with the condition of the track, stating that there are 8-1/2 miles currently perfect and with southeasterly winds pushing the remaining moisture up against the mountains they expect 11 miles by Thursday. Sun is out and wind is still doing its job. Unless the great flood happens tonight there will be racing on Thursday. See the web site for comments by Akatiff and Manning.
Participants will include the streamliners of Akatiff, Manning, Sam Wheeler and the KillaJoule team, plus Al Lamb and Jamie Williams plus a few others that are trying to make it. Mike says they will announce a time for the riders meeting later on Wednesday because they don't know for sure when everyone is arriving. Cook has spent two days and four tanks of fuel figuring out a course and the best shot is straight down the middle. Final prep takes place tomorrow. Apologies to Slim and Ray. Mike's been meaning to call , but when the others got there they went straight to the salt and he called me after their inspection. They're still out there right now. Next update tomorrow unless Mike calls again later tonight.
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FIM/AMA only or is the salt too unstable for cars?
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Ray,
Yes FIM only. No cars will run.
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Great news!!! Thanks for the update. -Dean
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Yes thanks for the update
Wishing fine weather and fast runs for all
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I can picture the smile on Denis' face. BUB 7 has a tilt at the outright record :-) and poor Mike C has to take the plaudits for running a meeting along the lines of the bike only BUB :-D
Good luck to all those taking part - but leave the big number on the table so the Brits can be there in 2014 (adding three contenders to the list of very fast motorcycles).
Malcolm. Derby, England
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I can picture the smile on Denis' face. BUB 7 has a tilt at the outright record :-) and poor Mike C has to take the plaudits for running a meeting along the lines of the bike only BUB :-D
Good luck to all those taking part - but leave the big number on the table so the Brits can be there in 2014 (adding three contenders to the list of very fast motorcycles).
Malcolm. Derby, England
Tell more about the 3 British contenders.
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Being one of the poor folk, I'm not sure how the finances for the Shootout work.
In 2010 it was $5,000 to run. I also remember hearing it was a prorated cost depending on the number of participants. I think $40,000 total cost to run the event.
In any case, with the cancellation of the cars, Mike Cook has spent a huge amount of time and effort and money to schedule, and re-schedule the event and certainly isn't going to make any money.
It's the uncertain life of any race promoter when the weather has a great deal to do with your success.
I hope this doesn't jeopardize future events.
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Sponsorship helps. Next time I need a battery, I'll look for a Varta.
http://www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb
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:? :? :? Has any of the VERY fast UK streamliners ever made a run ?
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Okay here's the latest direct from Cook at 10 AM. The track is completely dry now and they have commenced re-dragging the entire course. A meeting was held with all the racers in attendance and it was agreed to take a little more time prepping the track now that it's dry. Some of the timing people will not be arriving until Thursday afternoon. As a group they have all agreed to use Thursday as a prep day and commence running Friday morning. The weather is not currently an issue, but it was important to agree on expenses and ensure that all the proper timing people are on hand. This is a minor delay to ensure that everything is perfectly in order. Some participants are not arriving until late today and also need Thursday time to get setup. So Friday morning is race day. Someone asked about any of the UK streamliners. I'm not aware that any are in attendance at this time. will speak with Mike again about 5:00 PM and post any changes.
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Tell more about the 3 British contenders.
All three team leaders were in Wendover last month to meet Mike Cook and their US competitors.
Richard Brown - Jet Reaction - rider has been out on to UK airfields, but the British weather has been as poor as that in the USA. So speed progress with the new bike has been slow. Richard has anticipated breaking his own UK record (214 mph) before travelling overseas. This man is the fastest person in the UK on two wheels having ridden the GM3C rocket bike to an average 333mph (one way) and a peak speed of 365 mph in 1999 on Bonneville. I await the usual flaming for this not being a motorbike!
James Toseland - The 52 Express - rider has a trainer bike to learn the skills of controlling a streamliner in a recumbent position. He was of course a Superbike and Moto GPrider. Alex McFadzean and the team are assembling this gas turbine powered machine. Project Manager Robin has given information here and the team need to raise funds for a trip to either South Africa or to the shootout. There is a closeness with the management of Bloodhound SSC, because Robin was on the Thrust SSC team and introduced Richard Noble to the internet; raised sponsorship and set up and ran the Mach1 supporters club for that project (second largest cash sponsor in the late 90's).
Gabriel Uttley - Angelic Bulldog - 2013 has not been an easy year to get this U8 engined bike completed, but when I last met Gabriel he was smiling and is looking forward to 2014. Gabriel has ridden the South African built trainer bike - Motivator - on Verneuk Pan, so knows desert and recumbent riding, but has used conventional bikes when racing on Bonneville. His team need to raise the travel costs once the bike is running.
