Super Fast Matt's new Youtube video

[racergeo]

  Okay, my crew shows up with long faces and tells me I had just run 225mph and I was in a world of trouble. About then Lee Kennedy tells me the same thing. I have to go back to the pits and wait in a trailer at 100 deg. to tell the officials my story. For the next 4 hours Mike Cook, Lee Kennedy and one other fellow came in and heard my exact same story only to have to leave and go address problems. Finally they all came together and told me they would decide and let me know in the morning. Morning come and Lee tells me to do it right this time. I fix my tach location and change my seat angle and am ready to try again.I do fine on the 125-50 run and the 15-75 run but on the 175-200 run my Moroso power Speed calculator lets me down, or so I thought. So Lee shows up after the run and says I'm all done. Packer up and go home. You can't imagine how down I was; and over just a few mph. I had a successful business with several employees and a wife of 42 years that had never even caused me to make a fist (LOL) and three days in to my first Bonneville event I'm put in the corner with a dunce cap. The last thing was a lack of understanding about tire growth. Over abot 190 you better allow at least an inch if you are using a slide rule. Another LOL. Truefully I was trying to run close to 200 and get a plug reading because my next run was a 200-250 shot and I was very excited to do it. On the way out I spotted Lee and asked if I had earned any license and he very kindly went and got me a C license. I ended up getting the C gas lakester record 2 events later but not without drama.

   To be sure, land speed racing favores the guy that lives in Cal. and is a member of the SCTA and has many friends in the club as well. Or in the case of Mr. Brown the fact that his post already has over 517,000 views and over 3.000 comments in just three days maybe they will see fit to take the dunce cap off.

[racergeo]

  Matts up to about 600,000 views and 3100 comments. SCTA needs to hire this guy to promote the hobby.

[TD]

Matts up to about 600,000 views and 3100 comments. SCTA needs to hire this guy to promote the hobby.

Global interest in Formula 1 exploded after Netflix released Drive to Survive.  GPs are registering record weekend attendance race after race.  We enjoyed going to Montreal for years but from what I'm hearing - aside from the insane price of tickets - getting into and out of the track is now an major PITA.

So, yeah - but careful what you wish for.

Tim, Keyboard Racer

[1leg]

I went from a rookie to class A license in 2025. Every pass the starter came over and "Tried" to pull my belts tighter, they couldn't because my crew knows how tight the belts should be. I'm sorry you should not have even started the engine to make that pass. Should have towed it back to the pits and made adjustments before making a pass.

Please people, start taking this sport serious, your life may depend on it. People are suggesting looking the other way on rule violations because someone has alot of views on youtube. That is insanity.




 

[gowing]

 

This whole thing didn't go down as anyone wished,
but it sure appears like the SCTA didn't come out looking too good.

Terms I've seen being thrown around on the internet:
Gatekeeping
Racing being ran by Karen from the HOA
Fiefdom
Boomers vs. Youtubers
Officials officially being official
Arbitrary enforcement


Not a good way to rebuild a dying motorsport. IMHO

[SPARKY]

Gowing   I am going to disagree  Matt unfortunately apparently didn't have a mentor or didn't take him serious like my son didn't when I tried to explain the rules and the "culture"  they go together and ultimately the end results is a fairly safe event---

But bottom line is you darn well BETTER know how to control your self and your car or bike you have to work right and you have to have put together systems and back ups so you KNOW what the HLLL is going on at all times---or you get to TRY TO do it over ONLY TIME AND PENANCE WILL TAKE CARE OF FAILURE ON the 2nd ATTEMPT

[gowing]

Don't want to argue anything on this forum, but to offer a different perspective...
Maybe the "culture" could be the issue?

PENANCE  It's a bummer that due to the "culture", a person MAY have to perform penance
to participate in an elective activity.

I will revert back to my first post...
It's club racing.

[bubruins]

As someone buidling a car who has never raced with SCTA it's disheartening. At the same time SFM not knowing how fast he was going by a 100mph is dangerous and should be taken seriously, but I think they went overboard.

