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Reminder: Wilmington Mile Kick-Off Event this weekend


Tim Davis

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Here's a teaser of shots from today. I must have taken a hundred car photos but don't have time now to process them.

 

It's been a great day. Lots of new friends, plenty of great cars (some regulars at Bonneville and the Texas Mile), lots to learn.

 

They talked me into actually racing in a class instead of time only. I'm actually going to do the rookie thing. We'll see how that goes. ;)

 

It's looking like rain tomorrow, and if it's soaked all day, I won't make the trip. However, they seem dead set on getting the runway dry if there's just passing rain. I figure Sunday for sure. Come on down to spectate. Food vendors, friendly peoples, lots of great cars.

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/rails.jpg

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/slot.jpg

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/Gremlinrear.jpg

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/Gremlinfront.jpg

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/blackcaddy.jpg

 

:eek: What's that? A Viewt in the Ohio Mile?

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/Jagfront.jpg

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/sidejag.jpg

 

 

There were these two young fellas, very polite, said they were from Alabama and wanted to know everything about the Bentley. I gave them the tour of it and asked them if this was there first rodeo ......... then they showed me their car:

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/Hinsondoor.jpg

 

I recognized that name .....

2246 hp from their C5!

 

http://hinsonsupercars.com/t-CorvetteC5Racecar.aspx

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Here's a teaser of shots from today. I must have taken a hundred car photos but don't have time now to process them.

 

What you did take were great. Thanks for sharing Doc.

 

 

I recognized that name .....

2246 hp from their C5!

http://hinsonsupercars.com/t-CorvetteC5Racecar.aspx

 

A that point just bolt on some wings and change sports. :fuckyeah:

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Doc if possible can you grab me a rule book? I want to see if I can make the new cage fit both these guys and nhra and run in September and see how fast a phone booth will go

 

I have both the 2011 and 2012 rule books at the hangout. You can borrow them anytime you'd like. Tech guys are cordial, but very strict.

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Every weekend? Not by a long shot.

 

 

 

I hope they are trying to add more each year to make that long shot much easier....I would try to go to at least twice a year or more depending on location. Time to buy a second rear-end with a gear for the mile.

 

thanks for the pictures.

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http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/images.jpg

 

Dis-inspected, number revoked, dis-qualified from the class

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/ECTAsticker.jpg

 

Bentley no longer welcome at any ECTA competition.

http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r445/martyr65/Ohio%20Mile%202012/smilie.jpg

 

I guess I took a little too much liberty with the unofficial okay to speed it up.

 

I went WOT on my second run today, but let off before the traps so I wouldn't get ejected before my planned runs tomorrow. Apparently an official saw me let off and saw me hit the traps with the brakes already on. I understand that I went through the traps nearly 30 mph over the maximum for my safety class, and the fact that they knew I had been going faster seemed to be the last straw.

 

No time slip, just "report to the Racing Director" was what the scowling ECTA President said in the shutdown area. The RD yelled, "Are you the dickwad in the Bentley who just ran throught the traps at 162?" I said "Maybe, but I can't be sure, since I wasn't given my timeslip." He then proceeded to explain the sanctions, remove my numbers, "annote" my stickers, told registration to pull my certificate, and showed me the gate.

 

This was what I expected eventually to happen, but my lack of restraint caused it to happen today instead of tomorrow.

 

He really had to do all that. Their insurance company had a representative at the track, and the rules were clear and repeatedly explained. The staff sound like nasty people, but they really are not -- they have a job to do and a standard to set.

 

After the little show was over, a number of the old timers and 200 club members shook my hand, patted me on the back, even gave a high five.

 

I was told I was welcome back tomorrow, but as a spectator. :)

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Over 135 requires additional safety equipment (cage, for example). So I was only officially allowed to go 135. A number of the staff gave me the indication that I could go perhaps up to 150 or 160 without serious sanctions.

 

However, apparently I trapped 162 while braking. (My speedo showed 175 and rising when I let off, but I suspect my speedo reads higher than the actual speed.) The ECTA President is also the timer, and he wasn't amused.

 

BOTTOM LINE:

Approved to 135

Trapped at 162

Had clearly been going faster

 

= booted with vigor

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[quote=Doc;1551005

 

 

 

After the little show was over, a number of the old timers and 200 club members shook my hand, patted me on the back, even gave a high five.

 

I was told I was welcome back tomorrow, but as a spectator. :)

 

That sucks, can you please explain some the class rules regarding top speed. I would like to go just to stretch my cars legs car hits 120 before I need to shift to 5th. Did you have to wait until sunday to hit WOT. If I cannot go and get a WOT pass in the course of one day. I'm not sure I want to go. It is quite the drive for me.

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The rule book is nearly 200 pages. I have copies at the hangout. It's quite a read.

 

The spirit of the rules is that you should have reasonable safety equipment to go a certain speed. Most street vehicles are considered okay up to 135 if they have the basic factory safety equipment, nothing clearly unsafe (leaks), and you have a Snell 2005 or newer car helmet (the Snell 2005 motorcycle helmet does not pass).

 

For my car to run over 135, it would require a roll cage of a specific design, I would need a race suit, gloves, boots (all of these things have to meet a particular racing standard). As the speeds go up, required systems include fire suppression, reinforced rails, fuel cut-offs, certain tire designs, etc.

 

I broke the rules and by agreement, I forfeit. The organization's reasoning is that I didn't have the required equipment to be safe.

 

It doesn't help to argue the point, the rules are clear, and the officials' are not going to allow you to blatantly disregard their rules and their authority.

 

My thinking is that the Bentley has better safety features than most cars, is designed with a top speed from the factory of 200 mph, and is not inherently unsafe at that speed, even without a roll bar. It's my opinion, I was willing to take a risk of operating it on an airport runway at WOT, and accept the consequences.

 

Was I foolish? Perhaps I was. Would I do it again?

 

Yep. :fuckyeah:

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Doc you now have the honor of being the first booted from the new track lol

 

A dubious distinction. I'll have to ask Keith (the Racing Director) tomorrow if I was actually the first one booted. I was in staging lanes all day, so I don't know if anyone else was thrown out. It would surprise me to learn that I was the first at Wilmington, but maybe. :p

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Wow, well that track just became not worth the drive. So if I went up there and and followed all rules and my car can do more than 135 in a mile, I have to lift at 135? Unless I install a cage in a street car? What's the point of doing the mile again? So everyone should be bringing bicycles not cars right?
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