Question/comments: DIRT Vs. GOOD SALT

[tallguy]

Is traction better at El Mirage (generally, historically) or at Bonneville (when the
salt is considered "good")?  Even if traction on dirt is adequate, El Mirage is a
pretty small dry lake.  I think racers there are allowed just 1.3 miles to accelerate.

We may want to think about venues such as the Alvord Desert for future
high-speed runs, as it is about 11 miles long.  To my knowledge, nobody
is mining it for minerals.  The altitude is (roughly) 4,000 ft, similar to Bonneville.
Alvord is pretty remote, though.  I think it's "managed" (cough, cough) by the BLM.

Then there's the Black Rock Desert, of course.  With enough effort (otherwise
known as cubic dollars), a course could be prepared there for some very high
speeds, as we already know from Thrust SSC's achievement of 1997.

[jl222]

Is traction better at El Mirage (generally, historically) or at Bonneville (when the
salt is considered "good")?  Even if traction on dirt is adequate, El Mirage is a
pretty small dry lake.  I think racers there are allowed just 1.3 miles to accelerate.

We may want to think about venues such as the Alvord Desert for future
high-speed runs, as it is about 11 miles long.  To my knowledge, nobody
is mining it for minerals.  The altitude is (roughly) 4,000 ft, similar to Bonneville.
Alvord is pretty remote, though.  I think it's "managed" (cough, cough) by the BLM.

Then there's the Black Rock Desert, of course.  With enough effort (otherwise
known as cubic dollars), a course could be prepared there for some very high
speeds, as we already know from Thrust SSC's achievement of 1997.

  There has been speeds over 300 mph at the 11/3 mile course at El Mirage.
  The 222 car has way more traction until we hid the marbles a problem when running late and a meet the size of Bville.

          JL222 

[sofadriver]

  The 222 car has way more traction until we hid the marbles a problem when running late and a meet the size of Bville. 

what?   

[jl222]

  The 222 car has way more traction until we hid the marbles a problem when running late and a meet the size of Bville.  

what?  

       
     Oh  forgot to finish sentence

  A meet on dirt the size of Bville  500 + entries would require a lot of different courses.

 Running late means after several cars have run and vacuumed or tore up the track causing loose dirt on the track [ marbles]
 As this happens down track more so than off the start I believe its caused  by the vacuum under and behind the car not just from spinning tires.

 Go to pg 131 Getting Ready For Bonneville in the build diaries for video.
 We just wish we could accelerate like that at Bville.

                JL222

[vintageracecar]

tallguy,

Here is a very good article which was posted on LR.com before.
Andy Green spent quite a bit of time in the US to research additional Dry Lakes to run on. Not much success.

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/project/adventure/desert-race-track/us-survey-trip

But, Alvord Dry Lake was not one of them.
The Bloodhound Project site also has test results from other Lakebeds across the planet. Turkey, Australia etc.

Mike

[vintageracecar]

And then, I just found this one on Facebook.
"North American Eagle to be running on Alvord Dry Lake within the coming days."
Looks like they are a step ahead of most. They are talking about going 600 Mph this coming week.
Takes a good course and lots of Landscape to do that.
Here is their link:

https://www.facebook.com/NorthAmericanEagle/photos/a.286549644698657.104168.270143236339298/1077523102267970/?type=1&fref=nf

Hope they can do it and be safe.
Let's keep them in our prayers.

Mike

[Malcolm UK]

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/project/adventure/desert-race-track/us-survey-trip

But, Alvord Dry Lake was not one of them.

Clearly Alvord was 'eliminated' at an initial stage of the Bloodhound SSC assessment, so Andy did not have to visit it. Personnel involved with Richard Noble's past and current projects will have had access to over 30 years of 'knowledge' about the Alvord Desert and no amount of refurbishing the Hot Springs would have changed the fundamental charactersistics.

[TrickyDicky]

Then there's the Black Rock Desert, of course.  With enough effort (otherwise known as cubic dollars), a course could be prepared there for some very high speeds, as we already know from Thrust SSC's achievement of 1997.

My understanding is that Richard Noble/Andy Green would have happily gone back to Black Rock, but when they looked at it a few years ago discovered the surface had seriously deteriorated since 1997. Alvord may be good for 6-700 mph but probably not the 1,000 mph Bloodhound SSC will reach in the next few years.

[wobblywalrus]

Early Friday morning it is time to leave for the Alvord.  It is probably the second most remote place in Oregon except for the mountains around Hells Canyon.  At Alvord you are at the top of the food chain, unlike in HC.  That is sorta nice.  It is a full day's ride to get there.