Will The Red, White & Blue Remain Number Two? RETROFITSTEERINGCOLUMNS – Does the lack of interest signal a decline in National Pride?

Peggy Fossett doesn’t care one bit outfitted with a professional kitchen), tional aspect. A Cabinet Minister supports Here are few of the 2009 technology about the World . support equipment, R&D files, tools, and Britain’s world record bid, I wonder if transfer award winners: After our boss, her adventurous record- fabrication paraphernalia. As of this writ- anyone in Washington even knows where setting husband, Steve Fossett, ing there are no offers. Bonneville is? 1. A non-invasive medical device that disappeared into history, she had every In the meantime, crafty OBE Brit I know damn well we have all the talent can scan your body for lung punctures right to shut down the project. We , hatched a plan to build we need to earn back the record right (say hello Starfleet tricorder). expected just that. Bloodhound, hybrid WLSR car to target here in the United States, but what foxes 2. A gal from the Department of Agri- To her credit and our astonishment, 1,000MPH with , Ron Ayers me is why we are so incredibly lacking on culture figured out a way to shrinkproof she kept the dream alive for seven more and John Piper. the desire frontier. Doesn’t anyone else wool. months paying all the bills and covering If this were most anyone else, I’d say but me get riled up about the British 3. Argonne National Lab just raised the the team payroll. However, once we they were stone cold crazy stupid. But planning to well and proper slam the door bar on lithium-ion battery efficiency suit- brought the car into “race-ready” condi- this quartet is not to be trifled with when on world record setting? ed for hybrid electric vehicles. tion having test-fired the engine in the it comes to record setting. I know all Think about it. If those guys figure out 4. There are new solar cells coming out car, things turned sour. these boys well enough to know they play all the tricks and turn in a pair 1,000MPH of the National Renewable Energy Lab. First, the rolling test at El Mirage was for keeps. speed runs we can kiss our chances of 5. Oakridge National Lab developed a a failure, bad fuel gummed up the lines There have been weak rumblings of “fastest car” supremacy goodbye. The new cast stainless steel for high-tempera- on the engine and the start cart and then one guy or another whispering about United States of America will be Number ture performance (diesel engines cheer). the next day Virgin Galactic’s Alex Tai assembling a team, including one from 2 in perpetuity and we will have to like it. 6. The Pacific Northwest National lab walked away from project sponsorship. the Middle East, but it’s all amounted to Harumph! invented solid oxide fuel cells that we are It was no surprise to any of us on the little more than verbal dreams, no one has Why? It’s a real estate problem as much only beginning to adapt to all kinds of FossettLSR team that she gave orders to stood up and asked to be counted as a as a speed number problem. Green has applications. pack everything up into two, 40-foot player. been flying all over the world trying to 7. NASA’s Marshall Flight Center came trailers. Today the jet-powered record The Bloodhound group, much as they find a venue big and flat enough. up with a slick auto-adjustable pin tool contender, a highly modified improve- would relish competition, aren’t waiting ThrustSSC accelerated like a freight for friction stir welding that eliminates ment over Breedlove’s old Spirit of around, they are slowly moving forward train and needed all the room the Black keyholes and moves to accommodate dif- America is languishing in a mattress fac- looking at run venues, developing the Rock Desert had to give the twin-engine ferent thickness materials without tory warehouse near Reno, design and fabrication plans and setting 10-ton beast. I was shooting pictures for stopping. up an attractive educa- Sports Illustrated from a Microlight the It was at the FLC conference that I tional component day Green lost both parachutes on a met Caroline Hardman, Cutting Edge inspiring young people 700MPH plus run and used 17 miles to Science Curriculum Producer for the to career studies in get the car “whoaed down.” It was quite a National Network of Digital Schools. I math and sciences. sight watching the car head straight for suggested the school develop a national If you are going to the town of Gerlach’s grammar school. science/engineering curriculum based on have cheerleaders, then Bloodhound will need to come up to land speed vehicles. Every kid I know having the current speed and squirt through the transonic loves fast cars, trucks and motorcycles. World