July 29, 2007

This is it, the final year for Cliff and I. Our Bonneville Story-Year Five.

For the past several months it’s been very discouraging. Cliff’s health is not good. His energy has been low (not to be confused with enthusiasm) and solving our technical problems has been a challenge. As you may recall, we blew the engine last year. “Sucked a valve” that shattered two pistons and ended our run for the record three days early in 2006.

The year before it was a combination of the computer system and a rain storm that covered the salt with 4-inches of water. The year before that, it was the computer system and tuning. It seemed like this is never going to happen, getting the record run. Cliff’s attitude is that “if setting world land speed record was easy, any one could do it-set a!” It does not end there; Cliff has spent the past year training me to be patient. As you know, me (Type “A”) and the word patient me is an oxymoron. The only way I can be patient is to get a personality transplant. I’m working on it though.

Well today I saw progress! The new re-built engine fired on the first turn of the key (actually push of a button). This was huge; we were at the verge of going back through our re-build to correct a possible error in our assembly. Last night, we turned the engine over and could not get any oil pressure. After going back over a few things (a wasted day of engine installation) we got oil pressure and fired’er up. It was one of those moments when I could not look at anyone directly because of the tears. The frustration was over. It seemed like everything had gone wrong that could go wrong and I was beginning to feel like this was never going to happen. That is where the “patients” lessons came in.

As you may know, this is a very steep learning curve for all of us. First off, this is not your average hot-rod. We built a very small (3-liter) Nissan engine. It uses modern technology (fuel injection/computer driven) that injects nitrous oxide (Nitro) and extra fuel into the engine to boost horsepower. We have added a specially designed AEM computer that replaced the standard engine management system (EMS) that runs the car.

We are learning to use “cutting-edge” technology coupled with an “advanced” engine design. I’m sure that the “book” has been written on this application of technology to Land Speed Racing but we’ve not found it yet.

We have also “tricked” up the engine a little with a hot cam, forged aluminum pistons, special rods and everything balanced to permit the engine to run at higher revolutions. After our blowup last year, the rebuilt engine now has special valves (stronger) and we have improved the porting (breathing) of both the intake and exhaust systems. We have also added a new fuel management system that improves our Nitrous delivery to the engine.

This new computerized fuel management system permits us to modulate the injection of Nitrous into the engine on the fly. Up to know we had been running and “all-on” or “all-off” system that gave us an instant boost of around 150 horsepower. Last year this boost simply spun the wheels out of control (170 + MPH indicated) while the car was only traveling around 148 MPH. It was a great show; salt spun off the tires 10 to 15 feet in the air. Imagine spinning the tires on your town-car at nearly 150 MPH! This was the cause, we think, of the engine melt-down. The engine was simply running out of control with no load on the tires.

Bonneville “07”
The engine, after we solved a small oil pressure problem, fired up for the first time on July 29th. Monday the car goes back to the paint shop for the final touch-up (another clear-coat and “Pearls”). Not only will we be driving the world’s fastest 3-Liter Nissan but it will look like a show-car instead of a homebuilt racing workhorse. Ahh, little steps.

The show goes on the road early in the morning, assuming “Doc” can get up in time, on Thursday, August 9, 2007; my birthday present! We hope to be on the Salt Friday morning to start our Tech review and get the Car certified to run. Saturday morning, we will try to be the first in line to begin the new driver certification process. The show is over on the 17th, or when the car gives up, which ever occurs first.

Cliff will not be driving this year. His fight with Cancer over the past few years has taken its toll and he promised his wife that he would not drive. She is concerned that if something goes wrong, he won’t be able to get out of the Car. He’s not moving around very well any more. I, and others, will get a shot at setting behind the wheel of our salt rocket. That means we need to go through the license process where we do several runs at a progressively faster speed; 125, 150, 175 and beyond; our record goal is in the mid-160s. Our car has been designed to exceed 200 MPH, at least that is what our new tires are rated for );

Invitation:
As in the past, you are invited to join us in this little adventure. Wendover/Bonneville Salt Flats is approximately a 12-hour drive from Mariposa and the Central Valley, right on I-80. This year, however, there are no accommodations within a hundred miles of the race course unless you camp-out in the salt desert. Seems as though a movie, “The Worlds Fastest Indian” sparked some interest in what we do out there on the Salt and all accommodations were booked solid by the first of the year.

We will be camping on the desert and you are welcome join us. A couple of notes, however. The Truck Stop on I-80, about a mile up the road, and is where we can take a shower!
There is also the famous Mexican restaurant at this truck stop, that I’ve spoke of in previous editions of this “Update”. This is a very popular breakfast spot and you will literally rub shoulders with some to the top hot-rod builders and Bonneville race drivers in the world (along with an assortment of tourists and truck drivers!).

Work starts early on the salt, sunrise, and ends at sundown. In the evening, we have special events planned which typically includes at least one “Bardini Pasta Feast” a fire-works display and, of course, a DVD “big screen” showing of “The Worlds Fastest Indian”. Other evenings are spent dining in all the Wendover hot spots and maybe even catching a show at one of the Casinos. There is typically a major hot-rod Show in town along with a Golf Tournament. Most of the time, however, our time is spent resting, rethinking our car settings or race strategy and re-connecting with our extended “race family” form around the country.

In short, what we lack in accommodations is more than compensated for by getting to enjoy a genuine racing tradition. During the day, you would get to see some of the hottest piston-engine driven cars in the world. This is where innovation drives the program. While some of the “Biggies” are there, like GM, most of the time it is a small town innovator, like us, who is pushing the limits of technology to try to build on a tradition of speed that dates back to the 40’s. Watch the “Indian” movie to get the flavor of this “Burning Man” type celebration “With Cars”.

In closing, this IS my last year of Bonneville for both Cliff and I. We might be there in the future but the car is going to Cliff kids; Joanna, Jeff and Lisa who have been there with us from the start. I hope they continue to race (and improve) the “Spirit of Bootjack”. As for myself, I plan to set my Corvette up for a ride in the 200 MPH range on the Nevada Highway system (the Autobahn Program and maybe a ride around Laguna Seca). See what happens when you get bit by the “Speed Bug”?

For more information you can “Google” SCTA-BNI or go the organization’s web site at http://www.scta-bni.org/ .