A limit on cc's would be a great idea. You could build go karts, or
motorcycles, as long as they meet the limits. In order to keep the speeds
down, you could shorten the track by starting closer to the measured portion
(ecta). It would be a good way to get families more involved, and infuse
younger enthusiasts into the sport.
as a side note, the company I work for has t-shirts that say:
When I grow up I want to be as fast as my Dad thinks he is !!!!!
Dale "chief" Thomas.
OFOS racing.
-----Original Message-----
From: John Beckett <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
To: Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>; Hyatt Engineering Ltd.
<Hyatt-Engineering-Ltd@fuse.net>
Cc: land-speed list <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Date: Saturday, January 29, 2000 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: Youngsters
> I have sort of duct this issue mainly due to liability and insurance.
>Got to be honest the thought of 8 year old's running at 50 + MPH kind of
>bothers me. On the other side I would like to see more kids involved in
LSR.
>Maybe 12 and up?
> Putting bikes aside for the moment. A Lakester type vehicle would be
the
>most representative. Unfortunately Jr. Dragsters are a little to narrow in
>the tread width area, but I guess could be converted. Would like to leave
>some room for Greg's dual purpose car too.
> What course distance would be appropriate, 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile?
> How many cc's are the 5HP Briggs engines used in the typical Jr.
>Dragster?
>
>John Beckett, LSR #79
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Wester S Potter" <wspotter@jps.net>
>To: "Hyatt Engineering Ltd." <Hyatt-Engineering-Ltd@fuse.net>
>Cc: "land-speed list" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
>Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 4:38 PM
>Subject: Re: Youngsters
>
>
>> While not thinking along the exact same lines as you are, the Utah Salt
>> Flats Racing Association has a Jr. Racers program with the kids racing on
>> the same clocks we use for the 130 Club and the barstools. Check out our
>> web site at www.saltflats.com or check with Rick Vesco in Brigham City,
UT
>> for additional information. We have an active Jr. Dragster group in Utah
>> and they have been generous in helping set up the classes and giving the
>> kids a chance to feel their way on the salt. We think this is the safest
>> way to expose them to land-speed racing before they are legal to drive on
>> the highway.
>> Wes Potter Secretary, USFRA
>> ----------
>> > From: "Hyatt Engineering Ltd." <Hyatt-Engineering-Ltd@fuse.net>
>> > To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> > Subject: Re: Youngsters
>> > Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 15:35:32 -0500
>> >
>> >I have enjoyed the threads regarding youngsters. It is good to observe
>> >people sharing what they love with kids.
>> >It seams that a logical extension of that would be to define a class for
>> >"Junior Land Speed Racers", something parallel to what NHRA has done
with
>> >Jr. Dragsters. But it should be distinct from the Jr. Dragsters and
>> >tailored around the things that make LSR special, the innovation, the
>> >absence of handicaps (bracket racing), the attention to safety, etc.
>> >
>> >Anyone interested? I have four kids who would sign up in a heartbeat!
>> >
>> >I roughed out what I had in mind below. I am sure that there will be
>> other,
>> >and probably better approaches. But I thought it might stimulate
>> discussion
>> >if there were some specifics to react to.
>> >
>> >
>> >Jr. LSR Class Proposal
>> >
>> >Goal
>> >Provide an opportunity for youngsters to safely get involved in LSR with
>a
>> >direct migration path to adult racing.
>> >
>> >Rules
>> >The existing rules would be applied to the cars. The only difference
>> between
>> >Adult and Jr. cars would be the displacement of the engine, with the
Jr.s
>> >limited in size to limit the maximum velocity attainable to a level
>> suitable
>> >for the age group. Therefore the child could drive the parents car with
>an
>> >engine swap down to a K or L engine?(L=250cc?, M=125cc?). Or a car
built
>> >from scratch for the child could transition to adult racing with an
>engine
>> >swap up in displacement.
>> >The rules regarding the engine should support the innovation associated
>> with
>> >special construction categories, with classes for various engine types
>> >(flat-head, OHV, electric, etc.) as well as displacements.
>> >
>> >Ages
>> >This approach could not be applied to the entire 8-16 age group that
NHRA
>> >has defined without limitations. Eight year olds clearly cannot drive
>> heavy
>> >door-slammers with sticks, chutes, etc., no matter how small the engine
>and
>> >how slow the car. Perhaps the age allowed should be dependent on the
>> weight
>> >and complexity of the car. For example:
>> >
>> >Age Max. Vehicle Transmission Maximum
>> Max,
>> > Weight Engine Class
>> >Velocity
>> >10 1000 lbs. centrif. M (L if side valve?)
