Maybe I have the wrong concept of LSR racing...
I am using the word car to mean vehicle that covers motorcycles and others but
is just shorter to type..
What i thought was true.
I thought we were racing cars or more specifically testing and proving their
performance at a place that allows emphasis on straight line terminal speed with
no compromises for either cornering or endurance short of the 2 passes required
to set a record. If all the mechanicals are consumed at the end of 2 passes that
is acceptable for a record. We are also not concerned with emissions or fuel
economy as well. High speed stability is of course paramount. With this said it
would seem the place of tinkerers, tuners, fabricators, engineers, aero guys and
electronics guys all the possible weapons you can use to reach the speeds you
are seeking. Drivers are important but many cars have reached similar speeds no
matter who drives for the most part as long as they are qualified to run at the
given speeds. When records are listed I find it both interesting and comforting
to see them listed by car type/class car# then car name and lastly driver. This
racing was originally all about the machines from everything i have read and
seen. Most captions that are in pictures older than I am always seem to read..
The XXXX car powered by XXX engine driven by XXXX.... This is a significant
piece of history and custom. If you follow the so called pro racing you will see
Driver XXX in a XXX car from team XXXX.. Here the emphasis is on the driver
first the car second and the tuners and tinkerers last and least important. If
you follow this so far I think if you walk around in the pit area of an LSR meet
you will find a lot of pro engine builders a lot of pro fabricators a lot of pro
engineers and a lot of pro aero guys and a fair amount of pro electronics people
along with the occasional 'pro driver' that is generally as much ego as talent
probably more ego than talent for the most part. I use the word pro only to
denote that they work in this field are retired from it or have studied it a
great deal both in school and/or backed up with a lot of practical experience.
The interesting point is we have a race course for the fastest cars in the world
and for the most part amateur drivers doing the driving chores. Even more
important is everyone is participating in this for the fun of it with no
compensation either expected or imagined and more commonly it is more likely to
be a trade off between a new kitchen for the house or a new engine for the car..
If everyone acknowledges this to be true for the most part why the attitude
about traction control? If it was about money then what about the zillion buck
engine parts and all of that. A new screw blower and injection setup costs more
than most electronics you would expect to find at an LSR race used for any
purpose. So you can't sell me on the money deal. If were about driving ability
then were are the pro divers? I hate to burst any bubbles here but if this were
about singing and not driving most would be auditioning for a job as wedding
singer as opposed to having a concert at the Met... In my opinion everyone ought
to loose the attitude and egos and realize if we were the drivers we thought we
were we would be 'playing' in a lot bigger hall so to speak. Why not replace the
ego with the attitude of using all the tools available to help us go as fast as
we can... better yet would be to adopt the attitude that Bonneville is all about
no holds barred go as fast as you can any way you can with the proper safety
considerations that discuss roll bars and fire suits not what piece of
technology to endlessly step on that may or may not give one car an advantage.
In essence do it your way with the skills and tools you have at your disposal.
That has always been the tradition why let the egos of a few or a points chase
at a car club stand in front of what the world sees as the Mecca of innovation
and pure speed.
Personally I have blown up, burned up, broken , had crashed or just been plain
humiliated by the performance of others that the ego is long gone, I just do the
best i can every day to build something better than yesterday. Once or twice a
year I enjoy the chance to get off the porch and run with the big dogs at
Bonneville and maybe set a record or two, I equally hate to see driver's egos
get in that way of innovation and progress as I do everyday at work. In a few
words it is just plain sad and depressing.
Dave Dahlgren
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