THE SOCIETY OF LAND SPEED RACING HISTORIANS Newsletter.  Issue #389. 
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Mary Ann Lawford, www.landspeedracing.com   
PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY: Jim Miller, 1-818-846-5139
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Richard Parks, [email protected]  
PHOTOGRAPHIC Editor of the Society: Roger Rohrdanz, [email protected]
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REPORTER: Spencer Simon, [email protected]
FIELD REPORTER/HISTORIAN: Bob Falcon, [email protected]
HISTORIANS: Anna Marco, Dick Martin, Burly Burlile, Jerry Cornelison, Robin Millar, Ora Mae Millar
IN MEMORIAM: Wally Parks, Tex Smith, Tom Medley, Lee Blaisdell, Eric ‘Rick’ Rickman (editors and photographers)
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GUEST EDITORIAL, submitted by Franklin Ratliff.
     Here is the text from the World Land Speed Racing Association describing their plan for governance of unlimited land speed records.  They make some points which are not without precedent, and others which are new. For example, they point out that given a sufficient interval it is now possible with cloud technology to between runs analyze aerodynamic data on the fly and determine what adjustments need to made prior to the second run in a land speed record attempt. 
     The current rules for world and international land speed records are the 1935 Malcolm Campbell rules.  It was Campbell who convinced the FIA to increase turnaround time from half an hour to one hour.  The first two-way record was L.G. Hornsted in 1914.  The first fifteen records were all one-way.  Bloodhound faces the same small entry window as the Budweiser car, since Andy Green has to time the rocket firing so that the car enters the measured mile at 1,000 mph.   Land speed rules in and of themselves do not make a record meaningful or meaningless.  The purpose of land speed rules is to establish a baseline for measuring technological progress, pretty much the opposite of the intent for the rules in other forms of motorsport.
     Since the land speed record has long since entered the regime of compressibility effects, air temperature has a significant effect on Mach number (hotter faster, colder slower).  If the point of the rules was consistency, the FIA would have to now require everyone to run at the same air temperature to eliminate any advantage.   From the Aussie Invader February Newsletter: "Safety in unlimited class needs to be reviewed Safety in running one of these unlimited class cars has always been a major concern to the drivers and crew ever since speeds started exceeding the 600 mph region.
     The FIA (Federation Internationale De l’Automobile) have just announced a program by President Jean Todt for a Global Road Safety Challenge, this is a brilliant long awaited strategy and we look forward to seeing it implemented.  We now need an urgent rule change for unlimited class vehicles to increase their tightly sanctioned turnaround time of one hour which puts huge pressure on these race teams and is outdated and dangerous.  The current FIA rules state that after a vehicle passes through the measured mile in one direction it must be rolling in the opposite direction within one hour and cover the same measured mile, the speeds in each direction are then averaged to determine if a new record has been set. 
     One of the major problems with this rule is that a car like ours take a lot more distance to stop than it does to get up to speed for the measured mile, as shutting off the engine of our car when we exit the measured mile, would mean the driver would experience about -16G, so the car needs to be slowed gradually.  We will probably be about 7 miles down range, whereas it needs only 3 miles to get up to speed. The car then needs to be towed back to its new starting position (about 4 miles away) before it can be refueled, re-oxidized (in our case), new braking chutes fitted, nitrogen banks re-charged and a complete safety check carried out on her. 
     The turnaround and tow back time to reach the new starting location can take 30 minutes alone so the race crews need to invent ways to re-fuel and re-charge our nitrogen supplies whilst the car is being towed, scary stuff! Ed Shadle and the mighty North American Eagle Team are addressing this problem through a newly formed organization known as the World Land Speed Record Association.  Take a look at www.wlsra.com and please pass on any feedback you have to these folks."   http://www.wlsra.com/. 
     "The World Land Speed Racing Association was established out of the need for a set of rules that recognize the dangers of unlimited land speed racing.  These vehicles are closer to research aircraft and missiles, than your standard automobiles."   The World Land Speed Racing Association (WLSRA) was started out of the need for a set of rules that recognizes the dangers of unlimited land speed racing.  Vehicles that are closer to research aircraft and missiles, than your standard automobiles. The purpose of the WLSRA is to strive for incident and injury free competition.  Rules that require runs in opposite directions within a certain time period are no longer valid when vehicles travel a mile in 4 seconds, and real estate to make such runs are limited to less than five places in the world.
     The WLSRA also recognizes that technology is on an exponential curve and that methods to measure distances and time are far more advanced than the stop watches and flag men that were used at the turn of the century.  The WLSRA also recognizes that teams attempting such endeavors know more than anyone the dangers they are facing, and will do what is necessary to ensure their vehicles and drivers are safe.  Rules for existing motorsports are excellent and the safety record of those organizations is commendable. If it was as simple as adding a roll bar in an aircraft, or air bags that open upon impact to save a driver in the event of a catastrophic event, then fighter jets would have integrated them years ago. 
     The way to ensure safety is to analyze the vehicle in the computer and compare test run data with the model; then make adjustments that further refine that model.  Over the years vehicles have made extraordinary runs, but because they did not meet all of the strict requirements, records were never established. Stan Barrett in the Budweiser Rocket Car and Kitty O'Neil are but two examples.  They ran speeds never seen before, but were not officially recognized.  So they went on with their lives with no posted records; and having to explain why.  This is not fair, and the WLSRA will now recognize these people and their efforts. 
     Any vehicle that runs on land, water, or ice.  All vehicles will make two runs, and then an average of those two runs will be the official time.  All vehicles must start the 2nd run within 24 hr.  The 24 hr time starts when the vehicle first enters the timing zone.  The two runs used to validate the record can be run in any direction.   Any acceptable timing organization may be used.  Methods to obtain times may use timing clocks spaced and certified over a one mile distance, certified GPS (Global Positioning System) or certified GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), or some future technology not yet invented.
