John in Selma, IN

“Atta Boy” Charlie.  Look forward to seeing you at Expo!!

Good luck at Bonneville!!!

Thanks again.............

Thanks for the comments.  There is quite a bit of information to understand it all, I'll try to keep it short.  We ran 118.894 mph on June 22, 2008.  The record at El Mirage has been open since this class was originated some years ago.  When they do that, they have a committee to decide a minimum mph required to set a new record.  For E/PP they decided 115 mph would be required.  I do not know how many different trucks have attempted the record as they keep no official record for thoes who fall short.  However, most of the trucks I see are Chevy and most of the "E" (under 260 cu. in.) motors I see in landspeed racing are de-stroked Chevy small blocks.  El Mirage also has a season points championship as they run 6 events (May - November).  I started last year at number 196, to date this year I am number 20. 

Bonneville is a different animal run by the same outfit (Sothern California Timing Association, SCTA).  There are no minimums there for open classes and the current record holder is a full size Dodge pickup with a de-stroked 270 cu. in. Dodge engine.  If you look up the records (www.scta-bni.Org) you will see that the make, year, and body type are not listed.  The only way I know about the Dodge pickup specifics is talking to the officials who inspected it last year.  Interestingly, our new record at El Mirage is just a little faster than the existing record at Bonneville (118.759).  Last year we ran about 5 mph faster at the salt falts due to the fact that El Mirage is 1.3 miles long while the course for my class is 3.0 miles long at Bonneville, so we hope to be in the low 120's. What will be interesting is the current record holder is also pre-registered for this summer's Bonneville!  I know he didn't pay the $400.00 entry fee and will tow his truck from the state of Washington just to go the same speed.  There will be a fight for the new record and we will do the best we can.  (Whew!!! That was supposed to be short!!!)

I remember the Y-Block article on the earlier Bonneville Ford pickup.  I was already interested in racing at the time, but, he sure gave me inspiration.  He set a record of about 106 mph with a 292.

Chuck, yes we will return to El Mirage to try and break the 120 mark there.  But, we will not have to wait until next year, we still have the October and November races to run a little faster, (I stlll have a few aces up my sleeve), and chase the points leader.  Actually, I would be thrilled to be in the top 10.

Nice quote from American Grafitti.  Funny, two of my all time favorite movies has been mentioned here.  "Ole Burt" brings on the emotions every time I see it.  It always gives me inspiration to do better and keep at it.  In the movie he states the 1920 Indian Scout is 42 years old.  That puts his first visit around 62 or 63.  I think he was born in 1900 and that made him a rookie at 62 or 63 also.  The reason I related so much is that I was a rookie at about that same age.

In American Grafitti, Wolfman Jack advertised the movie by asking, "Where were you in 62"?  Well, I was right there in Modesto attending the junior college.  When that movie came out, the hair stood up on the back of my head.  We lived in an apartment building on the corner where the main drag turned from down 10th to up 11th (one-way streets).  We had plenty of hamburgers and fries at Mel's drive-in delivered by girls on roller skates.  George Lucas (producer) was from Modesto and attending college there at the same time, but I never met him.  Later I was a little dissapointed when I found out it was filmed in a Petaluma, CA just north of San Francisco.

See you at Bonneville................