List,
I'm not good like some of you at putting words together but let me try.
I came upon Land Speed Racing in 1982 when I was already in my 50's and
should have been slowing down. I liked what I saw with the friendly people
(with very few exceptions), relaxed atmosphere, and the variety of cars and
classes to compete in which allowed people to display their creative and
engineering talents. The events seemed to be well run by a good group of
people.
I decided to build a car and Bryan wanted to build the engine. We approached
this challenge with respect for the tradition of Land Speed Racing and all
that had been accomplished. We had no desire to find fault with how it was
done or to try and change things. We understood the rules and we accepted
the challenge under those rules. That attitude seems to be less common these
days.
As you know, we were very successful for lot's of reasons, some of which we
probably don't understand.
I understand the frustration of many people whose efforts are not even
recognized by the FIA because they choose to run something other than a
streamliner. Thank God for the variety. I hope someday to see an
organization that has world wide respect, that will recognize all the unique
classes we run.
In my opinion again, such an organization will have to be based on a set of
standards that are unwavering and not variable depending on where you are
running or what organization you favor.
That means uniform distances, Uniform procedures,(two runs in same
direction, two runs in opposite directions, or three runs, whatever).
That part alone makes it almost impossible to do. Maxton at I believe 1
mile, El Mirage at 1.3 miles, and Bonneville at 3 or 5 miles. (I know, the
FIA doesn't specify distances). Bonneville is the only course I believe that
can provide for runs in opposite directions if the salt permits. I never
will agree with a record that was set with two runs in the same direction.
How many times have you seen someone qualify well over the record with a
tail wind and come back the next day and run under the record with no wind
and end up with the record based on the average. I have even seen people
waiting on the side of the starting line for a tail wind to come up.
Those records have no credibility to any serious racer. These are pretty
strong words and I do not mean to offend anyone. It's just the facts.
That is not the fault of the sanctioning body or the racer, it's just a set
of circumstances that allowed it. You also have noticed that NO FIA records
are set under these circumstances. Until we can resolve these kinds of
issues, we will not have the credibility required to be a recognized World
Authority on speed records.
Our current streamliner was built as a fun project to allow the whole family
to be involved and to allow our sons to drive if they choose to. I want to
enjoy myself at this point in life and stay away from all the hassles of
more intense sports.
I am going to Tucson this Thursday afternoon so I can be in the hospital
Friday morning at 5:30 AM to have major surgery. The good Lord willing and
the creek don't rise, I will be back at Bonneville next year hopefully with
a competitive engine to race with you guys. The surgery is complex and
difficult and the man says seven plus months to be completely healed. You
don't have to be completely healed to drive a race car do you?
Six to eight days in the hospital and then home to make my wife miserable.
I will not be able to keep up with all the e- mail so I am going to sign off
the list for now if I can figure out how. If anyone wants to they can
contact me off list.
Thanks to all the hard working SCTA/BNI and USFRA people for making this
sport possible
Lot's of talent on the list and lot's of good people.
Howard Nafzger
448/CFS
I have re-done this enough times, I'll just send it now.
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