     Prior to making a run, the team must contact the WLSRA to verify that the equipment they will be using is acceptable.  Course layout for timing light systems will be based on accurate survey points and must be set by a licensed surveyor.  Speed, per WLSRA, is the distance traveled over two points in time.  The location of these points, geometrically, is indeterminate, but can be calculated.   A Licensed Surveyor will be required when conventional light beam technology is used.  The Licensed Surveyor shall hold license from the following countries: United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom.  
     Records may be certified based on the following categories: Thrust powered, multiple engine, 4 or more wheels.   Thrust powered, single engine, 4 or more wheels.     Thrust powered, multiple engine, 3 or fewer wheels.  Thrust powered, single engine, 3 or fewer wheels.  Wheel driven, multiple engine, 4 or more wheels.   Wheel driven, single engine, 4 or more wheels.  Wheel driven, multiple engine, 3 or fewer wheels.     Wheel driven, single engine, 3 or fewer wheels.  Hovercraft.  Unlimited watercraft.           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------STAFF EDITORIAL, by Richard Parks.
     I received the latest news on the Motorsports Hall of Fame candidates and I was simply awed by the high quality of those nominated.  Only seven will be selected and this is a shame since every single person on the list is more than worthy of being honored.  Unlike an Honors program, a Hall of Fame has to set minimum standards and reject everyone who doesn’t reach that level of acknowledgment.  This means that worthy individuals and teams are left out who are respected and admired by the racing community.  It also quantifies as well as qualifies candidates.  A winner of five races is at a disadvantage in relation to someone who has won 100 races.  Voters try and ascertain the quality of the racing as well as the quantity of records, wins and importance to the sport; but numbers often sway the jury.
     Case in point is Bob Sweikert who won Indy in 1955 and then died at Salem in 1956.  He simply did not have time to create a full resume of work as a race car driver and yet from the late 1940’s until his death he was someone who held his own against the greatest race car drivers of the century.  Had he the opportunity to race another 15 or so years and then retired he would have certainly become a household name in open wheel racing.  Numbers do mean something and that will always be a valid criteria for honoring someone in any category.  But the quality and character of a man or a woman is just as important.  I cannot see how any of the candidates can be turned down.  They are all deserving and yet the rules state that only a few may be chosen each year.  In this newsletter we will continue to honor each and every person for their contributions; great or small that they are.
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     We are searching for information on a 36 Ford that was drive. By bob Wilcox in
1952. We believe the car had number 575 assigned to it.  Any information would
be appreciated. Thank you, Tom Bertino
     TOM: Before I can help you, here's what you need to do.
1) Tell me all you know about Bob Wilcox, crew members, where he was from, where he is now?
2) Did you google the internet?  Did you check SCTA programs for that year?
3) Do you have his car, do you want to restore it, are you looking for photos and those who worked on the car?
4) Where did he race the car, Bonneville, El Mirage, etc?
5) Where are you located, your phone number, etc.
     Once I know more I can begin to find people who might be able to help you.  The name is familiar but I don't know any more, but my data base is large and I'm sure we can find people who can help you. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sent in by LandSpeed Louise Ann Noeth.
     Finalists for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2016 class have been determined.  The Hall will unveil its seven new members on Friday, January 29, at Daytona International Speedway prior to the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  The racing legends will join the Hall of Fame during the 28th Annual Induction Ceremony presented by Bridgestone on June 29, 2016 in Daytona Beach. 
     In the Open Wheel category, the nominees are Indy 500 winner Eddie Cheever, veteran driver and official Wally Dallenbach, eleven-time Indycar Series winning owner Chip Ganassi, innovative designer and safety pioneer Ted Halibrand, three-time Indy winning owner Pat Patrick and two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon. 
     Quarter-milers on the ballot are master Funny Car designer John Buttera, golden-voiced announcer Dave McClelland, pioneer Paula Murphy, Pro Stock legend Lee Shepherd and Top Fuel innovators The Surfers. 
     The two-wheel set is represented on the ballot by fifteen-time AMA Grand National race winner Everett Brashear, two-time flat track nation champion Randy Goss, three-time Daytona 200 winner Dick Klamfoth, two-time world Superbike champion Fred Merkel, two-time Baja 1000 winner J.N. Roberts and thirteen-time national champion mechanic Bill Werner. 
     In the Historic category, voters will decide between NASCAR's first champion Red Byron, 1963 Daytona 500 winner Tiny Lund, mechanic and builder Ray Nichels, midget and sprint car king Bob Sweikert, the first two-time NASCAR champ Herb Thomas and short track specialist Rex White. 
     The ballot for the Stock Car inductee features the youngest member of the "Alabama Gang," Davey Allison, six-time NASCAR champion owner Richard Childress, two-time Cup champion Terry Labonte, legendary builder Banjo Matthews, “King of the Modifieds” Cotton Owens and 1969 Daytona 500 winner LeeRoy Yarbrough. 
     The At Large category features speed record achievers in 2016.  Finalists include hydroplane crew chief Ron Brown, Blue Flame pilot Gary Gabelich, LSR sponsor Earl B. Gilmore, Bonneville pioneer Ab Jenkins, Goldenrod creators - the Summers Brothers and multiple-time LSR holder Al Teague. 
     Sports Car contenders who made the ballot are Dyson Racing founder Rob Dyson, trailblazing driver and journalist Denise McCluggage, racer and broadcaster Sam Posey, five-time 24 Hours of Daytona champion Scott Pruett, Scarab's designer and builder Phil Remington, and driver/founder of the legendary "Group 44" teams Bob Tullius. 
