List,
We arrived on the Lake bed last evening at about sundown, unloaded the
car and returned to town for the night. Saturday started with a chill
in the air, 19 degrees at 7 AM in Lancaster where we are staying. We
arrived back at the Lake bed about 8:30 AM and pushed the car into the
inspection line. Doug Odom from "Big Ditch" (Rio Grande) pulled into
line right behind us. His car, a modified Austin Healey Sprite, powered
by a newly completed 268 cu in Chevy, looked great, a good piece of
work. Unfortunately, just a few hours later he lost control of the car
just short of the lights, eventually crashing. Doug is OK, just some
abrasions, I understand, but the car is a mess. I will let Doug fill in
the blanks. Evidently the car was well constructed. It protected Doug
from serious injury.
Jeff made his first run, into a six mile per hour head wind, about a
half hour before Doug's accident. We don't usually have traction
problems in high gear, but he was unable to stay on it, had to lift
three different times in high gear. An indication that the course was
not the best.. The car was running great and the TH350 worked well
producing 192.45 MPH. This was not what we came to do, so tomorrow,
hopefully, we can get the power to the ground.
I haven't seen everyone from the list that is here yet, maybe tomorrow.
I have seen Katie, Jack, one of Ardun Doug's crew, (but not Doug as yet)
also Chris and Ed Shearers. Fast time of the meet so far is a little
over 270 MPH.
Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/GCC
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