Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: 4-barrel Mike on November 16, 2011, 07:55:55 PM
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From Sam Mitani's article in Road & Track on his F/BGC 203.720 mph record http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/motorsports/the-speed-locker (http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/motorsports/the-speed-locker):
We were up at dawn the next morning. Upon getting to the start line, we experienced a setback—some scoundrel had sabotaged our car overnight in impound, removing part of the safety harness. But thanks to SCTA officials, they gave us time to go buy and install a new one. I quietly hoped that the big rat didn’t mess with the suspension or steering. I was concerned for my survival.
Is he over-dramatizing whatever happened?
Mike
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I would give the writer more credence if he had gone into more detail as to the nature of the "sabotage". As to his implication that there is a bias against Japanese cars, I simply don't see it.
Are we sure he didn't screw up something himself?
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Sorry... gotta call Bentley...
I can't imagine anyone messing with another persons vehicle in impound. There are too many folks there and the last guy off the salt is frequently the guy that runs impound.
With that said, I wonder what part of the harness he lost... or lost track of after the run.
Maybe someone has more info, but I see that accusation as an affront to all of us in this sport. We don't lock our stuff up, never have, never needed to, our neighbor may need to borrow a wrench....
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This story can only be called incredible ...
According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, the definition of ;
INCREDIBLE
too extraordinary and improbable to be believed <making incredible claims
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After looking at the pictures, got a question. Can you modify and extend the front bumper downward to make it an air dam in BGC ?
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missing hans device???? ???? :-o Left in the room? ???
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Anyone running a book on this?, I want to place fifty bucks on that piece of harness turning up, somewhere in the car or trailer, and I'd like to place a hundred on us never hearing when it does. In my job I hear lots of crazy stories some just ludicrous but some that could be believable , the only common thread is they never include any liability on behalf of the source, like this one.
Maybe someone has more info, but I see that accusation as an affront to all of us in this sport
yep, It doesn't take much clear thinking to consider what motive there might be, and what alternatives someone could have employed if they wanted to "sabotage" the car....there's any number of ways of telling people that a piece of the harness was missing, as Bob says it's a reckless slur.......
fro instance, "when we got to the start we realised that part of the harness was missing, it still hasn't materialized, try as we might we couldn't think how this could have happened, fortunately we were given the opportunity to buy and fit a replacement........" I think it's called diplomacy, but it is also known as "manning up".
Waiting to collect. :wink: :roll:
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Well, I'm far from experienced at the salt, but based on what I experienced, INCREDIBLE seems an appropriate description.
People like Don Ferguson, who I had never met, loaned us QC gears, other people loaned us tools, and even others offered help.
Hardly seems like the kind of people that would stoop to sabotage!
Dr Goggles, you're probably right about finding it later! :cheers:
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They had to pull the bottom of the air dam back to make backup pass. Didn't impress me. As my Mother taught me thats the nicest thing I can say.
We won't see that group again.
DW
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That's pretty hard to believe. And the SW turnout smaller than 07? Sure didn't seem like it to me. Looking at my data (I keep records of the entry lists and run logs just cuz I'm nucking futz) and the numbers on the SCTA site show 566 entries for 2011 and 521 in 07. Something kinda screwy there.
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.....now the web-page has gone missing........it'll be in the trailer too, ........
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lol
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I have heard of sabotage twice. The Jones and Cecatto stude [1st unblown gas coupe to 200mph I believe] loosened rear quickchange cover and Ron Joelefts street roadster [ engine wouldn't turn over, dirt between valve and head] figured someone took a paper roll tube, filled it with dirt, opened injectors and poured.
Pino Cecatto is a pro mechanic so I doubt that bolts were loose.
From what I remember both were in inpound.
The suspects names are out there ,so don't be to smug thinking you got off scott free
JL222
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Just remembered one more, Dick Griffens Camaro tire was slashed, but in Wendover while on trailer.