There's a bunch of structural problems with the SCTA where they allow unsafe cars to run that fit the rules and don't communicate anything incidents to improve safety. Maybe if the SCTA didn't feel like their only tool to improve safety was driver bans after not following one exacting protocol they would be more measured in their discipline.

[Stainless1]

I'm pretty sure they don't allow unsafe cars to run... if they are built the rules then they are probably as safe as it's going to get.  the problem.... there is no safe way to go 200+ MPH... and there is no "one size fits all" safety in a sport where every car is different
There are a lot of things that are not in the rules... CoG... CoP...
However there are issues with some of the people that don't understand that just because it meets the rules it doesn't mean it can't still kill you... or in the case of unsecured parts, added after inspection dropped on the course, kill someone else.
$hit happens fast and if you are in compliance with the rules there's a chance you might live through it.  Dumb luck probably helps...
Don't ask me how I know 
 

[racergeo]

  Matt has 700,000 views and 1300 responses now. Matt blew it, there is no doubt. I just wish he wouldn't have. He is a real asset to LSR.

[bubruins]

I'm pretty sure they don't allow unsafe cars to run... if they are built the rules then they are probably as safe as it's going to get.  the problem.... there is no safe way to go 200+ MPH... and there is no "one size fits all" safety in a sport where every car is different
There are a lot of things that are not in the rules... CoG... CoP...

My gripe is like 80% of cars in some 200mph+ classes wouldn't pass reasonable standards for CoG and CoP just based on the architecture of what competitive car you can even build to fit the rules. Unsurprisingly CC accounts for many of the bad wrecks as a % of how many runs they make. I am surprised more MRs and RMRs don't have the same fate. Given the stakes I think it would be reasonable for the SCTA to require car owners to provide an analysis or some level of documentation that they have measure more design factors to get teched over 250 or something like that.

[MRK]

I'm pretty sure they don't allow unsafe cars to run... if they are built the rules then they are probably as safe as it's going to get.  the problem.... there is no safe way to go 200+ MPH... and there is no "one size fits all" safety in a sport where every car is different
There are a lot of things that are not in the rules... CoG... CoP...

My gripe is like 80% of cars in some 200mph+ classes wouldn't pass reasonable standards for CoG and CoP just based on the architecture of what competitive car you can even build to fit the rules. Unsurprisingly CC accounts for many of the bad wrecks as a % of how many runs they make. I am surprised more MRs and RMRs don't have the same fate. Given the stakes I think it would be reasonable for the SCTA to require car owners to provide an analysis or some level of documentation that they have measure more design factors to get teched over 250 or something like that.

With that thought in mind, a committee would need to be formed to review the standards amongst all classes. There are many with experience but few with technical knowledge on how all the factors come together and affect each vehicle. Maybe the SCTA/BNI needs to start looking outside its bubble for professional direction. Besides the aero scrutineering, what about the many safety systems available? Should they be mandatory on all vehicles competing for records over 200 or 250 mph? Should these safety systems be locked so the drivers cannot disable them at will? There is a builder out there that is involved with many "modern" safety innovations. Everything from RFI sensors for tire pressures to a rethink of seat design. Speeds are increasing and tracks are less predictable but the pursuit of safety seems to be lagging in some areas.

[gowing]

... I think it would be reasonable for the SCTA to require car owners to provide an analysis or some level of documentation that they have measure more design factors to get teched over 250 or something like that.

So...
In a thread about the possible egregious arbitrary enforcement of the rules,
your suggestion is more rules?

[MRK]

... I think it would be reasonable for the SCTA to require car owners to provide an analysis or some level of documentation that they have measure more design factors to get teched over 250 or something like that.

So...
In a thread about the possible egregious arbitrary enforcement of the rules,
your suggestion is more rules?

Let's call them requirements. As far as arbitrary enforcement, looking the other way at a safety infraction has no place in the SCTA/BNI or any other sanctioning body.

[gowing]

Please don't get me wrong,
Saying arbitrary enforcement does not mean that I am advocating "looking the other way" when it comes to safety.

Rules - Requirements   =   Potato - Potato