A couple things to consider:
Back in the day from what I can tell from old video, they for sure had longer salt. The interstate wasn't there and I think they started almost back near where the truck stop is now. Craig clipped the telephone poles that use to run about where the interstate is now and ended up in the pond past it. Even since I've been going they backed up the starting area for the fast cars when they use to run both ways. Mike has done this at his international meets to make the course longer. Only problem is that now the cars are starting on basically mud on both ends and can't always use the extra length due to the surface. Hence the need now to go outside the U.S. if one is really serious about setting a big record over 500. It is probably pointless to build a car with that capability if one can't also afford to make that happen.
A lot of the traction issues have to be solved with a better solution than one's right foot, unless your name is Bob
, and/or tire technology. You basically have to bury your foot and let technology take care of the rest in the means of traction control and how the power comes on (easier with turbos). I think that has been the key to George's success, but that is a guess.
Running on either the SCTA courses or the International ones that have been laid out to this point is not land speed racing but drag racing as pointed out by the numbers Bob posted. At over 400 you are eating up a mile in under 9 seconds. Not much time to accelerate faster. Look at the Turbinator's in car camera and watch the numbers.
One other big factor with cars is also the one hour turnaround. Can you get the car turned around and serviced (intercooler needs is a factor here) in the one hour and back down the track. A lot harder to make those two back to back runs than one first imagines.
I think it is easy to visualize a smaller car than what has been run. I've done it and so have others but when the actually packaging of everything comes into play it just doesn't happen. Look at the fast cars and you will see that there isn't a lot of wasted space in them. Costella maybe has been best at this along with the Buddfab Streamliner (131 mph/50cc) along with most of the other really fast cars.
I'd look at the comparison of the aero of more frontal area and a shorter car vs. a smaller frontal area and a longer car as for as the total drag of both is concerned. When I say I'd look, I meant this is an area where you need someone very knowledgeable to do the calcs. Slimspeed (I'd like to use your real name but don't know it) I know you say you can package all the components in the car you've designed but I still am very skeptical of that having been down that road to some degree. In the side view of your car along side existing cars I can't see a roll bar over the drivers head along with padding and the helmets in use now and the driver still having a slight line out front. That is merely an guess at looking at the drawing. Also heat management, especially with turbos, can be a huge deal in a tight car. George was plagued with this for a while.
It is amazing how much time it takes to build these cars and to get the bugs out and then find that perfect track and weather window to actually pull out a big run regardless of the class one is running in. This also usually involves a lot of help from others and of course a big outlay of money even running in lower classes. I've come to realize that at my age (75) time has basically run out as far as ever finishing my car and running it on the salt and I'm still in good health. It is a huge commitment in time, energy and money.
Hopefully you wont' take any of the above as being critical of your work as I've seen you put a lot into it. Just rambling thoughts that came to mind. Good luck and keep working hard at your goal,
Sumner
