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Re: size matters?

To: paulblandavon <paul.blandavon@btinternet.com>, land-speed@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: size matters?
From: Dick J <lsr_man@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 07:33:58 -0800 (PST)
--- paulblandavon <paul.blandavon@btinternet.com>
wrote:
> I was wondering about the other events at
> Bonneville, the only magazine
> coverage we get here is of Speed Week I'm
> presuming that's the big event of
> the year, (correct me if I'm wrong,)  what are
> the World of speed and World
> finals like? do they get as many entries and
> spectators? how do they compare
> to speed week?
> Paul.

Paul, I asked the same question aabout two years
ago and got some really great replies.  I've
tried to copy the best of them, and here goes:

I would like some comments on the differences
between the SCTA Speed Week and the USFRA World
of Speed. I will probably get to drive at
Bonneville once in my life and want to make the
right choice. I realize that Speedweek is the
grand-daddy of them all, but it seems that I'd
get more time on the salt in the more casual
environment of the USFRA World of Speed. I'm also
thinking of the USFRA 130 MPH Club and 150 MPH
Club as a fun way to go. I'm most likely going to
be driving an XXO/Something, and I won't be in
line for challenging any records or anything like
that. This is just to have fun and realize a
life-long dream. Anybody got any insight into
this for me? Richard, I can't speak for
Speedweek, but on behalf of the volunteers that
host World of Speed, We would love to have you
participate. We offer the 130 &150 MPH Club
formats especially to give people like yourself
an opportunity to try their hand at landspeed
racing. Not everyone has the resources to build a
specialty car for the salt, and this gives
newcomers a chance to get their feet wet. By this
process we hope to introduce new folks each year
to the sport. We are a smaller group than SCTA,
and don't have the large number of cars that
Speedweek has (last year they had over 300 we
usually have about 100). But we use the same
rulebook and use the same course. We put forth a
lot of effort to ensure that we have a well run,
high quality event. If you make it out to World
of Speed, you will find me at the Inspection
tent. If you stop by, I will personally introduce
you around, help you choose a pit and help you
get oriented. Whether you are there to Race your
XXO/???, run 130 Club or just watch and see how
things are done, I can assure you you will find a
friendly, helpful, knowledgeable group ready to
assist you. Hope to see you on the Salt! P.S. The
rules for the 130 & 150 MPH club events can be
found and printed at our web site
http://www.saltflats.com/ Dan Wright 


Richard,

Either meet is a true experience of a lifetime.
Too many of 
us who have
been doing this so long forget that we are a
select few in 
the world
that have been granted the opportunity to drive
down the 
"long black
line". I reflect on this often and feel
privileged to be 
able to attend
and compete in these events.

I have participated in 38 Speedweeks and all
World of Speed 
meets. The
personnel at both meets do a tremendous job of
running the 
events. If
driving a car is your primary goal, then, in my
opinion, 
the World of
Speed wins hands down. It has a smaller number of
entries, 
and
consequently, a more laid-back atmosphere, and
usually you 
can get more
times down the course.

The opportunity to compete in the 130 & 150 MPH
Clubs are 
not available
at Speedweek. A word of caution here...I don't
know what 
rules govern
these classes, but in my opinion, roll bars
should be 
required in
anything that runs on the salt. We had a bad
experience at 
the lakes
years ago with a "140 MPH roll bar rule". A Ford
Falcon 
Sprint ran 136
MPH on its first pass, then on the second rolled
over and 
killed the
driver. It is difficult to put this out of mind.

Speedweek holds a big attraction to me because of
the 
affiliation I have
had over the years. It is a "Homecoming" of sorts
for many 
of us. But
then there have been few meets held at Bonneville
since my 
introduction
to the sport that I have missed. Just being on
the Salt is 
a thrill for
me. I hope you get to live your dream!!

Tom

richard jurkowski wrote:
> 
> I would like some comments on the differences
between the 
SCTA Speed
> Week and the USFRA World of Speed.  I will
probably get 
to drive at
> Bonneville once in my life and want to make the
right 
choice.  I
> realize that Speedweek is the grand-daddy of
them all, 
but it seems
> that I'd get more time on the salt in the more
casual 
environment of
> the USFRA World of Speed.  I'm also thinking of
the USFRA 
130 MPH Club
> and 150 MPH Club as a fun way to go. I'm most
likely 
going to be
> driving an XXO/Something, and I won't be in
line for 
challenging any
> records or anything like that.  This is just to
have fun 
and realize a
> life-long dream.  Anybody got any insight into
this for 
me?





=====
Dick J
In East Texas
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