List,
Heading out early in the AM for Ely, NV and the Nevada Open Road Challenge
race on Sunday ... slightly longer strip of pavement than Maxton and even
longer than the salt flats. Check your maps for the ninety miles between
Lund and Hiko, NV. They block off the road, route traffic to the next road
East and send the cars off in one minute intervals. Everyone is working on
a target average speed, 165 mph and slower in five mile increments. After
the 95 mph cars have run they sweep the course for stragglers and obvious
parts on the road and then turn the unlimited cars loose. The fastest cars
average around 190 mph. The only way to see the race in progress is to be a
gatekeeper so that's where we'll be. A bit more action than on the salt,
some comparable speeds, lots of Corvettes, Saleen Mustangs, Panteras,
Vipers, a Cobra or two, Ferrari's, a Maserati and even some lady in a Tahoe
who was doing very well in the 95 mph class. Lots of GPU finders and full
rallye gear. Amazingly the class winners are usually within tenths of a
mile an hour of their target speed. Last year it snowed about an inch
overnight but the course was dry by the time they flagged off the first
cars. We'll see if the warmer temperatures and dry conditions make a
difference this year. Have to do something to satisfy the need for speed
while the salt is very wet.
Wes
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