     About the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) held its first induction ceremony in 1989; the facility was headquartered in Novi, Michigan from 1989-2015 and relocated to Daytona Beach, Florida in 2016.  The MSHFA is the only hall of fame that encompasses the full spectrum of American motorsports: cars, motorcycles, off-road, powerboats and airplanes.  The overriding mission of the MSHFA is to celebrate and instill the American core values of leadership, creativity, originality, teamwork and spirit of competition embodied in motorsports.  The MSHFA is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation Inc.   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gone Racin’ … 2016 Grand National Roadster Show.   Story by Richard Parks, photographs by Roger Rohrdanz.  31 January 2016.

     The 2016 Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) has come and gone and what a contradiction in terms of feelings that fans of the event hold for this epic car show.  It is both large in scope and yet one feels the warmth of individual effort.  John Buck, the owner and promoter of the show, extends an invitation to nearly everyone.  It is electric, ecletic and yet simple.  It is a beauty pageant of cars and the car culture without being presumptuous.  Even the AMBR category is wide ranging in style and yet formulaic in nature.  There are hidden gems within this show that are breath-taking and magnificent.  The enthusiasm of the spectators and participants draws people from all over the world.  It is neither the biggest car show nor the flashiest, but it is the oldest and one of the most respected hot rod, custom and roadster shows found anywhere in the world. 

AMBR
     America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award is a prize that many have sought and only a few have attained.  Past winners have included Blackie Gejeian, Romeo Palamides, Rich Guasco, George Barris, Leroy “Tex” Smith, Andy Brizio, Boyd Coddington, Erik Hansen and three time winner Ermie Immerso.  The list of builders and owners are legendary and the amounts of money, time and talent go beyond what the shade tree mechanic is capable of doing.  Yet sometimes for the average car guy it is hard to judge a beauty contest since all the entrants are “winners” in their own right.  The judges have to look everywhere, to spot a flaw in the most unobservable locations in order to come up with the winning entry.  A dozen or so judges determine who wins the AMBR award, just as a few judges must determine who wins the Miss World beauty pageant and the one we favor hardly ever wins the title. 
     This year’s entrants were: James Hetfield with his silver toned ’34 Packard with a detachable hardtop; Gary Matranga’s AMERICAN ICE ’32 Ford with a 401 c.i. Hemi; Tom Lieb’s all black AV8 ’29 Ford; Darryl Hollenbeck’s traditional looking ’32 Ford with a cloth top; Chris Evans’ BLUE BAYOU ’31 Ford Model-A; Maureen Magnuson’s ’32 Ford; Jon Wright’s TRIBUTE all black custom chrome ’36 Ford flattie with white sidewalls; Phillip Ray’s NUGGET light gold ’33 Ford with a modern roadster look; Dean and Tammy Scott’s ’32 Ford; Jack Stirnemann’s traditional all black ’30 Ford with a cloth top and gold rims; and Ron Simm’s THE SALT SCORPION ’31 Ford Pick-up with a cloth top that ran at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1957.  The AMBR winner for 2016 was Darryl Hollenbeck’s ’32 Ford, a strange but alluring cream colored roadster that had that comfortable, old soft shoe feel to it; as if he had just driven it in from some nostalgic diner.

GRAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW
     The interesting thing about the GNRS is that wherever you look there are booths, sponsors and people who look familiar and whom you have most likely have seen from prior shows.  Just ordinary people who will willingly strike up a good natured conversation and in a moment or two you will find similarities between their lives and yours.  It is a degree of separation that is amazingly short.  One such man was Tony Baron, who lives in Woodland Hills and is the owner of Baron’s Automotive Service and Tattersfield Racing Equipment.  His father, Frank Baron, owned the business and was partners with the iconic Bob Tattersfield who raced the dry lakes in the 1930’s.  The old business was located on Highland and Venice near Hollywood and 8^th Street in Los Angeles.  Tony grew up working with his father and his booth, though small, was dripping with early California racing history.  Also in building 4 were the eager employees of Hot Rods & Hobbies setting up their large display of four cars and hot rod equipment. 
     Another sponsor of the GNRS was the LA Roadsters; a club formed six decades ago to promote roadsters and includes show promoter John Buck among its members.  My father knew Buck when he was working for the Los Angeles County Fairplex and gave him encouragement to purchase the GNRS and follow his lifelong dreams in the hot rod culture.  John Buck enlarged the car show and invited many groups within the hot rodding community to participate.  The original GNRS began existence a year after the famed SCTA Hot Rod Exposition at the Armory in Los Angeles.  Al and Mary Slonaker founded the GNRS in Oakland, California and for years it was the show of shows for hot rods, roadsters and customs.  Over the years the show languished and eventually moved to Los Angeles.  John Buck purchased the GNRS and the Sacramento Autorama car show and gave it new life and a new direction.  Today the GNRS is bigger and better than it ever was.
     I met a young couple from France who spoke little English and I spoke no French, but we got along famously, with the car culture and terms our only means of understanding.  They were delighted to attend the GNRS and looked forward to seeing the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum as well.  In Building 5 I met Penny Pichette who still runs the West Coast Kustoms car show in Paso Robles.  This building had a nice selection of custom cars.  In Building 6 I met Dick and Beverly Martin, old and dear friends.  Dick is a writer and has published many of his stories and biographies in popular hot rod magazines.  Dick also has produced outstanding reunions honoring famous hot rodders including Tom Medley and Ak Miller.  Larry and Charleen Schuss invited me to see their restored 1915 Ford Model-T Center Door Sedan.  A show sponsor, Hop Up Magazine, was a show stopper.  Many old fans of the small-sized magazine raved about its reintroduction after a hiatus of twenty years.  The Suede Palace housed a younger crowd who were into the retro scene, or what they call the Traditional Style of Hot Rodding.  They use little or no chrome; prefer the primered and natural look of the old street cruising genre.  It is very popular today and yet it can be just as expensive to achieve that “comfortable, used old look.”  Pinky Lee, Kent Reppert and Brookville Bodies were some of the vendors and sponsors.  Kent has an art style that is 1950’s comic book style; the haggard wolf or scroungy animal that leers at the audience.
