Introduce Yourself

[Handlebarlife]

My name is Andrew Cheman
Buffalo New York Born and raised
I enjoy motorcycles and mechanical engineering from any industry.
Auto mechanic by trade
I've been apart of some really cool builds over the years. One of them going to SEMA 2017.
Recently built a twin turbo regular cab short bed sliverado and my personal LSR vintage style Harley Davidson
Had planned on taking that Harley to Bonneville in 2022,23. With 22 canceled and 23 delayed I was not able to make it.
I haven't lost the desire to go fast, In fact the fire burns brighter and deeper than ever before.
I began forming a new plan for an LSR bike. Something much faster. Over the past 2 years with hours of research and planning I decided on which platform to start with and now this plan has some wheels. Phase 1 is in motion.
I picked up a BMW S1000RR. So far I've done some basic mods to make it race safe, changed out the exhaust and intake.
I am locked in for the ECTA Horsepower Harvest LSR event this October, the bikes first event. Ill be running in the MPS/G-1000/4 class. I plan on getting some POV video to share. There is a lot to learn with this bike and this weekend should provide loads of data so I can then begin planning phase 2 of the bike build. Focusing on chassis and suspension settings, parts, and design. Also planning body/aero changes. If you want to follow closer or get involved with my BMW project I post on IG,FB and Utube. Get in touch.

[Stainless1]

Welcome to the addiction...
Good luck at the event.... Be safe, have fun, go fast

[Owenmpk]

Hello, I am in the Sacramento are of California and have been interested in coming to Speedweek at Bonneville for many years.  I have always liked making things and seeing what others have done from cars to airplanes to computers to it just goes on.

I am thinking of attending Speedweek 2026 as a spectator and hoping I can gain some knowledge from this site. I have already seen some horror stories about what happens to cars on the salt so currently that I number one concern since plan to rent a pickup for the trip and it looks like rental companies frown on this 

I am newly retired an now have more time on my hands for fun

More about me my racing addiction is the 24 Hour Of Lemons and our team has 2 sh1t can first gen Mazda RX-7. No I am not planning on bringing these, we have enough issues keep them running at a weekend race. Attached photo is of both cars. The one on the left was completed in my garage during Covid and photo was just before it went to it's first race at Sonoma Raceway

Please educate me on being a spectator. 

[tallguy]

The salt can get quite bright on a sunny day.  I suggest you bring sunglasses and a hat and wear sunblock.  And bring plenty of water.

[Stainless1]

Owen, get a motel room early unless you plan to camp or commute.  Bring shade or hang out in as much as you can find... stay hydrated, no one wants to pull an ambulance away from racing... racing happens about 1/4 mile from where anyone can be, so binoculars are good to have... find a team in your area to help, being involved is a lot easier and spectating.  There are lots of places you can go to watch including the start line, lots to see in the pits, and viewing areas north and south of the pits.
At the USFRA WoS event you could take a street car and race in the 130 club or if your Lemons have a cage, the 150 club. Go to their website and read the rules for club cars.
Be careful, this stuff is addictive 

[Double A]

Good Morning Everyone!

I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself.  I have been quietly reading in these forums and doing research by going to LSR events in preparation for developing a vehicle to go racing.  I have a team and are in the initial phases of vehicle design.  Our group has developed vehicles and raced in a number of other racing disciplines in the past and want to expand to gain knowledge of the LSR experience. The intent is to run in the I/ (G or F)S and I/B (G or F)S classes at El Mirage and Bonneville.  We have some contacts and support from experienced LSR teams and are looking forward to getting to know others in the community as we progress and run our vehicle.  Our current image is to complete the vehicle build and do fundamental system run ins here locally. We will then shift to El Mirage for next years events to exercise the car and develop the race event support team before making an attempt at Bonneville.

We are looking forward to the ride and appreciate your support in advance as we move through this process.

Thanks,
Double A

[Stan Back]

You came to the right place!

Now, if we could figure out what you're doing, we'll be glad to help.

[DDYTDY]

I'm Ray,

Old school screw machinist from Massachusetts.  I drove a 1989 Caprice wagon to Loring last July, T/O 135. I went a bit faster.. I'm hoping to get back up there, this time with a 6 point roll bar, fire suppression, race seat, disabled door and steering locks... everything else is there to pass tech to 175mph.

Car has a 370ci Gen 4 short block with forged internals and rings gapped for 20lbs and a 78/75 turbo.

[Stan Back]

Great-looking car!  Best of luck to you.

[Bri]

Hi,

Our family team is working on some fan fiction (as in freely shared).  I came up with the original idea in the 70's, so it's taken a long time to finally enter the draft phase.  Again, this is fan FICTION, so things don't have to be perfectly historically accurate. 

The main character in the story tries to set land speed records in 1972, which is only a small part of the overall story, call it a sub-story.  The more we read up on the history of Bonneville and related land speed history, the more confused we get.  That is, we're not sure our sub-story is plausible.  Please allow us to detail that sub-story a bit, and post some questions to help us understand if our ideas are plausible.  Comments are kindly requested.  Pull no punches!  But remember, it's fiction, and so fudging the facts would be allowed.

In 1972, the main character is 14, lives on a big farm in Upstate NY, and is a future engineer, and has a NY driver?s license so he can drive farm machinery on the road being part of a farm family.  His much-older foster brother is a judge who helped him get the driver's license. 

He designs an electric propulsion system and high-energy batteries for an electric vehicle.  His family decides to use a land speed record attempt to prove out the designs. 

