This was the first year we started racing a car at Bonneville. Dad (Charles) put a lot of time into an engine that would propel the car to unheard of speeds (about 170 MPH), with which we could all start obtaining licenses.
SCTA maintains a license system that attempts to ensure drivers can handle the car they brought at high speeds. You can initially drive a car below 125 MPH if you hold a state driver’s license. This is known as a class “E” license on the salt. To qualify for a class “D” license, you must make a pass between 125 MPH and 150 MPH. Given the fact that most people don’t put a speedometer in their race car makes this a little trickier than you would think. Couple that with the fact that you want to mash the gas, and you have some trouble actually accomplishing this feat. To qualify for a class “C” license, you must make a pass between 150 MPH and 175 MPH. Class “B” is between 175 MPH and 200 MPH, and if you have one heck of a car, you can get a class “A” license by going over 200 MPH...
One of the things you need to prove to the SCTA, on top of licensing, is that you can bail out of the car in case of an emergency. We all spent some time in the hot seat testing our mettle to prove we had what it took.
Once you complete all these requirements, you are ready to race… almost. You need to attend the drivers meeting and go through the rookie orientation meeting. They discuss with you the track, the staging system, and then run you down the short course in a slow parade of pushtrucks so you can visualize the markers and turnouts. We were all rookies at Bonneville this year.
This
shot shows all of the family at Bonneville in 2004. Son
Scott and son-in-law Aaryn are in the front, Charles is in
the firesuit with Martha, daughter-in-law Emily, and middle
son James to his left. Daughter Annie is sitting on the
car.
Charles
made the first pass (his rookie run at B'ville) on the
short course and turned 155.667mph. He had already run over
125 at El Mirage and had his D license so this pass got him
his C license.
Just
to make sure, he made a second pass, running harder, and
turned 169.395.
Our
friend Les took a turn (his rookie run) and turned 147.354
in the third mile, getting his D
license.
Son
James made the next run and got his D license at 149.586.
We were listening to the speeds as he ran and he entered
the 3rd mile at 150.075 -- too fast -- but slowed down a
little to keep it just under 150 for his first Bonneville
run. James had also driven Martha's 32 coupe at El Mirage a
couple of times previously.
Son-in-law
Aaryn made a smooth pass next, turning 146.198 in the 1/4
mile and 147.051 average in the 3rd mile for his D
license.
Son
Scott make a nearly identical run, 145.932 in the 1/4 and
147.140 in the mile and he also got his D
license.
Daughter
Annie made another smooth run, 144.929 in the 1/4 and
144.020 in the mile for her D license.
Unfortunately,
the engine got really hot on this run. Back in the pits, we
eventually found that the fuel pressure was only 2.5 psi.
Borrowed an electric pump from Chuck Edwall of the
SDRC and tried again. Charles made a pass at 155.704 but
that was all the engine had to give.
We
fiddled with the tuneup a bit and the kids each made
another pass but the car kept getting slower and slower. I
think we lost #5 exhaust valve when we drove the car onto
the trailer. At any rate, it was gone when we pulled the
heads back home.