Malcolm,
A "World Authority" is one that does more of "something" and knows more
about that "thing" than anyone else. There's no reasonable challenge to the
pre-eminence of the racing bodies in the USA that race at Bonneville, El
Mirage, Maxton, the Texas Mile and on occasion Muroc which all use the same
Rules and Records Book as a standard. The racers at Lake Gairdner have to
play catch up even though their venue is in far better condition than
Bonneville. There are NO regularly scheduled speed trials anywhere else in
the world.
SCTA/BNI certainly would be able to certify records like the FIA does ...
have a local "expert" rubber stamp the time slip of certified clocks with a
verified mile distance. If the inspection for compliance was as thorough
as in "Warnerville" that shouldn't be a problem. The issuance of a record
certification certificate would be far quicker than what the FIA does.
You question the authority of an association that only races at "one track
in Utah". How many streamliners race anywhere else in the world at speeds
nearly that fast? Those records really only matter to other racers, witness
the total lack of mention of Tom Burkland's runs in any media not directly
connected with the salt. As far as the FIA and land-speed racing is
concerned, the Guinness Book of World Records has more interest, and is more
prompt to recognize accomplishments than the FIA.
Wes
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