Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: TrickyDicky on July 22, 2016, 08:51:58 AM
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I don't know whether this is a good place to pose this question, but here goes ...
As far as I know, the last time the Burklands' 411 Streamliner ran was 2008 when Tom Burkland broke Al Teague's famous 1991 FIA mile record. Are there any plans for either car or driver to run again?
I'm aware from various comments on landracing.com that Tom is still very involved in land speed racing, although possibly not as a competitor. I just wondered whether the car will ever be seen again on the salt.
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Bad netiquette for me to reply to myself, but since this has had 275 views with no replies ...
I'm pleased to say that I've had a personal message from Tom Burkland in response to my query. I hope I am not giving away any secrets if I say that the 411 streamliner has not been retired.
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He and I had a bit of a business relationship 2 years back; and I asked him about same.
He wants "12 miles of good salt", was the response at that time.
Today we may have about 8.
Some courses have been dragged, but the texture is somewhat moister in spots than others.
NO WATER to ford at Land's end.
What is planned for access road is smoother than most SLC streets.
2.5 weeks to Speed Week.
Next 10 days are forecast DRY! :cheers: :-D
Jim
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That is the same impression I got talking to the Burklands a few years ago, waiting for the salt conditions (to come to them) ie to be good enough to properly run the the car to its potential.
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I was there the last time the liner ran. They had there hands full with a problem that required them to use just about every inch of surface to get it all stopped, and I do mean every inch! Tom did one hell of a job driving it, so I can see him not being in a hurry if he feels the conditions are not what they should be.
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Steve said: "... a problem that required them to use just about every inch of surface to get it all stopped, and I do mean every inch! "
As I remember -- that stop included more than a few feet, more than a few instances, where Mr. Burkland was airborne. Count that in the amount it took to come to a halt. :roll:
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I reckon he has done all he can do with the 60% of the car's horsepower that he can get to the ground because of surface conditions. I do know it wouldn't take much to get the car on the salt again if there were considerable improvements in track surface.
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Didn't they run out into the mud one year and a bunch of people pulled it out by hand? Or was that some other liner.
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Like this shot? http://gearheads.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Burlkand_411_Streamliner_2008.jpg
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That is Ray the Rat's (RIP) Photo if I'm not mistaken, had it on my screen saver for a long time !
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Having been there when Tom came barreling into the pits and Ray was shooting frame after frame -- I can assure you that the airborne photos do a terrifying justice to a few seconds' of "WTF am I seeing?" feeling that Nancy and I shared - probly with quite a few others of us that were REALLY close to the freeway, too!
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I can remember standing at the edge of our pit area and seeing Tom coming, thinking he's in trouble, as its coming way way to fast and there's not much past us to the hwy. Tom was driving it like no tomorrow, side to side trying to scrub speed off, in the air a few times and finally stopped with the liner turned 90 deg to the track. Had it been a dirt track car and not a 30 + ft. streamliner I'm sure it would have been much easier on Tom.
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Was that in 2002 when we ran the other way for back up runs?
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No, it was a down run on a two-way for the Shootout - '09?. They run from the far end towards the pits first - to make it that much easier to get the vehicle to service for the timed turnaround in case the driver qualifies.
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Didn't they run out into the mud one year and a bunch of people pulled it out by hand? Or was that some other liner.
That was someone else.
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Ray the Rats photos of the event. As you can see, the highway was getting close...
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No, it was a down run on a two-way for the Shootout - '09?.
24 September 2008.
Booking past the pits at about 100 (it looked like). Tom revving the dickens out of the motor trying to get into lower gear to stop it. Darn near locked 'em up trying to stop. Stopped about a quarter mile from the zero. LOTS OF EXCITEMENT! Engines wouldn't shut down, so Tom waited -- then made the decision to stick a fire extinguisher into the air scoop, squeeze the trigger, and that stopped the engines.
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A locknut on the throttle linkage that let go, wasn't it?
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Didn't they run out into the mud one year and a bunch of people pulled it out by hand? Or was that some other liner.
That was someone else.
GH you are correct, that was prior to the rebuild with the clam shell tail & I think before Tom broke our AA record. The timeline get's a little fuzzy all these years later when you had your face buried in another liner.
Sid.
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Didn't they run out into the mud one year and a bunch of people pulled it out by hand? Or was that some other liner.
That was someone else.
GH you are correct, that was prior to the rebuild with the clam shell tail & I think before Tom broke our AA record. The timeline get's a little fuzzy all these years later when you had your face buried in another liner.
Sid.
2000 World of Speed? The fastest run to date.
341.154 in the quarter, 361.043 in the 3rd mile, 405.282 in the 4th mile, 438.815 in the 5th mile and terminal speed 450.225. This was TOP SPEED OF THE MEET. BOTH risers on the high-speed parachutes broke and the low-speed parachute tore all of its panels, so the car ended up about 2-3 miles past the end of the race course stuck in the mud. The rear fenders were damaged by the mud, so we were unable to run again.
