Chasing 400 mph – One Mile at a Time

Bonneville Salt Flats Streamliner

Special thaks to Spectre Performance for extended 2011 Bonneville Speed Week coverage

If you’re following the racing from Bonneville Speed Week, you probably saw the “Maro Special” featured as one of the Baddest Race Cars of Bonneville. Owner Bobby Moore made the baddest list twice when details of his World’s Fastest Corvette hit the web. So if you need details about this nitro- burning all-wheel drive streamliner, be my guest and hit the links above.

This story’s about the quest for 400 mph. Bobby’s quick to point out the many people who helped and continue to help make the Maro Special, a concept started back in 1999, a reality.

One key to running 400 is safety and the Bonneville Salt Flats master of Safety is Lee Kennedy. Lee’s listed as the “Car Technical Co-chair” on the SCTA website, but for this race car he’s been the mile by mile co-pilot of reaching 400 safely.

For previous salt attacks including Speed Week, running fast wasn’t possible. As Bobby said, “Before getting up in the morning, I’d have to start thinking about turning left.” In other words, there was a slight steering glitch… Thanks to Charlie Timmons, Gary Cooper, and the entire Hanna family of craftsmen in Wichita, the mustard rocket’s running “Straight as an arrow” with a new steering design.

So now, with Bobby and the team’s focus on going faster, let’s see what it takes to run some of the fastest speeds at Bonneville Speed Week.

The Plan as laid out by Lee Kennedy:

1. Run to the 2 1/4 mile – pull chutes
2. Run to 3 miles – pull chutes
3. Run to 4 miles – pull chutes
4. Open it up and run all the way through to the 5 mile
5. Set a record… that’s always the plan at Speed Week!
6. Rinse and repeat

Saturday Morning – Run #1: Starting out, Bobby ran nearly flawlessly to the 2 1/4 mile marker simply known on the salt as “The quarter”. During that run, Bobby cruised to 263 mph – the fastest the car had ever traveled and he was only half way down the track. So far so GREAT!!

Saturday Afternoon Run #2: Lee Kennedy cleared Bobby for a run to the 3 mile. Again, nearly perfect, straight running to a 309.097 mph at “the three”. After taking the timing slip to head starter Jim Jensen and updating his log book with the SCTA folks, Bobby was now issued his “Unlimited” license. All the hard work was finally paying off. Bobby was especially excited for engine builder and good friend. Bob Creitz. Creitz was ill and unfortunately stuck back home in Oklahoma. A phone call said, “We did it!” and they heard, “That put a smile on that gentleman’s face.”  Bobby and the team were excited, but keeping it cool in the pits… To me, it felt like a pitcher working on a no-hitter.

Salt in your Wounds or Kind Hand of Fate?

From there, things didn’t go so smoothly. On the 4 mile pass, the shaft that turned the fuel pump and oil pump failed. No fuel no fire, so Bobby coasted to a halt and didn’t advance on the weekend’s mile by mile progressions. The breakage, at first seemed like a mighty blow to the seemingly strong run of fortune the team had been enjoying… and believe it or not, their luck actually had continued.

With time on their hands waiting for a new and improved pump shaft from RCD Engineering in California, the crew tore down the motor and found this:

Look closely (click to zoom) at the piston on the far right. That’s a crack big enough to see through, yet the it didn’t break! Demonstrating that Bobby’s livin-right, the crew found 6 of the 8 rods were cracked. 6 of 8! A failure by any one of the rods would have windowed the motor (and probably the body and maybe worse…) and would have not only ended the race week, but could have pulled the chute for the rest of the race year.

Pushing forward, the over-nighted shaft arrived and a trip down the 80 to Salt Lake netted some Melanie Troxel funny car used connecting rods, a thinner head gasket and some advice from racer Mike Strausberg who helped the team soften the air shifts on his bullet-proof transmission.

For Run #5, the hot rod reassembled and ready, but with a slightly different tune up, Bobby was again cleared to run to the four mile and did speeding to 304.539 mph.

Next up, run #6, the “Run for the Roses” where Lee lit the green light for 4 1/2 miles. Bobby raced to a 316.513 mph at 4 1/2 and had an exit speed at the 5 mile at 343.835, his top speed, of the race and ever. 343 at the end of the 5 mile meant Bobby was more than just a little late lifting, but he said, “The run seemed rather soft and I did not see the mph on the dash…” A likely story. (Will video later reveal a WHOOOOO HOOOOOO coming from the driver’s helmet?)

Turns out the last 1 1/2 miles, his fastest ever I’ll remind you, were run on only 4 cylinders.  They were on it again if they could get all-holes-lit!

Finally, run #7, running 218 at the 3 mile, it happened… another ahh… stroke of luck??

This time, in the words of Bob Creitz, “The blower belt succeeded to escape” leaving the twisted mess you see above. 2011 Bonneville Speed Week had come to a close.

