First I want to say that BUB offers us motorcycle riders a tremendous opportunity to run our bikes at the Salt Flats and I want to congratulate them on their dedication and a job well done. All land speed events have their long lines, from what I hear and they are a fact of life. I think BUB has an opportunity to improve their event in the future, and I'm sure they are constantly thinking about it. I am a relative new-comer to the sport (3 years), but I do have a suggestion.
The problem with having only two courses and a few too many bikes, is that lines will get longer and longer, just like they do at the bank when only two wickets are open. If you add one more course, like opening up one more wicket at the bank, the lines will actually start to get shorter and eventually, there will be no line. ("Cuing theory", if anybody wants to investigate.)
If money and volunteers were available, a 3rd "mini-course" could be set up to the west of the pits where some people practice (maximum speed limit for practicing is only 60mph, if my memory serves me well, which is not a lot of good anyway), say only 3 miles long, for those who are content with a mile acceleration and a mile of shut-down would really speed up the event. Most of the RWB riders would probably choose this shorter course, and most of the smaller bikes would benefit from such a course. I would use it for my BSA as I don't think I need more than one mile of acceleration, and at 119mph, I can practically coast down without touching my brakes in one mile. Staging could still be done at one location, with a few lanes set aside for the "mini-course", just as they do now for the RWB course.
Of course, this 3rd "mini-course" could be set up between the pits and the existing short course, but that would inhibit spectators from being able to see the faster bikes.
These are just my thoughts, and I know that a third lane with all the timing equipment and personnel required would not be a cake walk.
Tom