As Jon knows, these projects and many more are followed by the Speed Record Club - www.speedrecordclub.com and this time I am not working with any of the these three.
Malcolm Derby, England
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Very interesting.
Are any of the vehicles FIM legal? It does not sound like they are motorcycle engine powered.
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Very interesting.
Are any of the vehicles FIM legal? It does not sound like they are motorcycle engine powered.
Come on Lague,,,,, Turbine and Jet Propulsion have classes. Page 12-18 of FIM rule book.
Category IV - Special Vehicles not propelled by wheels in contact with the ground
Group Y - Specials
Streamliners - Type X - Other Propulsion
JonAmo
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Hey, hey, HEY!!! I made it. I'm in the motel in Wendover, 1,840 miles from home. A pleasant drive, to be sure. Would have been pleasanter if Nancy had been along, but still -- here I am.
So I just now called Mike Cook - and woke him from a nap (sorry, Mike). He said this bad news:
Yesterday things looked fine - nice and dry. This morning, though, the sun was out and managed to draw water up - so the 5 - 7 area is back to wet. Or was wet and has dried out now. But dry enough to race? That's yet to be determined tonight. After nap time Mike's going out there for an evening look-see, and I'll see if I can bum a ride with him so I can get a first-hand look at conditions.
I drove through rain for about an hour from SLC on the way out here on I-80, but here it's just cloudy and there's not much wind. Here's a link to the radar map just now:
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=mtx&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no
40% chance of rain tonight and tomorrow, but again -- that's a 60% chance of no rain. I'll stay in touch now -- no more long stretches driving and no internet service. Stay tuned.
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Slim --- you should get frequent flyer points ... that is 3 trips this year to the salt flats?
Joe
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Very interesting.
Are any of the vehicles FIM legal? It does not sound like they are motorcycle engine powered.
Come on Lague,,,,, Turbine and Jet Propulsion have classes. Page 12-18 of FIM rule book.
Category IV - Special Vehicles not propelled by wheels in contact with the ground
Group Y - Specials
Streamliners - Type X - Other Propulsion
JonAmo
those are airplanes without wings and not REAL motorcycles!!!
I knew I could stir something up here!!!!
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uh....two of them are WHEEL DRIVEN....:)
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Joe, I drove out here, flew home and back, drove home, and now have driven out here and will drive back. Ah, for the year that we rented an apartment here. It was cheap (and the next year the owner of the apartments tripled the price!), and we didn't have the issues of moving so much luggage back and forth. Whatever -- here I am again.
So Mike and Tommy Roberts and I visited the salt this evening. First impression out there at 7.30 or 8PM -- boyoboy is it dark out. But by following markers and finding landmarks they'd put out -- we found the course. It really is great for the first half dozen miles so good that it would be fine for racing without being dragged. Wheelpacked, yes, to tighten up the little bit of loose salt on the surface, but no need to drag. And then we got to the 7 or so and there began to be a bit of noise from the tires -- like maybe the salt wasn't bone dry. And by the eight there was no doubt about it -- the tire tracks from earlier today were wet. Not deep water -- but there was some. And in other tracks we saw the little "potholes" (you've all seen 'em out there) with standing water in them - in tire tracks. By the way - most of the driving we did was on the return road -- so we didn't even take a chance of farkling the surface of the course per se. I tried taking photos but the flash didn't illuminate enough to give you any indication of the surface, so I also took a shot of the rear tires of Cook's truck. That's the photo you see here, and you can see how wet and shiny it is. The other shot is of the 8 mile cone and post - and you can see the wind is blowing enough to make the tape stand almost straight out. The wind might do some good overnight.
And there you have it. Tomorrow they'll be out again by 8 or so to see what can be done. I'll do what I can to keep you informed. G'night.
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Brighter but not distorted.
The image is very small.
Still look at the ribbon.
FREUD
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Very interesting.
Are any of the vehicles FIM legal? It does not sound like they are motorcycle engine powered.
Come on Lague,,,,, Turbine and Jet Propulsion have classes. Page 12-18 of FIM rule book.
Category IV - Special Vehicles not propelled by wheels in contact with the ground
Group Y - Specials
Streamliners - Type X - Other Propulsion
JonAmo
those are airplanes without wings and not REAL motorcycles!!!
I knew I could stir something up here!!!!
Really.. Really.. you want to get into that debate. Define real motorcycle for me then please.
JonAmo
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Current weather forecast for Wendover. If we get past tomorrow we're probably good.
Overnight Scattered showers. Cloudy, with a low around 46. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph after midnight.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. West wind around 6 mph.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43. South southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Columbus Day Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 55.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
(http://landspeedevents.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/shootout-weather.jpg)
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Very interesting.