Bobby summed up Speed Week this way:

“We enjoyed several highs and a few lows when parts would break and chutes would fail, but Lee Kennedy said that next time, I am cleared for a 4 3/4 run under power before I’m allowed the “FULL PULL” thru the 5.  The car handles beautifully and is actually easier to drive than the #344 high horsepower/short wheel base Corvette but you need to stay way ahead of the streamliner as things tend to happen at jump-to-light speed.  This Speed Week, the on site crew included: Charlie & Linda Timmons, Gary Cooper, John Rasmussen, Rudy Heaton, Jeff Moore, Harold Tuttle, Chuck Looney, Gail Chestnut, Pat Sullivan, Terry & Sherry Geerdes, Peggy Vaught, John Horton, Karen Falconer and George.  We had Tom Hanna and Bob Creitz in ready reserve for emergency’s as they were just a ring away.  Tom has spent many years getting us to this point and without his tireless efforts, dedication, and sacrifices, we would still be cruising in the 200 mph range. During the speed trials, Tom & Betty Burkland and Rex Svoboda gave us parachute packing lessons as those veterans could see that we were in our sophomore year and needed some real guidance before we made a costly mistake at the 8 1/2 mile pond of wet mud & misery. Several other senior salts also helped out with our effort but in the fog of racing, I missed their non de plums.”

You can see what I’ve been saying all along… the Bonneville Salt Flats have the friendliest racing in the world, but no doubt, it ain’t easy.

As I make friends with more racers and get to know great people like the Maro Special racing crew, I couldn’t be more excited for the next attempt at 400 (Or is it 450?) and my next trip to Bonneville.

Let Bobby and the crew know you’re pulling for them in a comment below.

Before finishing this story, Bobby Moore informed me that, “We’d lost a good man” on August 29, 2011. Bob Crietz succumbed to a 2 year battle with cancer. God Speed Bob!

To learn a little more about Bob Crietz, check out this story about the Creitz and Donovan AA/FD at Cacklefest.com.

Day 1- Bonneville Speed Week 2011 – Spectre Performance

Round One goes to the Salt

2011 Bonneville Speed Week sponsored by Spectre Performance

My last post about the Spectre Performance “SpeedLiner” detailed THE PLAN. Everyone knew bringing 5 motors and trying to break 5 records was a stretch, but the team was motivated and prepared. Then “the salt” announced it’s plan.

Things started well. The streamliner, still naked of it’s lettering and B/BGS class was loaded on the trailer, first thing in the golden salt morning. In the 300 mph lane of the long course behind George Poteet’s “Speed Demon” streamliner and the mustard rocket called the “Maro Special” (also a 2010 Baddest Hot Rod at Bonneville), SpeedLiner patiently waited it’s turn.

Spectre crew chief Steve Schmalz tugs on driver Kenny Hoover’s belts

The bell rings… the Spectre bullet is pushed down track until the 434 cubic inch Caddy motor drops into gear and starts making power. Like MMA, the first round lasted about five minutes.

What everyone hoped was a malfunction with the air shifter turned out to be this:

What you’re seeing is the shredded remains of a quick-change gear set. Most of the teeth on both gears are gone, and look closely to see the cracked case. (click to see the picture full size)

Only a dentist would be happy seeing almost every tooth ripped out. Only Royal Purple gear lube filled with metal fillings and bits remain. This one’s junk. BUT! We have a spare!

In the end, the team discovered that the boost controller, well, wasn’t. As the 1-2 shift point neared, the boost shot out-of-control causing the motor to rev 2000 rpm over redline.  The result is a 3-race old gear set having less teeth than ol’grandpa slobber jaw and the B-motor spun a bearing. It’s done for the week.

So out goes the B-motor and in bold move, the team will install the A/BFS motor or Record plan #4 for those of you scoring at home.

Stay tuned!! It wouldn’t or couldn’t be a great story without a little drama…

Bonneville Speed Week 2011 – Record Breaking Plan

Bonneville Salt Flats -Breaking Records

2011 Bonneville Speed Week sponsored by Spectre Performance

Any time a land speed racer says what they’re “planning” to do, they better be smiling!

As a warm up for the record breaking session this year at Bonneville, I stole 15 minutes with Amir Rosenbaum, the founder of Spectre Performance and driver of the “SpeedLiner” race car shown above. He was smiling…

The plan is to break five records!

Record #1 – B/BGS: When the SpeedLiner hits the starting line of the long course on Saturday, stuffed inside the long lean frame rails will be a 434 cubic inch Cadillac motor. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s a B-class motor  at 373-439 cubic inches. They’re gunning for the B/BGS record of 337.197 mphcurrently held by Vesco Racing’s D. Spangler.

Record #2 – A/BGS: If things go well, (isn’t the “if” redundant!!) the B-class record’s in reach because SpeedLiner already holds the A/BGS record at 356.645 mph. A-class allows 440-500 cubic inches, so they’re working a plan they already know fairly well. (there’s that word plan again!)

Record #3 – AA/BGS: One word: Unlimited. 501+ cubes and no excuses! The record is currently held by SpeedLiner Amir at the wheel at 348.342 mph. No, that’s not a typo… they went faster with the smaller motor so again, the plan is to bump this one up significantly.

