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Re: My WOS adventure Part 2

To: "Ed Van Scoy" <edvs@uswest.net>
Subject: Re: My WOS adventure Part 2
From: "John Beckett" <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 20:40:04 -0400
Guess that's part 3.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Van Scoy" <edvs@uswest.net>
To: "John Beckett" <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>
Cc: "Land Speed List" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: My WOS adventure Part 2


> Great story, but you left out the chapter on how to spin a car at 220+ &
get one
> of those nasty red stickers on your windshield ;-)
> Ed
>
> John Beckett wrote:
>
> > List
> >
> > WOS adventure, Part 2
> >
> > OK, its now Thursday and we have another D/GCC record under our belt.
Time
> > for my nitrous ride in D/FCC. Hook up the bottle and go right?...wrong.
The
> > first run netted us 1,600 degrees on the EGT and a turn out at the 1/4
with
> > a 198 MPH time slip. Hmmm...Joe ran a 208 MPH 1/4 speed NA...so what's
up
> > here. Back in the pits we make some adjustments and try again. Even
worse
> > 189 MPH in the middle mile...did the engine go away? Didn't think we
hurt
> > anything...plugs look good. Been following Dave Dahlgrens
recommendations
> > (who was kind enough to pass on his knowledge).
> >
> > It's Friday, frustration sets in, throwing up our hands we retune back
to NA
> > specks and gearing...lets see if we hurt this puppy or not. Nope, not
hurt
> > as we comfortably run a 227 MPH pass. Guess we better pay a little
closer
> > attention to Uncle Dave's pearls. So we re-tune to Nitrous spec.'s and
> > gearing again, following Dave's plan, and a 100 HP hit, we roll off a
225
> > MPH run. 10 MPH shy of the record but at least were running over 200
MPH. OK
> > now were getting into this. Now upon further investigation, based on
Dave's
> > urging, we discover we have the whole system wired wrong...followed the
> > directions I thought. Damn this thing needs a relay to power everything
> > correctly. Feeling very stupid now, but praise the Lord, Keith Turk has
an
> > extra relay and harness. With Dave's help again we wire it in and get
ready
> > for Saturday. By the way the Amo brothers have blown the side off their
bike
> > motor by now and are offering extra nitrous and spare solenoids to help
make
> > this thing happen.
> >
> > Saturday, after return runs, we warm the bottles in the truck, charge
the
> > battery...Dave wants a 200 HP hit I opt for a 125 and head to the line.
New
> > plan this run...won't hit the nitrous until the 4 mile (had tested it at
the
> > 1/4 on the previous run and it dramatically upped the speed and carried
the
> > speed through the first mile. Power dropped off in the last
mile...weren't
> > sure why at the time). Anyway I start the run everything is working
> > perfectly...feels very strong, even with nitrous gearing...hit the
button
> > entering the last mile...the tach jumps 500 RPM...WOW...did the math the
> > night before...that's 240+ MPH.
> >
> > Talk about excitement...little did I know that the timing computer took
a
> > nap and didn't spit out any time for that run, NOTHING. Maximum
frustration.
> > Had to have been our qualifier. How many runs like that does this thing
have
> > in it before its toast? Well nothing left to do but try again. OK, fill
the
> > bottle and warm it, charge the battery check the plugs. Now the motor is
> > getting tired by this time...and I should have upped the nitrous at
least 25
> > HP to compensate, (should have gone with Dave's 200 HP hit in the first
> > place), but I didn't think to do it. Dave recommends I hit the button a
> > little sooner...maybe 3.5 mile instead of 4 (another lesson to be
learned
> > here soon).
> >
> > In the mean time Adrenaline TV installs a camera in the car to record
the
> > run, and follows along. Now the adrenaline is definitely flowing and not
> > cause I'm on TV. The pass feels good...I'm on the nitrous at the
3.5...tach
> > jumps...gains 400 RPM this time...still feels like a great run...feeling
> > confident we qualified I wave to the camera during shut down.
Results...well
> > it was our best timed run ever for the Chevette...234.352 MPH, but .04
MPH
> > shy of the record. Disappointment to be sure. The course was closed..no
more
> > runs for us, and Tom keeps his record, until next year.
> >
> > An experienced racer once said "There ain't no easy records at
Bonneville".
> > Hmmm I think he's right.
> >
> > Goals for next year...well I really, really want the E/FCC record. Will
have
> > the little
> > engine back together for Speed Week and with lessons learned this year I
> > believe we have a good shot at it.
> >
> > John Beckett, LSR #79
>




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