Old Bonneville Pictures

[WOODY@DDLLC]

Regarding 555: I was there in 1970 with some 2-wheelers. My memory is not as dim as the picture but time will tell!

This little car had a 4-cylinder outboard engine - wanted to run ~165. The driver got put in jail and I volunteered to drive it but the driver was 6'4" and I am 4'22" and could not reach the pedals. I wanted to cable tie some 2X4's to the pedals but you know how those tech-guys are! 

I only have the skin-less pic so I was glad to see the full version.

I hope the picture comes through - first-time poster - looooong time lurker!

[Seldom Seen Slim]

4' 22"?  Must be a metric conversion error.

[High Gear]

Dave,

Welcome aboard. Hope to see more pictures soon and your aero expertise is always welcome.

Gary

[Stainless1]

I would like more info on the little yellow 555 I Streamliner, perhaps a photo without skin, showing the cockpit, thank you.

There are several stories about Arnold and the Banana on this site.  Search those words.  Late 30's Evinrude running alcohol when he could get it running.  Rope start.   

[streamliner]

Great stories!!! 

Here's a few to cleanse the palate before getting back to the machines, including the grader (or de-grader as it turned out).  I think these are from around 1969, but those who were there would know for sure...

[lvsalt]

Im guessing 68 from things i have heard

[jimmy six]

it was like that in 76 also................

[DrofRockology]

Im guessing 68 from things i have heard

between the deep water and the position of the entry road: i'd say it's 68.

"think shine in 69!"

[lvsalt]

my first year on the salt 1970, im the little guy on the right

[streamliner]

lvsalt: What a great photo and I'm sure great memories you must have from that first encounter!  No wonder why we have so many photos of the same cars on the same days...

Those colors on the Gyronaut are so bittersweet that I get choked up just seeing them.  On the one hand, those 1970 colors represent the pinnacle of the Gyronaut's capabilities.  On its trial run, it was geared for 275 and timed at 264.5 with a 6mph headwind, which could have bested its 1966 record run of 245.667 by a full 10%.  But on the other hand, they are also the colors of an unfulfilled potential as, on the following day, it was going 270 at Mile 4 and still accelerating when all hell broke loose.  As Tremulis recalled: "Oh God, I felt as though I had been hit in the gut by a battering ram. The Gyronaut suddenly leaped off-course. Bob thought a gust of wind had caught him and he tried desperately to fight it under control instead of popping his chute to save himself and blow the record run.  What he didn't know was that it was not the wind; the front suspension had disintegrated."  When it was all over, Bob Leppan nearly lost his arm and had to undergo numerous surgeries and painful rehab over several years.  Alex Tremulis felt personally responsible for Leppan's pain throughout the subsequent years and shouldered much of the blame as he felt that the aerodynamics around the front wheel opening may somehow have contributed to the premature failure of the components and that he, of all people, should have been able to foresee the weak link.  When he did talk about it, he spoke of the incident with a very heavy heart, even though he lived his life much as one of his favorite (mis)quotes: "The meek shall inherit nothing, PERIOD!"

Back to the first hand, here's one of my favorite photos as it captured the crowning achievement of Leppan in the Gyronaut. This was taken on its next-to-final run, just after being clocked at 264.5...

[High Gear]

Streamliner,

I'm sure you will be glad to know that Bob is still going to Bonneville. sometimes with a bike and sometimes without. I talk to him every couple of weeks and he is still full of enthusiasm and still wants to put something fast on the salt.

Thanks for the picture and the memories. Because we ran during speedweek and the streamliner was running on private time we never got to see any of it's great runs.

Gary

[DrofRockology]

1970 was not a good year on the salt with bob and mel chastain being severely injured and noel black losing his life; seems there was something else that happened that year.

[lvsalt]

 streamliner, i sent you a message

[lvsalt]

roadster

[streamliner]

Because we ran during speedweek and the streamliner was running on private time we never got to see any of it's great runs.

The Gyronaut was able to run on private time due to Tremulis trading aerodynamic consulting time to Goodyear for Walt Arfons' Wingfoot Express in exchange for new LSR tires and salt time for the Gyronaut.

And here's one of my other favorites of the Gyronaut.  It's old school meets new, side-by-side, both headed in different directions but with one common goal.  So many contradictions and similarities in one image.  It almost appears as if the Gyronaut is spying on the immortal Munro, looking over his shoulder to keep tabs on what's going on...