Land Speed range a whole bunch quicker, so that’s Well, wonder of wonders, several of the Record holder (Green), why Ron Ayers’ own design rocket will school’s officials have given a hearty “yes” a former record holder start the speed march before the jet and we have begun to put the program (Noble), aerodynami- engine spools up and carries them into together. cist extraordinaire the history books. Remember, they have This brings me back to my original (Ayers) and a brilliant to do the deed two ways within one hour. rant. If no one is today interested in mechanical engineer These days, that’s as much of a trick as regaining the World Land Speed Record (Piper) makes for a turning in a stable speed run. for the United States, then we’ll just have powerful talent pack- What’s America to do? I was the key- to grow interest by building a new crop age. note luncheon speaker at the recent of scientists and engineers who like being Between them they Federal Laboratory Consortium annual number one. If America doesn’t get the are responsible for the meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, World Land Speed Record at least it will My days as the team Publicist and success of Thrust II, ThrustSSC and the just before the Indy 500. My presentation get strong pillars upon which the future Sponsor Developer are sadly behind me, JCB Dieselmax land speed racing highlighted the sport of land speed racing will rest. the crew has reluctantly scattered and the machines. The Queen even knows who and I crabbed publically about the USA race shop has been dismantled, just like these guys are. not having a serious contender. Ventura, California resident Dennis our hopes for United States of America’s Aided by Minister of Science and Inno- I was also flabbergasted by the incredi- Nelson sent me this fine turn of phrase dominion in the speed world. vation Lord Paul Drayson, a cracking ble brain trust this country shepherds on about Bonneville. We met ages ago when Frankly, I thought it pretty silly for a good road racer in his own right driving a a daily basis, which filters into the public my book, Bonneville: the Fastest Place on British airline to underwrite a world en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bio-ethanol”bio- sector through a marvelous technology Earth debuted at a book signing in town. record contender focused on wresting the ethanol powered en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ transfer system. That I got to “hang with We sold 375 books that day, more than title away from its own country, but I was Aston_Martin_DBRS9”Aston Martin, the the big brains” made my week. J.K. Rowlings, who was in the next town assured repeatedly that Steve’s friendship Union Jack folks seem to also be posi- The annual awards were given for over hawking her Harry Potter book. with Richard Branson was driving the tioning the United Kingdom for exceptional advancements on many fron- Made my day it did. Anyway, enjoy Nel- deal forward. Oh well. leadership in engineering. tiers and it made me an instant son’s words, which he told me were Last time I checked, Mrs. Fossett still It was Drayson, himself inspired by our cheerleader for our national laboratories, penned “For all those who have raced wanted four million dollars for the car, own space program, that insisted the which I am ashamed to say I was mostly the salts.” spare parts, trailers (one of which is fully Bloodhound project include an educa- unaware of. Continued on page 217 14 ❙ August.2009

Gaz_August09.inddGaz August09.indd 14 6/17/09 9:53:36 AM Fuel For Thought Good News Performance Inc.), ATI ProCharger, sion, ’40 Ford spring, 12” Chevy Continued from Page 14 Continued from Page 214 MSD ignition, Edelbrock heads, cus- truck drum brakes (rear only). such a person (similar to some politicians) tom headers and exhaust. SPEED Wheels/Tires: who was determined to make his own Ford wheels on Firestones up front, I am speed. Drivetrain: rules…to set his own agenda…to attempt Merc wheels with Bruces slicks out Feel me rumble. AOD six-speed transmission. to make others bow to laws he alone back. Hear me roar. would make. At that time in history he As I glide across the smooth white Chassis: was looked at as the most powerful man Art Morrison chassis, narrowed to Body: floor. on the face of the earth. He, like others in clear zoomie headers, coil over front 1929 Ford Roadster, tonneau cover, My Guardian Angel refused this ride, the political scene today, took all the bow- suspension, four-link rear with a Ford ’32 Ford grille, race form sans wind- I think he flew off somewhere to hide. 9” rear, Flaming River electric power screen and headlights. With hands griped at ten and two ing from others; the