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Re: Special year

To: "Dave Dahlgren" <ddahlgren@snet.net>,
Subject: Re: Special year
From: "Keith Turk" <kturk@ala.net>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 07:47:29 -0600
I love it... Terry was Prepared... he knew exactly what he had to have...
had the dyno sheets to prove it.... That is one of the best prepared cars
on the salt.... Then he went out and put 6mph on a record that was set in a
car with twice the aero Package of his..... built and driven by a bunch of
GM engineer's.... Sometimes being Humble can be misconstrued....  

I totally agree that there isn't much luck in any of this.... You build
luck into your game plan...  

K

----------
> From: Dave Dahlgren <ddahlgren@snet.net>
> To: Rose & Terry Hunt <hunt@Kuentos.guam.net>
> Cc: Land-speed@autox.team.n <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Re: Special year
> Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2001 5:51 AM
> 
> There is very little luck involved in racing that i have ever found,.
there is
> preparation and perseverance though.
> When you shifted at the 'second torque peak' you were not lucky but you
did learn
> something that might have been explored earlier.. A good dyno sheet and a
> calculator with your gear chart would have produced exactly the same
'luck'!!!
> Running second in a road race with 1 lap to go and winning is not luck
because the
> lead driver made a mistake. You were in a second place car and the faster
car made
> a mistake you took advantage of. The preparation made though to have a
car that
> would run second was not luck it was preparation and driver/crew skill
(maybe not
> in that order either)... then you had the opportunity to take advantage
of a
> mistake by someone else. Anyone in my opinion that thinks racing is a lot
of luck
> ought to spend more time at the slot machines it would be a lot more
profitable...
> LOL
> Racing is a lot of hard work and preparation along with an attitude that
allows
> you to take advantage of a situation by being at the right place at the
right time
> prepared to act. And knowing when you are not ready and doing what needs
to be
> done to be ready. if you are shooting for a record of any type and you
know the
> required power and aero characteristics to accomplish the goal and show
up
> unprepared to set your goals hoping for some 'luck' all you are doing is
burning
> gas and making noise and probably spending a lot of time and money on
something
> futile. If you do get lucky so to speak the it only showed you did not
know what
> was needed to be done meet your goals. Racing is all about applied
knowledge there
> is very little luck. I have yet to see Tom Burkland or Don Vesco or
anyone else
> that has their act together consult their astrologer or get the chicken
bones out
> to see how the next pass will turn out...
> 
> The best way to make your own 'luck' is to be prepared and know what you
need to
> know by whatever means are available, and if they are not available make
them the
> next big project to find the answers to.. It is all applied knowledge and
if you
> don't have the facts then you just don't know and that gets in the
wishing and
> hoping mode that is usually the beginning of a failure.
> 
> The great 'racer attitudes that get themselves into trouble by deception
are...
> Its a lot of luck...
> It will be fine..
> This is good enough...
> It probably won't matter..
> I think i can get them at the tree...
> I think I can.. most anything.. you fill it in..
> It seems like....
> The other guy is doing....
> The engine sounds pretty good...
> Just put some tape over it...
> The oil pressure will be fine over 8000 rpm even if it is low at idle..
> That noise is probably nothing important..
> 
> In general the use of the words..
> fine
> ok probably
> should be
> Might be
> won't matter
> seems ok
> don't worry about it
> it's no big deal...
> If....
> LUCKY
> 'Fill in the rest of your favorites that have put you on the trailer..'
> Dave Dahlgren
> 
> Rose & Terry Hunt wrote:
> 
> > Keith and list, Couldn't agree more that coming to a race prepared is
so
> > important. I always try but sometimes I just don't know enough to get
it
> > right. The guys with lots of experience are the most successful. As a
relative
> > novice I know I'm going to have some problems. I am comforted when
things
> > don't work out in the belief that with time we can get better at this
game.
> > I'm also a believer in racer luck. This year Keith  had bad luck . 
Last year
> > I had bad luck and blew the motor. This year I was trashing trying to
get the
> > new motor in the car. It was hard to start, would hardly idle, and the
MSD
> > tach. output was messed up. I shifted after the second torque peak and
hoped
> > for the best. But you know what. I had good LUCK and set the record.
You never
> > know what's going to happen.  Growing up in No. Hollywood Ca. in the
50's I
> > was the neighborhood car nut. Few shared my passion for hot rodding.
One of
> > the best things about our sport is the friendships we make. We are I
think a
> > collection of car nuts from many neighborhoods in this country. So I
can
> > honestly say that win or lose, I always enjoy the races and being with
the
> > community of landspeed racers. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day. I'm
thankful for
> > many things., including being a part of this sport. Have a good one.
Terry
> > Hunt, Guam Bomb, #743

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