I vote with John, I think we have a good class
structure. Leave them alone! I am a relative
newby, and I did a lot of searching and studying
through the class structure to pick what I wanted
to build and run. There are almost more
combinations than you could build if you had a
whole bone yard and assembly line at your
disposal. I also endorse the motorcycle classes
as they are. I raced motorcycles in other venues
for many years, and I would point out that bikes
are so finely tuned when they come from the
factory that virtually anything other than
changing plugs makes one bike no longer
competitive with another. If we tried to reduce
the number of motorcycle classes, some entire
"families" of motorcycles would suddenly become
obsolete. For a short time I considered
building and running an LSR bike, and when I
studied those classes, I found that they were set
up in such a way that you could build whatever
kind of bike you wanted and it could be
completitive in it's own class. We have a good
class structure - no need to change it until new
technology makes our current stuff
non-competitive. (I don't mean new carbon fibre
blocks and pistons either, I mean something like
solar regenerated, pulse laser, sub-particle
accelerated, nuclear turbine - -or something like
that!) My hat is off to the guys who have to
review the rules and be sure they are "right"
from year to year - ya'll are doing a great job!
Dick J
--- john robinson <john@engr.wisc.edu> wrote:
> Howdy,
> years ago the engine size/classes were
> changed, and people lost
> their records. Case in point, while in
> inspection after a record run this
> year, a guy came up to me and was discussing my
> car, (1.5 liter engine,
> 144.396) he stated that he had run a Alfa 1600
> to 139 MPH in the MS(?)
> class but lost the record when the classes were
> changed to 500 cc
> increments. Same thing will happen if classes
> are changed/shrunk.
> If this thread is a fishing
> expedition, my vote is to have it
> remain the same, multiple classes have the
> best possible advantage to
> attracting newcomers, with the newcomers varied
> interests in types of cars
> and racing, multiple classes gives the best
> possible attraction to newcomers.
> I'm in a class by myself at this time
> (H/GCC), and I work hard to
> better my own record, just motoring down the
> course making multiple runs is
> NOT what I feel racing on the Salt is about.
> From my reading of some
> responses on this thread, I have to mention,
> just because there is no one
> else in my class, I am STILL racing against
> time and trying to compete
> ..... I think we all are......
> As to attracting more racers, more
> video on TV/cable, more
> articles/books on LSR are needed to attract
> newcomers. HOTROD used to write
> about the Salt, although I haven't read one in
> years, I understand they are
> beginning to include more about us. This will
> help in the long run, as
> somebody doesn't pick up a HOTROD, and
> immediately begin to build a car for
> the Salt.....the idea takes time to grow within
> them.....so an
> advertisement campaign would have to be
> directed towards the LONG run (ahh,
> a good pun!) in wooing new racers to the salt.
> These ads would have to have
> a consistent theme supporting racing on the
> salt, informing newcomers that
> the comradery and the racing are worth the
> extra effort that racing on the
> salt entails....we don't give no monetary
> awards, we give the pride that
> goes with daring greatly, the achievement that
> if attained, we know we have
> tried and succeeded or failed, but at least we
> have tried...
>
> John Robinson, Mechanician
> Mechanical Engineering University of
> Wisconsin
> 1513 University Ave.
> Madison, Wi. 53706
> 608-262-3606
> FAX 608-265-2316
> Current World Land Speed Record Holder
> Bonneville Salt Flats
> H/GCC 92 cu.in. 1980 Dodge Colt
> 131.333 MPH set 1995
> 136.666 MPH set 1996
> 140.292 MPH set 2000
> 144.396 MPH set 2000
>
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