JL222
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Oooohhh i remember that car and Sam very will..... Tom Habrzyk is a good friend and a very sharp EFI guy... He's the 1 who did the fuel system on my liner, Pete Aardema's liner and sorted Randy's blown 500 system... Tom is 1 very sharp kid.... They had a grocery list of stuff to fix on the first "tech" inspection and since Tom pitted right next to us asked me to help get it sorted and through inspection.... That Sam guy was a total arrogant azzhole and i even told Tom and Richard to get him the "ef" out of the pit or his car wasnt gonna make it through tech.... i can ask Tommy about this the next time i talk to him but im pretty sure it's BS.... that Sam buy is a real azz... i agree with Dan, i dont think well see Sam again but im really sure Tommy will be back out and probably helping out with my liner in 2012
Kent
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It is up this morning, just read it. Reeks of arrogance.
"The folks who usually show up at a Bonneville event weren’t accustomed to seeing a compact Japanese sedan among their hot rods and streamliners, so to say that we stuck out would be an understatement. " his quote.
Umm.......wasn't the Hondata car on the cover of the rulebook? Like he is the first to show up with an import? How about MG decades ago? Wanker.
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I recall Ron Jolliffe's "salt injection". We were astounded. Certainly not the norm. With over 1000 people involved in crews and drivers, it's still a very small percentage of "bad guys".
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To quote the article . . . "As luck would have it, Holdener knew the record for that class was 202.301 mph."
Didn't know it required luck to read the Rule Book. As for Japanese cars, seems like a Mitsubushi set top time of the World Finals this year in the rain at 212 or so (way off his record).
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Sacrebleu :-o Tony
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. . . and again . . ."Holdener and Habrzyk arrived in our tow truck a few minutes later, declaring that I hit 203.4 mph. A few minutes later, the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) confirmed it."
The SCTA confirmed (with a time slip, I guess) the speed they had announced (thanx, Glen).
What a bunch of crap!
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Hey guys, Tony has a new avatar!
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Hey guys, Tony has a new avatar!
I noticed, I have a kink in my neck :roll:
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I need to clarify my earlier post. As Kent says, Tom and Richard are OK guys, long time LSR racers. They had the same car at Speed Week, ran into some problems and did not record.
The author of the article was the one I was referring to.
DW
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"The folks who usually show up at a Bonneville event weren’t accustomed to seeing a compact Japanese sedan among their hot rods and streamliners, so to say that we stuck out would be an understatement. " his quote.
This is of course total cr*p. There have been Mazda rx's, Hondas and others for years, many over 200 or setting other records. Only way someone would sabotage this clown is for being a clown, not for what he was driving. JMHO
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I can't find my 3/8 speed handle and 1/2 12 point socket. I know I had it last weekend. Must be sabotage. Somebody is worried about the Stude or the Dodge Bros.
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"The folks who usually show up at a Bonneville event weren’t accustomed to seeing a compact Japanese sedan among their hot rods and streamliners, so to say that we stuck out would be an understatement. " his quote.
This is of course total cr*p. There have been Mazda rx's, Hondas and others for years, many over 200 or setting other records. Only way someone would sabotage this clown is for being a clown, not for what he was driving. JMHO
Or a cool 240sx huh Jack? :cheers: He was a self centered clown with blinders on.
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"The folks who usually show up at a Bonneville event weren’t accustomed to seeing a compact Japanese sedan among their hot rods and streamliners, so to say that we stuck out would be an understatement. " his quote.
This is of course total cr*p. There have been Mazda rx's, Hondas and others for years, many over 200 or setting other records. Only way someone would sabotage this clown is for being a clown, not for what he was driving. JMHO
Or a cool 240sx huh Jack? :cheers: He was a self centered clown with blinders on.
Won't be cool until it goes at least 10mph faster (and breaks my own record) :-D (and maybe a little more than Don McMeekins car with the F motor. :evil That would be nice- until he makes it run and then will be out of sight if his past behavior is any indication. )
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Closest I came to sabotoge was someone stealing my 1953 Schwin bicycle after I made a run to the pits to get some tools
to have my engine pumped in impound at the Muroc Reunion. While my back was turned, it was taken. I've been pissed every since!
