Dave, I particularly enjoyed your description of a well tuned engine, you
would have to agree that Bonneville is one of the greatest stages for such a
performance and a major reason for non competitors to attend. This car
sickness thing can be a bunch of work for little pleasure at times although
I personally enjoy the planning, building and prep also. Anyone who has ever
cross threaded a nut and dosn't stop what they are doing and look in the
direction of that particular sound has no passion for things automotive.
That sound is one of those brief experiances that allows you to forget all
previous blow-ups, failures and other Murphy's Law hiccups.
John Wyer an englishman who I believe managed the Ford GT40's in their
heyday of the 60's actually wrote a book called 'That Certain Sound' about
that very thing.
Chris Harris NZed
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Dahlgren" <ddahlgren@snet.net>
To: "The Butters Family" <bbutters@coldreams.com>
Cc: "Wester S Potter" <wspotter@jps.net>; "Jonathan Amo"
<webmaster@landracing.com>; "Malcolm Pittwood" <MPittwood@compuserve.com>;
"LSR List" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 1:06 AM
Subject: Re: Clarifying Wheeldriven Records
> i was at the 4 when Tom went by on that 450 pass and he
> looked mighty hooked up to me. I would think if there was a
> 500 mph car with a piston engine that is constructed today
> he is the man. he went by like it was an easy test pass
> going down the track and both engines where pulling very
> nice. It did make all the right sounds, two very happy
> engines with the tune up he had. When they are right you can
> hear it , at least i can. I have spend over 30 years tuning
> up race engines and they have a certain set of
> characteristics in the way they sound under a load that says
> a lot about how they are running. I am not sure I can
> describe it but it does not matter 2 cylinder or 16 high rpm
> or low. It is more about the spacing of the power pulses out
> the exhaust and relative pitch from one pulse to another.
> When you hear it and recognize it you won't forget it. Kind
> of like a musical instrument that is in perfect tune is the
> closest i can describe it. Toms car was making all those
> noises. The only other way you can sense it is the car seems
> to be moving effortlessly with nothing in the engine
> straining to get the job done. When they are not right the
> only way I can describe it is the engine sounds all pi&&ed
> off.
> Dave Dahlgren
> ( with obviously no passion for a well tuned engine and
> racing in general)
>
> The Butters Family wrote:
> >
> > The last issue of Bonneville racing news had an article on
designing
> > a 500 mph wheel driven car. I had to think, it has already been
designed.
> > Tom will rip up the course given the right conditions and we will never
> > forget that day or the sound of the run. Kvach: some things are just to
much
> > fun not to do them again.
///
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