Are any of the vehicles FIM legal? It does not sound like they are motorcycle engine powered.
Come on Lague,,,,, Turbine and Jet Propulsion have classes. Page 12-18 of FIM rule book.
Category IV - Special Vehicles not propelled by wheels in contact with the ground
Group Y - Specials
Streamliners - Type X - Other Propulsion
JonAmo
those are airplanes without wings and not REAL motorcycles!!!
I knew I could stir something up here!!!!
Really.. Really.. you want to get into that debate. Define real motorcycle for me then please.
JonAmo
No! Just my opinion. And I am too old to change.
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Thursday 8:00 AM The rain did hit the course last night and Mike reports that the track is wet again beyond the 7 mile but appears okay up to there and farther down. Just wet in that one area. He is doing an inspection right now and say Akatiff and the racers want to wait it out based on the weather prediction. This report is sketchy, but will update again in a few hours after a thorough inspection. The moisture problem is right in the area of maximum speed where they would be throwing the chute out. Not a good spot spot for poor stability. sorry to be so ague at the moment but need a few hours to assess the track. I will update the web site now and Slim may also be filling an update here later on. It's a nail biter, but what can we do but wait? :?
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If you look at the current radar and the rotation of the big system to the east and the forecast radar maps, its gonna rain hard there within a couple of hours or so. :(
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Slim,
If my arithmetic is correct you have over 10,000 miles in commuting back and forth just this year. Probably same last year. We all appreciate your dedication to the website that we link to this casual insanity.
Joe
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Good morning/noon, girls and boys. I agree with Mr. 2Club -- it sure doesn't look very promising today. I haven't gone to the salt yet - but when I got up a few hours ago the hood of my truck was wet - from the overnight rain here in town. A quick look just now at the radar doesn't look too good, either.
So I went to fetch our race trailer from the storage in W. Wendover, and there it was, all fine and dandy and lonesome - waiting to be taken home. I've heard that others had break-in problems with stored stuff, but the SSS rig was/is fine. I've dropped the trailer here at the motel now and will head out to the salt in a little while.
I'll fill you folks in with what I learn while I'm out there. In the meantime -- Hi-yo, Silver. Away!!
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It's about 1PM out here -- at something like the 11 1/2 of the race course. I took some photos, but they're not very good and I can't see to edit them in the bright light. Maybe later - or maybe I'll send 'em to Freud. But that'll be later.
For now, here's your in-person report. I got to the course at about the 2 -- where the Cook trailer is parked (as a landmark). I shot the breeze with a handful of racers, and we noticed that the salt surface was kind of damp. Not bad, but definitely not hard and dry. Then I headed towards Floating Island, paralleling the course (but on the access road - no need to farkly up the race course just in case, you know). Things were damp enough that I could hear the slushy sound of the tires on the salt, but that's about all -- 'til I got to somewhere around the 5. From there I could see water in the tire tracks. At the end of the measured mile there's no question -- it was WET. I kept driving, and somewhere around the 8 or 8 1/2 it got a bit dryer. Not too bad -- but still, some water at the surface.
Then I got to the end of the course -- the 11. I could see that the course, although not dragged recently out here, was very good looking 'til about the 11 1/4 -- where it looked rough. I got there (here) and it isn't really that rough, but it is really that wet. Slushy. In fact, it's wet enough that the truck was squirming around a bit as I drove on it, and I was leaving big tire tracks. (I did think about the good thing -- I've got 4WD to fall back on if I needed it, but didn't want to have to use it). So I turned about and am pointing back down the course as I type. I see, now that I look out after sitting here for ten minutes, and see the tire tracks I just made are not only full of water, but it's dirty water -- the salt must be very thin out this far, and there's enough water to make splash marks as I drove through it. I'll get a photo of them, too, just so you can see it.
I'm the only one out here (other than that family) - haven't seen Cook's truck or anyone else. I drove past the airport this morning but didn't see any life at the Enola Gay hangar, although since it was closed and the gated fence is locked, I couldn't go in for a closer inspection.
And that's it for now. I'll check back in later whedn I've been to the freeway end.
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Very interesting.
Are any of the vehicles FIM legal? It does not sound like they are motorcycle engine powered.
Only Gabriel is using an engine derived from a motorcycle power unit. But as Joea has already stated, all three fully meet classes within the FIM. Even the thrust powered class exists for all to run in (what has happened to Mike Charlton?), because of the effort that Richard and I put in directly with the FIM in 1998/1999. It was Denis M who wanted us to differentiate the 'rocket' bike from his wheeldriven entry at that time by not calling it a 'motorcycle' - but the FIM does.