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i could be wrong but i'm pretty sure someone took one of the shoulder belts out of the car. i'm also pretty sure that they had to get another one before they could run.
never heard about joliffs incident. that's terrible.
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i could be wrong but i'm pretty sure someone took one of the shoulder belts out of the car. i'm also pretty sure that they had to get another one before they could run.
never heard about joliffs incident. that's terrible.
One? I thought there was security after we al leave? Expand on this nate, please.
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Its probably the same heathen that stole a single sock from the dryer when I was doing my laundry in Wendover. :-o Tony
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"The folks who usually show up at a Bonneville event weren’t accustomed to seeing a compact Japanese sedan among their hot rods and streamliners, so to say that we stuck out would be an understatement. " his quote.
Does my compact Japanese Mitsubishi Truck Standout? Are you guys un-accustomed to seeing it for the past 11 years?
In the immortal words of Mr. Ed, Horse Feathers!
a bunch of self serving whiny crap!
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One? I thought there was security after we al leave? Expand on this nate, please.
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The problems these guys are talking about are very isolated incidents. Your stuff is safe out on the salt overnight and while it is in impound. It is possible that something could happen but I would think it would be more apt to happen in your own shop than out on the salt.
John
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There is security. It is a vast area. Things can be taken while you're still right there. After the pits are vacated, it would be hard to get back to the pits in the dark. Your stuff is probably much safer there than in town or at the bend.
Stan
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There is security at the end of the road and in the pit area at night.
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Its probably the same heathen that stole a single sock from the dryer when I was doing my laundry in Wendover. :-o Tony
were the Red Hot Chilli Peppers playing in town that night?......
http://www.feelnumb.com/?p=4229
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Well, I look at it this way, it most likely wouldn't be another racer because we are mostly all poor, humble, and know we could borrow the part from the record holder in our class even if he thought we could take his record. This only leaves either some sleazeball souvenier hunter, or a jealous ex lover or wife.
Also, anything stolen could and would increase my gas mileage on the way home!
Sign me "I am so broke that my soul is for sale" Bob ( but if I sell two thirds of my blood by August 1st, I will make it back for the fifteenth time).
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Well, I look at it this way, it most likely wouldn't be another racer because we are mostly all poor, humble, and know we could borrow the part from the record holder in our class even if he thought we could take his record. This only leaves either some sleazeball souvenier hunter, or a jealous ex lover or wife.
Also, anything stolen could and would increase my gas mileage on the way home!
Sign me "I am so broke that my soul is for sale" Bob ( but if I sell two thirds of my blood by August 1st, I will make it back for the fifteenth time
Jones and Cecatto and Ron Jolliff wouldn't agree with you.
J an C thought it was a competitor that was one of the last on the salt, and there were some roadster guys that were upset with what Ron had done with his street roadster.
Dickey Griffin though it was someone upset with saving the salt.
JL222
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That article reads like a fairy tail from a wanker. He might have driven on it, but he'll never be a salt racer, doesn't have a humble bone.
Sid.
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Agreed
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Thought I'd slip a note in here because of the question about security. From 6 pm to 7 am, there is Security in the Pit area, Impound, and at the Start Lines. They are constantly on the move to keep everything safe for you racers. There is 24 hr Security at Land's End and all of us are in constant radio contact. My Pit Security have had to chase people down and force them to leave the salt...yes, they were racers and crew. Some people just don't believe they can't stay on the salt at night! My Security put a lot of miles on their vehicles every night driving all over the salt. Parking and sitting is not an option I allow them. They are constantly on the move making sure everything is secure. We don't allow anyone to go out to the Pits after the salt closes.....let me rephrase that...the only way anyone can get back onto the salt is if they come to me with a critical request...medicine left in their pit, tools needed to help someone who is thrashing all night so they can pass inspection and race...that kind of thing. Those people are either escorted to their pit, or are met at the Pit entrance by the Pit Security and then escorted. NO ONE is allowed to just drive out.
