LTA 2023

[55chevr]

My chief responsibility as competition director is to work the starting line "Hot boxes". First is to ensure safety and second to keep it flowing.  Sometimes if feels like having a real full time job.   It does not leave as much time as I would like to meet the racers and their teams in a relaxed environment.  I do get a lot of help from Tim Libby and Dick Curtis who bring order to pre-staging.  The starter (usually Paul Boiselle) cannot help with staging. He has to focus on communicating with Timing/Race Control, sending vehicle numbers and receiving "all clear - send the next one" signal.   There is a lot going on and he has to stay focused on that. 
This past July's Maine Event our car was not ready to race.  So my brother Tom was able to get me some relief at the line.  I was able to tour the pits and pre-stage. I really enjoyed the interaction with racers and crews / pit activity.  It was what I remembered as the best part of land speed racing and the fellowship that we share.  I thought about posting some of that activity into this forum and adding a few photos. This season I am going to concentrate on doing that.   I have a lot of "On course racing" photos but no many tech inspection / pit photos / staging lane photos.  Anyone that has those from past events please post them onto this thread. It will help inspire us all this building season. 

Joe Daly

[Frank06]

That's a great idea Joe!

[55chevr]

"Pushrod Tom" Schaefer and Mike Goni with the BSA machines going in tech inspection.  Their equipment is always spot on and well prepared. 
Left to right; Greg Neal, Tom Schaefer, Tom Borcherdt, Mike Goni, Fred Vance.

[55chevr]

Bill Barnes on the "Team Steam" machine leaving the starting line at the July Maine Event 2019.  Fabricated frame powered with an original Stanley Brothers 10 horsepower steam engine. Bill is from Lewistown Pa where he rebuilds steam engines.  He holds the record at 80.648 mph In Omega class motorcycles. Starting sequence is interesting with a lot of smoke.  Our starter got ready to put out the fire until informed that it is the planned procedure to ignite the boiler.
Stacy Robey photo.

[Stan Back]

Terrific!  Especially using an original Stanley machine.

Years ago at Bonneville/El Mirage(?) I remember a 4-wheel steam vehicle that had a very dangerous-looking starting procedure.  Sure got your attention!

[55chevr]

 The Jay Leno burn injury video and how he started the steam car revealed that there is some element of danger in "lighting off" a steamer.

Joe

[55chevr]

Steve Van Blarcom has always been generous with his 29 Ford roadster.  Ron SanGiovanni Jr. drove it on this pass to a speed of 208 mph. Steve ran car tech for 10 years at Loring right from the first event in 2009. He has set records over 200 in multiple venues. He retired from racing a few years ago.  Photo from a Laura SanGiovanni video

[55chevr]

David Williams  and Richard Horne in the hot box with the Silver Auto Race Team Pontiac wagon. I believe this is a 1964 Strato
Chief. Entered in C/GPRO they pulled a respectable 152 mph in the mile. 

[55chevr]

The "Big Red Camaro", 5300 at the starting line Harvest Event 2019. This team came all the way from California to race at Loring. Entered in AA/CFALT and piloted by RJ Gottlieb, Big Red is staged to go on a record run achieving a speed of 256.268 mph. This 598 cubic inch 69 Camaro has raced in just about every form of auto racing there is. From land speed to the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. About the only race it hasn't been in so far is the Baja 1000 and they may be preparing it for that. The engineering and construction on this classic car is beyond description. Stacy Robey photo.

[55chevr]

Look at the intensity and concentration on Paoli Roberts' face.  Her dad is Kevin Roberts.  The family race together as "Team Prehistoric".  In addition to Paoli, Kevin's son Starbuck and another daughter Devra compete at Loring.  The daughters hold a number of records with the 250 Ninja. Kevin holds a record with his pre-unit construction 650 cc T120 Triumph Bonneville at 135.260 mph.  Having British Cycle's warehouse on the former air base must help with spare parts readily on hand. Tom Shay photo.

[55chevr]

Link to youtube of Kevin Roberts running up the Triumph in the pits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyzGR9wvMFQ

[55chevr]

On the course and at speed is Tracy Grossnickle in his C5 Corvette #9808. He holds the 6 Liter/Blown Gas Modified Sports (C/BGMS) record in the standing mile at 191.258 mph set in 2019. This beautifully maintained and well prepared car consistently goes over 200 mph in the mile and a half. 

[Stainless1]

Great stuff Joe, keep 'em coming... oh, all y'all can share your Loring pics here... we know you got them...

[edinlr]

What a fun place to race.  I am located about 1650 miles from both Bonneville and Loring, so it is long haul either way.  Loring is a fun option for those times when Bonneville resorts to Lake Bonneville.

[55chevr]

Mike Yurko at speed on his big inch S&S Cycle powered V-twin. Team Yurko Racing #259. Sponsored by Yurko Custom Choppers from Oshawa Ontario. Mike is a very experienced racer. He holds land speed records in multiple venues. Impressive 187.550 mph in A/PG 2000 at Loring. That is quite an accomplishment on a pushrod unstreamlined bike.