Malcolm, Derby, England
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Another thread jack while waiting:
Two of the brit bikes are motors driving the rear wheel and one in front...that is a motorcycle...!, the other is at least a jet/rocket bike ...
its like arguing that sams front solid wheel is not a motorcycle tire ... cuz it was purposely designed and built one off...
tough time to ask...BUT many of us compete for limited spots at jobs for vaca time , a year in advance orvits gone......any ideas known about possible Shootout dates for 2014...
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Another thread jack while waiting:
its like arguing that sams front solid wheel is not a motorcycle tire ... cuz it was purposely designed and built one off...
Then what about Mike's M/T car tires on the Ack Attack? They are not motorcycle tires.
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Nevermind it was an analogy...eluding to discrediting others with two wheeled liners that are wheel driven
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Here's some more from my adventure on the salt today. To sum it up in a few words -- the worst spot -- the wettest track -- was the north half (last half) of the measured mile/kilo. Great -- right where the vehicles are going their fastest of the entire run. Not where I'd want to run at most any speed and have the tires break loose in the standing water.
I did go down to the 0 - near the freeway. I discovered they're taking advantage of every possible bit of the course -- 'cause the survey pin is about fifteen feet from the dirt dike. I'll put the photos in here after I post this text. Here's the photo-- and I guess the pin is about 20 feet from the dike:
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1030005_zps0993d437.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1030005_zps0993d437.jpg.html)
While I was down there Mike Akatiff and Ken Puccio drove up, doing their noontime scouting expedition. We commiserated for a while. Nothing much to report from that little kaffe klatsch. I did see that the tires of my truck had broken the crust a little bit -- and with that I could see that the salt is about 1/4 inch think there. Yes, it's thin -- but a coupe of years ago it was all mud there. Even at this year's SpeedWeek it wasn't looking as good as it did today. I'll go out on a limb and say that something -- be it the salt gods or the pumping program -- something has made the salt's area a bit bigger.
Here's a batch of pictures taken (mostly) at the far end of the course, and as I was driving to there. The photos tell the story by themselves.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020997_zps8f1418c9.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020997_zps8f1418c9.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020998_zps0d5746e5.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020998_zps0d5746e5.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1030003_zps7cc6c48c.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1030003_zps7cc6c48c.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1030001_zpsee49fd06.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1030001_zpsee49fd06.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020992_zps0a502ca2.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020992_zps0a502ca2.jpg.html)
And here's a pair of them showing how little salt has accumulated on the mudflaps, and - if you can look very closely and see what I was trying to show --= water droplets coming off the flap.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1030004_zps40628486.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1030004_zps40628486.jpg.html)
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/P1020993_zpsb8ca391f.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/P1020993_zpsb8ca391f.jpg.html)
That, my friends, is all for now. But don't worry -- I will return.
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Here's what it looks like out on the salt at 7.30PM these days.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/IMG_0041_zpsc2d27bb2.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/IMG_0041_zpsc2d27bb2.jpg.html)
This is pointing towards Wendover, really. If you look carefully about the middle of the shot you can see the wet spots reflecting a bit of light -- and demonstrating the size of the puddle/wet spot.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/IMG_0043_zps940a911e.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/IMG_0043_zps940a911e.jpg.html)
Another shot using the headlights of the truck. Not such a good photo, but I'm trying to let you know that the salt is just about as wet now as it was at noon today.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/IMG_0042_zps142f056c.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/IMG_0042_zps142f056c.jpg.html)
And finally, here's my regular shot of a milepost stake with the ribbon blowing out to the side. At this point the wind was coming in from about the ESE.
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202013/IMG_0040_zpsfa2bef99.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/user/SeldomSeenSlim/media/Shootout%202013/IMG_0040_zpsfa2bef99.jpg.html)
And that's it. No word at all from anyone today, so I don't know the latest on the official thought train. Tomorrow I'll go hiking around the hangars and see what I can learn. Oh, yes -- speaking of see who's there, this afternoon I met Bill Dube (Dew - bay). He's the crew chief for the Eva Hakanson electric streamliner. Yup - they're here, too, waiting for the track to get all better.
Good night, ladies and gentlemen. See you tomorrow.
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Well everyone, you've seen Slim's salt report and it's not pretty. I talked to Mike mid afternoon and he was struggling to see if dragging was going to do any good. He hasn't called this evening and I suspect he has just plain worn himself out trying to make this happen for the racers and supporters. The man has fought the valiant fight and its been tough on him. Tomorrow may tell the tale, but at the moment there's nothing to report. Thanks to everyone for all the kind words of support and encouragement. He appreciates it. Lesser men would have folded long ago. So hat's off to Mike Cook, a racer's racer and non more dedicated to the sport. Thanks bud.
