List,
If Bonneville and Lake Gairdner accepted the same records, all in one. Would
that
be enough to classify a world record. They already use the same rules, Lake
Gairdner uses SCTA rules. Why not make it so both venues are going after the
same
records?
Jonathan Amo
www.landracing.com
\"LandSpeed\" Louise Ann Noeth wrote:
> KT
>
> You are so right about the "modified rules" with regard to the 2 club.
> What started as a quest to make two runs in opposite directions above
> 200 while under the watchful eye of a recognized timing authority
> evolved into the requirements we have today. Try as I might in
> Bonneville Salt Flats, it was near impossible to track down the
> specific person, date and reason why the rules and regs changed. What
> I could find and verify is in the book, the rest is up for tasty
> debate.
>
> One thing is certain Howard's record was a longer, more difficult
> quest than Donald's if for no other reason than he had to make one
> more run at speed.
>
> As for this business of comparing speeds . . . well, let's make sure
> we have a level playing field, shall we? At the salt, and I presume we
> speaking big numbers, so I will exclude the short course from this
> discussion, vehicles run over a course of 5 miles, 3 of which are
> timed. None of the other venues have this much space.
>
> To sustain a high speed over such a distance requires not only a great
> mechanical combo and state of tune, but applies a great deal of
> pressure to the driver's skills and strategy. Metaphorically speaking,
> it's one thing to lift a heavy weight, but to sustain the lift
> validates the strength and endurance.
>
> In other words, all NHRA records are based on a 1/4 mile track -- at
> various elevations and density altitudes which factor into speeds and
> ET's, but that's where the racer must apply their "smarts." would you
> say a record set in Denver (5,000 feet) is worthy of more respect than
> one set a sea level where the air is dense? You can see the point,
> each venue has its challenges, but the distance over which the vehicle
> ran remains constant.
>
> I suspect there might be a little posturing going on here to give the
> ECTA and SCTA a bit more "world" status, so let's explore that point.
> Let's say the SCTA announces it will start handing out "world" records
> based on a stringent set of record rules, in sympathy with, but
> separate from those governing the FIA records. Why should the rest of
> the world respect such a move? Because the organization has tenure?
> Because they have conducted more than 60 years of speed trials?
> Because most of land speed racing occurs on American soil?
>
> The lists goes on. In the end you may find that the rest of the world
> take issue with such a move for the same reason many American racers
> tend to short shift the FIA -- they are foreigners.
>
> A record set a Bonneville has such an deeply ingrained international
> pedigree to begins with, that the nomenclature or "world" or
> "national" is frankly moot. A Bonneville record is, without exception,
> a world class record, one that defines the driver, the vehicle, and
> the team as achievers, that the sanctioning body who inked the numbers
> is utterly secondary to the accomplishment. I might include
> Australia's Lake Gairdner in the same atmosphere, but that place has
> to rack up a bunch more runs to get the same respect from me as
> Bonneville currently enjoys.
>
> My point is, unless a world record has worldwide respect it isn't
> worth the ground its run on -- save those who set it and their pals
> who support them. Is the world-record-setting rules of the FIA so
> horrible that we really NEED to change the process, or do we WANT to
> make things a bit easier on ourselves?
>
> And if a world record is easier to set, who wants such a limp-wristed
> thing anyway?
>
> Pot stirred.
>
> Next.
>
> Speedy Regards,
>
> "LandSpeed" Louise Ann Noeth
>
> LandSpeed Productions
> Telling stories with words and pictures
> ------------------------o0o--------------------------
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