The LAST thing that the Salt Cat Team would be involved in is a rule infraction – intended or otherwise. The 16 port Head is truly the result of “backyard” ingenuity that started with an OEM head that was modified using a DRILL PRESS AND A HOLE SAW! It is NOT a specialty head as written on page 16 of the most recent rule book which states: “A specialty cylinder head is a fabricated, created from billet stock or cast. All X class engines, as described above, which are 325 cid, but less that 375 cid, shall be classified as either XXF or XXO. Specialty cylinder heads are NOT allowed in this instance.“ Thus, the class choice of XO, as the block was 325 cid – partnered with the “modified” OEM head.
Furthermore, before we started the “Henry Head” Project, in October of 2009, Frank visited with Dan Warner while we were in Impound, and asked specifically if we could do anything to a “stock” casting head – he replied “YES”. Frank expanded on that and explained exactly what was rolling through his mind, and was still given the green light as he was only talking about “modifying” a stock head.
Speed Week 2010. XO/BGALT Class. Our 1st run we qualified and went to impound, and Dan Warner checked us in. In the morning, we backed up our down run with another qualifying return run. In Impound, Dan sealed the engine as we wanted to change classes. We put out $300 to run in the XO/BFALT Class and qualified on our down run. Checked into Impound, and backed up that run the following morning. Put out another $300, and changed classes to XO/BGC. Made a qualifying down run, checked into Impound, and the following morning backed that run. Went to Tech Inspection, where the engine was blown down (came in under 325 cid); and all three records were certified. Headed back to Montana elated!
On September 2, we received an email from Dan Warner that our records were in question. We responded the following morning. We were in a crunch as we were already registered for World of Speed. We were able to make contact with Doug Robinson late on September 6. He informed us it would be a Board decision, but his committee recommended that the records be rolled to the XXO Class. We were scheduled, at that point and time, to head towards Bonneville in exactly a week. Doug recommended, with things still in the air, that we not run the Henry (16 port) Head. Tuesday morning we pulled the engine, retrieved a head that was in progress for next year; had it milled; and partnered it with the 367 cid block. Got it running on the Saturday morning before WOS. Our Speed Week record results were not decided until late Friday night – at the end of WOS. Bottom line is – if you need a rule clarification, who do you ask? If the record certification official cannot give you a definitive answer and as “jimmy six” stated above “Their added fabrication was to a cylinder head used in the XO class which probably needs more definition but the intent has always been known by competitors in the past”. Give us a break…we cannot operate on “intent has always been known”. If that were the case we wouldn’t be in this position. So please, where or from whom can we get a definitive clarification of rules that are painted in gray?
Just to clarify one point....our team has nothing but respect for and considers Dan Warner a good friend. We feel that he truly advocates for the competitors and believes in innovation - innovation that is distinctly unique to Bonneville.
