Tim,
Racers and spectators don't drive hundreds or thousands of miles to come watch vehicles running slower than they did on the way to the event.
It's call Land SPEED Racing not low speed racers...the money, attendance, support is for faster vehicles..ever been to an NHRA event and watch the fans walk away when the top fuel funny cars and top fuel dragsters are running?...no...they run to the stands to watch 300+mph speeds
I have witnessed slower vehicles running and setting more records when the track was in bad shape than those that run 200 plus. I am 100 percent positive that more racers have lost their lives in pursuit of records over 200 mph than those running at lower speeds.. Ask Jack
I was the last person to run this weekend at El Mirage, my time slip shows a 26 mph wind/gust..I notified one of the SCTA officials however they had already put the course on hold due to wind.
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John,
First of all you are delusional if you think this is a spectator sport. If it was, there would be TV coverage and big sponsorship, and decals, and girls, and kids, and toys, and condos and bleachers and beer vendors and peanuts and popcorn and more Speed Demons and less "slow guys" and rules and rules and rules and...and and....... If you think people drive, however far, to just watch fast cars, you have missed many elements of our culture. If this were true then the Cook event would be HUGE! ALL the fast cars and big boys and girls with there toys. In fact it is just the opposite. People come to experience the culture and the life and the commitment. This is not JUST about speed. Many people do NOT care how fast the rich guy goes in his million dollar car or motorcycle. The hero is not always the fast guy (with the exception of the Markley Bros, Ronnie Benham, Burklands and Al Teague)
The majority of those who come to spectate, come to see the people who built their cars on their own, who are out there having fun and who are accomplishing things with their own determination, passion and will power. There was more interest in the little Subaru 600 that was hand built with love and care by an individual than there was in the biggest fastest roadster or turbo charged factory store bought motorcycle.
They did not care that it went only 50 mph, they were excited it was there. It was the accomplishment of one individual fulfilling a dream, rather than a rich guy buying his ride. The speed is not the only story to this game nor will it ever be. Go to the all you can eat crab feed, and ask the person sitting across from you, who you have never met, if they know what the 2 club or 3 chapter is or even if they heard of Bonneville, before the Worlds Fastest Indian, and most will just ask you to pass a napkin!? 2 club? 3 chapter, what the f. Legends in our own minds is what we are.
Are you also saying that a care like Mcleash's spitfire that is KILLING the points race is hurting our spectators and sponsor ship potential because they are not blown top fuel 6000lb vehicles that the all knowing, and all seeing crowds would prefer to watch? Ban slow cars and modify the points chase rules so that only the fast cars can win? Gawd forbid that a Crosly or a Bantam, or a Subaru or a Spitfire that cannot go over 200 mph is the season champion for the SCTA! There goes the price of my condo in Adelanto!
The NHRA is not the SCTA. Again the people at our events run to the cars an individual built. Something with personality and creativity and function. Not something fast and bought. Those things have their place but if you think SCTA should be like the NHRA well good luck with that one. I hope you have a lot of fun. I would love to see a blown Hemi in your Suzuki.
Your comment about cars getting records on poor tracks does not make it right to keep the tracks in poor condition from other destructive sources. I have also seen cars and bikes getting records on nice smooth tracks. NO 200 lane in the dirt. Why? Because you earn the right? I Don't get it.
Your reference to more people dying trying to go over 200 and reference to a personal friend and team member is very out of line. It is not part of the conversation. Please stop exploiting your knowledge and personal experience of that situation in an attempt to make a point.
You made a run with a cross wind and survived. You notified the officials. WHOEVER IT MAY BE listened to you. They even announced what a big hero you were by keeping all of the racers safe. "Always looking out for his fellow racers". So my point is, there should be rules as to when to call an event. Not a random speculation and report. The last thing a race committee should do, is listen to competitors about how to run an event or when to end an event. These contingencies should be planned in advance by the race directors.
I am sure the other timing slips reported wind extremes. As far as I know, the slips do not differentiate between gust or constant wind. You may have felt it on the bike with a big side exposure as most bike guys say how sensitive they are to winds, and many, as of course you know better than anyone, or most, will not ride if it is too windy and they have there own personal preferences when to run or not based on the wind velocity and angle.
So what a guy in the dirt may have experienced is mistrust and miscommunication between racers, the race board and the intentions and politics of an event. I am glad to be an American and express myself no matter how right or wrong I am, in my opinion and of course in the eyes of others! "Viva La Evolution".
