Track length considerations

[tallguy]

I'm mildly curious about something, but don't want to make too big a deal out of it.

We all know that land speed racing provides a longer track on which to accelerate, compared to a
drag/sprint racing track.  And I am honestly glad that the salt flats in Bolivia are much larger than
the one at Bonneville, which continues to shrink.

An existing record at Bonneville may have been set on a track where the timed mile was just beyond
5 miles of track also used for earlier acceleration on the record run(s) required to earn the record.

It appears that a track, 19 miles long, is being prepared in Bolivia.  This, to me, implies that perhaps
9 miles of acceleration, followed by the timed mile, will be available in each direction.  I imagine that  the additional length of track (compared to Bonneville) could provide an advantage...particularly in
matters of traction/ballast/mass considerations.

So I'd like to ask:  How much does it matter -- to you -- where a record is set?  Is it only the speed number (i.e., average of 2 speeds in opposite directions) that "counts"?

[Stainless1]

FIA and FIM records are set all over the world, not just Bonneville.  Some have been set on flat open roads.
BNI records are set at Bonneville
DLRA records are set at Lake Gairdner

There are lots of records and record books... But most folks think the fastest record for a particular vehicle type is the fastest   

[gowing]

It goes without saying that the length of the course matters.

If Bolivia offers a better racing surface than Bonneville or Gardiner for FIA/FIM attempts...
Then Bolivia it is.

Just imagine having 19 miles of hard flat salt to run on. 

[1leg]

My understanding is Boliva is well over 10,000 feet. Except for boosted application I don't think it will be the fastest track even with 19 miles. The other issue with 19 miles is getting a motor to last that long.

[JAL AKA JL222]

Langlo racing and the 222 car is going after a 273 mph record which was set in mile 3 at bville.

We have been timed at 294 in mile 1 and 287 in the 21/4 since then.

So where in the course top speed was set gives us an idea [and others] if we have a chanch of
setting a new record.

                    JL222

[Stainless1]

Yes Bolivia has as much track as you care to prepare... at 13,000 feet.... in 2018 we prepared 15 miles, 7 miles to a 1 mile and kilo trap, 7 miles to slow... going either direction.  Nobody used more than 4. 
The DLRA had 7 miles if timing in 2024, and could have double that it someone wanted to prepare a longer FIA/FIM track.  I only remember 1 guy racing to the 6.
Bonneville had that much track before the strip miners figured out a better extraction method.
So of course track smoothness and length affect and effect speeds... but most would have issues going 6 miles... lots of things to consider including cooling a motor for that distance.

[kiwi belly tank]

The faster you're wanting to go, the higher altitude offers less drag due to DA. Bonneville has a good altitude that caters to most cars but what little is left of the salt crust is making it more dangerous. The advantage of Uyuni over Gairdner is about 40% less drag & in the upper speed ranges that's a huge advantage. I built my liner to be able to run FIA & it has a 35gal tank that would give me a safe range of about 15 miles.
  Sid.

[tallguy]

My initial inquiry relates only to track length, so that is what I'd like to focus on.  Here's some of my thinking on that.

Most vehicles won't significantly benefit from having more than 5 or 6 miles to accelerate on a timed run . . . but I imagine that some could.  In the case of a vehicle having more power than it can use -- due to lack of traction --, adding ballast could provide additional traction.  But adding ballast (mass) means that there's more overall mass to accelerate during the run.  This is where more distance, i.e., a longer track, could be helpful.