Keith, John and the List Members,
I have had a chance to consider all that has been said on this topic to
date - very interesting views.
Warning - This is a l..o..n..g e mail.
I have to say that I have already passed onto Keith my ideas for how an
International body could run Land Speed Records outside the FIA and FIM and
SCTA. (hey ... he chased me down to be open minded on the subject in a
personal mailing). Once the comments within this mail have been digested I
will release my ideas - if you can stand it. Keith can referee, so you
will all know that I have not changed anything or what I have changed.
Lets be clear about 'International' - it means between different Nations.
You may argue that the DRLA adopting SCTA rules in Australia now makes the
SCTA an International Organisation. I do not think so.
The SCTA is a US National body run by Americans for American Land Speed
Racers.
The FIA and FIM are International organisations as they represent many
countries around the world on organising and technical committees. Run by
many countries for ....?? (Well me according to my Racers Licence). The
USA are represented on the FIA and FIM but not directly by Land Speed
Racers.
The SCTA/BNI organise Land Speed Record Racing and Land Speed Record
Attempts.
Do not shout that this is playing with words ... just wait and read on and
you will see that Record Racing and Record Attempts are not the same. (In
fact Mike M has confirmed this with his explanation of the SCTA/BNI
International Records at World Finals).
The FIA and FIM do nothing more than oversee Land Speed Record Attempts.
They do not organise anything. All they do is set down Regulations for
Record Attempts in Appendix D. It is the responsibility of an Individual,
Team or Teams to organise their record attempt. If you want an
International record recognised by an International body you currently have
to use their regulations (and all that goes with it).
The SCTA/BNI favours the Mile and Kilo timing trap distance with a flying
start (running start) approach. And they dictate the length of approach it
seems for their Racing events.
The FIM and FIA also use the Mile and Kilo but knowing that not all tracks
can have the same approach distance their rules do not state a run in
distance. What this means is that the competitor puts the timing traps in
the central course position (whatever its length) so as to gain equal run
in from both directions. You do not HAVE to do this but what is gained one
way will probably be lost the other. There is just one mile (or kilo)
trap so you are timed over the same piece of land which does not move. (I
know that sounds obvious, but we did have one competitor wishing to have UK
rules changed to where there were two timing traps one for his outward run
and one for the return the same distance from the opposite ends of the
track - long acceleration and short braking each way).
To me the important distance is the timing trap length, but then the Brits
have for decades had to travel the World looking for longer places to run
fast. Since 1927 in fact. For International records the mile and kilo
remain the most appropriate timed distances. And both are of equal
'importance'. I do not accept the argument that speed over 132 feet at
Maxton after 1 mile can be compared with 1 mile after many miles anywhere
else. (I do favour the ECTA methods for Land Speed Racing and this is a
method that could also go International - well over here to Britain at
least).
Do you go one way twice or two ways 'once'? The 1911 FIA two way rule was
to stop anyone gaining gradient advantage or tail wind advantage (I like
the sound of El Mirage Horsepower though!)
Whilst we all try to find the flatest land (and the FIA/FIM specify
gradient limits) the weather conditions have a bearing. Only the FIM have
a speed limit on tail wind. I favour two ways 'once'.
Turn around time is also linked with what work you can do to the machine -
the FIM are very strict on the limited servicing in their two hours. The
FIA are a little more liberal but not much with their one hour. You cannot
carry out a major rebuilding of the motor, transmission or axles - you
cannot change a rear sprocket or chain on a bike. With these rules you
build the car or bike to allow for this time limitation. As its a Record
Attempt you have your two crews in position, or the crew leaves to position
before the run starts, at whatever distance away you need to be - 4 miles,
9miles or 13 miles. To run FIM with the bike we used all 22 team people
along 5 miles of salt.
Use a recognised standard worldwide? We know that standards do change
(SCTA qualifying plus two runs to now the two runs. FIA one way up to 1911
now two). I get the feeling that the standard for Record Attempts should
be two way, electronic timing, suveyed length of mile or kilo and 1%
improvement on the old record speed. most of what we have now in SCTA/BNI
International and FIM/FIA.
Classes - the FIA accepts ALL types of cars - OK if you wish to go fast you
need a streamliner, but you WOULD be allowed by the FIA to run a Roadster
or /CALT down their longest course (because the owner would have organised
the attempt, not a club). In any new International Organisation I would
now favour some form of car class divisions by body style. The FIM classes
are numerous but they do impose upper limits (cc and weight) to try to keep
bikes within the 'spirit' of that mode of transport. (I asked their
technical chief). The SCTA/BNI have more variety of chassis &
streamlining. For the bikes I would also allow for greater variety than
the FIM, but there should be no immediate way of swopping from one rule
group to another. 'Road style' bikes should have road capacity engines.
Someone asked what do the British do? - with cars we follow the FIA but
also run over the 1/4 mile and 0.5 kilo timing distances. With bikes we
follow FIM but add in production classes as well as 'sprinters and drag
racers'. The Motor Sports Association write our National car rules for
record attempts and the Auto Cycle Union write the bike rules. They are
both governing bodies which are made up from representatives from
organising motor car or motor cycle clubs. Individuals organise their own
record attempts (or ask me to do it for them).
The difference between 'racing' and 'attempts' is borne out by the smaller
entry that can be run at the World Finals compared with Speed Week. With
the two way rule and turnaround hour, which Glen B called 'tough' (or two
hours in the case of the Amo's etc on two wheels) you cannot get in so many
runs. The Thrust team will tell you how tough 1 hour is when they over ran
by less than one extra minute and got no record.
"The FIM bike records are 'soft' ". Well if they are why didn't any more
than six teams enter Denis Mannings bike only meeting in 1999, when he
offered to organise FIM sanction as well as AMA? Team Maximum Impulse from
Britain ran at this event!
A Unified Land Speed Record Scene? I know Mike Jenkins and his feet are on
the ground - it is not a Utopian dream. People (on this List and others)
could make it happen. The seed of the International Land Speed
Organisation (ILSO - or some othe snappy title) have been planted by all
those who wrote back to Keiths first mailing.
Praise to the man in Purple!!
Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England. (Keith, was that more open minded than
before??)
///
/// land-speed@autox.team.net mailing list
///
|