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Well everyone, you've seen Slim's salt report and it's not pretty. I talked to Mike mid afternoon and he was struggling to see if dragging was going to do any good. He hasn't called this evening and I suspect he has just plain worn himself out trying to make this happen for the racers and supporters. The man has fought the valiant fight and its been tough on him. Tomorrow may tell the tale, but at the moment there's nothing to report. Thanks to everyone for all the kind words of support and encouragement. He appreciates it. Lesser men would have folded long ago. So hat's off to Mike Cook, a racer's racer and non more dedicated to the sport. Thanks bud.
Mike Cook Sr. - you are a real trooper. People like you is what make Bonneville to a magic place for racing. It is the last outpost of world class unlimited racing, and it could not be done without people like you. We are really honored to be invited with our electric streamliner. All our hats are off to you.
// Eva Håkansson & Bill Dube'
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Hell Yeah, Mike fought the hard fight and it went on for a long time. You can't ask for more than that. I haven't ever seen a meeting that was postponed for this long and yet the guys stayed with it hoping for the weather to break. Well done Mike Cook and all involved. You are true hot rodders. :cheers:Mikey
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Not Race, or Racecourse related, but still Shootout related.
Thinking the people sticking with it might need a little cheering;
Wayno and I provided a nice Boogie session for every at Carmen's this evening.
Still keeping our fingers crossed!
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Well everyone, you've seen Slim's salt report and it's not pretty. I talked to Mike mid afternoon and he was struggling to see if dragging was going to do any good. He hasn't called this evening and I suspect he has just plain worn himself out trying to make this happen for the racers and supporters. The man has fought the valiant fight and its been tough on him. Tomorrow may tell the tale, but at the moment there's nothing to report. Thanks to everyone for all the kind words of support and encouragement. He appreciates it. Lesser men would have folded long ago. So hat's off to Mike Cook, a racer's racer and non more dedicated to the sport. Thanks bud.
Mike Cook Sr. - you are a real trooper. People like you is what make Bonneville to a magic place for racing. It is the last outpost of world class unlimited racing, and it could not be done without people like you. We are really honored to be invited with our electric streamliner. All our hats are off to you.
// Eva Håkansson & Bill Dube'
+1 (well, a lot more than that.)
Thanks for bustin yer butt to make it work, Mike. I hope ya get some bike racing in, anyway. If not, it sure wasn't for your lack of trying.
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I have known Mike for many years now, I've purchased top notch products from him, raced with him, been there through the tough times like many of us out there. He has always encouraged me regarding my daughter who has heart problems and most of all a proven leader and gentleman when it comes to Bonneville and El Mirage. It is an honor to know him as a friend and it does not surprise me that he worked so hard for the racers, it's much more than money with Mike and his family. He always puts in the extra effort, even when he doesn't need to.
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Howdy, folks. It's about a quarter after eight Friday morning here in Wendover. It's cool - about 45F -- but sunny. The forecast for today is sunny and mid- to upper- 50s. And the forecast for Saturday and Sunday is - 20%, 30%, 40% chance of showers. I read the weather as "the course should get better today, but maybe not so much improvement tomorrow".
So I'll skedaddle out for a morning visit and see if there's any noticeable change in the past 12 hours, and maybe I'll run across some of the folks that know more about the salt and the weather and this event than do I. I'll let you know what I discover. I might discover a plate of pancakes at the Salt Flats cafe, so if I'm not back here real soon -- well, the pancakes there are pretty good. C U Soon.
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Enjoy your pancakes! I wish I was there at the cafe with you......I would buy your breakfast of course!!! If I don't make it this year the breakfast offer will still be good in 2014.
thanks for all the updates. We all appreciate your efforts. Stay warm and dry and keep us updated.
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Hmm -- my iPhone/hotspot thingie didn't work from out on the salt -- but the other day it did. So therefore, I say unto you, you've waited 'til now to hear the latest.
There's a bit less water this morning than there was yesterday. It's still wet around the 6 1/2 to the 7 1/2, but maybe not quite so much wet. I took a couple of photos -- on purpose shooting into the sun so you can see the sunshine reflecting from the puddles. Before you think that the course is this bad -- I'll remind you that this is on the return road where there's been lots of traffic and there are lots of tire tracks. The course is pretty much untouched and smooth, but I reason that if there's this much water near the surface and only 50 feet from the course - - then the course per se isn't ready for racing.