The main vehicle for the proof-of-design speed attempt is perhaps a simple Ford Model A style frame and body, modified for weight and aero-drag reductions, and to accept the new electrical drive system and modular battery unit.  The battery system must be modular so the spent batteries may be removed quickly, and a fully-charged set of batteries can be put into place for the return run. 

As a transport vehicle to drive to Bonneville (or to wherever the speed attempts were made in 1972) is an old Peterbilt semi and trailer.  The Peterbilt has been modified by putting into place a WWII-era Rolls Royce Merlin V12 aircraft engine.  The main character's dad flew with the RAF during WWII, then came to the U.S., and later bought some RR-Merlin V12's, putting them into storage.  The Peterbilt might be run if there's time for second record attempt.

The Merlin, being a V12, has inherently balanced reciprocating masses, making it a great choice because huge amounts of fuel and oxidizer can be dumped into it, allowing it to spin fast, especially on the second return run when it?d be put into full meltdown mode creating a boat anchor.  A spare engine would be installed for the trip back to Upstate NY.  Here're some dumb questions regarding speed record attempts in 1972.

QUESTIONS RE ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN 1972
●If he's got a full NY driver's license, could a 14 year old drive for a speed-record attempt in 1972?
●Could an electric vehicle attempt a speed record in 1972? 
●If so, what class would it be?
●If so, would that vehicle have to start the return run within one hour, or would it have more time in 1972? 
●If so, what speed would the electric vehicle have to beat to set a record?

QUESTIONS RE MERLIN-POWERED PETERBILT IN 1972
●Could the aviation-V12-powered Peterbilt be allowed to run in 1972?
●If so, what class would it be in? 
●How much time would be allowed between the two runs?
●If so, what speed would the Merlin-powered Peterbilt have to beat to set a record?
●Could the return run be allowed at dusk or just afterward to allow for highly-visible flames from the Merlin when a lot of unburned fuel is exiting the exhaust, and when the under-hood area is orange hot?

We'd appreciate any help we can get. 

[Stainless1]

Well Like you said fiction.... as Jack Dolan always said... theoretical cars set theoretical recorded every time
In 1972 a car would qualify by going faster than the existing record, then it went to impound.  The following morning at 7am any qualifiers would leave impound and go to the start line as a group.  They would run down, gather at the 9 and then run back.  The amount of time between runs was determined by how many cars ran that morning... more cars, longer time before the return.  But a competitor was allowed at least 1 hour before the return if he required it.  Most of the time we were at the 9 for a couple of hours total. 
The driver... back then I think the 14 YO could have possibly competed
The vehicles... There was not an electric vehicle class for the BNI.... however the FIA had one... So maybe... Possibly it could compete in omega class... for vehicles with a combustion cycle other than otto.  I think it was in the early 80's that the electric class showed up.  Speed... good question... the first electric streamliners were in the 180's but battery tech quickly got them to 200.  I don't think they were allowed to change batteries.
The truck... again a little early for the class... heavy hauler showed up in the 80's, maybe the early 90's, I'd have to look at old rulebooks. But it's a story... and there was a Diesel truck class in the late 70's.... so anything is possible...
Hope this helps answer some of the questions...
Of course there are some spoilers... you have to run speed in steps for new cars and new drivers... 125-150, 150-175, 175-200 then over 200.  No one was allowed to just jump in a car and go fast.

[Bri]

Thank you! (+!!!!)

[jacksoni]

Though SSS provided good info, there are a couple of additions I'd like to make. Hopefully helpful. digging up early '80s rule books supposedly a driver's license gets you on track to then potentially work you way up. You Start at 125-150 range. In some books however is the statement that a driver under 18 requires parental or similar sign off on a release. At 14 you would surely get some push back but perhaps get it to fly. Maybe Like Burt Monro convincing inspectors about tires and such. You have seen "World's Fastest Indian" haven't you?

The push/transport is another issue though. The Highway Hauler class (diesel only) first appeared in 1982 with a couple of minimums listed. (130 and 140) No records yet. There was a diesel truck class with a couple of records set in '78 and '79. The engine swap of the RR-Merlin though interesting wouldn't be allowed. Pickups and other trucks ran in production at that time against coupes/sedan. However, vehicles not legal for any class can run Time Only. Might get a time slip but no record with the engine swap.

If you are starting with a Model A, with mods, would maybe  be in Modified Roadster. Depends on how much modified. Weight is not a factor and generally, for traction, weight is better. Would not go to great lengths to lighten the car. More the other way around. (Ballast)

As Stainless said no electrics then so Omega. Might fly if met safety standards otherwise, as all cars must (current rule book is about 3times the thickness of the 1981 I have. Lots of new rules) If allowed to run for record I will suggest any time would be a record since for sure not done previously. There was a turbine then ('78 record at 264+). Later some steam and of course few electrics/hybrids have run. (At this time there are classes/records for electric, turbine and steam individually and none listed for omega specifically though that power is still in the rule book. All those classes are listed now under special construction but there are now a whole group of electric classes for all the production type vehicles now on the road. Does not apply to the OP's question of course).

Racing usually stops by 5-600p (varies) and everyone off the salt by 800p. No exceptions and no runs for sure so no seeing the flames.......

As Stainless and you have said, a fiction story. Nobody but a Land Speed racer would know the difference so write what you want. Stuff written by reporters about the sport tend to be fiction most of the time anyway. Click bait. JMHO

Have fun with your project.

[Bri]

Excellent... thank you, also, for taking the time to help. 

[Stan Back]

. . . for a lot of the old guys --

Huh?