JrRifleCoach
Well-known member
The challenge of making the http://saltflats.com/130-150 members.html130 MPH Club at the Bonneville Slat Flats is a tad bit more exciting than I imagined. First the goose bumps of sharing the same salt with the likes of Craig Breedlove, Art Arfons, Mickey Thompson....... WOW!
Then hitting the salt for the first time. Everything is white. The sun reflects its burning energy to the bottom of your nose, under the chin and if your wearing shorts...... lets just say you use more sun block than usual.
Rose was feeling fine, and a full tank of premium was all she needed to start the day. With 130K miles on her 20 year old engine she'll do well. We viewed the course and counted the markers to ensure one would not get lost. First marker at 1/4 mile, second at the half and the third at the end of the mile. Last marker noted the turn off back towards the staging area.
Standing start mile was an easy launch with the smooth application of power. 2nd gear comes fast and the tires start their slow slide to the right, A little correction and roll into the throttle even harder waiting for 3rd to kick in. Now the 1/4 marker is coming up and the engine is howling into its torque curve making the rear feel a tad light. Just keep your foot planted Dood! The track is wide and we're only just starting to build speed. Not a good time to lift. The 1/4 marker is past us now and the speedo is over 100. The half mile marker is coming up fast as the speed keeps rising. Now we're past the half and waiting for 4th to kickin.
Whats this???? Wheres 4th? Cmon! were at 122 and the engine is screaming! OK, lift slightly and 4th will kickin. No 4th. Speed is slow to increase to 125. Lift again. NO $#%$^ 4TH!! Speedo reads 126 as the trap whizzes by. Timing ticket reads the good/bad news 129.98MPH! DAMN! missed it by .02 MPH and never got out of 3rd! I win the "CLOSEST" award....
Second run I manage to get her to find 4th and she leaps forward to a best of 133.9MPH.
Third run was again a loss of 4 gear with a 129.6MPH.
The fourth run was worst with 128.something.
OK I got one run left and the weather is looking grim for a second shot at this tomorrow. I have to find 4th gear!!!!
Plan is to start lifting for 4th at the half mile marker. We leave the line a bit harder than before which is useless since there is no traction in 1st. Work the throttle firmly......but easy. OK we're coming up to the half, lift lightly.... YEAH! 4th! OK roll into the throttle. Damn she drops back into 3rd. Hold into 3rd a bit longer look for a few more MPH. Lift. 4th comes to those who wait. 4th! Now roll on the power. Damn 3rd again! More power and more MPH. Shes only at 122 and the traps are coming up. Lift.....4th! POWER NOW!!!!! One last look at the speedo and we see 126 indicated as we enter the traps and 128 as the finish flag passes! My heart is pounding as the timing trailer gal comes out to proclaim my success of a 130.5 MPH! to cinch our two required 130MPH passes for the 130 MPH Club victory!!!
Theres no fan fare. No trophy. No t-shirt. Just your name on the permanent record books and the satisfaction of acheiving a goal.
Many thanks to Carl and his brother Steve for their words of "salt wisdom".
And to Jeff and Ken for the great comaradery found here on the forum.
As luck would have it the rains started as we left the track Thursday evening. Funny thing about the salt. Its flat as a board and solid, so the water will not perc or run off. It just pools into one big lake! So our return for any further attempts will have to wait for next year. C'ya there!
Then hitting the salt for the first time. Everything is white. The sun reflects its burning energy to the bottom of your nose, under the chin and if your wearing shorts...... lets just say you use more sun block than usual.
Rose was feeling fine, and a full tank of premium was all she needed to start the day. With 130K miles on her 20 year old engine she'll do well. We viewed the course and counted the markers to ensure one would not get lost. First marker at 1/4 mile, second at the half and the third at the end of the mile. Last marker noted the turn off back towards the staging area.
Standing start mile was an easy launch with the smooth application of power. 2nd gear comes fast and the tires start their slow slide to the right, A little correction and roll into the throttle even harder waiting for 3rd to kick in. Now the 1/4 marker is coming up and the engine is howling into its torque curve making the rear feel a tad light. Just keep your foot planted Dood! The track is wide and we're only just starting to build speed. Not a good time to lift. The 1/4 marker is past us now and the speedo is over 100. The half mile marker is coming up fast as the speed keeps rising. Now we're past the half and waiting for 4th to kickin.
Whats this???? Wheres 4th? Cmon! were at 122 and the engine is screaming! OK, lift slightly and 4th will kickin. No 4th. Speed is slow to increase to 125. Lift again. NO $#%$^ 4TH!! Speedo reads 126 as the trap whizzes by. Timing ticket reads the good/bad news 129.98MPH! DAMN! missed it by .02 MPH and never got out of 3rd! I win the "CLOSEST" award....
Second run I manage to get her to find 4th and she leaps forward to a best of 133.9MPH.
Third run was again a loss of 4 gear with a 129.6MPH.
The fourth run was worst with 128.something.
OK I got one run left and the weather is looking grim for a second shot at this tomorrow. I have to find 4th gear!!!!
Plan is to start lifting for 4th at the half mile marker. We leave the line a bit harder than before which is useless since there is no traction in 1st. Work the throttle firmly......but easy. OK we're coming up to the half, lift lightly.... YEAH! 4th! OK roll into the throttle. Damn she drops back into 3rd. Hold into 3rd a bit longer look for a few more MPH. Lift. 4th comes to those who wait. 4th! Now roll on the power. Damn 3rd again! More power and more MPH. Shes only at 122 and the traps are coming up. Lift.....4th! POWER NOW!!!!! One last look at the speedo and we see 126 indicated as we enter the traps and 128 as the finish flag passes! My heart is pounding as the timing trailer gal comes out to proclaim my success of a 130.5 MPH! to cinch our two required 130MPH passes for the 130 MPH Club victory!!!
Theres no fan fare. No trophy. No t-shirt. Just your name on the permanent record books and the satisfaction of acheiving a goal.
Many thanks to Carl and his brother Steve for their words of "salt wisdom".
And to Jeff and Ken for the great comaradery found here on the forum.
As luck would have it the rains started as we left the track Thursday evening. Funny thing about the salt. Its flat as a board and solid, so the water will not perc or run off. It just pools into one big lake! So our return for any further attempts will have to wait for next year. C'ya there!
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