     Building 7 had a smorgasbord of vehicles including customs, hot rods, trucks, pick-ups, muscle and race cars.  Junior Johnson’s #3 stock car was originally owned by Mickey Thompson and is now owned by Tom McIntyre, who I often see at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.  Tom is a well-known car collector.  The stocker had a 427 c.i. powerplant and ran in the 1962 Daytona NASCAR race.  Building 8 had a nice collection of VW’s, a small car with a big heart and loved by many fans.  I spoke to Frank Casares, who showed me his beautifully restored yellow painted VW.  “We are part of the California Chapter of the VW club, which has chapters all over the world,” Frank told me.  I’m sure that Burly Burlile and the 36 Horsepower Challenge was somewhere nearby.  He is the secretary of this VW racing club that holds special racing events for VW’s cars around the United States and overseas.  Near the VW cars were many outstanding Woodie Station Wagons.  Setting up a display of 12 custom cars was the Lifestyle car club which has been around since 1974.  I spoke to Cesar Aguirre and Eddie Gonzalez who told me that they have 80 members in and around the East Los Angeles area and they take their custom cars to shows in Las Vegas, San Diego, Santa Barbara and elsewhere.  Cesar and Eddie explained that there is a great variety among custom car fans and they enjoy going to a wide-ranging style of car shows.
     I met a young man from Finland who was so eager to take back to his homeland as much history that he could that he recorded several people at the show including John Buck and me.  Toshi Akatsuka led a contingent of hot rodders from Japan and even though there was a language barrier we had no trouble communicating by means of our common hot rod heritage.  Randy and his son Sean Lorentzen were busy photographing and interviewing car builders and owners for their own free-lancing business.  I see Randy often at car shows and it is encouraging to see the next generation of young hot rodders come up the ranks.  Also at the show were Anna Marco and Mike Basso representing Ol’ Skool Rodz and Car Kulture Deluxe Magazines.  Anna is a member of the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians and a contributor to our newsletter, which is located on www.landspeedracing.com and www.hotrodhotline.com.  David Steele and Jim Miller manned the American Hot Rod Foundation booth and their website is at www.ahrf.com.  Andreanna Ditton was at the show in the Hot Rod Hot Line booth.

PIN-UP CONTEST
     One of the more popular events at the GNRS is the Pin-Up contest presented by Mitzi & Company.  Mitzi Valenzuela recreated the sexy pin-up craze in Southern California by harkening back to the 1940’s and ‘50’s Betty Page style of boudoir and car culture photography.  Mitzi is an exceptional photographer who works well with both men and women.  She sponsors this annual GNRS pin-up contest and other contests around the country.  Mitzi has this unique personality that allows her to get close to her models and to inspire them to create that exotic and erotic cheesecake posing made famous by Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood starlets of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s.  I’ve watched Mitzi work and she is a dynamo of energy, forcing her slim figure into the strangest positions as she tries to capture a young beauty in the back seat of a car or in her studio.  She provides the cars, background, props and clothing for many of her models and her calendars are extremely popular.  There are few photographers as hard-working or as talented as Mitzi.
     Last year’s winner was Jenny Dame, a petite brunette with a soft Latin look so popular in the Traditional Hot Rodding culture.  Jenny is this year’s hostess and she will announce twelve sultry contestants and give the audience a summary of each models attributes.  The contestants train under Mitzi & Company and also buy their own nostalgic apparel and make-up.  These ladies come as close to the 1940’s and ‘50’s styles as possible and even affect the mannerisms and charms of those old days.  The contestants in the 2016 GNRS Pin-Up contest are; Amanda Rose, Anna Pretty In Pink, Bella Mari, Christini Martini, Haylee Holiday, Jazie Doll, K Von Spun, Millie Michelle, Rosa De Fuego, Ruby Star, Vikki Fahrenheit, and Zelda.  While the names are racy the young ladies are your everyday students, housewives, office workers and normal women who just happen to find modeling a fun and often profitable part of their lives.  Last year I interviewed Miranda Barrie and I hope to bring you a story on Jenny Dame soon.  For sheer fun and a bit of the flamboyant past be sure to see next year’s GNRS Pin-Up contest.  This year’s GNRS Pin-Up Queen was K Von Spun. 

PINSTRIPERS REUNION
     The pinstripers reunion has been a mainstay at the GNRS for years.  Some forty or more pinstripers from all over the country participate in the show at their own expense and they will pinstripe any object for a donation which goes to a charity.  They also hold several auctions of their artwork and that money is also donated to charity.  I spoke with Karen Knapp, a pinstriper and airbrusher of forty years from Chesterfield, Michigan and her husband Marshall Knapp, who has been pinstriping for thirty years.  “I learned pinstriping from my wife, Karen,” said Marshall.  “We also donate our time to raise money for charities at the Right Coast Nationals in Syracuse, New York and the Detroit Autorama,” he told me.  Janet and Richard Westlake came from Hallsville, Missouri where they are pinstripers.  “My husband, Richard, is also the auctioneer for the pinstriper’s auctions and this year the charity that was chosen is a local California group called Everyone Free,” Janet added.  Steve Heller is a pinstriper from Woodstock, New York and has made a living as a pinstriper for forty years.  Howie Nisgor is a pinstriper from Poughkeepsie, New York, one that I have met at previous GNRS pinstriper’s reunions.  In a thick East Coast accent he told me how glad he was able to be here and help promote the art of pinstriping.  Also at the reunion were local favorites Jimmy C, Jeff Styles and Tom Kelley.

