How fast IS that v10? How to find out!

[willyjp]

One of the guys in my car club is a long time Austin-Healey afficionado and editor/publisher of the US Healey Club's magazine. He's headed for an event that should be of interest to any car guy.

And one perhaps a new v10 owner might want to run, if you can get your roll cage installed in time!

Most of you probably don't know that Donald Healey built a couple of land speed record challenger cars (a streamliner and a modified 100-4) in the '50's and had succesful runs and some (class, of course) records at the Salt Flats.

This September at the Utah Salt Flats Racing Assn's [the "other" Bonneville timing timing group beside the S(o.)C(al.)T(iming)A(ssn)] Speed Weeks the old challengers, recreated like new, are going to run as a 55th anniversary celebration of Healey's great efforts. Maybe worth going to watch, even if you don't get out there and run! I understand they're asking spectators (to the Healey part at least) to wear "'50's period clothing" (check out the guys around the pic of the Healey streamliner!)

http://www.saltflats.com/index.html

http://www.healeysreturntobonneville.com/

[harrison]

You would'nt want to coat your Daily Driver with SALT.Or which would you prefer...200 on dirt? .My old playground, El Mirage Dry Lake, allows speed record attempts. Saw it on "Jesse James Is A Dead Man" Show. Jesse broke the world land speed record for a no emissions powered car, He built it himself. Reached @ 198 to shatter the record that held for 20 years or so. Someday I'll tell you the story of when I flipped an Opel Cadet 10 times at the whoop de do section of E Mirage. Had a bottle of beer in my hand and didn't spill a drop. And I was too young to have a liscense!

[willyjp]

You would'nt want to coat your Daily Driver with SALT.

I have seen a few very fine race cars: rods, sports cars, that have run on the salt and been just fine....as long as THOROUGHLY cleaned after

but I have to admit, those were all steel cars and really, the corrosion thing would worry me more with salt in an aluminum car....if it was 100% aluminum, maybe OK, but the electrolysis thing (per my posts on KfabR8's thread) between the aluminum and the necessary steel in things like fasteners, hubs, bearings, etc. would worry me

but I think aluminum cars HAVE run on the salt, and maybe been OK...I would sure want to look into it before I took my R8 there alright....but seriously, there's no better place to do it if you REALLY want to try to run 200 mph

did you note that if your car is judged "likely" to run over 150, you don't have to qualify on the 3 mile course, you can run the 5 mile course for starters...think about that: 5 absolutely flat straight miles (I think the clocks are at 3 miles and there's 2 miles to slow down)

[drbf]

Can anyone drive their car on the flats at any speed or do they require a special permit, etc.

[willyjp]

Can anyone drive their car on the flats at any speed or do they require a special permit, etc.

what I know about up to date operational details is mostly what it on that web site (link above) from the USFTA

the Utah salt flats are Govt. land (I believe on that website they mention BLM regulations) and very likely only "open" under a specific use permit to the various "timing associations" who sanction and put on speed timing events like the one described; the one who's website is linked there and the Southern Calfornia Timing Association (referenced on the USFTA's web site)
are the one's I've heard of; they account for 2 different "speed weeks", one in June and one in Sept.; there might be others I am unaware of

there are "dry lakes" elsewhere, as referred to by Harrison, and California (and Oregon) hot rodders have run on them for years when conditions allow; I think he was referring to a little "incident" that happened to him on one of the dry lakes (rolled his car); the fact that he said he didn't have a driver's license yet (and was holding a beer!) suggests to me that it was likely an "unsanctioned" event

the biggest problem, I think, with just going out alone and "running" is that, smooth as these places are, they are NOT always "billiard table" smooth and the surface does take some preparation, checking and marking to make it suitable for 150 mph. + speeds; when you're talking grading a 3 or 5 mile speed run, you're going to need some $, equipt. and manpower.

[harrison]

An airstrip is what I will look for when the time comes. Pretty smooth too. Could overall controll be better on the airstrip pavement?