Mike Cook gathered a bunch of us for a "briefing" out there, and he told us stuff like: They've considered moving the course a bit - angling it a tad more to the east, so the it just barely missed the dike (by a thousand feet or so) on the way out to the end. He'd have the surveyors come back out and measure that course. But that way he could still only find about 10 miles, and he says we need the 11 miles for sure. And then, coming that close to the dike wouldn't be a good thing for safety. He was asked how long it'll take to set up once it has been decided to run, and his response was that he thinks it could be all done within about four hours. That'd be putting up the markers and flags, installing the lights and running the wires, and all of the other stuff that has to be done.
After a few questions and a few hmm's and hah's it stands that at 5 this afternoon he'll make another visit and see if it's time to either say "Let's do it!" or say "Pack up your trailers and head home". I'll keep you folks up to date as best I can. By the way -- it's about 40F out there right now, but at least it's sunny. No breeze to speak of.
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:? :? :? Reminds me of the movie THE LONGEST DAY TO GO OR NOT TO GO
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Max, wish you were here. People have been asking about you :cheers:
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At 3:15 PM today, 10/11, Mike Cook officially called the event. There will be no shootout for 2013. Despite our best efforts we are unable to provide a course that is long enough and safe enough for the FIM racers to run on. The 6-7 mile remains too damp and is not drying fast enough. And we cannot find a suitable direction that would provide the full eleven miles necessary for record speeds. The storm on Thursday put too much moisture back in the track (see pictures previously posted by Slim). After conferring with Rocky Robinson and the others Mike determine that he could not provide a safe track for the racers who support the event.
Land Speed events would like to thank all the racers sponsors and supporters who have given so selflessly to try and make this race happen. For further details please see the web site at www.landspeedevents.com
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I was out of touch for a while and missed the meeting where it was decided to give up -- but now we know that there just won't be a Shootout this year. Dang -- after all of the early plans and hopes and entries -- it was going to be a super-duper event. I guess all that's left to say is
WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR!! :cheers:
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Everyone tried -- and thanks for doing so and keeping everyone updated with the latest info. Mother Nature triumphed this year unfortunately.
The 500mph "goal" for 4-wheel streamliners will have to wait as will the 400mph "goal" for motorcycle streamliners. So for those of you who have never been to the Bonneville Salt Flats -- you better get ready for potentially a fantastic 2014 series of events by teams/individuals in pursuit of those and other records. I know I'm already counting the days and hoping for some great salt conditions!
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Thanks for all the support and the photos Slim.
On a personal note I want to thank Mike Cook and once again point out the extraordinary effort he expended trying to make this race happen. As long as there was any possibility at all of making a race of it he hung in there and worked his butt off to get it done. In particular this year he made sure there were plenty of regular updates for racers and supporters needing to make travel plans. That includes all the great updates posted here by Slim and Ray and the web site and facebook pages that I manage. Anyone who shares that sentiment feel free to post your thoughts here and/or on the web site or facebook page.
Thanks Mike Cook! No one tries harder to serve the racer's needs and we all appreciate it!
And special thanks too for Tommy Roberts who worked tirelessly with Mike all week and sent us regular photos of the progress. Nice going Tommy!
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I don't know much about the climate history, nor the pumping schedule for next year, to know if it's possible -- but is there a chance for a Shoot-Out-type event in the late spring or early summer, before SpeedWeek?
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This yr is just the exception,1 in 20 type thing
hopefully next will be business as usual
Hats off to Mike, Mikey and Tommy for such a huge effort to make this happen
You guys probably feel like you have run a marathon , hope you have a chance to rest before getting back to day to day routine
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Here is an option / invitation,for all the shootout racers (and all others), Come down to the DLRA Speedweek . End of February 2014.I have spoken to Ron Main , and Rick Vesco about our lake , The Ack Attack team has run here before (and many years ago we had a large contingent of USA racers attend,including Al Teague).
There is some talk (more a rumour),that one of our racers is wanting to hire the lake for the week after Speedweek to run his 'liner, possibly with FIA in attendance.With good salt (heard that before?) we can easily put out an 11 mile course.(Andy Green was out here a few years ago looking at using Lake Gairdner for the Bloodhound, and mapped out three 11 mile tracks).
As many already know , our lake is extremely isolated, and the logistics of just getting there are difficult, but the rewards are many.
So come to Aussie , race on the best salt ,have a short vacation , then head back to get ready for the Bonneville season.
Any questions,,message me or email me at cambridgemotorsport@bigpond.com
Bob Ellis
DLRA Chief Car Inspector
DLRA 200 Club
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I don't know much about the climate history, nor the pumping schedule for next year, to know if it's possible -- but is there a chance for a Shoot-Out-type event in the late spring or early summer, before SpeedWeek?
The Utah Salt Flats Racing Associatio use to hold their event in late July before Speed Week if I'm remembering right. Often the salt was still wet then and I think they finally moved the event to Sept. so as to not take a chance of messing the salt up for Speed Week.