See http://www.ugofadini.com/burklandstory2.html.
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Didn't they run out into the mud one year and a bunch of people pulled it out by hand? Or was that some other liner.
That was someone else.
GH you are correct, that was prior to the rebuild with the clam shell tail & I think before Tom broke our AA record. The timeline get's a little fuzzy all these years later when you had your face buried in another liner.
Sid.
I may be mistaken when it comes to 411 getting stuck but there was a liner from So Cal that went off the end of the course and got stuck in the mud at a WOS event not too long ago.
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Skip?
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I may be mistaken when it comes to 411 getting stuck but there was a liner from So Cal that went off the end of the course and got stuck in the mud at a WOS event not too long ago.
I think Skip Hedrich has been into the mud.
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I remember during one of the shoot out events listening to Betty Burkland talk about them getting it stuck in the mud, but I believe it may have been on the older build before the current configuration.
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I was a participant at W.O.S. in 2000 and filmed that fast run... i have photos of the liner in the pits after they pulled it from the mud at the 11mi (?) Damage from the mud prevented a backup run...
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I was one of the group that spread and moved the plywood sheets and slogged in the mire for hours freeing the liner. Once we got it up to the more solid area and the wreckers' cable reach I took off to the State Line(Nugget, now). Beat up! When I snuck into my room, at about 8:45 PM, I stood and sat in the shower with all my clothes and shoes on and let the water rinse most of the mud and goo into Wendover's sewer. I did not clock the event, but I know I was in the shower for an hour. About 10:30, I greeted a bunch of other helpers as they slogged into the casino from the parking lot. My god, they were a filthy, muddy mess. I'm sure they went up to their rooms and did exactly the same thing I had.
For awhile, at the start, I thought we could never move, let alone free that heavy, heavy, monster. I remember the relief we all felt just being able to inch it onto that first plywood sheet. Gene acted like it was just one more thing. I knew Betty was relived and Tom was Tom, unflappable. I still feel a bond with all the people in that bunch, that evening.
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Good story there JR. I know we ran at least one more pass close to 400 while you guys were slopping in the pudding down there & as we were strapping Al in, to calm his nerves I said don't run over the Burklands! I'll never forget the look he gave me. :evil:
Sid. :-D
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Pop, that is a great story and one more reason this site has made Us all more informed about Our sport. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers
Bob
p.s. just a reminder to us to send a little cash to Slim.... Whoa I was just about to hit post and got the warning that Sid had posted... another classic story.
My favorite story ever came when I spoke to Gene and Tom (at different times) about the Tire Testing Machine they built and used to test the M/T 600 mph tires.
Believe Me, there is a reason they are not sold as M/T 650 mph tires!!! The machine itself is worthy of a documentary movie as it is the "ultimate High Tech" test unit.
I don't know how it was built without a CNC multiple axis mill!!!!
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: ( Tom, if You read this it would be cool if You could post a picture of the tester....) Bob
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I notice that '411' is on the SCTA's list of expired vehicle numbers.
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Anyone save that wonderful pic RTR shot of Tom sailing through the pit area in a spray of water/salt??
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That yellow parachute looks like a drogue chute from an F4C Phantom- a 16 ft ring-slot.
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
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If you miss going for 3 years, your number is up for grabs.
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I notice that '411' is on the SCTA's list of expired vehicle numbers.
So what are you going to do?. Claim it???. :-D :dhorse:
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I notice that '411' is on the SCTA's list of expired vehicle numbers.
So what are you going to do?. Claim it???. :-D :dhorse:
I have to wait until 1 April. :-(
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SCTA will let you extend and keep the number if some contacts them. Not sure why the Burklands did not do it or perhaps they have since the list was posted.
BR
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Lose my number? Heck, no -- it's MY number!
I'm sure torn - between the fact that the chances are I won't get the 436 Icebreaker bike racing again -- and geez, I hate to give up the number -- just in case.
Is there anyone else out there with such a take on the number-keeping thing?
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I kept my 104 number by writing to Chuck Kalbach for a number of years. Last year somebody wrote that he would like the number, so I let it go.
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Thanks, Rich. I'd think that's a good way to do it. If somebody wants "my" number -- he's probably got a good reason and he's welcome to keep it going.
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Yep, we were asked for our 1010 a number of years ago.... gave it to a great group of folks
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I understand the the 411 'Liner will be on display at the Great Falls MT indoor car show this year. Weekend of April 21st.
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I heard that too. I may have to go there.
Doug :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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I gave my old #787 to the guy that supplied my ECU and assisted for quite a few years. The previous owner of the #787 was the Boeing Employees Club.
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# 104 is now on 1940 Bantam roadster w/ 48 cu. in Austin flathead.. Ran first time Nov. at ELMO .. This winter all apart for paint , upgrades , looking for small improvements ,like a horsepower or two .. Lots of help from Tucson people . STEVE ANDERSON