Hey I aimed between them at Muroc.... Seriously as I got to that end of the
course it was the only thing I could see.... K
----------
> From: Ed Van Scoy <edvs@uswest.net>
> To: Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>
> Cc: John Beckett <landspeedracer@email.msn.com>; Nafzger
<nafzger@vtc.net>; land-speed@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Catch net
> Date: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 9:30 AM
>
> Wes,
> The BMW incident was what came to my mind initially. What I didn't know
was
> whether he missed it intentially (apparently so) or just didn't see it.
My
> thoughts ran along the same line as John's - put the net at the very end
of the
> coursre as a last ditch (I know, bad pun) effort to stop before the mud
or
> ponds. As for visability, maybe you could use large red balloons like on
the
> dirt. (don't make them purple or Keith will aim for them)
> Ed
>
> Wester S Potter wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > The catch net was placed about four-tenths of a mile from the dike the
one
> > year when it was used. It's been a while and I think a diesel truck
did use
> > it but I could be wrong. The one streamliner that probably should have
used
> > it, didn't, landed in a pond where there was a hole in the dike at the
time.
> > The hole has been filled in now and that's one of the reasons we don't
do
> > two way record runs on the "short" course. There was a well marked
lane to
> > the net but perhaps it was too abrupt a turn even then for someone
going
> > fast enough to need the net. If we go to the longer course you can be
sure
> > that the net will be about half a mile from the end of the dragged
course no
> > matter how long the course may be. It's an extreme measure intended to
only
> > be used as a final option when every thing else has gone wrong, i.e.
all
> > chutes blown, no brakes, moving too fast to make the needed turn to
parallel
> > the freeway for a mile or so to stop.
> > The net is heavy strapping with large parachutes in canisters on either
end.
> > It's supported on pvc pipe just high enough off the ground to be
visible but
> > it is about four feet high
> > and strong enough to hold up with a good hit. The problem is that
there may
> > be trouble even spotting it with some very restrictive canopy's. It
can't
> > be too near the course and can't be too far off the course or it is
> > worthless. Only an extreme measure for stopping and it would need a
very
> > cool driver who thinks fast to really get the best use out of it.
> > I don't think Camaro drivers need to worry ... the term "like a ton of
> > bricks" indicates something heavy just stopping in one spot rather
quickly.
> > Wes
|