This is what I remember but can't say for sure it was/is totally true. Maybe Glen or one of the others that has been going for a long time can comment.
And thanks Mike, Jr., Dan, Slim and everyone else for trying and trying to get the event in,
Sumner
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:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: ITS OFFICLY OVER
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Bummer....and it looked all so great when Ray (the Rat) and I was out at the salt, Thursday a week ago....except the wind the salt was mostly well dry and at the other places there was enough time to harden properly....
alright, next year we can try again....
meanwhile Mike (Cook) SR and JR can view the picture (from Shootout 2012) on the USB stick which I gave to SR during the Speedweek, SR & JR, enjoy them.
...now the long wintertime to August 14 starts
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Here is an option / invitation,for all the shootout racers (and all others), Come down to the DLRA Speedweek . End of February 2014.I have spoken to Ron Main , and Rick Vesco about our lake , The Ack Attack team has run here before (and many years ago we had a large contingent of USA racers attend,including Al Teague).
There is some talk (more a rumour),that one of our racers is wanting to hire the lake for the week after Speedweek to run his 'liner, possibly with FIA in attendance.With good salt (heard that before?) we can easily put out an 11 mile course.(Andy Green was out here a few years ago looking at using Lake Gairdner for the Bloodhound, and mapped out three 11 mile tracks).
As many already know , our lake is extremely isolated, and the logistics of just getting there are difficult, but the rewards are many.
So come to Aussie , race on the best salt ,have a short vacation , then head back to get ready for the Bonneville season.
Any questions,,message me or email me at cambridgemotorsport@bigpond.com
Bob Ellis
DLRA Chief Car Inspector
DLRA 200 Club
+1 you are so right Bob. It is a wonderful place and it does dry out. the hospitality is the best, the food at the canteen terrific and the beer and wine are amazing!!!!
Maybe Mike Akatiff will want to go again and take Sam Wheeler and his liner this time to race against!!
How 'bout it Mike??
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There is Lake Gairdner in late Feb early March.
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There is Lake Gairdner in late Feb early March.
And it's being "top dressed" at the moment (underwater) just for LSR
Tiny
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Here is an option / invitation,for all the shootout racers (and all others), Come down to the DLRA Speedweek . End of February 2014.I have spoken to Ron Main , and Rick Vesco about our lake , The Ack Attack team has run here before (and many years ago we had a large contingent of USA racers attend,including Al Teague).
There is some talk (more a rumour),that one of our racers is wanting to hire the lake for the week after Speedweek to run his 'liner, possibly with FIA in attendance.With good salt (heard that before?) we can easily put out an 11 mile course.(Andy Green was out here a few years ago looking at using Lake Gairdner for the Bloodhound, and mapped out three 11 mile tracks).
As many already know , our lake is extremely isolated, and the logistics of just getting there are difficult, but the rewards are many.
So come to Aussie , race on the best salt ,have a short vacation , then head back to get ready for the Bonneville season.
Any questions,,message me or email me at cambridgemotorsport@bigpond.com
Bob Ellis
DLRA Chief Car Inspector
DLRA 200 Club
+1 you are so right Bob. It is a wonderful place and it does dry out. the hospitality is the best, the food at the canteen terrific and the beer and wine are amazing!!!!
Maybe Mike Akatiff will want to go again and take Sam Wheeler and his liner this time to race against!!
How 'bout it Mike??
Interesting idea Dick we could take Denis too the only flaw I see is that Sam would ACTUALLY have to show up.
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What was it with 2013? Although I’m not superstitious, I may well be afflicted with triskaidekaphobia after this year!
We got Speedweek in, but there were about 10 flat spins per day, and a couple that weren’t so flat. Bub was cut short, and World of Speed and World Finals were completely rained out. About the only good news was that the injuries sustained weren't life-threatening.
Now, despite the valiant efforts of Mike, Mike Jr., DW, and crew, we’ve lost the Shootout, too. Obviously, it wasn’t the result of a lack of trying. So, thanks to all for your outstanding efforts and dedication.
Many thanks to Jon, Nancy, Ray and everyone who contributed to landracing.com, too!
See ya on the Salt in 2014!
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I made it to Billings, Montana tonight -- and didn't have internet service as I drove, so couldn't tell you that Mike Cook didn't completely give up - even when the Shootout was cancelled. He found two competitors that were will to run - and called me to tell me so I could relay the word to you.
They were Eva Hakanson and Bob -- Something, in his hot Volkswagen. I talked with Bob (I think that's his name -- sorry, sir) yesterday and he was telling me about wanting to see if his car - the one he races SCCA - would go 200. And as for Eva -- Bill Dube and I and Eva talked for a while a couple of times during the past few days, and I know they were anxious to get in some running time for the sidecar electric streamliner. I don't have speeds for either of them -- nor the number of runs, and so on -- but I do know that Mike wasn't ready to be completely skunked. More power to you, Mike Cook -- and next year, -- next year, For Sure!
