Back From Bonneville

[Dave Haller]

Had an interesting trip this time around. Got through tech, no problem. Cut two fingers deep unloading the car, both index fingers. Drove with three fingers each hand. Ran into major oil problems. I have a dry sump system with a breather mounted to the tank. Engine pressure blew oil out the breather dropping pressure and giving it a bath. Russ Meeks header coatings saved the day again for me. Without the thermal barrier coating he does so well I would have had a melt down. Thought we fixed the breather problem but at 189 it gave us another bath. The new canopy didn't like the way we had it latched and it popped open on me on two runs at 170. Couldn't get the fix for the oil baths so called it a day and packed up. Did get the canopy fixed and it worked fine. The engine has plenty of power, pulled to 7000 in first gear, 6000 in second with no problem until the other glitches hit
The salt was great, the fellowship with old friends awesome, the cars and teams were the very best as usual, the officials did the best they could with the huge crowd and it was another year on the salt that will live in my memory forever with big smiles and a glad heart.
The only bad problems were with the entry road to the salt. It was flooded everyday and potholes were all over the place making for a very rough ride until you got out on the salt a ways, then it smoothed and was great as only the salt can be.
New car gremlins as expected, nobody hurt but me and not to bad, found out the new car is a hoot to drive and looking forward to the next run after figuring out the oil problem.
Dave Haller #93 A/FL

[desotoman]

Dave,

Thanks for the update. Will you be going to World Finals? Or are you done for the year.

Tom G.

[Dave Haller]

I hope to go to the finals. It all depends on funding and who can go along to help. I have talked with Patterson this morning and have the oil problem fix in the works.
I will share that if you haven't driven anything like a Lakester your missing out on one of the very best times any speed freak could ever dream of having. Getting down into the drivers seat, strapping in tight, dropping the canopy and lighting it off is beyond words. The push off then drop into gear and hammer down is awesome.
It was blazing hot down there each time I suited up and got in. Amazing how the excitement keeps you from noticing the extreme heat till the run is over and your climbing out. When the helmet and jacket come off you realize you just took a bath in your own sweat.
What a treat to be part of the salt flat high speed bunch,
Dave Haller

[bvillercr]

What kind of dry sump are you using and how close is your breather mounted to it or is it separated?  We have a new system as well, and we are going to the sept. meet and hope we don't have problems with it.

[russ jensen]

don't know if this helps anything but on stock car  I ran a tall tank that was only 1/2 full of oil with the top 1/2 layered w/ screens-separated bout 1/2 in apart w/ 2 valve cover breathers in top of tank-

[Dave Haller]

According to Paterson I should have been running two quarts less than what I was. Also a puke tank from the breather line was recommended. I have lots of room to mount the puke tank behind the engine and will be doing that. The puke tank should be at least a quart in size. Looking at the oil down it appears I blew out about a half quart, always looks like alot more than what there actually was. Good luck,
Dave Haller

[bvillercr]

We are running the same brand as you, but we have our puke tank about 30 inches away from the sump tank.  Hope it works like it should.