SCTA QUEST FOR SPEED
     John Buck always reserves Building 9 for a special event; something unique and different to draw in the crowds.  This year it was the land speed cars under the auspices of the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA).  Land speed racing, along with road course racing is the oldest of all automotive land sports.  It has always lived out on the margins of society with a small but zealous group of racers and fans.  It is a primal urge to pit man against the elements, indeed against time itself; time, which erodes all things, metal, hope and life itself.  To race a car down a long straightaway and time the effort from point A to B is a simple goal, with an impossibly difficult outcome.  So much can go wrong, but men and women experience this utter thrill of speed and exultation.  It is addictive as men like Craig Breedlove and Skip Hedrick continue to race in their seventies.  The SCTA has been in existence since 1937 and this year Ron Main worked with John Buck to produce a special show called the SCTA Quest For Speed.
     Ron Main and David Fetherston produced a special two volume book entitled “SCTA Bonneville National Speed Trials; 1949 to 1968.”  Sales of the book will be donated to the SCTA to use to protect and save the Bonneville Salt Flats from further destruction by mining operations that are depleting the National Monument.  Fetherston is the author and Main provided the financial backing for the project.  Both men are instrumental in the fight to save a precious national treasure before it is destroyed.  Fetherston is also working on a five volume history on land speed racing.  Some of the cars on display were Stephanie and Douglas Adler’s 1950 sprint car and their 2010 diesel streamliner.  They are members of the Sidewinders car club in the SCTA.  Terry Baldwin exhibited the famous #4 Schenck streamliner that raced in the 1930’s through the ‘50’s under the Albata car club. 
     Other cars were the Old Crow, a Belly Tank Lakester; Eddie Miller Jr’s gorgeous Pontiac 6-cylinder Lakester; Sam Wheeler’s 999 E-Z Hook streamliner bike; The Phoenix G-BFMR Sloan & Zimmerman entry; the #8 Danny Sakai lakes modified tribute car; Jim Lattin’s #8, a tribute car that was based on the Stu Hilborn streamliner; and Kev Elliott’s ’28 Ford Model-A Pick-up.  In addition there were Rod Riders car club’s Scott Oliver’s V4F class 1948 Hellcat Belly Tank; Rhett Butler’s Texas Forever ’27 Model-T modified roadster on ’32 rails; the Blanchard/Bacik/York Adrenaline Rush Lakester; the Klos/Sutliff/Spacek VOT track midget car; and the new Poteet/Main Speed Demon streamliner that replaced their previous car that crashed at Bonneville.
Gone Racin’ is at [email protected]. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rosco McGlashan [email protected].                                    
     G’day to all of our dedicated newsletter recipients, sponsors, supporters, SuperSonic Selfie subscribers and 1000 MPH Club members. It’s February and here’s what’s been happening in our camp over the past month. As we stated in last month’s newsletter Australia goes into basic shutdown over the festive season which usually lasts until well into January. Not for my team mind you, we are on the job 24 hours a day/365 days of the year.   We have been busy fabricating the air brake hinge and operating mechanism structures as a final step in completing our air brake door operation. This is particularly difficult as the mechanism has to work in a very confined space, with so many other components around it. We again called for our Guru welder Lawson "Chomper" Freshner to do this complicated welding operation.                               
     We have had a few comments on the air brake mechanism from observers after our last newsletter, which had a temporary mechanism to confirm clearances. It would take a long time to write to everyone individually, but I can assure you the final mechanism will work and will be strong enough to take the many tonnes of force exerted on it.    The job was done to perfection and it is now being prepped for NDI before painting and some final hydraulic modifications, and we will have this side of the car completed after a very long, hard road.    
     Safety in running one of these unlimited class cars has always been a major concern to the drivers and crew ever since speeds started exceeding the 600 mph region. The FIA (Federation Internationale De l’Automobile) have just announced a program by President Jean Todt for a Global Road Safety Challenge, this is a brilliant long awaited strategy and we look forward to seeing it implemented.  We now need an urgent rule change for unlimited class vehicles to increase their tightly sanctioned turnaround time of one hour which puts huge pressure on these race teams and is outdated and dangerous. The current FIA rules state that after a vehicle passes through the measured mile in one direction it must be rolling in the opposite direction within one hour and cover the same measured mile, the speeds in each direction are then averaged to determine if a new record has been set. 
     One of the major problems with this rule is that a car like ours take a lot more distance to stop than it does to get up to speed for the measured mile, as shutting off the engine of our car when we exit the measured mile, would mean the driver would experience about -16G, so the car needs to be slowed gradually. We will probably be about 7 miles down range, whereas it needs only 3 miles to get up to speed. The car then needs to be towed back to its new starting position (about 4 miles away) before it can be refueled, re-oxidized (in our case), new braking chutes fitted, nitrogen banks re-charged and a complete safety check carried out on her. The turnaround and tow back time to reach the new starting location can take 30 minutes alone so the race crews need to invent ways to re-fuel and re-charge our nitrogen supplies whilst the car is being towed, scary stuff!  Ed Shadle and the mighty North American Eagle Team are addressing this problem through a newly formed organization known as the World Land Speed Record Association. Take a look at www.wlsra.com and please pass on any feedback you have to these folks.  
