Event Coverage 75th Bonneville Speedweek 2023

https://scta-bni.org/bonneville-race-results
not complete but a good list

 

I saw those. They all say 2021 unless I'm missing something.

 

Well....
First run 127., License run, Second was to go 150.mph...
He was so tight in there, an has some WAY to touchy bearclaw latches, Got a lil'squirrely off the line, left arm touched the latch an the door came open 200' out....
We're just about home now, western NY..

 

Wow, always expect the unexpected. still great experience to be at Bonneville

 

That sucks. At least it wasn't that far out, hopefully the damage wasn't too terrible.

One year there was a 32 3-window with suicide doors pitted next to us that had the drivers door open at 150 mph or so. Took out a mile marker with his grille when the door opened and pulled him hard to the left. Made quite a mess of the door, door jamb, etc. The car did get repaired for the next year.

 

Alex Taylor made a licensing pass for her A license today and got it. Ran 226, I believe. Second pass trying for the 255 record she was running on, the rear end broke on the 1-2 shift. No red hat for her this time.

 

"left arm TOUCHED the latch"

I am truly surprised no one thought to add an extra positive-locking mechanism/latch to prevent exactly that from happening
I am shocked one isn't actually required by the governing body. Another poster just posted "same thing happened a while ago on a 32 Ford" and none of the rule makers thought safety locking suicide door race cars would make a good rule????

It was literally the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw the pic of the car with its door open (earlier in this thread) ... "I sure hope they've got a damn good locking system for those doors".

Glad no one got hurt but WOW ... Speechless ... without speech (unfortunately for you peeps, I can still type )

 

I got a pop up when I pulled up the page this last time.

 

Dang.
Got to run though! Licensed and now that the bugs are shook out it's Full Tilt.
Drive safe- almost there

 

There are rules about that. I "heard" he was speed limited. That may be why. Maybe he can let us know.

 

You can't have an extra locking device to stop this happening if it also prevents the lock from being unlatched from the outside. A remote activation handle/lever out harms way would work best, must be reachable for exit/bailout. JW

 

That makes sense but there should be something/anything safer than a latch that just pops when it's just touched. I am thinking along the lines of a standard trans where a lever has to manually lifted or the shifter pushed down before being able to swing it into reverse ... two motions involved. Something like "grab the handle, squeeze the lever built into the handle, then pull" to open a suicide door. Your hand is already on the handle/lever in order to open the door (in the event of an emergency), you just have to squeeze it to allow it to function. I can't imagine a suicide door opening at 200mph ... that could literally be a death sentence.

 

If you can't get enough Bonneville stuff, go over to Hot Rod Craft, under "Racing", look at "Land Speed Racing Bonneville.....", pages 23 & 24. Beppie loaded a TON of vintage pics.

 

looking forward to today's updates

 

This is a stainless one I built for the canopy on a Lakester. Kind of like something you would find on a carnival ride.

 

Years ago at Bonneville I was with an SCTA officer very near the course and witnessed a 33-34 Coupe come apart and shed body parts and just sorta "exploded" killing the driver. The explanation later given did not make sense to me. The part on the ground that was nearest back towards the Starting Line was one of the doors.

 

There was another MAJOR failure in that crash that led to his demise RIP. The track on that car vs. height always scared the bejeebus outta me. Sorry I was right.

 

Soo.... Tech didn't like them, First thing Bob (tech) said to kiwi Steve was look at the latches, They had an inside lock, But had to be disabled for emergency exit, So that's how it happened, I personally would never use this brand/style...
The fact that we were able to get the car to pass tech working on it in the nugget parking lot was a miracle in it's self...
Kiwi Steve looked the car over before tech, An gave us a punch list of fabrication oriented mods to get it to pass.
An it was long!!
Then we started panhandling pit/pit trying to find scraps to make part's out of ..
Then we needed a welder(machine)
Kiwi introduced me to Aaron Brown of the Garage shop fame, of course this took place at the legendary Black&White bar, Steve grabs Aaron an say's here's Your welder, Tell Aaron what's going on, He goes an gets Derrick his lead crew/fab guy...
Two minutes later we all are jumping in the back of a dually of Aaron's (picking up salt people walking back to where we were all staying in the nugget packing lot, 5 to be exact) leave the bar an go to the car to look it over..
A couple more things had to be changed...
Soo.. Now we might actually have a chance at getting on the salt
Another half day of fabing in the parking lot, An a fellow named Dave rolls in directly behind us with the cloolest trailer I've ever seen!!
Oh, An he has a welder onboard!!!!
Can't make this $#!+ Up...
This was a miracle, If there ever was one..
We got all the modifications welded in an done, (Ohh an Kiwi wanted to Sonic test the cage before Aaron was going to weld it, We passed)
An then we waited till the track dried out, Which was actually working to our favor..
I met some of the most incredible people in the nugget parking lot !!
We rolled out with the Rolling Bones group getting to the salt, That was a good time as well.

 

I also solved a fuel issue Judy/Jerry had with there 32, That's been troubling them for a long minute...
Another Great meeting!

 

A lift on a trailer is one of the coolest things I have seen!

 

An.... He can haul two car's!

 

Very slick idea indeed, but I’m thinking some engineering/reinforcements would be required to transport an upper vehicle!

 

That is basically a "stacker" trailer. Not uncommon. That is the first one I've seen that wasn't enclosed. A cousin had one but his was fully enclosed. Drive one car in, lift it, drive a second car under the first and he still had room for a Harley or two in the front.

 

Actually he's hauled from Florida to Colorado, No issues with two on.

 

Cool Bonneville 2023 Speed Week pic…borrowed it from the “basskustom” Instagram page!

 

Did Brian get a chance at the record or did all he do was his license runs?

 

Couple I grabbed in the parking lot..$

 

some photos from the nugget get together on Friday night

 

and more

 

some more