Dan , Your " novel " is much appreciated by myself , and I
would guess
many others here on our list . I particularly liked your mention of the
fact that
the initial rules were based on cars , usually roadsters , starting with "
T "s ,then
" A "s, and later many ' 32s and some ' 34s , and the predominant make was
Ford . I believe some of the younger , or more recent fans , spectators
, and
competitors of LSR racing give very little thought or recognition to the
fact that
it was HOT RODDERS and their home built HOT RODS that got the dry lakes
racing events in southern California organized with classification rules,
safety
rules , timing clocks , and safety patrols to stop those who would just
venture
onto the lakebed at any point , in any street vehicle, and just " stand
on it " .
The ultimate shrine of our sport , the beautiful and timeless
Bonneville Salt
Flats , was handed down to us , for our use and enjoyment as the fastest
race
track available on this Continent to people of average means , by some of
these
very same HOT RODDERS who sought and obtained the permission to run their
racers at what had been previously the playground of mostly very wealthy or
priveleged people from both here and abroad . This is their legacy to us
, from
over 50 years ago , and we must all treat this natural wonder , the salt
, with
the respect and proper stewardship it deserves , and those old HOT RODDERS
would want it that way . We owe these pioneer car builders a large vote of
respect and thanks for starting this whole sport which now consumes so much
of
our time , energy , interest ( and MONEY ! ) .
Today there is such a vast array of different classes , vehicles ,
and racers
especially built for ALL OUT top speed runs , that , for some , there is
NO
connection to those young guys in Levis and tee shirts at El Mirage ,
Muroc ,
or Harper' s dry lake 50 or 60 years ago ------------------ but
many of us are
very aware that it was those very speed enthusiasts , and their sometimes
crude
machines , that got this all to happen -------------------
And those machines were HOT RODS --------------------------
wishing fair winds and fast times to all who ever run the salt
------------------
Bruce Ferguson
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