Prior to that, on March 18, 1973, Dave Anderson had become the driver to exceed 300 mph at an NHRA National event when he ran over 300 mph at the Gatornationals. So throughout the seventies, when spectators were watching rocket dragsters go 330 mph to 340+ mph, they weren't simply watching the fastest cars at dragstrips. They were watching the fastest cars then running in the world.
These cars were, and still are, exhibition vehicles used as fillers to keep the crowd entertained during lulls in the action or are hired by local dragstrips as a draw to increase the Saturday night crowd. It doesn't matter how fast or slow they go. They are a joke, just like the Little Red Wagon that covered the quarter mile on its back wheels or a Fiat Topolino that regurgitates a dozen clowns. If these vehicles were meant to be taken seriously there would be a class for them and they would be seen in competition every weekend. But they aren't.
The biggest draw to land speed racing, at least for me, is to see what man can do with the technology available to him at the time. As much as I appreciate record runs I also appreciate people being able to meet and exceed their personal challenges. I would love to be able to build a car to go over 200 mph. The 200 mph barrier has been broken many many times but not by me. Whether I were to build it and drive it or just build it my goal would have been met. Then I would set another goal.
At another level, I am drawn to racing for the technology as if affects my daily life. Tire and motor oils technologies are the first that come to mind but Corsa Racing is going to race a hybrid in ALMS starting at the Petit Lemans this year. How is that going to work? I'm anxious to find out because as much as I love the internal combustion engine hybrid technology is elbowing its way in. Diesel and Propane fueled vehicles are destined to be a part of our future to some degree or another too and I appreciate the efforts being put into that research as well.
The jet engine has pretty much done all it can do in land speed racing. Another mile per hour gained on a record run is nice to read about in the paper on Monday morning but it does nothing to effect my daily life. I can't see where any of us gain by land speed attempts made by these P.T. Barnums of the salt whether their vehicle is propelled by a jet engine or by an aircraft propeller. They are cartoon vehicles.
Propellers belong on planes, boats and on the beanies of a few idiots and are being built by and driven by people for purely selfish reasons.
On the other hand the guys who have worked themselves up by setting personal goals, met and exceeded them and have gone on to the next level using technology we can relate to have my attention. If I were to realize my 200 mph dream I might be motivated to set higher goals and maybe even go on to try for a record. If during my quest I were to make a technological break through it would be a win win. Setting and reaching for goals that are realistic and relevant is not being selfish. Every time a record is set the car builder had to do something to make that record possible and that something will eventually trickle down to everyone else and that will make the sport stronger and better.
Will Corsa's hybrid-powered P1 prototype be able to tun with the Audis and Acuras? I don't know but I do know their attempts will influence the hybrid technology we will be using in our daily drivers in the not too distant future. I don't foresee jet engine or propeller driven minivans taking mom to the grocery store or dropping the kids off at soccer practice.
So for fear of being put into the category of Ratliff, and maybe I have already, I'll stop with my $.02 treatise on jet engines, propellers and clown cars. Steve