All of you have entrusted me with the responsibility to keep your dreams safe and my team and I take that responsibility seriously. At the same time, you, as racers, are responsible to help us do our jobs...secure your Pit area, lock things up, anything that can blow away should be secured, easy-ups lowered, light trailers tied down, etc. We don't know who belongs in your Pit, so you need to make sure that each member of your crew leaves the salt.
I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to be part of this racing family and will continue to protect your dreams as long as you will allow me to.
Lynda
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Adding a bit to Lynda's story, Nancy and I are often "Pit Nazis" - the folks that take turns at the end of each day to drive around and around in the pits to make sure everyone is out by (or as close as possible) closing time. We run into lot ot late-stayers, being those whose native tongue is not English so they didn't understand the rule, those who are drunk enough that they can't tell time much less close and leave, and those that want to finish "just one more fastener". By the time we've finished we've seen most folks leave - and go back to the ones that were "problems" and check to note their absence, too.
Remember that there are penalties for not leaving - penalties ranging from SCTA taking note of the racer's vehicle number and not allowing runs the next day to SCTA calling the Tooele County Sheriff to get some help in removing late-leavers. We haven't called the cops - but we have noted the vehicle numbers of offending teams. We work with Lynda and her gang to help protect your stuff. Help us, please.
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Linda, I believe none of us feel you need to defend yourself from this wild statement. It sounds like there might have been a couple of rivalry incident's in ancient history but we all know that this idiot is just flapping his gums & puffing out his chest to try & make himself look good. He's trying to get the "I did it against all odds" thing going. For the people that really matter, we know where the bull took a big dump, in his front yard.
Sid.
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"Pit Nazis" Who came up with that term Jon? How about "Pit Rawhides" we head um up, and move um out. Nazis is the other "N" word. :oops:
Steve
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I don't know from whence the "Nazi" term, as used here, originated. But I have heard it many times over the half-dozen years that we've been doing the dirty deed. I'll take no blame for using it, other than perhaps some clouded looks -- but since we've heard it from a handful of other folks I'll assume that even if you and I cease to use that word - that the folks who "taught" it to us will continue.
If you want us to be called pit bras ('cause we round 'em up and head 'em out, as would a proper flopper-stopper) - fine, go ahead and do it and I'll try to remember your preference.
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Dirtbags can never trust their own staff.
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Just to cheer you guys up here's link to an EVO magazine on-line article about the record they took with a Skoda. Given that Volkswagen Audi Group don't sell Skodas in the US, that really is a rare car on the salt. Click on the links at the end of the article for the Blog and pics. Their sister magazine OCTANE also has one-pager on the runs plus a road trip from Bonneville to Las Vegas in a street Skoda. I'd say the overall tone of the articles was very upbeat (he did get a red hat after all) but respectful. Journos don't have their head up a dark place all the time :lol:.
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/skoda-on-the-salt/271696/bonneville_skoda_smashes_record.html
Cheers
Robin
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They ought to be happy we talked them into running for class instead of T.O. Hard to get a red hat in that class.
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Every car on the salt is a rare car, there is no such thing as a matching door slammer or roadster. Thats one of the great things about LSR, its not the place of generic racing.
I have an acquaintance that feels the need to beat down those around him to make himself look good. He thinks it works, everybody else knows it doesn't.
Your buddy thinks we were looking down our nose at him before, well, we are now.
I actually went over to talk to those guys when they were in line but they were not too friendly, unlike Reg Cook's mob from NZ, right behind them in line & the little green Saab guys next ones back.
I got the impression they brought their stuffed shirts with them.
Sid.
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Never personally met the Skoda folks. That who you're referring to. Or the Suzuki deusch (sp?) - bag?
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The term 'Pit N__i' was affectionately bestowed upon Roy Creel many years ago when the increase in the number of competitors and spectators required the implementation of tighter controls on after-hours operations.
Roy is also the proud holder of another aka; 'Code Commando', anyone who has filled out an entry in the last few years will relate to the nickname.
DW
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I've also applied the term "Grand Grenadier" to Roy. Fun watching people take pictures thru his blocks.
