Expensive racing

[RayTheRat]

Just as I was whining about how expensive the broken pinion yoke in my race car turned out to be, a friend sent me a link showing a Willys PU racing in the Nostalgia gasser class (quarter mile) that got away from the driver just as it went thru the lights and rolled several times.
http://mo-veterans.smugmug.com/NostalgiaGassers-1/DeRaild/23073930_L79G44#!i=1856956967&k=RgZbMPj

If the accident happened where I think it did (Mo-Kan Dragway near Joplin, Mo), I've raced there and it has a real short shutdown area which might have had something to do with it.

I guess my little issue wasn't as expensive as it could have been.

RtR

[Otto Puzzell]

Ouch

[faksta]

Somebody wrecked a Ferrari 250 TR during a historic race at Monterey a couple years ago, if that helps the owner of this Willys understand that his issues are also not that expensive

[RayTheRat]

Yeah, a Testa Rossa could be a little costly to rebuilt.  So's an Enzo.  I don't know if you saw the photos I posted of Richard Losee's wrecked Enzo and then the rebuilt car racing on the salt flats or not.  If you didn't, I'll try to find the post or repost 'em.  He really destroyed the car by leaving the road at over 200 mph.  But it was rebuilt and held the C/Blown Fuel Modified Sports record at 237 and change that he set in October of 2010. 

The irony here is that he probably has a huge investment in it, most likely well above 7 digits.  Well, that's not the total irony.  That came about when he lost the record...and not by a little bit, but by a ton.  The new record is 305.596 and it was set by a very highly modified Triumph GT6.  See attached photo.  I don't know what motor is in the Triumph (if you can call it that anymore), but it put a spanking on the old record.  And although I don't believe that car came cheaply, I'd be very surprised if it was more than a mid 5-digit dollar amount.  Plus the driver got what's called a "Blue Hat" for getting into the 300 MPH chapter of the 200 Club.  Losee had to settle for a Red Hat...the "plain vanilla" 2-club hat.  (I'd kill someone or something to get one, but my car isn't set up to run over 160.)

Racing IS expensive.  Speed costs money.  The question is how fast can you afford (or want) to spend?  I'm an old guy retired due to heart trouble.  I don't have a huge amount of disposable cash.  Mr. Losee's family owns jewelry stores.  There's no way I could compete with him.  But I'll go as fast as I can with what I can afford and have a hell of a good time. 

Speaking of that, my transmission should be ready tomorrow.  Yippee!   

RtR

[faksta]

That is one hell of a car! That Triumph, I mean. I couldn't identify what was it built from until I read your message. And that margin...wow!

I can't recall seeing a picture of that Enzo you mentioned, but will browse the forums and look it up. I was not as active here as I before, so I'm sure I missed many things.

[Stephen M]

The new record is 305.596 and it was set by a very highly modified Triumph GT6.  See attached photo.  I don't know what motor is in the Triumph (if you can call it that anymore), but it put a spanking on the old record. 

I put my hands on the screen to cover everything but the rear fender immediately forward of the wheel well, and it actually looks like a triumph.

Remove my hands and it looks like a big generic pile of awesome.

[RayTheRat]

Since I stated in another thread that I won't be posting any more of my photos here, I'll add a link to a shot of Losee's Enzo in the pits:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/lsr/bsf2010/wf/pix/20101007%20273_jpg.html

It's a beautiful car...they did a great job when they rebuilt it.  But I still find it mildly amusing that Losee lost the record to a "Triumph" (quoted cuz there isn't all that much Triumph left).

Land Speed Racing is a wonderful sport.  But ya gotta be a little crazy to be in it.  I qualify. 

I just found out that I have an invitation to run my race car at Muroc Dry Lake later in the year if all the stars and planets line up.  Amazing.  Muroc's been off limits since 9/11, since it's part of Edwards Air Force Base.  But some things have happened that just might give me the opportunity to run there.  Wow!  And I got my transmission back.  It's ready to go back into the car as soon as I get the driveshaft and heavy-duty pinion yoke.  And I might be getting a new tow vehicle for it tomorrow.  Nothing special, another Suburban, but it was time to replace the old one.

The season's getting closer and closer.  Speed Week starts on August 11th.  C ya there.

RtR

[Stephen M]

The current issue of EVO has some great pics of the above Triumph, next to a Bentley Mulsanne for size comparison (another story). Apparently is has a twin turbo 5.9 liter Chevy V8 driving the front wheels.

[laurastifence]

I simply liked the whole concept.