Reflections on Speedweek 2010
Reflections on Speedweek 2010
Most heard questions:
“What do you have in it this year?” Same straight 8 as last two years?
“Why did you do that???” Answers varied.
Performance of rookie crew members Frink:
EXCEPTIONAL. Dick & Charlotte were great fun to have around. As “salt flat virgins,” they were interested in everything, pitching in to help with getting us ready to run each day. I even saw Dick under the car helping to hold up the belly pan! We had a little trouble with Charlotte who would wander over to the long course starting line because she REALLY liked the faster cars & the slick motorcycles. What a speed freak she turned out to be!
Parting Emotions:
RELIEF – Don has struggled with this engine for three years and we were seriously doubting that it could set a record. We are all relieved that the changes he made over the winter put some new life into the old girl (engine, not Jane).
SADNESS – Whenever we leave the salt flats we always say we will be back next year, but a year is a long time.
PRIDE – All of us were over the top with the results this year. Not only did we set two records, but the paparazzi were ALL OVER us. The car has built up quite a reputation by now. Many people seem to remember our previous engines and are impressed with the creativity of mixing a “modern” car with unique, interesting engines. One of the best compliments we received all week came from Chief Technical Inspector, Dan Warner, when he said to Kenny, “You guys are a class act!” Coming from Dan, that is really something.
Tuesday, August 18
Back up for the 6:00 am trip to the impound area and the 7:00 am back up run. Kenny really pushed it this time going 172.039. The average of his two runs bumped that record up nearly 7 mph. I told you he was a lead foot.
Don took a run in the afternoon and also ran just over 172 mph. Marilyn also had one more run that afternoon and went 163+ WOW!!! Once her run was over the team decided we had done about everything we wanted to do and were ready to shut the operation down. Don began talking about his next engine for the Nissan – something about needing to go over 200 mph again.
After a good night’s sleep we headed back out to the salt to pack up – not a small task I might add. Since Don has decided to be done with the Buick Straight 8, we put a little “For Sale” sign on the engine as we were packing up. Come to find out a team down in the pits from us blew up their straight 8 the day before. Don went to talk to their engine guy – yippee – he is definitely interested. We will see about that later.
Sun. & Mon., August 15 & 16
For those of you who have been to Speedweek, you know that to “break a record” requires the car to run the next morning. The average of the two runs must exceed the existing record. Well, we did it. Due to driver nerves or something, I ran slower (shouldn’t have given the conditions) but did run fast enough to break the record! Celebrations ensued.
The pit guys changed the configuration of the car to enter us into the XO/GC class and we returned to the start line for Marilyn’s runs. She drove hard & you will have to ask her about the reliability of gear shift knobs when you see her. Her top speed was 163 mph, what a trooper.
Monday afternoon we put Leadfoot, Kenny in the drivers’ seat where he promptly recorded a 169+ speed exceeding the XO/GC record qualifying to make a back up run on Tuesday morning! WhooHoo!
Sat., August 14
We arrived on the salt in time to make the drivers’ meeting. Following all the intros and thank yous, we get to drive down the course to see first hand where the turn outs! What a blast. After passing inspection the only thing left was to get fuel ($10/gal) and head up to the line. We suited me up, strapped me in and I was OFF. A really nice race official met me at the end – a little past the 4 mile marker with a bottle of water & my time --- 168.703!!! I qualified to break the existing XO/GALT record. We were headed to impound.
When I called Dick & Charlotte Frink with the news, they decided to put the pedal to the medal too and arrived in Wendover Sat. night so they could join us for the back up run on Sunday morning.
On the Way Home
If you have been checking on the McMeekin Bros team you may have noticed that we haven't posted anything for quite due to lack of internet ... not lack of news!
We have had a very successful Speedweek and are now heading home. We set two new records with the Buick straight 8 that had been so frustrating in the past. I told Don when we arrived ... "third time is the charm or three strikes & IT is OUT!" Luckily it was a charmer. My record was in XO/GALT ((167.4) and Kenny Grimes set the XO/GC record (170)
I will try to post pictures from the week tonight if we have access.
On to the Salt 2010
Just to let any of you who are checking this site ... the four travelers are bedding down near the SLC airport & plan on leaving early enough from here to get to the drivers' meeting at 9:00 on the salt. Good luck with that! Check back tomorrow to see if we made it that early. :)
Thanks for following us!
