Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: RCKirby on March 18, 2011, 09:55:43 AM
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I thought I would post this video of the Mormon Missile...designed, built and piloted by Lynn Goodfellow. It's fun for a cameraman to shoot because you can see it coming from almost the starting line...(If it ain't smokin', it must be broken!). It's a beautiful vehicle to watch run at speed.
I hope it helps you all to endure the few months between now and the hot days and nights of SpeedWeek!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7LWEnqlaIs
RCKirby
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Here's a video that I was graciously given during the 2009 Shootout. I'm sorry that I don't have the name of the photographer - but I did give him credit way back then. This shows some of Curt's driving. . . :-o
(http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202009/th_MM-341.jpg) (http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Shootout%202009/?action=view¤t=MM-341.mp4)
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Two questions.
What the record for the quickest wipeout? Is that the record? That was almost a three count. : ]
Looks like he forgot to latch the canopy to, or is that one of them new fangled, Nascar insired safety devices?
Ok three questions.
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Breck, maybe you should stop talking and start building before people get tired of you. Especially when you make those sorts of totally ignorant comments.
Pete
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PJ, I agree
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We were there for the Shootout of '09 (and, for that matter, of '08 and of '10, and probably will be for '11, etc.)
Curt said that since he was on a record return run he was anxious to get the car moving so gave it a bit extra throttle. The Duramax is turbo-ed, of course, and the boost came on quite suddenly - and that's why he spun. He was all but laughing when he got back to the start for another try. One reason he was in a hurry was the one-hour clock was running and the team had very little time to spare. As I remember he did qualify for a record there -- I think.
As for the canopy opening, as far as I can remember the latch opened because of the side winds (so to speak) when he was going around. The breeze pushed the latching device stuff far enough sideways that bingo -- it was opened. But it was, indeed, latched before he got pushed off. Neither Lynn nor Mike Cook would have missed checking that before starting.
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I meant no offence.
Sorry
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Probally should get a program so you can tell the players. Remind us again how fast your car is.
DW
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I can't believe I've been so good!
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Not tryin to start something here, but does this guy sound a little like "Propster" puttin us on.
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Naw, Stan don't sound like old FR. :evil:
:cheers:
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We were there for the Shootout of '09 (and, for that matter, of '08 and of '10, and probably will be for '11, etc.)
Curt said that since he was on a record return run he was anxious to get the car moving so gave it a bit extra throttle. The Duramax is turbo-ed, of course, and the boost came on quite suddenly - and that's why he spun. He was all but laughing when he got back to the start for another try. One reason he was in a hurry was the one-hour clock was running and the team had very little time to spare. As I remember he did qualify for a record there -- I think.
As for the canopy opening, as far as I can remember the latch opened because of the side winds (so to speak) when he was going around. The breeze pushed the latching device stuff far enough sideways that bingo -- it was opened. But it was, indeed, latched before he got pushed off. Neither Lynn nor Mike Cook would have missed checking that before starting.
SSS - you're right about the turbo lighting and catching Curtis off guard. The photos show the qualifying run before the spin. You can see virtually no diesel smoke from the exhaust as he starts off. But less than 5 seconds later, when it spools up, things turn black as coal.
You're also right about the canopy. It was a wind thing that caught 'em completely by surprise. Curtis is a great driver and I hope to see him back on the salt soon.
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I was there and part of the Mormon Missile team for that very run. That was the turn around run and we were very tight on time. It did get pushed back and restarted in time and we set the FIA record for "B" DS at 347.76.
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Rick, kinda sounded that way to me. Trolls have been known to frequent boards such as this one.
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I will give the benefit of doubt as to being a troll. Just a new guy trying to be funny and performed an epic fail.
DW
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When the want to, comes to the start line on a back up run is very, no, VERY VERY easy to let them become the GOT To!!!
Then there might just possibility be an ever so slight disconnect between the brain and the throttle!!!!!!! lol
From one who has overdriven the course in search of an elusive RED Hat
Here's to getting to go visit the Mayor the second time in 24 hours!! :cheers: :cheers:
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I may hold the record for the earliest (and my only, thank God) spin back in 2005, I think.
It was the first time I put Nitro in my early Olds, and even though it was only 20%, it caught me by suprise when I pulled away from the push truck.
I was running a spool rear end at the time, and the Olds had maximum torque at 3500 rpm.
