Land Speed Racing... Not limited to the Salt Anymore

"Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight" (gizmoq) 01/11/2014 at 10:45 • Filed to: None

0

3

In the good old days, the mention of Land Speed Racing (LSR) always brought about thoughts of Bonneville and the salt flats. But lately (in the last few years) Land Speed Racing is making a resurgence, this time on concrete! There have been a number of Standing Mile, half-mile and mile and a half venues popping up all over the US and EU. Hell you know it must be popular if Chicago is doing it, too.

First a little background on standing mile racing. Unlike drag racing, you don't have to be the quickest to be the fastest. Land speed racing is about how fast are you going at the end, not how quick can you get there. LSR tracks usually have a speed trap at the end to measure your speed as you cross the finish line - that's the measure. Every increment above 120MPH becomes more influenced by aero than power, i.e., a lot more power will be expended pushing through the air than accelerating the car. The magic number for these racers is 200MPH (an average street car, aero-wise, requires over 1000HP to achieve). Most internationally recognized sanctioning bodies (SCTA, ECTA, LRA, DlRA, USFRA, etc.) require a lot of safety-specific mods before this speed can be attempted. For them, an unmodded street car is not allowed to exceed 140MPH at one of their events. Non recognized events (Texas Mile, Michigan Mile, Chicago 1/2 Mile, Houston Mile, WannaGOFAST, etc.) are a little less stringent. I joke about the Texas Mile, "2lb fire extinguisher, long sleeve shirt, and no cowboy boots - run up to 190MPH" is pretty close.

I got involved in the sport as a way of shutting up manufacturers/tuners claiming they had the fastest this, that or the other without producing any time slips. So I produced mine and said put up or shut up! I'm still awaiting their response two years later. I drag raced as a teen and knew that what's fastest there doesn't necessarily translate to a quick highway cruiser or really determine the absolute top end a car can achieve. I had no intentions of going to the salt to find out so a standing mile was a relatively safe and fast compromise. Now I'm hooked. I'm either there as a spectator, pit crew, or competitor and its a blast either way! I hve friends who are now hooked and trying to achieve the coveted 200MPH this year, so I'll be around. I curently have three racers in my team (Team Elwood) and support five others as a part of the "unofficial" Cadillac LSR Racers group.

If you can ever make one of these events, do so, you won't regret it.

Current Team Elwood Racing records:
ECTA - 4.6-5.0L Blown Gas Modified Sports Car (D/BGMS)
Texas Mile - Stock Block Street Legal Cadillac XLR

Stef Schrader > Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight 01/12/2014 at 02:09

0

I know it would be pointless.

I know it would be the slowest thing there.

I know it's about as aerodynamic as a moving box.

But dagnabbit, I want to bring the Lulzcer to the Texas Mile for the lulz.

For.

The.

Lulz.

Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight > Stef Schrader 01/12/2014 at 04:43

1

Doing what you love is never pointless, we had a few cars set records below 100MPH.

1971 HODAKA GOES 86.5 MPH: Historical Bike ridden by Aaron Sanders obtained a top speed of 86.5MPH, quite a speed for a bike only listed to go a maximum of 50 MPH. Aaron and his grandfather started to build this bike as a part of a project while Aaron was recovering at the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Part of the Wounded Warrior Project, Aaron’s bike project was a way for him to connect with his family and friends during his recovery and therapy from two reconstructive surgeries. Congrats to Aaron on his top speed!

96 mph: Is fast for a custom built motorcycle built as a proving grounds vehicle for Bio-Diesel made from algae

At the Oct 2013 event there were 25 vehicles under 150, including a Porsche Boxter (145.1), Subaru Impreza WRX(142.9), VW Karmann Ghia (130.0). And OBTW, there are a lot of women racers, you'll fit right in.

Stef Schrader > Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight 01/13/2014 at 04:46

0

Karmann Ghia! <3 Squee.