Okay.... and I agree with you on taking our time....
I don't have a lick of experience on the salt.... (unless rental cars
count)
I didn't jump into a Helicopter and start off teaching folks to Fly the
Apache.. It took a bazillion hours of seat time in slower stuff to prepare
me for that....
That is one of the reasons we have crept up to speed with the Camaro at
Maxton... when we were running in the 155-165 range that motor was designed
to be hot lapped just to build some seat time....
We both have our B licenses at Maxton and are looking forward to coming
home from Bonneville with our A lic... that is our goal for this year....
according to my predictions and Dave's and Gary's .. the car should be
capable of about 205-210 max..... on a perfect pass... the record is up
around 219 so that isn't an issue..
This leaves us with the ability to learn....and have fun without the
pressure of trying for a goal that is just a bit out there....( a little
disappointing but honest )
Your driving tips were exactly what I was looking for....and I thank you
for your time...
Would you pull the chute again if it started to get a little sideways?
Keith
----------
> From: Thomas E. Bryant <saltracer@awwwsome.com>
> To: David Haller <dhaller@techline.com>; Land Speed
<land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Re: Spins
> Date: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 7:38 AM
>
> Dave,
> I don't consider myself an expert in this area, but, I will give you my
> feelings on the subject.
>
> Driving a car at speed is a learned artform. I grew up in the Midwest
> before many country roads were surfaced for all-weather service. I
> learned to drive on muddy roads, snow, and ice. Much of what we do is
> very similar to those conditions. In those days, driving in mud or snow,
> we were concerned only with where the front wheels were. The rear of the
> car could swing from side to side without causing great concern. You
> learned that the throttle had a major controlling effect and you had
> better control with power on. We also learned that when you are using
> all the available power, control becomes more difficult.
>
> I have said this to set a basis for vehicle control where we run.
> Driving on the Salt is very much like driving on ice. You get into
> trouble by: 1) applying too much power too quickly, 2) over reacting to
> drifting off the desired course, 3) running out of power to accelerate,
> 4) running unbalanced vehicles, 5) not getting enough seat time before
> travelling at high speeds, and the list goes on and on. One thing that
> concerns me is that too many are going really fast without going up in
> speed gradually. The purpose of the licensing runs is to help overcome
> the problem we had in the past of people strapping into fast cars
> without any experience at speed. But, let's face it, three runs don't
> create a seasoned driver, and there are cars capable of frightening
> speeds available to anyone who wants to run.
>
> Basically the warnings I recognize are, drifting or abrupt movement off
> the desired path of travel, too much tail wagging, wheel spin causing
> the back end to move out to either side, car not responding to steering
> correction, etc.. Bottom line, if you are not comfortable in the seat it
> is time to be concerned. We do this for fun, don't we.
>
> There just isn't any substitute for seat time. I came up through the
> ranks
> at Bonneville slowly from the 150's to approaching 250 MPH. It took me
> 30+ years to join the 200 MPH Club. Of course I had my own agenda, as
> the
> song goes, "I Did It My Way".
>
> Good Luck with you project. Just don't feel you have to go too fast too
> quick.
>
> Tom
>
>
>
> David Haller wrote:
> >
> > Hi Tom,
> > Dave Haller up here in Washington. Getting my new car together. New
paint,
> > building a new air dam, putting on a more aerodynamic scoop and redoing
the
> > spoiler. Will move the ballast from the rear of the trunk forward and
low.
> > Really liked what you had to say about spins. Could you explain for me
and
> > the others out there what are some of the signs to look for are that
tell us
> > we are about to loose it,
> > Much appreciated,
> > Dave Haller
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