FOR SCOOTERS ESPECIALLY, for those of you that want to test your steering
stabilizer grab a handful of rear brakes at the end of a good run. It won't
be for long
Jim from Salem VA
-----Original Message-----
From: John Beckett <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
To: saltracer@awwwsome.com <saltracer@awwwsome.com>
Cc: land-speed@autox.team.net <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 5:21 PM
Subject: Re: Front Brakes
> Tom
>
> We actually considered the catch net for Maxton when we started running
>in '95. Didn't have the resources at that time, however, with a few years
>experience under our belt, I now think it would still be better to run up
>the on the apron for the main runway rather than deal with the net and the
>possibility of lost control and hitting the ILS building.
>
> Another thing is that the driver should pack the chute. Not something
>that is fair to trust to someone else.
>
> I've also heard the comment that "I don't need front brakes at
>Bonneville" Well normally you don't, even at Maxton, but they are really
for
>those abnormal situations...like fire...when you need all the stopping
power
>that you can get. To my way of thinking four wheel brakes, two wheel for
>scooters, are a basic safety device. Don't go racing without them.
>
> John "got no brakes" Beckett
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Thomas E. Bryant <saltracer@awwwsome.com>
>To: John Beckett <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
>Cc: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>; land-speed@autox.team.net
><land-speed@autox.team.net>
>Date: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 12:29 PM
>Subject: Re: Front Brakes
>
>
>>Sounds like quite a ride. I think it is always good to make sure your
>>stopping devices are working before taking it out of gear.
>>
>>Maybe you should think about a chute setup, like USFRA used at some of
>>their meets, for Maxton.
>>Tom
>>
>>John Beckett wrote:
>>>
>>> Good topic. Looking back on ECTA meets..."all" the problems we have
>had
>>> have been with cars that didn't have front brakes...which isn't to say
>that
>>> lack of front brakes caused the problem...but it sure made recovery
>>> difficult. Because of SCTA rules it's hard to mandate front brakes...but
>>> ECTA whole heartily recommends them on all vehicles.
>>>
>>> Here's another story relating to my own braking experience. I had a
>>> problem in Lionel's 427 BB powered rear engined Lakester one day at
>Maxton.
>>> This was a rear brake only car, as many are. While making a 200+ MPH run
>the
>>> left rear axle broke...causing the left brake pad to fall out...not to
>>> mention a rather hard pull to the left also. After crossing the finish
>line
>>> the chute got tangled on the battery box...and when I started to use the
>>> brakes there weren't any...the pedal went to the floor. Now you have to
>tell
>>> yourself in these situations, at these speeds, don't panic...well Good
>Luck
>>> with that...it's pucker time.
>>>
>>> At Maxton if you use up your 4,500+' of shut down you have three
>>> choices: 1, Bear left cross the back side of the main runway and turn
>left
>>> again onto the large apron that parallels the main runway...this is
>probably
>>> the best choice as there is another 4,000' of apron to run on. 2, Go
>>> straight onto the tall grass, but it only goes for about 1000' with a
>chain
>>> link fence keeping you from running onto the road...please miss the ILS
>>> building as it will cost you $500,000. 3, Pull a hard right at the end
of
>>> the long shutdown and continue coasting up the return road...ever try to
>>> make a hard turn with a 230" WB car and a butterfly steering wheel? It
>>> worked for me however, only because the one rear brake that was still
>>> working, and engine compression, did slow the car marginally, and I set
>>> myself up for the turn, pulling left and then right up the return road.
>>>
>>> I'd like to tell you that it was a cool head that saved the day. I had
>tried
>>> to think and plan for what I would do under these situations. The
reality
>is
>>> that it was much more likely the grace of God that saved the day
instead.
>If
>>> I had only had front brakes I don't believe it would have been quite
such
>a
>>> panic situation. My advice...try not to panic...think...plan
>ahead...there
>>> are alternatives.
>>>
>>> Best of all install front brakes.
>>>
>>> John "got no brakes" Beckett
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
>>> To: land-speed@autox.team.net <land-speed@autox.team.net>
>>> Date: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 5:52 AM
>>> Subject: Fw: Front Brakes
>>>
>>> >
>>> >----- Original Message -----
>>> >From: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
>>> >To: <land-speed@autox.tea.m>
>>> >Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 4:41 AM
>>> >Subject: Front Brakes
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> Ole Uncle Brad and I were having a discussion last night on Front
>>> >Brakes....
>>> >> I was curious how many folks don't run them... and why you
wouldn't...
>>> >>
>>> >> For me at Maxton.... I like BRAKES and next year I think I am even
>going
>>> >to
>>> >> run Twin Chutes.... Cars still gotta steer and they gotta stop....
>>> >Starting
>>> >> is optional....
>>> >>
>>> >> Tom Bryant gave us a great discussion awhile back on Shutting
down....
>>> may
>>> >> have to go get it and share it with the list this year.... Keith
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>
>
>
>
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