     Rowe and Sons, one of Australia’s best car restorers, is a family business in Maddington, Western Australia. These guys are one of the few companies we would trust to complete the body sheeting on our car and to know that it would hang it there at supersonic speeds. These guys are restoration and fabrication geniuses.  We recently asked them to carry our further work on our car with the design of rear axle fairings and a series of access holes through the T6 aluminium body panels. Nick Rowe was in our shop in a heartbeat and not only checked on our design requirements but went a lot further with some brilliant fabrication ideas that their team is now working on.  Thank you to Rowe and Sons.   On this note, our great mate in the US and builder of The Blue Flame Rocket car which ran 622 mph back in 1970 was in Florida the other day when he spotted a new ad for Old Spice involving a rocket powered LSR car. This clip is a classic and demonstrates why having the right guys fit your body panels is paramount. Thanks Dick, this is a classic.  
     It's time to start permanently fixing several structures together on our car. The air brake winglets and tailfin sections designed by Paul Martin, the body panels fixed to our mainframe to name just a couple. We approached Henkel Australia/Loctite to assist us with this very crucial job. Mark Casotti did his homework on the best products available and is on standby to assist us with carry out these jobs. Thank you Mark and Henkel/Loctite.  
     My long time friend and mentor Ken Warby is the current World Water Speed record holder. Ken, like myself has always had a hands on approach and built his amazing craft on a tight budget.  Ken and his son David are out to better Ken's record set in 1978, with David driving this time, in a new boat called Spirit of Australia II. We wish them the best of luck.   
     We have just set another record with the number of visitors to our shop on one day. We constantly have schools, companies and clubs ask to come and take a look at our project. Our shop is alongside the house we live, in a residential suburb of Perth, Western Australia. On average we get around 30-40 visitors at one time. After agreeing to a visit by the Mazda MX-5 Club of WA two weeks ago we were shocked to learn that they were having 40-50 cars coming with possibly 80 – 100 club members and friends.  I was terrified, we don’t have enough room to "swing a cat"’ in our shop let alone host a huge group. The day turned out a real blast for me and we had some fantastic feedback, great questions and I caught up with some extremely motivational old mates from a past life. Thanks Bob Sharpe and the mighty Mazda MX-5 Car Club of WA for arranging this event.        
     We had a legendary WA driver Geoff Pilgrim and his crew visit us. Geoff got the hot seat in our rocket car. Geoff, Glen and Junior have been long time friends and I have always been inspired by the ingenuity they demonstrated with their racing cars. Geoff put his hand up to be reserve driver but I told him "No" he’d abuse it!   In closing I must thank the management of the Mullaloo Beach Resort for your brilliant assistance with accommodating one of our crew members on extremely short notice at the busiest time of the year. You guys are real troopers, thank you very much Andrew Slomp and Dylan Stickle. If any of our readers are planning some time in Perth and are looking for some first class accommodation look no further… [email protected].       Kind Regards, Rosco McGlashan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RACING SCENE Column – (2015 Racing—57 organizations) – By Tim Kennedy, Los Angeles.
     The 2015 motor racing season is history. It is interesting to compare the competitiveness of many touring series of two and four wheel, oval (dirt and paved) and road racing series. Specialized (straight-line/drag racing) and drifting competition are excluded in our A to Z-arrayed review. Source data shown comes from published reports in newspapers and the Internet.
     Included for each group are: total races run, type of track, number of states or countries, number of different feature winners, champion's victories and winning point margin over the title runner-up. The following review contains 57 varied national and international series. Footnotes about three drivers appear at the conclusion.
     1 – AMA Flat Track Motorcycles: 13 races at 11 dirt speedways in 9 states with 7 different winners, including 2-time winner and champion Jared Mees. Runner-up/5-time feature winner Bryan Smith trailed by 23 points.
     2 – AMA Monster Energy Supercross (indoor and outdoor stadiums from January-May): 17 races at 14 dirt tracks in 10 states with 6 winners, including 8-time winner/2-time champion Ryan Dungey. Runner-up/2-time winner Eli Tomac finished 85 points back.
     3 - AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross (outdoor raceways from May-August): 12 races at 12 different dirt tracks in 11 states with 4 winners, including 7-time winner/champion Dungey. He beat second place/1-time winner Ken Roczen by 100 points.
     4 – AMA Speedway Bikes @ Industry Speedway: 14 Wednesday night races at eighth-mile indoor dirt track in Industry Hills Expo Center (Los Angeles County): 10 riders won Division 1 main events (15 scratch and 3 with handicapped starts). Max Ruml, 18, won the 2015 track championship by 5.5 points over his brother Dillon, 16. Both won a D-1 feature.
     5 – ARCA Stock Cars: 20 races at 18 speedways, including super-speedways, a road course, paved shorter ovals and two 1-mile dirt tracks. There were 13 different winners, including 6-time winner/first-time ARCA champion Grant Enfinger. He won by 425 points over 1-time winner Austin Wayne Self. Note: Ages of winners ranged from a record low 15 to 60+ years.
     6 – ARDC Midgets: 18 races at 10 dirt tracks in two states (NJ and PA); 10 different winners including 1-time winner/champion Steve Drevicki by 236 points over win-less Trevor Kobylarz.
     7 - ASCS Lucas Oil Sprint Cars: 33 races at 19 dirt tracks in 12 states; 18 different winners included 7-time winner/first-time ASCS champion Aaron Reutzel. He beat 2-time winner Wayne Johnson by 49 points.
     8 – ASCS Southwest Sprint Cars: 18 races at 8 dirt tracks in 3 states (AZ, NM and TX); 11 winners including 3-time winner/champion Rick Ziehl by 26 points over 3-time winner Bob Ream, Jr..
     9 – Atlantic (Formula Cars) Championship: 14 races at 6 paved road courses in 6 states (GA, N.J. N.Y, OH, PA and VA); 5 different winners including 5-time winner/champion Keith Grant. Runner-up/2-time winner Conner Kearby trailed by 42 points.
