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Saturday May 5 and Sunday
May 6, 2007
For the shakedown run we chose to use the engine that was in the car: a
Comptech supercharged TSX engine. This engine had no internal modifications and
only had about 20 miles on the odometer. This put us in the F/BGALT class. :
- F = engine size 2-3 litres,
- B = Blown,
- G = Gas (non oxygenated fuel)
- ALT = altered coupe - some minor modifications allowed to the body
shape.
Race Day! Doug arrived on the Friday afternoon and had the car tech
inspected. On the Saturday morning it was surprising how much needed to be done
before we could race. Holes needed to be covered with duct tape, race numbers
put on, moonies fitted (harder than I thought) and many other things. Thankfully
we were one of the last up on the grid (#241) and this gave us time to get our
lives sorted out. We had lots of help from David Kirsch who jumped in and told
us what we should be doing - being rookies we had no idea!
There was much to do.
The first run of the day was done from the rookie line. The
intention was to get the D class (125 - 149 mph) and C class (150 - 174 mph)
licenses - thinking we would only have two runs during the two day event.
Dave getting Doug Belted in
From the email that was sent to our supporters.
"It is Saturday night have we have achieved everything we set out to do -
all in one day!!
Doug did 2 runs today, both from the rookie line. The first run at 137.707mph
and qualified him for his D class license. The second run was 161.257mph and got
him the C class license (the record for the class is a minimum of 160mph).
The car held up well, with the only problems being a sick oxygen sensor, and
problems with the datalogging computer timing out after about a minute.
Derek and Joe were there also and helped out for the second run and helped Doug
sort out the reading from the run and subsequently lower the car and change the
tires to the smaller ones, as well as some aerodynamic mods for tomorrow's run.
The hero of the day would have to be Dave Kirsch from the Rod Riders (and also
Honda) who helped tremendously getting us prepared and teaching us the ropes. We
learned a lot!!!! He was there from start till finish an will be back tomorrow.
Give that man a beer!"
The Car After the First Run
Cleaning the Car on Sunday Morning
Sunday's Email:
A very eventful day!
Doug set a new record in the Blown Gas Altered Coupe class - F class of
165.756mph .
All the mods done yesterday apparently paid off and the car ran according to
plan, except for the varying cross and head winds. In the half hour before
Doug's run the course was being shut down intermittently as wind speeds
increased and directions changed.
He also cause some excitement for all the fans, when he executed a power
slide at the finish line at 165mph, pulling it off and coming to a perfect
stop. Apparently what happened was there was some wind at that end of the
course (it had been blowing all day) and when he let off the power at the
finish line, the car got loose and started to slide. He then deployed the
parachute and it swung the car into a sideways spin, from which he recovered
well. The announcers were impressed at the way he saved the car. Miriam of
course, had the radio turned down do she and David Kirsch could hear how the
car was performing (engine noise), so didn't hear the cry from the tower
that the car was in a spin. Probably the best really!
Stunt driver contracts can be sent to this address.
Doug on his Second Run - Saturday May 5
In car video. 165_mph_run.mp4
(13 Mb mpeg 4 file)
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