Great accounting of you and your family's Speedweek, really
enjoyed it, Tom. That Phoenix is truly something, eh?
Here's to good people, salt and weather!
Kris Wright
"Thomas E. Bryant" wrote:
> Margaret and I left Redding at 3:30 PM Thursday 8/10/00 for the Salt,
> stopping in Lovelock NV Thursday night and continuing on Friday AM
> arriving about 2 PM in the pits. I was totally unprepared for what I
> saw when we entered the pits. There must have been 300 cars already on
> the Salt and pit space was already getting hard to find. We did locate a
> spot. unloaded the car and headed for inspection. We got in under the
> wire for Friday inspection, getting the car inspected by none other than
> John Beckett and Joe Timney. Somehow we passed inspection anyway and
> went to the pits, bedded the car down for the night and headed to the
> hotel for much needed rest.
>
> Saturday 8/12/00: - Our big change this year was to install a 700-R4
> transmission.
> We presented the car at the line only to have the engine fail to fire.
> Back to the pits for analysis! We could find nothing really evident
> except the plugs seemed a bit too cold.
>
> Sunday 8/13/00: - Purchased a set of C59 plugs and made our way to the
> starting line. The first run got off the line well but when I shifted to
> 4th gear (OD) the transmission didn't shift. We had lots of Rs before
> we reached the traps, so it was a turnout. Back to the pits to mull this
> over. My trans builder said that it might not shift with full throttle
> pressure, rather than play with the adjustment, I decided to gear up and
> run 3rd gear. On our second run I got a vibration that stayed with me
> after about the 1 ½ Mile, continuing through the 3 mile where I shut
> off. On inspection in the pits we found that the bell housing was broken
> and a cooler line had blown off. Its time to install the trusty
> Powerglide.
>
> Monday 8/14/00: - Jeff made a run @ 193.352 (1/4), 214.509 (3), and
> 215.477 MPH (terminal)
> After putting 3 degrees more advance in it, I followed with a 194.769
> (1/4), 215.781 (3) and 217.099 MPH (terminal) Engine temperature pegged
> the 250 degree gauge on both runs.
>
> Tuesday 8/15/00: - We leaned it .002 and Jeff ran 195.154 (1/4), 213.534
> (3) and 214.215 MPH (terminal). I richened by .004 and ran 186.664
> (1/4), [too rich, leaned .002 in the ¼ trap], 219.938 (3) and 221.894
> MPH (terminal). Our ¼ times have been soft, so I decided to advance the
> timing from the 42 degrees we were running to 45 degrees. The next run
> gave me a 200.615 (1/4) and a 206.164 MPH 1st mile and I turned out.
>
> This was a rare family week for us on the Salt. We had started the week
> with Jeff who flew in from Red Bluff on Saturday and Dan (#2 son), his
> wife Shirley and two of their children, Tim and Tammy came in Saturday
> noon. Dan and family went home Tuesday AM and Jeff left Tuesday
> afternoon to fly back to Redding and pick up our youngest son, Barry.
> Jeff arrived back in Wendover at noon on Wednesday with Barry (our
> youngest).
>
> Wednesday 8/16/00: - Barry had been very patient through the years,
> although wanting to drive, had always yielded to our thrashing for speed
> and records. He had made two runs in the car a couple of years ago at
> the WOS with a top in the 140s. Before we left for the Salt this year,
> it was decided that this year Barry would get his "A" license. This was
> his day. His first run was 155.172 (1/4) and 157.167 mile, second,
> 171.139 (1/4) and 176.269 mile, and finally 178.407 (1/4), 203.981
> middle mile and shutting off in the last mile and coasting out with a
> mile speed of 204.994 MPH. Mission accomplished!
>
> Thursday 8/17/00: - Today is the "go or break" day! Jeff ran 196.314
> (1/4), 216.533 (3) and 218.216 MPH (terminal). We added 2 more degrees
> of timing and he ran 199.1325 (1/4), 218.213 (3) and 219.396 (terminal).
> Two more degrees of timing yielded a 202.482 (1/4), 222.138 (3) and a
> 223.212 MPH (terminal). Our last run was with one more degree of timing
> and .002 leaner. Not the correct way to go. It detonated, Jeff richened
> it by .002 but not before we lost #4 & #6 plugs. It was down on speed
> and a turn out. On inspection we had water out of the right side header,
> what appears to be at least a head gasket, I will get the engine out
> today and inspect it for damage.
>
> All this said, it was a great week. I met several of the people on the
> list, unfortunately, I missed some others that were there. We had the
> best salt in years, an incredibly good course, great weather and some
> had great speed. I guess I was most impressed by the big green diesel
> with Carl Heap at the spoke with a 252 out the back door. He entered the
> 200 Club with his 19,000 pound monster. He says his next goal is 300
> MPH. I wouldn't count him out.
>
> Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/GCC
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