Top Speed Shootout 2010

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Williams is underway on the down run, south to north.  At the two and moving right smartly.

We can hear him from here.  Hard on the throttle -- can hear the bike here in the pits.  

Entry speed  194.8   kilo  199.731   mile  199.186   exit  201.8

He's running on a 196 1/2 record, I believe.

[Dean Los Angeles]

There was a Bonneville thread talking about whether or not to have spare tires with you.

Ron Main and the Speed Demon team had a spare turbo. And broke it. They are having a turbo flown out at who knows what price.

And flying to California and back with parts to fix the drive line.

Ron is the ultimate in land speed racing class. Class isn't what always comes out of his mouth, definitely not politically correct!

The Speed Demon project is what we all wish we had.

There are gazillions of us that spent countless hours shaping a body so that we could take a mold from it. Speed Demon designed it on a CAD system and had the mold machined. Then had Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites make it.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Main says they've sent a couple of guys to California with the hurt rearend to have Ferguson rebuild it.  Ought be back here by tomorrow night or Thursday morning.  In the meantime, they're welding plates in to fix the break in the frame, and then will put in that spare rear end.  They don't have the gearing they want for it -- but will be able to run.

Horner's crew is servicing Williams' bike -- should be ready in 10-15 minutes for the return run.

[Oldanontheway]

Great reporting X 2.

old....

[Jim Kerr]

Jon,please give Terry,Mike Nish and Tom Klein a super "Way to go" and best wishes from two first time viisitors to Speed Week two years ago. They treated us like family and I'm thrilled that they're fulfilling their dreams this year. They certainly deserve it. My eyes are tearing as I write this,but I wouldn't have it any other way. Enjoy the  rest of the meet and thanks Jon for your masterful reporting. It reminds me of listening to Sid Collins,I hope that's right,the Voice of the Indy 500 on the radio. Jim and Dennis Kerr

[racefanwfo]

hey jon when you ask the spirit of rett crew what fuel was in the tank could you also ask what kind of horse power the car puts out.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Williams just made his return run.  Entry speed 195   kilo  197   mile 198

In other news, you gotta ask your questions quicker - Nearburg says it's plain ol' race gas with a healthy spray.  I got back and saw the hp question.

[hechtrod]

hey jon when you ask the spirit of rett crew what fuel was in the tank could you also ask what kind of horse power the car puts out.

Just enough!  LOL

Thanks a million to SSS for the reporting and photos, R t R for his photos and the teams for putting on this show. 

I've been glued to the puter all day.  haha

Congrats to the Rhett team on the record, to the Nish crew on the 400 MPH runs and all for going FAST!

Chris

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Keep those comments coming -- the Nish team will probably read this Forum thread tonight in the motel.  What you folks are saying is so good for all of them to see.

Back to the Williams bike -- entry 195.5   kilo  197.2   mile 198.3  exit 204.8

[coloradodave]

Thank you guys so much, this is as much fun as World Finals last year, that Nish car has a special place in my heart from my first year at SpeedWeek. Yeah!!
What time will they shut down for the day?

[Seldom Seen Slim]

We'll shut down for the day (no smart acura answer intended) when there are no more vehicles to run -- or at sunset, whichever comes first.  Sunset is about 7.15.

Here are some photos from Murph, a wandering motorcycler guy that's hanging around here.  He's blogging his journey -- and I think you'll see his watermark on some of them.









Also news for you -- Jamie is going to accept the two runs that do, indeed, make a record, and make another attempt starting in a few minutes.

[HotRodVon]

Congrats to the Nish family on the 400 mark!!!  I have watched their efforts and hope it really pays off this time. 

[Freud]

Is it possible to built in "cushion" in a traction control system?

FREUD

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Jamie is moving his bike into position.  Still in the pits -- will run from here towards the mountains.

Moving -- nothing from the tower yet.

ON the course, by the one mile, shifting into high gear now.

Through the two, moving up the course.  Past the three, entering the timed stretch.

Entry speed   184.5   kilo   184.9  exit  182.6

Wrong tuneup!

No, not wrong tuneup -- just forgot to open the nitrous valve (it has been admitted by the team).

[thefrenchowl]

  

Good luck to you all from Great Britain!!!

Patrick