Fellow LSR Racers,
As a discussion group this list is wonderful. What a variety of ideas.
Keep in mind that sometimes our own "interpretation" of the rules is what
gets us into trouble. And having this list to ask fellow racers about
questions we might have, or definitions etc. is to me fantastic.
When discussing experiences at Bonneville we all probably have some sort
of war stories to tell. But lets keep in mind that rules, as an example,
can be good, bad or a myriad of things in-between, but never perfect. Some
situations in life are fair, some unfair. This list maybe is a way of
venting feelings if members feel something is unfair. Grandfathered
vehicles as one example. OK fine, but lets keep in mind that the SCTA is a
volunteer organization putting on a monumental event (400 cars and bikes
running for a week under the most primitive conditions). How many
grandfathered cars are their anyway (only four to my knowledge). There may
be snafus and inconsistencies from time to time, and no one wants to be on
the receiving end of those situations, but they happen. I don’t want to cut
anyone off here, but we need to keep focused on building up LSR and not
tearing it down (which I don’t think is anyone’s intention).
As for inspections and particularly safety inspections. Well I have been
running for eleven years now, and know many of the inspectors, and never
have they let anything slip by on my car. Not saying it doesn’t happen, but
by an large they are thorough and complete. Sure that may lead to some
anxiety and frustration (especially when traveling 2,300 miles), but with
very few exceptions problems were for safety reasons and my own protection.
Nothing that couldn’t be corrected and I was soon on my way racing.
This isn’t like drag racing. You can’t go to 2,500 different tracks
across
the country and see how a Competition Coupe or a Streamliner is built.
There is a much steeper learning curve with LSR. One or two big meets a
year, five or six smaller ones at basically only three venues. You have to
be there, participate and share your experiences in order to learn.
Californians may clime that curve faster due to their closer proximity to
two of the venues and some have also been involved in this sport for fifty
years. Gentlemen there is a wealth of knowledge with these guys. Asking
questions is good, beating up on the volunteers isn’t productive.
Guys, the only thing I get out of LSR is making good friends, a sense of
satisfaction in a job well done, a lot of fun and if I’m lucky maybe at the
end of the day a world record. But nowhere is anyone offering $1,000,000
for top speed of the meet, or anything like that. So lets tone down the
recriminations, ask lots of serious questions, help each other out and have
as much LSR fun as is possible.
John Beckett
D/GCC, D/FCC, E/GCC record holder
At 06:53 PM 5/25/99 -0700, Thomas E. Bryant wrote:
>Guys & Gals,
>Sorry, but I don't like where this is going. I have been in the SCTA for
>44 years, I was president 2 years and served on the board for a number
>of years. There are now, and always have been, a bunch of people working
>their tails off to give us a chance to run, have fun, and do it safely.
>The "Grandfather Clause" lets people continue to run cars that don't fit
>the new rules, but generally the cars are upstaged by new technology and
>do not have an unfair advantage. If the car changes ownership, It is my
>understanding that the new owner wants to run it he has to comply with
>the new rules.
>
>I think we are getting excited over a non-issue when it comes to
>"Grandfathered Cars". Maybe I'm wrong, but, I don't know of any that are
>a threat to the available cars of today. Example: The "Pierson Coupe"
>was retired primarily because of the more streamlined Studebakers. We
>proved that to be a joke! Then John proved that the Peirson Coupe was
>not King. Too often lack of performance is blamed on the car when a
>better engine or a better tune-up, will solve the problem. In most cases
>I firmly believe that the people setting records would still be the
>record setters if vehicles were exchanged.
>
>Tom
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