What A Fast Guy!
Whew! What a week! After the excitement of Don Williams' accomplishment, the worry and concern during Kenny's rides (apologies to Kenny whose rides were amidst the fuel issue), and the jubilation with the new record, we are exhausted.
Today, we arrived on the salt at 6:00 am to get the car ready to run at 7:00 am. Somehow the four of us were able to get most of the jobs done and get the car with driver to the line. But the whole time we were wishing we had our crew back! We even had time to ask someone walking by to take our picture.
Don drove an incredible 237+ to up the record to 235+. Pretty exciting. In fact, too exciting – he told us that he “darted” off the course in the 5th mile because the salt was so slippery. He exact words were “That was the scariest ride I have ever had! I am not going to drive that fast again!” After talking to other drivers, the conditions were the same for them. Just between you and me, I think we will be back again next year!
After packing up and saying goodbye to the salt we headed home. If we lived in Colorado we would almost be home. Since it’s Ohio … maybe on Monday.
Thank to everyone who supported and helped us. We truly do have a TEAM!
Back into High Gear
Notice all the smiles! With the help of our engine builder, Chuck Cornelison, we located source of the problem we had yesterday. For those gearheads among our readers, there was something wrong with our fuel filter, so the boys bypassed it. For any who want the gory details of doing all of this diagnosis while waiting in line and moving every 15 minutes or so, please call Don!
He was able to run 234+ on the 222 record. So tomorrow we will be going out to the impound at 6:00 am to get the car ready to run at 7:00. If we are able to run well enough to surpass the current 222 record, Don will have another Bonneville record.
We were so lucky to have Chuck here this morning before we ran. He and Don were able to make the changes needed about 30 minutes before running. Talk about cutting it close.
We also know how lucky we were to have a skilled crew throughout the week with us. We know this because everyone except Chuck left yesterday! So Dick, Sandy, Jane, Don & Chuck were running around trying to do the work of 10 people! I have to call John Rickey 3 times to know what to do!!!
Waiting ....
I can’t say that we started the new week out with a bang. We got the car back in line for Ken’s next licensing run, and 4 hours later he was able to run. Lots of other cars had the same idea apparently. After Ken’s run he was able to get his two licenses, and, back the car went in line for another run.
Right ahead of us in line was the car that held the record in our class until Don Williams broke it on Sunday morning. The pressure was on Kenny when the car (#264) ran over the speed that Don had run. Now we have to run over 223mph to regain the record for the McMeekin Brothers and Williams team!
On Ken’s run, the engine started to miss or flatten out – no one is here to give me the technical terms! Dave Heigle and the man who built the engine, Chuck Cornelison, are back in the pits with the computer hooked up to the car to try to discover what the problem is. The ladies – unable to help out in the diagnosis process – headed back to dinner and gambling!
Our hope is that whatever is wrong can be fixed tomorrow and we can head back to line to try to regain the record.
The highlight of the day was when Don Williams got his red hat and was officially welcomed into the 200 MPH Club! He looked great in that hat and new T-shirt! Many, many people wait years and years to get in to the “2-Club,” Don did it on his second time down the salt! He was the first one to get in at Speedweek this year, and we were wondering if he is one of the oldest to get in – 76 year old speedster that he is!
What an eventful day! First thing in the morning, Don Williams backed up his record run from yesterday and is now a member of the exclusive 200 mph club! What to go Don!
The afternoon was spent waiting in line for Kenny to make his licensing run. Well, the man is too fast! He will have to try to drive slower tomorrow. At 184 mph he exceeded the required 175 for his “C” license.
We also have a concern about the engine not running at full power… a little “flattening out” that we can’t really explain. Aside from that, we are having a great time … the weather is great and the company is even better!
Another Record Breaking Run
What a great day! We go to the salt at 7:00 am to get the car in line. That way we were able to run shortly after the drivers’ meeting. Don took the car down the salt for the first time with the new engine and ran 198+. We then got back in line right away so that Don Williams (Don’s 76 year old partner) could try to break the existing record of 216.979. Well, he did it! His first time on the salt – ever – and he drove the car 219.619! Wow, that meant that he qualified for the record, and tomorrow morning we all head out again for sunrise and a record return run!
Great support from our crew made all this possible!
Step One - Completed
First, we arrived safely in Wendover! Yeah!! Then we headed out to the salt today and got in the inspection line right away. Good thing, because by the time we unloaded the car from the trailer the line behind us was about a mile long. Really! Don & his brother did such a good job on the car that it passed inspection easily and quickly. That meant that we were able to head home to relax before all the craziness starts tomorrow. Our pit area is set up and ready to go. We hope to get at least one good run tomorrow, maybe two. There are literally hundreds of cars here, so we will have to see how long the lines are.
Pictured here is part of our trusty crew, our car in the pits, and Don sweet-talking the inspectors.
New Year & New Engine
When we left the salt last year we were hoping to be back in '06. But that meant Don & his brothers would have to hustle to get a new engine ready to put in the car. Well, they did it with the help of our new partner, Don Williams. We are on our way to Bonneville for Speedweek 2006 with our Nissan 240 SX powered by an Aurora V8.
Our plan is to arrive on the salt on Friday and sail through inspection. I will post a report on how that goes!
