Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: Hot Rod Lincoln on July 25, 2014, 10:52:45 AM
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I just buzzed over the first page and didn't see a thread regarding the condition of the salt this year. If it's there sorry for missing it.
So what's the news on the condition of the salt this year ? ( or post a link to the thread ) ;)
Thanks
Jon
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Usually that is well covered by now. If we had those satellite pictures from a few weeks ago that might be interesting too.
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Seemed OK at the test and Tune
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Except for the soup at the 3 mile, I'm still cleaning the slurry off my bike.
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Also, this was the first time, in 11 years of salt racing, that I have had an issue with salt packing my front wheel, (sort of like God applying the front brake, except that my bike doesn't have one). I'm redoing the fender mounts before WOS.
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Here's some information for you: A commercial wheel-packer has been purchased for use by all of the involved parties at Bonneville. It's needed because in some places the salt is not only thin - but cracked and pushing up. See attached photos, the first of which is the crunchies themselves, and the second is a side by side shot of before and after wheel-packing. If a drag is pulled over this stuff the salt will scatter and not necessarily become smooth and even. The wheel packer knocks down those ridges - a/k/a crunchies - enough that then if it's dragged a good surface will result. It may turn out that no dragging is needed, but whatever - the wheel-packer will help. It's almost a necessity to use it on the international course -- the one used for the Shootout, especially near I-80. But everywhere will benefit from it, I expect.
Please, however, don't think that the courses are in terrible condition. It's noted elsewhere here that the conditions were good at the T&T and will probably be only better at SpeedWeek. The wheel-packer should help to improve what we find when we get there.
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From a post from Rex Schimmer in the T&T thread dated 07/13......
The conditions were good to very good.......
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At the T&T the salt was still a little damp, you could hear some back peddling. Much was learned. a few hurt things like Marlo's project 550 banged a blower and damaged the body. Doubtful they will be at SW. Those that traveled long distance are still thrashing for a return trip to SW. we hope all can make it back. The Nish streamliner had a starter ring fail. Danny Thompson made a nice 317 mph checkout pass, The Vesco cars had some issues and we feel that they are now solved and ready for record runs. see you on the salt.
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Does it really matter?
Are you going to stay home because the salt is damp, rough, sandy or whatever? :?
If it ain't under water we'll be there.... :cheers:
Only so many Speedweeks in your lifetime. 8-)
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Does it really matter?
Are you going to stay home because the salt is damp, rough, sandy or whatever? :?
If it ain't under water we'll be there.... :cheers:
Only so many Speedweeks in your lifetime. 8-)
:cheers: :cheers:
Sum
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Does it really matter?
Are you going to stay home because the salt is damp, rough, sandy or whatever? :?
If it ain't under water we'll be there.... :cheers:
Only so many Speedweeks in your lifetime. 8-)
I'm In. :cheers: :cheers:
Richard2
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Slim- the wheel-packing looks good. If this is the first time it's been tried, I'm surprised it wasn't done before this.
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Does it really matter?
Are you going to stay home because the salt is damp, rough, sandy or whatever? :?
If it ain't under water we'll be there.... :cheers:
Only so many Speedweeks in your lifetime. 8-)
You know, there's only so much prep work you can do. If mother nature doesn't cooperate, well, there's just not a lot you can do about it.
But you can do nothing if you don't show up.
My poker face is in place, all my chips in, and the pot has been called.
(http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo58/milwaukeemidget/yodapiechart.jpg) (http://s361.photobucket.com/user/milwaukeemidget/media/yodapiechart.jpg.html).
I'll see you on the salt.
Period.
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Does it really matter?
Are you going to stay home because the salt is damp, rough, sandy or whatever? :?
If it ain't under water we'll be there.... :cheers:
Only so many Speedweeks in your lifetime. 8-)
we'll be there
just wondering about the traction and being able to put 850hp at 8,200 to the ground. it's going to take traction to get the record we are shooting for
that's all
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Here's some information for you: A commercial wheel-packer has been purchased for use by all of the involved parties at Bonneville. It's needed because in some places the salt is not only thin - but cracked and pushing up. See attached photos, the first of which is the crunchies themselves, and the second is a side by side shot of before and after wheel-packing. If a drag is pulled over this stuff the salt will scatter and not necessarily become smooth and even. The wheel packer knocks down those ridges - a/k/a crunchies - enough that then if it's dragged a good surface will result. It may turn out that no dragging is needed, but whatever - the wheel-packer will help. It's almost a necessity to use it on the international course -- the one used for the Shootout, especially near I-80. But everywhere will benefit from it, I expect.