First the rear end swung to the right, and when I lifted, it came back straight and kept on going around for what had to be the slowest spin in History.
I remember thinking "so this is what it's like"........). I got a great view of all the mountains and the starting line and my push truck going by..................
There is a video of it someplace on the internet titled "Studebaker gets a little loose..."
Hell, I was going so slow that my sphincter never even puckered................. Bob :-o
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Bob, it sorta like the Pilots say about gear up landings--
-There is them that has :-o
-Then theres them that GONA :evil:
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Breck, Im with you. :-D That was quick and funny, if the driver can laugh at his mistake then everyone on this board should be able to as well. :cheers:
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I agree Breck, I'm sure that was a moment of 'OH CRAP' followed by a whole lot of funny, with crew members pointing out which way the course was going & the like. There is normally more laughing & joking going on with us than most other racers & we don't usually get our nickers in a knot. Being a member of the spin club is kind of a tong in cheek thing, it can have some serious consequences at speed & that's what likely sparked off the 5star generals.
If there was 'ever' a place to get in the spin club with a liner, that was it right there. Sid.
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That was a serious oh crap moment!!! When I started laying into the throttle to come off the truck, the boost started coming on instantly because the turbos were still hot from the first run. The salt was real thin on that end of the course and as soon as power came on the tires broke through and it was over. The boys pushed me back and with less than 5 minutes left in our window we were off again. This time I short shifted to second right away and lugged it through to the first mile marker where we actually had to drive off the course to get around a big gap on the course caused by the underground river. The clutch broke on the 4-5 shift and piled up half of one disc on the other side which caused a terrible shake at over 300. But we did complete our run with under a minute left and got our new FIA World Record at 341.360 in the kilo and 341.167 in the mile. A once in a lifetime day.
Curtis
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:cheers:
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I think Breck is a red head, cause red heads have that effect on people. Even after we are old and gray, once a red headed step child, always a red headed step child. :-P
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now that's a woo hoop story and a way to set a record. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Hey Curtis...
This time I short shifted to second right away and lugged it through to the first mile marker where we actually had to drive off the course to get around a big gap on the course caused by the underground river. The clutch broke on the 4-5 shift and piled up half of one disc on the other side which caused a terrible shake at over 300.
This was at the Temple of Doom yeah?...... Congrats on the record, great story ,great humility.
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Definetly congrats on the record. :)
As for the record for earliest spin, I believe that is held by the T bird that was at SW last year, started to spin as they passed the "0".
Not that I can knock them for it, there but the grace of god and all (as I understand it the driver was excited and forgot to let off the brakes when the truck started to push, sounds like something I should keep in mind, so I don't do it).
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Holy Schmoly! I'm always amazed to see long narrow cars spin out (and not go over). Pretty crazy.
I think the quickest spin (soonest to occur off the line) at El Mirage goes to Kevin LeFevers. At some point in our short 2010 season he got on it reeeeal hard and it got away from him not more than a hundred feet off the line. He was actually able to react quick enough to pull the chute even though he was maybe only going 70 or 80 mph. Needless to say I was really impressed that that his first instinct was to get the chute out. Sign of a well taught driver that is really in tune with his vehicle.
His spin happened right in front of my rookie class too. Oh man, the looks on their faces! Priceless!
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want to :-o
they are what keeps us going for it :cheers:
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Nathan,
I have one in a shorter distance than that. One of Mark's El Mirage videos has Dale Martin sitting on his bike at the starting line, and he just falls over - like that guy on the trike on the old Laugh In tv show.
DW
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DW, I have that video, funny. :-D
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Nathan,
I have one in a shorter distance than that. One of Mark's El Mirage videos has Dale Martin sitting on his bike at the starting line, and he just falls over - like that guy on the trike on the old Laugh In tv show.
DW
I think Dale was really embarrassed about that fall. There’s a little bit more to the story. Dale had made some changes to his shift linkage (at least I think that what he said) and when he tried to put his foot on the foot peg it wouldn’t fit between the peg and shifter. When he fell Dale didn't realize some fuel drained out the fuel tank. He got back in line, for what he thought would be a record run, he only make it about half mile down the course before he ran out fuel……not a good day for a great competitor…..
Buzz
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Great video of an exciting run. I liked the interview at the end, and where he says - "I just wanted to beat those collage guys" - Says something special.
Thanks for posting the video link.
Jimbo