>> >50 mph
>> >13 1800 lbs. centrif. or Auto. L (M if fuel?)
>> >75 mph
>> >15 2500 lbs any K (J for heavy cars?)
>> >100 mph
>> >
>> >Records
>> >Records could be listed per age group, for example a class might be. age
>> 12,
>> >GL/M
>> >
>> >Track
>> >If it caught on and there were too many of them to share the short
track,
>> >how much trouble would it be to give them their own small circle track
(1
>> >mile?) with a single clock?
>> >Or they could run late in the week, after their parents have all blown
>> >engines and there is more track time!
>> >
>> >
>> >----- Original Message -----
>> >From: "DOUG ODOM" <popms@thegrid.net>
>> >To: "JAMES CANNON" <dr.piston@worldnet.att.net>
>> >Cc: "LAND-SPEED" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> >Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 11:09 AM
>> >Subject: Re: Youngsters
>> >
>> >
>> >> Jim, I have three daughters all in their twenties now. Went racing
with
>> >> me from before they where born. We tried to always take an extra day
on
>> >> the long race trips and find something that was of real interest to
the
>> >> girls. One day at school I asked the teacher if missing a few school
>> >> days a year was bad. She told me my daughters were the envy of the
>other
>> >> kids because they got to go places and see things their parents never
>> >> took them to see. She also said that she did not hear other kids brag
>> >> about their dad (even when we didn't do good). So take her every
chance
>> >> you get and some day when she tells you that some of the best times
she
>> >> had growing up was going racing you will know how I feel.
>> >> Doug Odom in sunny cal.
>> >>
>> >> JAMES CANNON wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > You guys sure hit me at home with this discussion, after 1 trip to
>> >Maxton
>> >> > last Oct my 8 year old daughter has now dubbed herself land speed
>mama,
>> >at
>> >> > least has written it all over her school books.
>> >> > p.s. dads a little tickled by this but mom may need a little work
>> >> >
>> >> > Jim from Salem VA
>> >> >
>> >> > no snow, no heat, no sun
>> >> > -----Original Message-----
>> >> > From: Louise Ann Noeth <lanspeed@west.net>
>> >> > To: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>; dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>;
DOUG
>> >ODOM
>> >> > <popms@thegrid.net>
>> >> > Cc: Land-speed@autox.team.net <Land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> >> > Date: Saturday, January 29, 2000 3:22 AM
>> >> > Subject: Re: Youngsters
>> >> >
>> >> > >Because I have been 50% deaf since childhood, the melodic sounds of
>a
>> >> > finely
>> >> > >tuned exhaust note were not only heard, but felt by this young
girl.
>> >Many
>> >> > of
>> >> > >my tactile encounters are partnered with sound. Quite different
than
>> >the
>> >> > way
>> >> > >most people "hear," my "listening" is a more involved process of
>> >sensing,
>> >> > >interpreting and analyzing. It has driven people crazy over the
>years
>> >> > trying
>> >> > >to figure out how I understand so much about ICE's, rockets, jets
>and
>> >other
>> >> > >propulsion energy devices.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >If my life depended on it, I could not translate my level of
spatial
>> >> > >comprehension to the satisfaction of an empirically trained
>engineer,
>> >but I
>> >> > >can talk their language with relative ease. Always have, always
>will,
>> >no
>> >> > >book learning required. I understand people like Preston Tucker,
>Red
>> >> > Adair,
>> >> > >Amelia Airheart, Madame Curie, et al. It is my opinion that these
>> folks
>> >> > >immersed themselves in the process and the process revealed itself
>to
>> >them.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >At age 7, when I first recollect becoming aware of engines, that
>> >> > >"ruppety-rup-rupp-pup pup" that leaked out from the warped wooden
>> >boards of
>> >> > >the garage across the street, it was as if the Pied Piper had taken
>up
>> >his
>> >> > >flute, as if the moth detected the blazing bright bulb and I have
>been
>> >> > >following the tune ever since.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >Crazy as hell, but it is a journey loaded with tales of many
>splendid
>> >> > >trips -- fast trips usually, but even the ones that crawl along
have
>> >given
>> >> > >me cause to pause throughout my life.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >Best of all, the sounds that have given me the greatest joy have
>> always
>> >> > been
>> >> > >brought to life by the most amazing people I have had the good
>fortune
>> >to
>> >> > >know. When I stand in the pre-dawn quiet, all alone in the middle
>of
>> >the
>> >> > >salt flats, I smile to myself thanking God for his gifts to me as
>the
>> >sun
>> >> > >spills out over the Newfoundland mountain range and ignites the
>> >crystalline
>> >> > >surface with colors galore.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >It is a great time to be alive.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > >LandSpeed Louise
>> >> > >
>> >> > >-----Original Message-----
>> >> > >From: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
>> >> > >To: dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>; DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
>> >> > >Cc: Land-speed@autox.team.net <Land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> >> > >Date: Thursday, January 27, 2000 3:57 AM
>> >> > >Subject: Re: Youngsters
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > >My High school shop teacher was a guy Named Gary Densham..... I
>think
>> >he
>> >> > >races funny cars now.....
