Top Speed Shootout 2010

[joea]

...man...what are the chances they "find" another 70 mph...?..

it must seem like a needle in a hay stack for Ack right now...

[RayTheRat]

Some shots from the Ack Attack preparation and launch.

1.  Dry ice going into the intercooler reservoir.

2.  Rocky's helmet going on.

3.  Thumbs up!

4.  He's off.

[RayTheRat]

Scott Horner at speed: 213 mph.

[Freud]

Ray, great choice of shutter speed.

FREUD

[Seldom Seen Slim]

The Ack bike is just about ready.  The team is getting minute-by-minute wind checks  showing 2-3 mph headwind through the first six miles, then turning to a tailwind (once he doesn't need it any more).  But no crosswinds.

Engines are running, canopy is down.

The bike is moving on the push truck, now it's away form the truck and moving out.

Cook reports it's a very good leave.  Through the one.  By the two, accelerating hard.

Through the five, entry 255 and slowing.

239 for the mile, through the six through the four and slowing, fire truck is paralleling (they do this on all runs, by the way -- not a sign of an emergency). 

Rocky rode the bike back to the pits and is getting out now.

[Cole222]

1.  Dry ice going into the intercooler reservoir.

I remember Rocky saying that he always stayed cool while in the bike because he sits on the intercooler reservoir. That works great when it is 90 degrees, but 55 degrees?

[RayTheRat]

Ray, great choice of shutter speed.

FREUD

Thanks.  1/500th

[Dean Los Angeles]

Notice how flat the rear tire looks.

[Freud]

Dean I noticed that.

One possibility, reduced pressure

Second, just the shape as the power is applied.

Amo, Kent, someone........explain?

FREUD

[k.h.]

. . . and what tire is it?

[Glen]

So any update on Rocky and the Ack attack and why he shut off???

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Neither guess is right -- Scott says that now we can see just how soft is the race course.  When he finished that run the wet salt was dripping off the bike.  The photo shows how far down the tire was sinky, no doubt encouraged by the power applied.

Further deponent sayeth not.

Ack Attack bike engines are running in the pit at this time.

So Mike Cook and Mike Akatiff were discussing whther the bike should make any more runs.  Ack asked Cook "...should we pack it up and go?" and Cook responded "What are we here for?", and Ack ended the conversation "OK."

Now we know why the engines are running, don't we?

But I don't know what happened on that run, and I'm not ready to break into the hard work going on in the pit just now.  I'll get the story -- let them do their stuff for a few minutes first, okay?

[Seldom Seen Slim]

The lawnmower just made a 890+ mph run and they're about as excited as can be.  You'd think they just earned a red hat!  So all of us in the pits are heading to the mower pit (which is next to the BNI course across from the tower) to share the fun and cheering.  I'll even get photos for you.  They're doing an FIA-style one hour turnaround so maybe they'll be able to say they quaklified for a record (whether there's a class for them or not, meaning that the FIA should create one, I guess).

[Texican]

, 
Scott Horner at speed: 213 mph.

Looks like next year's large poster should be spectacular; many bright colors, which we 15 year-olds will be attracted to.   , 
Jim

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Hey, the mower ran a 90.3 mile on an 87.833 record.  I'm listening on the two-way right now as Bob Cleveland, the mower driver, is talking with a British guy in the tower -- who's got the record now.  The Brit is wishing Bob the best - as Bob is saying that the Brits might have the record, but they'll only have it for another half-hour.

Here are some photos of Bob, mower, and the happy crowd.





Mike Akatiff broke off from the thrash in their pit -- to congratulate Bob:





They have even done some aero work on the mower -- engine shrouds and such.  No, there is no blade on it now, but they will later switch to a mower deck with a blade to do some ceremonial grass cutting.

I'll post and give you some Ack Attack news.