Pre-event SpeedWeek 2013

[TrickyDicky]

I'll have a go, but bear in mind this is the view of an outsider looking in.  Treat me gently if I've missed something obvious!

First a couple of observations.

• 400mph is tough - 500mph is a lot tougher.  Only one car has run at 400+mph in 2011/2012.  Speed Demon has (almost) made it look easy, but we all know it ain't.
• As far as I can tell, no car has ever run above 400mph in its first year on the salt.

So, my first prediction is that nobody will run at 500mph in 2013.  But I'd love to be wrong.

As to who is capable of 500mph, I only see three genuine contenders.

• Speed Demon have the know-how, recent experience and funding to keep pushing.  They have achieved some amazing speeds with the smaller motors, and will surely either go faster this year or break a lot of parts (or both).
• Turbinator II is an evolution of an existing car, run by an experienced team, so may avoid most of the niggly new car problems.  The turbine engine means no shortage of power, but I expect they will want to work their way slowly up to 400mph and then on to set a record at 460mph or so, before thinking about 500mph.
• Treit and Davenport is hard to call.  Target 550 (mph) shows what they are aiming at.  The car looks fabulous but it has yet to run.  Do they need to find a major sponsor before committing to a serious record attempt?  They might take years to work through various problems at 300/350/400mph, or they might run fast almost immediately.  Who knows?

So my hunch is that the following will occur (but not saying when!):

• Speed Demon will set a record above 458.444mph to become the fastest wheel-driven car of all time.
• Turbinator II will take their record back (OK, they are in a different class, but I think you know what I mean), but still below 500mph.
• Treit and Davenport will eventually break 500mph - but after one of the others!

Someone else have a go before I stick my neck out and predict who will be first to 500mph.

[Tman]

Dicky, I disagree partially on Target 550. Marlo and Les have a TON of debugging done on the engine program from the years they ran those mills in their lakester. So, for that part of the equation they will hit the ground running.

[dw230]

While I see the potential for some new 400 MPH+ records I doubt we will see 500. There is not enough race course to support the acceleration and shut down miles required to do this sort of speed. I know from personal conversation with Ron Main that their 2013 goal is not 500.

All personal opinon but, I do have 10 400 MPH Chapter hats in inventory.

D

[fredvance]

When someone does set a record over 500 what color will the hat be??

[Stainless1]

Fred, that's too easy... Black...
300 MPH records were red before there were enough 300+ members to form a 300 Chapter, and 400+ were Blue before there were enough members for a 400 Chapter.
I suspect it will take about 10 members over 500 before the club adds another chapter... not too likely but I want to see them all try.

[jimmy six]

One of the hardest thing for a "layman" to understand about the 200 MPH Club and the earning of a Red Hat (not just going 200 but setting a record over 200) is some Red Hats need to best a record over 450.

The usual answer is, What? Then some explaination of the classes of vehicle and engine staightens them out.

As All who have earned "hats" even the guys from the 50's I know still wear them proudly. The cruise-ins I go too, many have something positive to say about them and always want to know what I did it in. Not to hurt anyones feelings but saying a roadster bring a smile.  I'm sure members driving other vehicles get the same reaction.

As said above the 300 and 400 and hopefully the 500 are chapters, as exclusive as they may be.

[Stainless1]

JD, I also point out that setting a record over 200 means you must go faster than anyone else has with a similar vehicle since 1949 . 

[ratpatrol66]

I don't know who's going to do what this year. I do know that I will be there with my camera running, and enjoying my butt off. 

[PorkPie]

JD, I also point out that setting a record over 200 means you must go faster than anyone else has with a similar vehicle since 1949 .  

And sometimes you got the luck to be the first over 200 mph in the class you are running....

[jimmy six]

I'll go with that, Pork Pie....Being the first over 200 with a GMC powered highboy styled roadster will always be the pinicle of the Tone Family drivers racing careers. I was glad that Patrick did that for both Joe Fontana and of course me. It was well deserved for a kid who started working with me in the when he was 5 or 6 in 1975. 27 years later I was proud that the 200 MPH Club let me hand him his hat even though I was not a member. Having him give me mine the following year was more than I every dreamed of especially for a backyard very low budget racer.

I was just a happy to hand Bill Goldman his Red Hat when he took the record from me. Like I told him "Just because I hand you this hat doesn't mean I take mine off"......................JD 

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Hear, hear, JD.   

[tauruck]

2013 could be epic! Here is my list of potential 400mph teams. Updates and information welcome.
Poteet and Main
Fred Danenfeltzer
Treit and Davenport
Don Ferguson
Nish family
Turbinator
Maro Spl.
Sam Wheeler
Dalton, Jackson & Mayer
Mike Cook
Spectra
Spirit of Reit
Danny Thompson
Arley Langlo
Tom Burkland

Are all the above streamliners?.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Not all of 'em.  Mike Cook is the organiser of the Top Speed Shootout.  He races in modified sports (I think) but is in the mid 200s or so.  Sam Wheeler is a streamliner motorcycle.  Ferguson family is a flathead (right?) and over 300, and Fast Freddie Dannenfelzer's car was a lakester last time it was out there.  I hear he's making it into a 'liner -- but I'm open to corrections if someone knows better than me.  That is, corrections on any of the stuff I've said.

[tauruck]

Thanks, I had Keith Copeland in mind but finding 20 odd MPH might be too much.

[Elmo Rodge]

Slim, Ferguson most often runs a GMC and Freddy is building a Streamliner. Wayno