>> >> > >
>> >> > >Not that I don't remember polishing aluminum on his car in auto
shop
>> >and
>> >> > >going to the next class with the smells of Nitro.... and yes that
>was
>> >an
>> >> > >impetus to racing for a young kid.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >This thread is exactly what I was trying to start with my constant
>> >> > harassing
>> >> > >folks to do the Intro's... wanted to hear how we all got into cars
>in
>> >the
>> >> > >first place.... for some reason I enjoy hearing the tales.... Keith
>> >> > >----- Original Message -----
>> >> > >From: dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>
>> >> > >To: DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
>> >> > >Cc: <Land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> >> > >Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 5:23 AM
>> >> > >Subject: Re: Youngsters
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > >> Real nice thought even if they never race a car in their
>life..Kinda
>> >> > >> what is all about in the big picture..I remember working on
Nascar
>> >> > >> Modifieds as a very young boy and will never forget the 'chances'
>to
>> >get
>> >> > >> a ride while they pulled it up on the trailer.. My neighbor had
>one
>> >that
>> >> > >> Carl 'Buggsy' Stevens drove before he was famous. An injected
SBC,
>> at
>> >12
>> >> > >> I could do the air density stuff and come up with the right pill
>> size
>> >> > >> while my buddies were struggling with their 'hill buggies' LOL..
>> >Those
>> >> > >> sounds and smells are what got me in the racing business for
life.
>> >All
>> >> > >> started at the tender age of 8. Later in high school as a senior
>we
>> >had
>> >> > >> a substitute auto shop teacher that claimed to drive a TF car. He
>> had
>> >> > >> pics and brought in the fire suit and we talked a lot about
racing
>> >and
>> >> > >> safety but all thought he was BS'ing us all. He finally brought
it
>> in
>> >> > >> and fired it and did a short couple of burnouts in the parking
>lot.
>> I
>> >> > >> got the honor of priming the blower with alky to fire it while
two
>> >> > >> buddies wrestled with the starter.. A real hoot if there ever was
>> >one. I
>> >> > >> thought we were going to break every window in the building.. Oh
>> well
>> >> > >> sorry to ramble but this thread reminded me of some nice days
gone
>> by
>> >> > >> now..
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> Dave Dahlgren
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >> DOUG ODOM wrote:
>> >> > >> >
>> >> > >> > Dick, Your message about your crew member in school made me
>think.
>> >I
>> >> > >> > take our car down to the local high school auto shop once a
>year.
>> >The
>> >> > >> > shop teacher makes arrangements with the other shops and even
>the
>> >math
>> >> > >> > teachers to have a small assembly. The kids ask a lot of
>questions
>> >and
>> >> > >> > are interested. We try and explain how much math and
>calculations
>> >it
>> >> > >> > takes to run fast or for a record. The fact that an attractive
>> >woman on
>> >> > >> > the team drives the car with the E motor in it and is in the
>> 200mph
>> >> > club
>> >> > >> > brings extra interest from the girls. At lunch time the word
has
>> >spread
>> >> > >> > and a lot of non shop kids come down and take a look also. I
>think
>> >if
>> >> > we
>> >> > >> > can get some of the younger people interested more people will
>> >enjoy
>> >> > the
>> >> > >> > sport.
>> >> > >> > The shop teacher will have one or two kids that are the
>> top
>> >of
>> >> > >his
>> >> > >> > class and I'll let them come over to the shop on a weekend and
>> help
>> >> > with
>> >> > >> > some little thing on the car. I'm no teacher, but if you show
>some
>> >kid
>> >> > >> > how to make a fender brace with the shrinker - stretcher and
you
>> >put
>> >> > the
>> >> > >> > part on the car that he made, you will see their eyes light up.
>> >> > >> > Just a thought, Doug
>> >> > >>
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
>
|