     10 – Badger Midgets (Wisconsin): 7 races at 1 dirt track in Sun Prairie, WI; 6 winners including 1-time winner/champion David Budres. He defeated 2-time winner Bill Balog by 125 points.
     11 – BCRA Midgets (Nor. Calif.): 20 races at 9 dirt and paved speedways in 2 states (CA and NV); 11 different winners including 5-time winner Frankie Guerini by 185 points over win-less, 9-time series champion Floyd Alvis, 80.
     12 - Civil War Winged Sprint Cars Series (Nor Calif.): 13 races at 7 dirt tracks in Nor Cal; 8 winners included 3-time winner/champion Andy Forsberg. He edged 1-time winner Justin Sanders by 9 points.
     13- California Lightning Sprints (mini winged sprints) So Calif.: 15 races at 4 dirt tracks; 5 winners including 9-time winner/champion Bobby Michnowicz by 246 points over win-less Jeff Dyer.
     14 – Cooper Tires Prototype Lites: 14 races at 7 road courses in 6 states (FL, GA, LA, NY, VA and WI) and Canada. There were 2 winners--champion Kenton Koch won 11 times, runner-up Clark Toppe won 3-times and trailed the champion by 92 points.
     15 – Davey Hamilton's King of the Wing Sprint Car Shootout (paved tracks from April-November): Ran 11 races at 10 paved tracks of 1/4 to 5/8-mile with 8 different winners. National Champion—Aaron Pierce; Southeast (2 tracks in FL and AL) - Champion-Bobby Santos III; Midwest Tour (3 tracks in OH and IN) – Champion – Brian Gerster; Northwest Tour – (2 tracks in ID and WA) – Champion Aaron Pierce; West Coast Tour (3 tracks in California) – Champion Bobby Santos III with 3 different feature winners (Davey Hamilton, Jr. @ Madera, Jo Jo Helberg @ Irwindale, and Sierra Jackson @ Kern Country Raceway Park).
     16 – FIA Formula One (International road racing): 19 races at 19 street and road circuits in 19 countries; 3 winners including 10-time winner/3-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain. He won by 59 points over his Mercedes teammate and 6-time winner Nico Rosberg.
     17 – FVP National Sprint Car League (new in 2015 winged 410 sprint series): 28 races from April-October at 15 dirt tracks in 6 upper mid-western states; 14 different winner including 9-time winner/champion Danny Lasoski. He beat runner-up/win-less Ian Madsen by 893 points.
     18 - Indy Lights: (Dallara chassis-Mazda engines): 16 races at 9 circuits (6 street or road courses and 3 ovals of 3/4 to 2.5-miles length); 7 drivers won features, led by 6-time winner/champion Spencer Pigot. He defeated 2-time winner/runner-up Jack Harvey.
     19 - IRA Sprint Cars: 27 races at 13 dirt tracks in 2 states (IL and WI) with 20 winners; win-less/champion Bill Rose defeated 2-time winner Ben Schmitt by 44 points.
     20 – King of Indiana Sprint Car Series (KISS): 6 races at 6 Indiana dirt tracks with 4 winners; Champion Brady Short won 3-times and beat runner-up win-less Kyle Robbins by 74 points.
     21 – King of the West Sprint Car Series: 22 races at 10 dirt tracks in California with 13 winners; champion Carson Macedo had no feature wins but edged 2-time winner Bud Kaeding by 12 points. Note: Kyle Hirst won 5 series features.
     22 - Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models: 38 races at 28 dirt tracks in 17 states (AR, FL, GA, IA, IL IN, KY, MI, MO, NC, NE, OH, PA, SC, WI, WV) with 15 winners; 12-time winner/champion Jonathan Davenport beat 8-time winner/runner-up Scott Bloomquist by 55 points.
     23 – Lucas Oil Modifieds presented by Loan Mart: 12 races (including 2 non-points) at 8 paved speedways (from 1/4 to 1/2 mile) in 4 states (AZ, CA, NV and UT); 6 drivers won features, led by 4-time winner/champion Austin Barnes. He won the championship by 36 points over 3-time winner Dylan Cappello, the 2014 series champion.
     24 - Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing (Pro 2): 16 races at 7 dirt courses in 4 states (AZ, CA, NV and UT) and Encinitas, Mexico with 6 winners; 3-time winner/champion Rob MacCachren beat runner-up/8-time winner Bryce Menzies by 44 points.
     25 - Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing (Pro 4): 16 races at 7 dirt courses in 4 states (AZ, CA, NV and UT) and Mexico with 3 winners; 12-time winner/champion Kyle LeDuc beat 3-time winner/runner-up Rob MacCachren by 56 points.
     26 - Must See Racing Xtreme Winged Sprint Cars (paved tracks): 8 races in 4 states (IL, IN, MI and NC); 4 winners included 3-time winner Jimmy McCune. Runner-up/win-less Anthony McCune trailed by 183 points.
     27 – NASCAR Sprint Cup: 36 point races at 23 paved speedways from 1/2 to 2.66-miles and 2 road circuits) in 20 states. Kyle Busch, a 5-time winner, won his first Sprint Cup championship by finishing ahead of runner-up Kevin Harvick and two other championship round drivers in the final race.
     28 – NASCAR Xfinity Series: 33 point races for second tier stock cars at 23 paved speedways from 12 to 2.66 miles and 2 road circuits in 22 states; 2-time winner Chris Buescher won his first NXS championship by 15 points over 1-time winner and reigning series champion Chase Elliott.
     29– NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: 22 point races at 20 paved speedways from 1/2 to 2.66 miles, one half-mile dirt track, and 2 road courses in 17 states and Canada; 3-time winner Erik Jones won his first NCWTS championship by 15 points over 2-time winner Tyler Reddick.
