Russell and List
Nothing like lighting the blue touch paper so to speak and then walking
away, Russell!
The fore runners of the FIA used to 'own' the clocks and dictate the tracks
that were sanctioned in Europe as record setting venues. Not a sensible
approach perhaps but the Europeans invented speed record breaking! But
today (and for many decades in the past) the role of the FIA - as some may
have heard me say before - is to maintain the longstanding rules and
standards for setting International and Worlds records that have clear
lineage back to 1911.
You can be sure that the records of Andy Green and Don Vesco broke those of
Tom Green and L G Hornsted (he drove the Benz two way) without any dispute
at all as being set under the same conditions even though they were many
years & decades apart.
They - the FIA - are supervisors not organisers.
The individual racers who wish to set a FIA (or FIM) speed record have to
ensure that the timekeepers and track surveyors are to an acknowledged
standard of competence and accuracy of the country they are in (and thats
part of my role for helping UK racers achieve their goals). And that there
is independant supervision of the attempt lasting under 60 minutes. If I
pay as the entrant of a single vehicle then there should be little moaning
about a group of racers paying.
The FIA accepts thrust powererd cars (a class sort of invented by the USA
racers!) as well as true production cars, steam cars, hybrids, diesel,
solar. And of course they acknowledge speed records over distances of more
than 1 timed mile.
Whilst today the Brits and to a certain extent the Australians, do not
tackle outright records with as great a frequency as we did when our people
almost 'flocked' to Bonneville month after month in the 30's to 50's, speed
record breaking is not the sole preserve of the SCTA, USFRA or ECTA racers.
If we look at history, some of the 'claims' made in the last posting would
have 'excluded' the record set by Donald Campbell, who chose Australia as
his venue. And perhaps none of the thrust powered records would be
'official'.
Just go easy on those in a Country without a salt flat - whose racers have
to raise substantial sums of money together to just make one attempt at an
outright FIA or FIM record (that their peers will acknowledge) or to
compete once on the salt in their lives.
Lets not forget the two wheel racers - who have the FIM as the
'alternative' to the SCTA/USFRA/ECTA. I have looked closely and cannot find
the fastest motorcyle in the world on any SCTA Bonneville list of speed
records ........ are the Easyriders team in the '03 list?
If, with Keith's nudging, I can accept that there can be more than one
governing body representing the racers (open minds topic of some many
months ago) perhaps the USA racers might see that there should be the FIA
and FIM for those that wish it, can afford it or who cannot get to a
location where the SCTA/USFRA/ECTA etc. run events.
And it seems only a few months ago that there was great 'exposure' on the
internet sites for the bragging rights for "who has timed the fastest
automobile" (not even one setting any official record) running between SCTA
and USFRA - two US organisations!!
I have a four UK speed record certificates but I would also like my team to
have an ECTA record, USFRA Record, SCTA Record, BNI record and FIA Record
if I could go fast enough. Maybe the UIM record certificate will come
first?
Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England.
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