The first eighth of a mile or so at Maxton is actually part of the old taxiway leading to the original runway. Then there is a very slight (very, very slight) ‘bend’ to the right to put you on the actual runway and from there it is straight through the traps and beyond for another three eighths or so to short shutdown. If you need to ‘go long’ to stop there is another slight bend to the right as you pass short shutdown. Overall the track length from starting line to the end of long shutdown is about 1.9 miles.
This was taken before I pulled up to the 'on-deck' spot. You see a car on the starting line and the bike between us is on the on deck spot. I was next after the bike.
now to pick up where I left off . . . the starter signals for me to go. I ‘launch’ smoothly and run it up through first, not watching the tack but watching for the first bend. Now I am in second and the car is really pulling well, turbo is spooled up and I see that I’m passing seven grand on the tach. Smooth shift to 3rd, still pulling well, boost gauge about 8 psi . . car is stable . . feels really good. . watch the tach . . here comes 7 grand . . 4th gear . . nice shift. Woooo . . . she really noses over in 4th. Note to self – try to get well over 7 grand in 3rd before the shift to 4th.
All is Ok. . engine is pulling, rpm is climbing. Didn’t expect to have so much speed sensation at around ‘only’ 100 mph. Seems a lot faster than I expected it to feel. Orange cones ‘going by’ really fast. Relax . .keep head in the game . . . . track seems really narrow all of a sudden. . . major ‘tunnel vision’. . . here comes the traps . . past the last marker . . what did Keith say about smooth transitioning from fast to slow? Out of the gas, Gentle on the brakes. Short shutdown coming up faster than expected . . harder on the brakes, down shift again, steady and smooth through right hander to go off track at short shut down. Thumbs-up to shutdown volunteers as I pass them.
Slow down for the pits, pull up to impound (it is a open record class), set turbo timer for one minute, remove helmet and try to look calm and cool as I walk over to get time slip. Bandit sitting there just idling. After one minute it shuts it self off.
The speed is 114.92328. This is great news. It’s a record. I have not screwed up. The car still has a lot more left to go faster. No point in changing classes. 114mph won’t break any of the other Super Street, or Gas Coupe or Altered Coupe Records for classes this car could fit.
I head back to the starting line. Next goal – get this speed up to over 125 to get my D license and bump the record to a ‘respectable’ level.
Life is good. I am now a Land Speed Racing Veteran, I hold a Record. I imagine that somewhere John Beckett is smiling. Thanks John, thanks ECTA.
What I did not know . . what nobody then knew, was that we would suspend racing before my next round. At about 11:04 Dave Owen would crash at speed while I was in the staging lanes. Racing would not resume until almost 3 p.m. At 3:10 the Bandit is on the line and I make a strong, clean, run. I still note that I should take it to over 8 grand in third to help prevent that big lag after the 3 to 4 shift. Even so I get a good 126.450 to make the new H/BFSS record a respectable one. I also qualify for my D license.
I pay the fee and switch to H/BGSS. (current record held by Tom Bruch at 123.292)
Run 3. . . I miss the 2-3 shift - Big Time. Note to self, find somebody that can drive this thing! Although I recover pretty well, a really good run ends up only netting 119 mph. Not good enough to bump the record.
Run 4 . . .Good launch, perfect shifts pulling 8 grand in each gear . . . then the power falls way off. Can't accelerate in 4th. Did the turbo fail? Well almost. . the intercooler plumbing popped one of the connections resulting in zero boost. Speed is only 101mph and change. Time to call it a day. Tighten the clamps and drive to the motel.
Sunday – Run 5 will be a test run shifting at 7 grand to see if the repair has worked on the intercooler. Smooth run with a speed of 112. Nothing breaks.
Run 6 . . . This will be the money run. I am ready to pull 8 grand in each gear. It starts as a near perfect run. Then at about the Three Quarter mile I think I run over something. I can see something bouncing on the track in my rear view mirror. The power falls off just like the day before. I slow and abort the run coasting through the traps and pull to the right – that's the signal at Maxton that there is a problem on the course but no need to send crash rescue because I am alright (Alright? - then pull to the right). The car seems to be OK, brakes and steering are fine, no flat tires, so I drive down and take short shutdown exit. Jump out tell Ken to tell the tower that there is debris at about the ¾ point. And I see that half of the intercooler plumbing is gone.
Track safety finds the missing piece and I have it returned to me in impound. A little scratched and dented but usable. A couple of biker guys help me by fixing the damage and I am good to go. I decide not to risk another problem and leave for home.
350 miles later I arrive with no problems at all. Average gas mileage coming home 33 miles per gallon.
What next for the Bandit? I don't know . . . When I do I'll post it here.