Please, however, don't think that the courses are in terrible condition. It's noted elsewhere here that the conditions were good at the T&T and will probably be only better at SpeedWeek. The wheel-packer should help to improve what we find when we get there.
thanks for the info Slim
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....just wondering about the traction and being able to put 850hp at 8,200 to the ground. ...
They were putting a lot more than 850 HP to the ground at the test-and-tune :-D.
Designing a car to have the traction one needs for different salt conditions is just as important as putting a motor together to make the HP you need. They are related and both are calculable....
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/bvillecar/bville-spreadsheet-index.html (http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/bvillecar/bville-spreadsheet-index.html)
Sum
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There has been a wheel packer at the salt for quite a while, but it was old -- and, if I remember right, it was sort of home made. It worked, though - has been used in the past. This one will be new, commercially-built, and likely not only wider but heavier and so will work better (everyone hopes it'll be better than the old one). I'll see if I can find a photo of it.
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Slim- the wheel-packing looks good. If this is the first time it's been tried, I'm surprised it wasn't done before this.
The original wheel wheel packer was made by Rick Vesco more then 25 years ago, it does work. The problem is over the years it was not maintained properly at the salt finally got to, it. When packing it would draw the water to the surface and the heat from the sun would help evaporate the water mist.
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Freshened the motor and replaced the destroyed cam button. We have 4 new tires, and a Detroit Locker this year. Maybe we'll get 225 out of her.. See you on the salt!
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Does anyone know if they are going to be able to put together 4 courses again this year?
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Read the SCTA=BNI straight away news it has a full update.
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thanks .. will take a look
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Don't know how many of you are "facebookers", but the SCTA's Facebook page constantly has good information.
They posted today that the new wheel packer and dragging operations will begin anew on Saturday. Take a look there for reliable info.
They also post a bunch of stuff that's just downright cool!
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Today FB also contains postings from people in fear of the storms that are hitting SLC currently causing a postponement.
DW
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I was looking at the flats last night on the NOAA satilite map, and noticed that idiots have been out doing cookie's on the courses, does'nt the sign say, (stay on the fricking road)? As wet as it is, they could cause unrepairable damage. With what we pay the BLM, it seems they could visit the SRMA and keep the idiots off the salt, until we are there to regulate them. :x
Steve
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The park rangers sure do visit the salt when we're there - that's for sure. How 'bout they go there on a regular basis and - umn, unnhh, practice? :roll:
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I was looking at the flats last night on the NOAA satilite map, and noticed that idiots have been out doing cookie's on the courses, does'nt the sign say, (stay on the fricking road)? As wet as it is, they could cause unrepairable damage. With what we pay the BLM, it seems they could visit the SRMA and keep the idiots off the salt, until we are there to regulate them. :x
Steve
The salt flats are open public so anyone can go out there. The BLM encourages people to enjoy the salt flats but asks that visitors tread lightly.
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/salt_lake_fo/bonneville_salt_flats/pdfs.Par.94426.File.dat/BSF%20Mgmt%20Paper.pdf
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The Utah Rocket Club is having a meet out there this weekend.
http://www.uroc.org/index.php/resources-mainmenu-729/learning/past-news/item/6808-a-damp-hellfire-maybe#.U9ltaE3n_CQ
A week is still a long way away for us, and that little bit of water ain't nothin'.
-jf
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Don't know how many of you are "facebookers", but the SCTA's Facebook page constantly has good information.
They posted today that the new wheel packer and dragging operations will begin anew on Saturday. Take a look there for reliable info.
They also post a bunch of stuff that's just downright cool!
thanks
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Salt conditions will be posted daily on the SCTA Facebook page starting today (Saturday).
There has been no such posting on the SCTA page saying anything about postponing due to rain.
Check the page out for daily updates from Scott Andrews.
Www.Facebook.com/SCTASouthernCaliforniaTimingAssociation
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Hopefully someone will post on the SCTA homepage or this site for those of us that don't care to be part of the $12B ad campaign's profit line....
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Hopefully someone will post on the SCTA homepage or this site for those of us that don't care to be part of the $12B ad campaign's profit line....
I also hate FB but it is much easier to post there than to update a page on the SCTA site. On (FB) about anyone can edit a page. To post info on the SCTA site involves someone editing an existing page or creating a new one and then uploading it to their server which takes a lot more time and someone has to have more knowledge to do it.
My suggestion to Jon would be to open a Form on here (where the other forums are) that the SCTA could post announcements to but that would be locked to the rest of us so that it wouldn't be cluttered with replies that got off topic. Then anyone that the SCTA hierarchy gives the password to could add info before, during or after SW or any other time of the year. I think it would be a win-win for SCTA and us.