pampering as well as congratulatory “pats-on-the-back”, his R&P steering, Wilwood 14.5” disc I streak across white hot land that Interior: head being as big as some today. Along brakes front and rear. once was cool and blue. Aluminum firewall (no dash) Stewart The salt flies up as a vapor trail. came a representative similar to SEMA of Wheels/Tires: Warner wings gauges, aircraft bucket Will records fall or will I fail? those days…a man by the name of Dan- 20 x 8.5 and 24 x 15” Intro Custom seat and lap belt, Moon gas pedal, iel, whom he attempted to ignore as he wheels, 235/30/20 and 405/23/24 three spoke steering wheel with cus- – D.L.Nelson © 2003 did the others. After about a year and his Pirelli tires. tom horn ring made from a 1947 Used with Permission. continued deafness to what was being Schwinn sprocket. said, along came One he couldn’t ignore. Body: Note: Photojournalist Louise Ann Then for seven years God allowed him to 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback. All cus- Noeth is the authoress of the award-win- graze out in the fields with the cattle until tom steel construction including fend- ning book, Bonneville: The Fastest Place on God got his attention. Then, according to er flares, head and taillight buckets, Earth, a complete historical review of the the book of Daniel, God gave him back extended hood, shaved gutters, first 50 years of land speed racing now in his mind allowing him to begin to think pinched and tucked bumpers, rear its 7th and final printing. Publisher MBI straight. Guess what? He now began to sail panels, taillight panel and read has informed Noeth when the current valence, molded trunk spoiler, custom see that his manmade laws and ways STREET CHALLENGE inventory is sold the book will not be door handles, Dupont Porsche weren’t as good as he had first thought. reprinted. For more details and to order, Carrera white paint with graphite go to: www.landspeedproductions.biz. While there are some laws we should metallic stripes and basketball orange AUTOCROSS! fight against, there are others designed pinstriping. for our good and protection that we Table Top would be much better off to not fight Interior: Continued from Page 199 against such as, “Pride goes before Narrowed and shortened ’05 Mustang destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” dash, Classic Instruments with custom (Prov. 16:18). “Fools think they are right, bezels, one-off LeCarra steering but the wise listen to others” (Prov. wheel, Krist Kustoms seats, custom 12:15). And, Proverbs 15:3, “The Lord is dyed basketball orange and black leather upholstery by JS Custom watching everything, keeping his eye on Interiors. both the evil and the good.” There are some laws you fight…some you don’t!

Here is the finished wheel shown in Are you interested in either sending www.good-guys.com place. Use Kemtron bolt ends to detail your son/grandson, age 16 – 19 to a CRA the center of the wheel. These bolt ends Hot Rod Camp in 2009? Perhaps you are available from hobby shops that carry would consider sponsoring a young guy? model railroad parts. The gauge faces Call CRA for more info: CRA, PO Box shown are from the Corvette kit. You can 309, Valley Springs, CA 95252; 209-786- Goodguys Summer Get-Together also find photos of different size gauge 0524; [email protected]. faces, that can be used for models, in most Gazette Pick – cont’d from Pg. 183 automotive parts catalogs or the Good- guys Goodtimes Gazettes! TECH INFO Owner: Neil O’Kane The next Electro Vette Article will San Leandro, CA show the final stages of building this two- foot long, electric powered Bonneville Year: 1929 LSR model! Tips on making components Make: Ford Roadster for Electric cars and “soft mask” painting will be covered. Don’t miss this one! Engine: Goodguys PPG Dream Car Pick – 301cu. in. GMC six cylinder, Horning My web site has many of my models, cont’d from Pg. 163 12-port head, Hilborn fuel injection, featuring the Goodguys feature models Vertex Magneto, NOS Venolia pis- and several models from the 1970s, dis- TECH INFO tons, Chet Herbert roller cam. played with complete descriptions. The Owner: Devan Glissmeyer address is: www.sonic.net/~joymkrs/dahm Salt Lake City, UT Drivetrain: Modeling questions? Email them to 1939 Ford trans, 11” clutch. Year: 1968 me at: [email protected]. I will be happy SPONSORS to answer your questions by email and Make: Ford Mustang Fastback Chassis: some of your questions may appear in 1932 Ford frame, 4” dropped axle, future columns! Be sure to mention Engine: Hollywood spring, ’40 Ford rear with Goodguys in your emails! 418ci Ford by API (Absolute Cook Machine full floating conver-

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