List,
I was reminded at the USFRA party that the sponsor of the Easyriders
streamlined motorcycle that holds the 2 wheeled land speed record at over
320 mph (2 way average) is throwing a party in Wendover, USA next July on
the ten year anniversary of their record.
We have the Jeff Decker bronze "Flat Out at Bonneville - Trophy" fastest
motorcycle award waiting for a very fast bike at World of Speed ... anyone
interested? See saltflats.com for pictures of the 1948 Rollie Free record
run on the Vincent bike ... 150 mph in his swim suit.
Wes Potter, Secretary USFRA
----------
> From: Malcolm Pittwood <MPittwood@compuserve.com>
> To: LSR List <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Subject: FIA Records, introduction and other thoughts.
> Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 17:40:28 -0500
>
>
>
>-------------Forwarded Message-----------------
>
>From: Malcolm Pittwood,
>
>
>Date: 1/2/100 9:56 PM
>
>RE: FIA Records, introduction and other thoughts.
>
>Hello List,
>As a 'lurker' it has taken until the new millennium for me to introduce
>myself and take part in the lively exchange of comments here on the list.
>The FIA records are looked after by an american - Burdette Martin who is
>Chairman of the FIA Records Commission based at ACCUS was fax (547) 272
>0101. Make a specific request on the capacity class you are interested in
>- remember that the FIA have no classification by body types. The FIA
>rules only divide by cubic capacity for petrol and diesel internal
>combustion; weight for electric, steam and turbine; and its unlimited for
>all thrust powered vehicles.
>The ACCUS should have the FIA rules for record attempts in hard copy if the
>regulations are not on the FIA web site.
>As the FIA only recognise their International records you will not find any
>Bonneville BNI/USFRA/LSA speeds listed in their information !!
>Real Speed - only thrust power will do. Why work with pistons if you want
>to run fast ?
>Facts - it was americans who rode rough shod over the FIA rules on
>automobiles to establish thrust powered records in the 60's. Only since
>1983 did the Brits (R Noble & A Green) have vehicles capable of setting
>speeds over the rocket power of Blue Flame but then Andy did it in style -
>'boom boom'.
>Turbines- if you develop a turbo charged 4 stroke or 2 stroke engine to the
>extremes possible, including feeding back the rotational turbocharger shaft
>power to the crankshaft of the power unit (engine) by "compounding", you
>end up creating a gas turbine. I have been interested in the dislike
>created by the Vesco Turbinator amongst some 4 stroke teams. Lets face it
>if you wish to drive a shaft connected to the wheels why not use an
>appropriate power unit ?
>So who is Malcolm Pittwood ?
>I do not hold any speed records. I am a Fuel and Combustion Engineer
>based in England, with a 37 year interest in cars and speed record
>breaking. I used to work on circuit racing saloons (sedans in the USA) but
>then took an interest in pure straight line speed. For the last 5 years I
>have been Chairman of the Speed Record Club (producers of Fast Facts
>Magazine).
>I organise speed record attempts here in the UK and in the USA (at
>Bonneville in 1999) for British teams - Primetime Jet Power, Bluebird
>Electric, Team Maximum Impulse (yes, the triple rocket powered motorcycle
>of Richard Brown). I also work with other UK teams when I have a spare
>moment, including one using a gas turbine helicopter engine. I have a
>steam rocket powered car in my two car garage alongside a jet turbine
>engine. In storage is a diesel engined streamliner which I own and am
>having assembled for a young driver. Last summer I had a 'guest drive' in
>the Vampire jet dragster of Colin Fallows of the Primetime team just 24
>hours after he broke the UK Outright record.
>As Project Administrator for Richard 'Rocketman' Brown for the last three
>years I feel it has to be acknowledged that if you want an official FIA or
>FIM World Record you have to use rocket (or two jet power). Even then you
>don't always get the record first time - Richard went 333 mph average over
>the kilo in the Gillette mach 3 Challenger, but only one way.
>Why don't more nationalities join in speed record breaking ? Why don't
>more americans attempt FIA records with their cars and FIM records with
>their bikes. Hey, you guys didn't even support Denis Manning at his 'bike
>only meeting' on the salt last september ?
>At least this should welcome in the new year with lots of response on the
>list !!
>Malcolm Pittwood living in Derby, (initial home of Rolls Royce when the
>Brits owned the car maker), East Midlands, England. 21.56 GMT.
>
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