2500 hp 25" track width Loose Salt What could possibly go Wrong?

[7800ebs]

Yep,  I was looking to get off that course..

I kept yelling "Jane get me OFF this Crazy thing" 


I figured out the "oil vs markers deal"

I just need to pickup 105 mph.. then the markers will be like a fence..   

[Sumner]

Target fixation strikes again.

I'm wondering if target fixation or the possible fear of it happening might of indirectly contributed to the number of spins this year.  Most of the comments I heard at SW were blaming a rough track for the spins.  Why was it so rough?  Maybe because more drivers were driving down the middle of the course?

The flags are easy to use driving down the middle.  Your natural reaction is to center yourself on them looking down course.  So in that respect they do the job.  In years past and for some like myself when the track gets rough drivers search for good salt along the sides.  With the lines it feels natural to run right next to them.  Think of how much easier it is to run down a narrow rural highway at night that has the lines painted on the road just off the shoulder vs. the same road with no lines and reflectors on posts a few feet off the road.

Trying to run down the course on the sides with the flags is harder and not as natural.  You are running over 200 and trying to gauge where you should be off a flag 1/4 mile ahead so that when you get there you will be 10 feet or so off to the side of it.  Much harder than running 10 feet off of a line on the salt.

I have a feeling that less drivers were running close to the sides of the track and more towards the middle than in the past.  We ran late in the week when the courses were even tore up more and I ran as close to the sides as possible and found that the course really didn't seem that bad and had no problems.  Like Joe I'd pay a little more entry fee to have the lines.  I think they would give you more options on where you are running vs. the flags,

Sum

[Tman]

We ran course two, the starter told us the right side was better than the center so we ran there. Simple really.

[RichFox]

I still have a salt print on the street in front of my house. from Bob's parts trailer. It's kind of surprising that no one has ever asked me what happened to the street in front. City seems to be interested in everything else that happens.

[7800ebs]

damn Rich.. reminds me .. need to wash trailer.. 

Yea.. I started on the "right side" seemed like a good idea..  car wanted that too.. and the left .. center.. more right.. more right .. whoa.. to much right side..


earlier this year, I was speaking with Harry Hoffman of Markley Hoffman Liner fame.. he mentioned that when you are going real fast .. in this case 380 to 395 .. the course get narrower.. I now understand..
Just as I noticed how far apart the markers are at 55 mph.. not so much at 395.. 

here are some pics Sum ..  from the 80's and early 90's

first year no body.. no money either..

later pic,  body.. but still no money..

[7800ebs]

Chassis on jig for mods

rear frame mod for Dick Holt / B&J Rear End

cage mod for Hans Devise / 30 lbs of extra driver   

[7800ebs]

Nothing as fun as having to cut up your car of 30 years..

Cage was to small.. size and diameter tube .. replaced with 1 3/4  3/16 wall

[7800ebs]

Comparing new cage shape to old


that is a big rear end..

[Freud]

A few years back, probably the year that they eliminated the line,

Marlo Treit offered to pay the bill for the lines.

They said NO.

FREUD

[jl222]

You generally go in the direction you are looking while driving.  The one thing I noticed with the flags is I tried to stay to the side of the course where things weren't chewed up as much and found myself coming closer to the flags a couple times than I wanted to be since I was looking to stay just off of them.  Other than that they were fine but I never had a chance to drive with the lines,

Sum

  Yea,learned not to look at that BIG ROCK, desert racing bikes.

  But I wish, that all there was to do to stay on course when tires spin, was to look where you want to go

             JL222

[7800ebs]

Wouldn't I need to OPEN my eyes for that?

 

[7800ebs]

Another pic showing the higher roll cage template..

My logic is, if you "had to raise" the cage for safety.  aka Hans..

then you have to Balance that with a Bigger Engine.. and or Supercharger.. 

[7800ebs]

early dreamer stage.. before Jackson and Mayer

[7800ebs]

After Jackson and Mayer   18-71  with mk8 injector

[7800ebs]

Higher cage