Brigadier General Malcome Johanson
Director
US Army White Sands Missile Range
CSTE-DTC-WS-BD
WSMR, NM 88002
RE. Land Speed Racing at WSMR
Dear Malcome,
It was great rapping with you on the phone today. As per your stuffy
protocol, I'm providing a written request for the proposal for use of the WSMR
for
racing purposes. Land Speed racing started in the late 40's. What was left of
our valiant, dedicated troops were returning from the battle fields of WWII
and our boys needed a place to burn off some steam in their cars. They chose
the safety of the dry lakes of southern California as opposed to the reckless
Hot Rodders who terrorized the streets. This racing has continued at El
Mirage in CA, and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Racing was also conducted
at
Muroc CA. on the Edwards Air Force Base up until 2000 when a mandate came
from Washington banning private use of Federal Airfields. Also spin-off
organizations have popped up in Maxton NC and Goliad TX where racing is safely
conducted at Air Fields. They even conduct open road land speed racing on
public
highways in Nebraska, Texas and Nevada. With the expansion in the sport, land
speed racers are always looking for addition venues to conduct our racing.
WSMR has a hard packed Gypsum surface on the runways that is ideally suited
for
conducting Land Speed Racing. Events would be conducted twice a year, spring
and fall for a duration of three days each over a weekend. Technical
inspection and pit setup occurs on Friday so the runways would only be needed
on
Saturday and Sunday.
Consider this Malc, you guys skimmed through the last Military Cutback by
the skin of your teeth. How can you justify this 3200 Sq mile facility if you
have no traffic on the four runways. Some of our Lakesters and Streamliners
have silhouettes like airplanes including vertical fins! I'm sure you could
take pictures of them going down the runway and digitally add wings so you have
something to show the Pentagon the next time cutbacks come around. We can work
together to save the base, and your job!
What do you think Dude? Are we in???
Otto
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