Record #4 – A/BFS: The gloves come off as the spec racing gasoline used is replaced by moonshine, nitromethane or methanol. The team built a motor to run on methanol going after the fastest records on record for a wheel driven vehicle. This is where the big dogs play and you’ll see names you recognize, or should, in the books: Teague, Burkland and Poteet. The current A/BFS record is held by Al Teague’s Speed-O-Motive streamliner at 409.986 mph set way back in 1991.

Record #5 – AA/BFS: The best for last. Top speed on the record books at 417.020 mph is held by the Burkland family, Burkland’s Streamliner. The only faster speed on the BNI Record Webpage is a turbine powered car. Spectre Performance’s goal is low 430′s. Wow.

After running 400+ at the FIA race on their A motor with mismatched turbos and a steering system that had Amir fighting to go straight (and scrubbing off speed) all the way down the track, the plan isn’t a dream. The team’s worked very hard preparing the car and they’re ready. The only thing standing in their way is 30,000 acres of hard packed salt also known as, “The Great White Dyno”.

If things go well, I’ll be taking all my shots of SpeedLiner in impound. If that seems like a funny thing to say, check out this story about Setting a Record at Bonneville. Every car that runs faster than the existing record has to make a return pass the next day that also breaks the record. The average of the two runs is the new record.

Welcome to MyRideisMe.com’s coverage of 2011 Bonneville Speed Week.

Bonneville Speed Week 2010 Baddest Race Cars #2

Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car

At the Bonneville Salt Flats, fast is fast, that’s one thing that can’t be disputed and it’s what separates land speed racing from other automotive events… the lack of subjectivity!

It’s funny that there aren’t really any awards at Bonneville Speed Week save for the “Hot Rod” trophy for the fastest race car of the week from any class. And did you know that there’s no money? You have to buy your jacket if you get into the 200mph club!  These guys do it for the pure pursuit of speed and that’s why this 200mph Flathead powered streamliner is one of the Baddest Race cars of the 2010 Bonneville Speed Week!

I already told you about this streamliner in another story called: Arizona Model T Streamliner Destroys a Record! But that was 2009! Tom Brawner of Scottsdale, a MyRideisMe.com member, crew member (and driver now, right Tom??) and fellow hot rodder with a too cool 1956 Chevy told me about this streamliner called the “Matrix Machine”. The record set last year started at under 100mph in 2004, then went to 160 last year and now, owner and driver Joel Young went 201.700 mph to join the 200mph Club and bump an already stout record by 40mph! Bad or what!? (Some engine details in the other story…)

So what you say? Keep in mind, the V4F/BFS class Joel runs in has the same strict rules as the others. V4F refers to a vintage or pre-1935 American made 4 cylinder flatheads. This streamliner with a wheelbase limited to 95 inches is running a 194 cubic inch blown flathead.  Keep in mind the original 174 cube “banger” motor put out a whopping 20 horsepower. Joel, you’re at what thirty-thirty-five ponies now??

So there’s no disputing. This is one of the baddest race cars of Bonneville Speed Week 2010. Who could question that? (Well?! Let’s hear ya?)

Here’s Baddest Bonneville Race Car #1

For more MyRideisMe.com’s Bonneville Salt Flats Coverage click this link.

“Internet Barn Find #10″: Burkland’s 400 MPH Streamliner

Bonneville Salt Flats Streamliner

Dallas Volk, my Salt Flats insider, sent me this link.  He is good friends with the Burkland family.  I knew I needed to share their website with you all.   This post does come with some sad news, that Gene Burkland has passed away this week.  I mean this post to be in deep respect and a tribute to Gene and his family’s great history at Bonneville.

The Burkland Streamliner is a twin Donovan Chrysler powered, 4 wheel driven racecar that has gone over 400 mph.  Please take a look at their website HERE as it is full of pictures and information, as well as links to other Land Racing websites and stories.  This blazing fast Streamliner was designed and built by Gene and his son Tom Burkland.  If that’s not “My Ride is Me” I don’t know what is…Here’s a quick blurb from the site about the Burkland family:

“Gene and Betty Burkland, from Great Falls, Montana (the first SCTA members from that state), have been active in racing, and at Bonneville in particular, for over three decades: their first Bonneville car was a chopped-top, Chrysler-powered ’53 Studebaker Competition Coupe, with which Gene set a record in A/BFCC at 255+ mph in 1978 (this car was recently restored to racing condition and ran at Speed Week in 2000 and 2001).
As soon as he grew old enough, their son Tom joined the team, and promoted the building of their next car, a Datsun-based, Chrysler-powered, ground-effect Competition Coupe, which allowed him to set a AA/BFCC record at 294+mph in 1985.
Around that time came the idea of building a streamliner, which took all of the next ten years to become a reality.
As much as the finished car looks like a fairly sophisticated, high-tech, million-dollar job, it is in fact strictly a family effort: in true hot-rodder tradition, it was home-built using generous supplies of the most precious materials available at no cost: skill, hard work and enthusiasm, plus a little help from their friends!
Then of course, Tom’s experience as an aerospace engineer (he worked on F-16′s) was a key factor in the design of the streamliner…”

Do yourself and favor and browse the site for a few minutes, you’ll be inspired!

Hechtspeed

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