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Never personally met the Skoda folks. That who you're referring to. Or the Suzuki deusch (sp?) - bag?
Stan, I did meet the Skoda folks and they acted like good humans. 8-) Wayno
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Lynda --- just about everyone that read the original post has the same opinion ... BS ... I leave tools / torque wrench / race bikes out over night and no one touchs anything ... hundreds of entries, year after year and one guy has an issue ... I am of the opinion that they dropped the piece somewhere along the route and are crying wolf.
Joe
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Well, I look at it this way, it most likely wouldn't be another racer because we are mostly all poor, humble, and know we could borrow the part from the record holder in our class even if he thought we could take his record. This only leaves either some sleazeball souvenier hunter, or a jealous ex lover or wife.
Also, anything stolen could and would increase my gas mileage on the way home!
Sign me "I am so broke that my soul is for sale" Bob ( but if I sell two thirds of my blood by August 1st, I will make it back for the fifteenth time).
we have a racer at lake gairdner ,a real charming guy , that supplements his travel costs with drink cans .We pay a container deposit of 10 cents per can , our state government repays that 10 cents on the return of the cans as it reduces littering , lee has worked out that his trip costs him a can a kilometer for his small transporter , so he need to collect 1200 cans to make it back to his home in brisbane ,queensland .
before he used a flatbed truck for the race car he used to drive down with his race engine inside the car and people would help change it when he arrived and help change it to return home . so there it is bob you dont have to sell the blood .
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I thought I lost my mind building Amy's camaro, turns out she stole it. I think she put it in a jar on the mantel. :-D
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I write a monthly column for a car magazine too. That guy had no story or at least didn't have the talent to develop one from his experiences so he resorted to making some drama where none existed. His trash was intended to play to what he believes is his target audience and he was stretching it out to please his editor.
He is a pathetic writer, an even more pathetic human and I am sure he considers himself a real car guy.
What a twerp.
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" Nazis is the other "N" word. "
my wife is Lovingly is referred to as the house NAZIS :-D it is a term of endearment --unless of course she thinks I am not behaving properly toward "HER" house then she has the audacity to remind me she is also "PARTS CHECK SIGNER" :-o YMMV
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Yea Sparky, my Linda came home from work early and caught me building a motor on the wet bar in the basement... now that she has retired we won't see that activity any more... :roll:
:cheers:
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Yea Sparky, my Linda came home from work early and caught me building a motor on the wet bar in the basement... now that she has retired we won't see that activity any more... :roll:
:cheers:
Wait a minute! She left all her makeup and hairspray in the bathroom, and the kitchen counter is probably covered with appliances, so you compromised twice on this one! :|
Did you offer her a drink to smooth things over? :cheers:
Actually, I know that Kate occasionally likes to ask "What is this, and why is it on the dining room table?" - It gives her the opportunity to make us a reservation. :wink:
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Have you guys ever heard of "alternate shipping address" or having a Man Cave to do your work?
Out of sight is out of mind...
Don't leave your parts or mess in"her" house,,, LOL
I have learned these lessons the hard way too!!!
Charles
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They had to pull the bottom of the air dam back to make backup pass. Didn't impress me. As my Mother taught me thats the nicest thing I can say.
We won't see that group again.
DW
Or, is it more like..... didn't favorably impress me.....?
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"The folks who usually show up at a Bonneville event weren’t accustomed to seeing a compact Japanese sedan among their hot rods and streamliners, so to say that we stuck out would be an understatement. " his quote.
This is of course total cr*p. There have been Mazda rx's, Hondas and others for years, many over 200 or setting other records. Only way someone would sabotage this clown is for being a clown, not for what he was driving. JMHO
I dont remember his name offhand but the car was named something like "Blitz-Jun" etc ... it had an absolutely "kicka**" paint job that looked like ORANGE PEEL.... and, until you touched it, you would NOT believe it was NOT really "orange peel".... and he remembers ME.... with shake hands, bow etc... DON'T give us that s*** about we Bonneville people NOT ..... (whatever your verbal diahrea was)