Another day of driving is coming up for me. I'll try to check in during the day, but driving across eastern Montana and most of North Dakota doesn't promise much internet service. C U Later.
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Have a safe trip home Slim.
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I was in Billings yesterday, too. Probably passed you on the way back to Columbus.
Doug :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Have a safe trip.
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Conditions in Wendover and on the salt............................recommend water wings!!!! :roll:
Stay safe all who are traveling home!
See you on the salt next year!
Lynda
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I made it to Billings, Montana tonight -- and didn't have internet service as I drove, so couldn't tell you that Mike Cook didn't completely give up - even when the Shootout was cancelled. He found two competitors that were will to run - and called me to tell me so I could relay the word to you.
They were Eva Hakanson and Bob -- Something, in his hot Volkswagen. I talked with Bob (I think that's his name -- sorry, sir) yesterday and he was telling me about wanting to see if his car - the one he races SCCA - would go 200.
Didn't John Baechtel say in Reply #362 that no cars would be run?
Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.
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I'm thinking those two vehicles could be more like short course runners, unless they got a real long cord for the bike.
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Conditions in Wendover and on the salt............................recommend water wings!!!! :roll:
Stay safe all who are traveling home!
See you on the salt next year!
Lynda
looks like quite a bit of rain over night.
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Ray, in response to your question of #427, I did indeed say that no cars would run meaning none of the FIA streamliners would run because the back half of the course was too unstable to support big power. However Richard Holdener showed up after the meet was called with G/BGC late model turbo Volkswagen that was to be driven by Tony Swan who I believe still writes for Car & Driver. Because the car needed less than five miles an agreement was reached for a brief shakedown session and made a run at 165 or so. Eva also made a test run or two with the Killajoule. The front half of the course was okay for speeds under 200 mph and I believe both cars ran well under that in testing. So Mike was able to salvage something out of the whole ordeal.
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2Club,
could be that Ray had appreciate it when you had answered his question of #363 right :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:and not waiting to answer #427
Ray, in response to your question of #427, I did indeed say that no cars would run meaning none of the FIA streamliners would run because the back half of the course was too unstable to support big power. However Richard Holdener showed up after the meet was called with G/BGC late model turbo Volkswagen that was to be driven by Tony Swan who I believe still writes for Car & Driver. Because the car needed less than five miles an agreement was reached for a brief shakedown session and made a run at 165 or so. Eva also made a test run or two with the Killajoule. The front half of the course was okay for speeds under 200 mph and I believe both cars ran well under that in testing. So Mike was able to salvage something out of the whole ordeal.
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#363 was asked on the 8th, the decision had not been made at that date. If you have a burning need to know you may think that "I must be there!"
A reply to John's correction was not required. It is what it is - NO Shootout for 2013. There is no race course to run on.
DW
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#363 was asked on the 8th, the decision had not been made at that date. If you have a burning need to know you may think that "I must be there!"
DW
It's on my bucket list. :wink: Wayno
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Any idea what this might be?
http://youtu.be/4dtSwLqHEPs
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I'm not the bightest bulb in the box (maybe the switch is not on) but it looks like Sam with the streamliner on a chassis dyno....but I could be wrong and often am.......JD
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JD thats him and bike, sounds great, wonder what the full pull would sound like :cheers:
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That sounded like a pretty full pull to me :cheers:
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""Any idea what this might be?
http://youtu.be/4dtSwLqHEPs""
uh yeah....an obvious reminder that folks may need to be more concerned not with
"if" Sam shows up...but "when" Sam shows up.....
lague....pm sent awhile ago...
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Sam did a couple days of testing on the Vance & Hines dyno. I think that is third gear. Everything worked well. This is just a teaser we are producing a longer short documentary on the dyno runs and will be posted here when done.
Shane Tecklenberg is the MoTec guru who was running the show getting all the mapping and tuning done.
Sam is really looking forward to 2014!
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""Any idea what this might be?
http://youtu.be/4dtSwLqHEPs""
uh yeah....an obvious reminder that folks may need to be more concerned not with
"if" Sam shows up...but "when" Sam shows up.....
lague....pm sent awhile ago...
Great observation!!! Sorry....will look for PM.
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FASTEST SIDE CAR YOU SAY-------- SEE YA ON THE SALT :cheers:
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:)...!
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Max and all - The post that was here, right before Max's, was duplicated elsewhere on the Forum so I deleted this one. Look for the Shootout 2013 washout topic for the links and videos Gerry offered.