If they post on one of the existing B'ville forums their posting quickly gets lost as more and more replies about other topics are posted,
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What stainless and sumner said- x10
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TwitFace (http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee171/4-BarrelMike/Miscellaneous%20stuff/Finger.gif)
Mike :mrgreen:
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TwitFace (http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee171/4-BarrelMike/Miscellaneous%20stuff/Finger.gif)
Mike :mrgreen:
????????? :? :?
Pete
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twitface = twitter + facebook
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Ahhhhh! I now totally concur with your post.
Pete
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Hopefully someone will post on the SCTA homepage or this site for those of us that don't care to be part of the $12B ad campaign's profit line....
I also hate FB but it is much easier to post there than to update a page on the SCTA site. On (FB) about anyone can edit a page. To post info on the SCTA site involves someone editing an existing page or creating a new one and then uploading it to their server which takes a lot more time and someone has to have more knowledge to do it.
My suggestion to Jon would be to open a Form on here (where the other forums are) that the SCTA could post announcements to but that would be locked to the rest of us so that it wouldn't be cluttered with replies that got off topic. Then anyone that the SCTA hierarchy gives the password to could add info before, during or after SW or any other time of the year. I think it would be a win-win for SCTA and us.
If they post on one of the existing B'ville forums their posting quickly gets lost as more and more replies about other topics are posted,
Sum,
Respectfully I disagree. The current SCTA president, along with many board members are registered members of this site. They like the rest of us can post whatever they would like. As we know it is very easy.
As far as a post getting hidden, I also have to disagree with you on that. I pretty much read every post that is posted and I know most registered users do also, as when they come on they go to their unread posts. If someone is not receiving the information they need from this site, then I suggest they register as a member of this site and keep up to date.
Tom G.
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Hopefully someone will post on the SCTA homepage or this site for those of us that don't care to be part of the $12B ad campaign's profit line....
How true, good one Stainless. :cheers:
Tom G.
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Standard hard headed racers....... hey the information is over here; I don't like it there...... I want it where I want it.
And if facebook is making billions in advertising and not charging me to be on their site who's the real loser? Good for them.
I'll take the path of least resistance to get the information I want......
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27 posts and none of them had anything to do with the salt conditions. Thank goodness for Facebook! :)
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From the SCTA home page
To All Speed Week Competitors:
Great News from the salt! We are still on weather watch for the next couple of days, but it looks like we made it through the worst of the storms this time.
The courses look to be in excellent condition. There is no standing water on any of the courses and they are all in good shape. Lots of good shutdown space on the courses and they will extend to 10 miles. It’s time to load up your gear and hit the road!
The salt is very thin in some places, but it is hard and smooth.
This will be a great event for all the really fast vehicles to do what they do best – GO FAST!
See you at Speed Week!
Regards,
Scott C. Andrews
SCTA President/Chief Timer
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From the SCTA home page
To All Speed Week Competitors:
Great News from the salt! We are still on weather watch for the next couple of days, but it looks like we made it through the worst of the storms this time.
The courses look to be in excellent condition. There is no standing water on any of the courses and they are all in good shape. Lots of good shutdown space on the courses and they will extend to 10 miles. It’s time to load up your gear and hit the road!
The salt is very thin in some places, but it is hard and smooth.
This will be a great event for all the really fast vehicles to do what they do best – GO FAST!
See you at Speed Week!
Regards,
Scott C. Andrews
SCTA President/Chief Timer
Thank you.
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Looks as if when you're "SCTA President/Chief Timer" it's not TOO hard to get updates posted on the SCTA site. :mrgreen:
No offense intended for anyone who might have suggested otherwise. :cheers:
Thanks, Scott (and racefanwfo).
Mike
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http://www.scta-bni.org/pdf/2014/SpeedWeek%20Course%20Condition%20Report%20080414.pdf
Tom G.
Bonneville Speed
Week Course Condition Report
8/4
/2014
Salt Report Monday 8AM:
The
Bonneville Salt Flats are still dry. There is precipitation in the area but the salt flats have avoided any
moisture. A few sprinkles passed through Wendover this morning and a bit was seen at the end of the road, but
it should be gone by noon.
With con
tinued weather in the area, we will be posting a condition report this
afternoon as well. Stay tuned.
As seen in the picture below, the land surveyor is setting the accurate mile marks to the sub
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centimeter!
Also, Russ Eyres and Don Key are doing
a salt thickness survey. Russ does this every year and he keeps accurate
readings from the same positions
Regards,
Scott C. Andrews
SCTA
Presiden
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well damn :x :cry: