Re: 15,000 horsepower, I know for a fact if you show up with that much power the only thing that will happen is broken parts and slipping tires.... I sense a lot of fanboyism and unrealistic expectations. I may not have been coming to the salt for the last 300 years like some of you, but I know for sure they better show up with the right amount of power - not too much, not too little.
You are correct about the 15,000 HP and that is not realistic. I will be the first to admit I am a big fan of this liner. I have known Marlo since sometime in the 1980's, and can remember him telling me if he could ever get Hume to build a liner he would not hesitate and go for it.
This liner started some 14 or so years ago, and I appreciate the fact that Marlo and crew brought the car to Bonneville for a show and tell. Is there a better way for one to display their car that is not quite ready to run than to take it to an event and let it be judged by its competitors and peers?
I am sure it will have some gremlins as all new cars do. But the big difference in this car is the major players have been playing on the salt for many years. Most if not all of Marlo's records with the Lakester have been surpassed and therefore not in the rule book anymore. So to someone who is fairly new at Bonneville (last 5 years) would not have seen many if any of Marlo's records in the rulebook.
Trust me when I say Horsepower will be no problem. They will be able to produce as much that is needed to get the job done. Les Davenport is a genius when it comes to motors. You may have never heard of him but he has been a top tuner in the NHRA Alcohol Classes for years, and has even written a program for tuning that most all of the Alcohol racers use. Les can also whittle anything out of aluminum or whatever material you need with his CNC machines. He also currently runs a car at the Nostalgia Drags in A/F that has beat Kin Bates whose tuner is Dean Adams, son of Gene Adams.
I started to chuckle at Bonneville when one old timer said " It is a beautiful car, but 10 years in-behind in technology". I knew what he meant, as he was speaking of electronics. I personally like the KISS method, and the Driver actually driving the car.
Bottom line, this is Bonneville where there are no cookie cutter cars for the most part, and that is what makes this so attractive.
Tom G.
PS. A few issues did arise at Bonneville that can now being addressed, so all is good.