Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: tallguy on August 29, 2017, 12:11:09 AM
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Hi, all. Is there an available list of folks & vehicles that are already invited, signed-up,
etc. for the Top Speed Shootout of 2017? I couldn't find this on Mike Cook's Top
Speed Shootout website. Thanks in advance for any help with this, and good luck
to EVERYBODY on the salt.
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From "Shootout News":
4/28/17
Entries are pouring in for the 2017 Mike Cook’s Bonneville Shootout.
Here are the racers who have signed up so far.
...
Streamliners
George Poteet
Danny Thompson
Jim Knapp
Buckeye Bullet
Motorcycle Streamliners
Valerie Thompson – BUB 7
Guy Martin – Triumph
Motorcycles
Al Lamb
Jamie Williams (bike + snowmobile)
Erin Okonek
Erin Sills
Mike Garcia
Jerome Klawitter
There may well have been some changes since April.
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Thanks, TrickyDicky. I appreciate it.
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Update on Friday (on Facebook):
Current Shootout Confirmed entries include:
Streamliners
Valerie Thompson
Buckeye Bullet
Triumph Streamliner
Target 550 (waiting for parts)
Bikes
Al Lamb
Erin Sills
Erin Okonek
Mike Garcia
Jim Cole
Jerome Klawiter
Jamie Williams (snowmobile)\
Speed Demon and Challenger II are not attending
The Shootout without Speed Demon will be ... unusual.
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One or two cars ...wow...
FIA fees shouldered by one contender (Marlo likely testing if they show) ..?
Anyone know details on speed demon not seeking
speed on what is typically the best track of the year
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I don't recall Speed Demon being at the Shootout last year either.
Don
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You're correct that Speed Demon was not there in 2016. It was my understanding that they already had the record (with a "C" motor) in the class where they'd be running. So, why bother?
I think it may be the same deal this year. With the "A" motor they ran initially at Speedweek, they would have been in an FIA class where they did not have the record.
However, i heard they hurt that motor, which left them with the "C" motor once again.
Maybe George is thinking about Bolivia now, too.
I'm pretty sure Danny Thompson would have come to the Shootout, too, if he didn't lose a rod in his front motor at Speedweek.
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It seems like there are less and less participants each year at the various LSR events. I fear that the younger generation is just not interested in performance motor vehicles like we were.
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Zero about "younger" generation being the drop in entries
100% about viability of the racing venue
Easily triple plus the shootout entries with salt like we had a few years ago like 7-10
Or so years ago
It's simple to look at attained speeds of serious contenders 7 ish or so years ago ..and compare to now
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The new vehicles do not lend themselves to the modifications that start folks onto the path to hot-rodding. Plus, we have a lot less young folks employed and skilled in the trades that give them the abilities to make and modify things. Add to that the lack of generous medical plans that cover the costs of getting busted up. One final aspect is the nature of the record chasing game. Eventually the records get set at speeds few or anyone can attain.
The answer might be in how rat rods brought new life to the hot rod game by providing a low cost and low demand way of having fun.
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I will say it again...
There are no records that are out of reach.....
Every record was set by someone....
Advances in technology advance speeds....
The challenge is not making the vehicle fast enough... the challenge is making the vehicle fast enough with the existing course conditions
:cheers:
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I will say it again...
There are no records that are out of reach.....
Every record was set by someone....
Advances in technology advance speeds....
The challenge is not making the vehicle fast enough... the challenge is making the vehicle fast enough with the existing course conditions
:cheers:
Agreed and to some it isn't all about setting records.
My observation over the years and it might be wrong :cry:, is that a large number of racers at B'ville are trying for personal bests and not necessarily going for a record. You could go back to the 50's and I'm sure some then though others had a financial or some other advantage over them. There are so many classes out there that if one is primarily interested in a record they can find a class that doesn't really attract the high dollar teams.
Once one does get that elusive record chances are someone else will have it not long after :-),
Sumner
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The problem now seems to have become "how do I (Joe Racer) justify updating or building a new vehicle when the continuing deterioration of the Salt Flats does not allow any said vehicle to apply the same amount of power to the ground that they used in previous years".
The majority of Us cannot afford "traction control", computer controlled suspension (or even downloads), or the expense for tires that only last a few runs (at best) on a surface that it is so rough that it is not only breaking suspension parts and drive train's but becoming a "Spin Out Circus".
The reality is that at a certain point safety of the drivers or riders (I shudder at the thought of being aboard a 250 mph open motorcycle) has to be a determining factor as to whether or not the Salt Flats are usable beyond say a three mile course.
For those who say "that's bullsh*t, look at the speeds that George or Danny ran at Speedweek", I would remind all that vehicles that have previously run over 300 mph are allowed to run first before the course worsens and automatically go to the front of the line at any time (taking advantage of any course changes or repairs of existing course's. This is not a personal bitch with Me nor do I disagree with it. I am just saying that most of us are not going to see or use a course that at best is beating the vehicles to death and causing making a pass a game of "feathering the throttle and waiting for the rear end try to become the front end".
I am not trying to be negative here just looking at what I see ahead.
I hope all of you have read the recent post by Tom Burkland who is not known to speak through his (COWBOY) hat. I wonder how many of Us were aware of the wells drilled and used by Intrepid (and previously by Reilly Industries) on the South side of I-80 and which the current study for the BLM does not seem to be aware of as far as being a major cause of the deterioration of the Salt Flats.
I hope to see the return of good salt, good times and the great friendship's that I have enjoyed for over twenty year's but it appears that the BLM has buffaloed the Public long enough to ruin another American Treasure, The Bonneville Salt Flat's.
Sincerely,
Bob Drury
Old Stud Racing
#394 A/CFALT
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Any word on which streamliners are going to show up?
- VBB has presumably stayed on after WoS.
- Valerie is on her way after a small delay (according to Facebook).
- I cannot find anything suggesting Guy Martin is in the US.
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High jacking the thread slightly. The position faced by the outright and highest speed US contenders is exactly that faced by British contenders ever since the twenties and Pendine Sands became a 'lottery' as far as suitability. Single vehicle attempts has been our normal manner of going world record breaking. The Campbell's, Cobbs, Eyston, as well as Richard Brown in the nineties went across the world to find the 'right' place to race with the track prepared for them. When Mike Cook cannot groom a suitable track at Bonneville the fastest US teams will have to fund the trip to another track location and some Brits (we have outright bikes in the field) may join them. Just as the British teams have moved away from home the USA racers will have to accept doing the same this year and future years, and maybe not race every year. There were always four 4 Ms in any record project of which one is money. It's just possible more money needs to be spent on travel and logistics at some foreign site rather than on the whole vehicle build.
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The Triumph liner is en-route. Guy will be in attendance from what I read.
Good luck to you all.
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Apparently the new parts for Target550 will arrive in time
for us to test. The entry has been mailed. The parts should
arrive in time to be installed and the car on the salt for the
World Finals.
We are now planning to attend with no intentions of running
for a record. Testing of the chutes is the main concern.
FREUD
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The Triumph liner is en-route. Guy will be in attendance from what I read.
Good luck to you all.
Good info on Guy, comet. Looks like they are ready to run.
No/minimal publicity around this attempt. Perhaps they felt they overplayed their hand last year?
Is there anyone on the salt willing to give us updates here?
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If I am there I will post twice in a day.
FREUD
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Cheers Freud. :cheers:
We look forward to hearing how all of the racers are getting on.But of course with Guy being the local fella.........
I would imagine that is the deal TD, I guess they did exactly that last year and want to play the game a little more discreetly this time round. The liner should certainly be capable if they can find the salt to suit. Either way, good luck to all, go fast, stay safe.
Wish I was there.
John
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From 'Mike Cook's Land Speed Shootout' Facebook page:
Great first day of racing at the Cook Shoot. Records took a beating on a tough track. Erin Oconek bested her existing record twice running as a 1350M Naked (no fairing) bike and the AMA Gas M-AG 1350cc record. Speeds are unofficial at this time, but she raised her 188 mph record to 193 and change and then came back and bumped it to 198. We will post official speeds when we get them. Jim Cole running FIM I AI B II posted an average of 212 and change which will no doubt become a record. And Jamie Williams on the snowmobile raised his record to nearly 194 mph. Picture are Steve Ellis, AMA rep Drew Gatewood, Erin Oconek and FIM rep Fabio Fatzi. Mark Seeley riding Jerome Klawiter's lay down bike knocked off three perfect licensing passes. Had a fire on the last pass, but still licensed for over 200 and are making repairs. The streamliners spent the day prepping their machines and will run tomorrow. Racing will commence at 8AM.
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It's been raining here since 6 last night, is it missing the salt?
Sid.
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From Cook's Shootout facebook page this morning (9-21-17).
"Steady light rain this morning. No puddles on the track. Race is on hold. Forecast says clearing tomorrow. We likely won't see any racing today."
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It's not over yet ...
9AM Saturday
1 mile, 3/4 inch of water, the sun is out, wind blowing to the dike 7 mph.
3 mile, 1//4 inch with dry patches
4 mile, 1/4 inch or less, wind still blowing 7 mph, sun shining.
FIA has approved a meet extension and we are expecting word from AMA FIM shortly
SCTA President Bill Lattin is coordinating and helping as any extension may bump up against prep time for SCTA World Finals.
Bikes are starting from the 2-1/2 and the course is drying well there and beyond.
Next evaluation at 2-3 o'clock and a 4PM drivers meeting to decide what to do. Drying conditions are better than usual so we are hoping to get some race days in starting Sunday. The track surface remains very hard under the water and will require minimal prep to continue running.
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More recent here: https://www.facebook.com/CookLSS (https://www.facebook.com/CookLSS)
Mike
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:-( :-( :-(
8:15AM 9/24 The event was concluded this morning without further competition. The racers and officials are all in agreement that the course is still too damp to run on. Cook's Landspeed Events thanks all of the competitors and officials for their patience and tremendous cooperation while we waited this out. We would not have waited this long without their unwavering support and consent. Fortunately, three racers were able to claim records on the opening day before mother nature humbled us once again. We wish everyone a safe trip home and look forward to seeing you all again next time.
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Someone must be sitting in on the meetings Marlo
has with himself. Breaking parts, the best he can
have made, has the car in the shop right now. So
he is repairing with the best available and loading
all of it in two containers and going to Australia.
So far track conditions over there are way superior
to Bonneville. Perfect parts, there on time and it
rains. Our type of racing is a costly challenge. It's
"not for the faint of heart." Ever think of B'ville
running like El Mirage? Short approach, a mile
timing section and NO BACKDOOR break out?
No-one even mentions a course walk.
Sure seems like a dream for those that just
decided they have to run at B'Ville. They can run,
tell the guys at the truck stop all about B'Ville,
go home and forget to clean the salt out of their car.
FREUD
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Regards walking the course, its a fair walk in the heat!
3rd year going and the first that was not cancelled so this was my first run on the salt.
We got to travel the rookie course in the van before the first run so we could see the course condition, first impression was that it was a bit rough and the surface was loose as the other vans were throwing loose salt up off there tyres. Think of following someone leaving fresh tyre marks in fresh snow.
I have massive respect to all the officials and volunteers that drag the courses as the racing would not happen without them, they are making the best of what salt is there.
As for going to another cotenant for a better track, since we had to pack everything in a container and ship to America it would be just as easy to ship anywhere worldwide. (did I really say it was easy :roll:)
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Happy Birthday One Run Bob !