     30 – NASCAR K & N Pro Series—East: 14 races at 13 speedways (short track to miles and 2 road circuits in 11 states; 10 drivers won main events; 4-time winner William Byron won his initial K & N crown by 15 points over 2-time winner/series rookie of the year Scott Heckert.
     31 – NASCAR K & N Pro Series—West: 13 races at 12 speedways up to a mile and 1 road course in 6 states; 9 drivers won main events. 2-time winner Chris Eggleston won his first K & N crown by 7 points over 2-time winner/series rookie of the year Noah Gragson.
     32 – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (New England): 15 races at 7 paved speedways in 4 states (CT, NH, NY and TN) with 5 winners. 7-time winner/champion Doug Coby edged 4-time winner/runner-up Ryan Preece by 11 points.
     33 – NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour: 10 races at 6 paved speedways in 3 southern states (NC, VA and TN); 3-time winner/champion Andy Seuss edged 3-time winner/second place George Brunnhoelzl III by 3 points.
     34 – Robby Gordon Speed Energy Formula Off-Road Stadium TRAXXAS Super Trucks – 22 races at 10 sites in 5 states and two foreign countries—Australia and Canada with 7 main event winners. 9-time winner/first time series champion Sheldon Creed beat 2-time winner/series founder Robby Gordon by 33 points.
     35 - Northeast Midget Assn (NEMA) – 13 races in 5 states (CT, MA, ME. NH and NY) with 8 winners; 3-time winner John Zych, Jr. beat runner-up/2-time winner Randy Cabral by 63 points.
     36 – NMRA-TQ Midgets – 15 races at 3 dirt speedways in central and southern California with 4 feature winners. 9-time winner/repeat champion Chuck West edged his cousin/car owner/3-time winner West Evans by 5 points.
     37 - Pro Mazda Series – 16 races at 8 venues in 7 states (AL, CA, FL, IA, IN, LA, OH) and Canada with 6 winners; 3-time winner/champion Santiago Urrutia won by 53 points over 4-time winner/runner-up Neil Alberico.
     38 - Pirelli World Challenge GT: 20 races at 11 circuits in 8 states (AL, CA, FL, MI, OH, TX, UT, and WI) plus Canada with 10 winners; 4-time winner/champion Johnny O'Connell beat 3-time winner/runner-up Oliver Beretta by 61 points.
     39 – POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series: 30 races at 15 dirt speedways in 5 mid-western states (IL, IN, MO, OK and WI); 13 winners including 4-time winner/champion Darren Hagen. He beat 2-time winner Andrew Felker by 910 points.
     40 - Red Bull Global Rallycross – 12 events in 5 states (CA, FL, MI, N.C, NV), plus Washington DC and Barbados with 7 winners; Scott Speed won 2-times and took the title by 56 points over 1-time winner Sebastian Eriksson.
     41 - Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association: 10 races at 4 dirt tracks in Colorado with 3 winners, including 6-time winner Keith Rauch. He beat 1-time winner/runner-up Bob Harr by 46 points.
     42 - Spears Mfg SRL Southwest Tour Stock Car Series: 9 races at 7 paved tracks up to a 1/2-mile in 3 states (CA, NV and UT); 5 drivers won features, led by 3-time winner/past series champion Derek Thorn. 2-time winner Jacob Gomes won his first SRL championship over runner-up Greg Voigt by 39 points.
     43 - Spears Mfg S2 Stock Cars: 10 races at 4 paved speedways up to 1/2-mile in 2 states (CA and NV); 7 drivers won main events led by 3-time winner Dylan Garner, 16. He won his first driving crown in his first season by 5 points over 2-time winner Johnny Butler. Note: 5 of the S2 drivers won their first S2 features during 2015.
     44 – United 410 cu. in. Sprint Car Series: 31 races at 25 dirt tracks in 8 states (AL, AR, FL, GA, MI, NC, SC, and TN); 10 winners included 1-time winner/champion Morgan Turpen. He beat win-less runner-up Terry Gray by 140 points.
     45 – Trans-Am Cars: 12 races at 12 sites, all road courses in 10 states; 3 drivers won features, led by 8-time winner/champion Amy Ruman. She beat 3-time winner/runner-up Paul Fix by 34 points.
     46 – UNOH All-Star Circuit of Champions (winged 410 Sprint Cars in Midwest): 46 races at 23 dirt tracks in 7 states (FL, IN, MI, NY, OH, PA and WI); 18 drivers won main events, led by 12-time winner/champion Dale Blaney. He beat 3-time winner, runner-up Cody Darrah by 220 points.
     47 - US Formula 2000: 16 races at 8 tracks in 6 states 9 AL, CA, FL, IN, LA and OH) and Canada, with 4 winners; 10-time winner/champion Nico Jarmin beat 4-time winner/runner-up Jake Eidson by 72 points.
     48 - USAC Silver Crown Series: 11 races at 10 oval speedways (9 dirt, 1 paved) of 1/2 to 1-mile in 6 states (IA, IL, IN, KS, NY and OH); 7 drivers won features, led by 4-time winner/repeat series champion Kody Swanson. He beat win-less runner-up Jerry Coons, Jr. by 142 points.
     49 – USAC Amsoil National 410 Sprint Cars: 39 races at 20 dirt tracks up to half a mile in length in 10 states (AZ, CA, IL, IN, KS, NE, NJ, OH, PA and WI); 13 drivers won main events, led by 13-time winner/first-time series champion Robert Ballou. He beat 4-time winner/runner-up Dave Darland by 87 points.
     50 – USAC Honda National Midget Series: 17 races at 15 dirt tracks up to half a mile in length in 7 states (CA,IL, IN, KS, OH, PA and WI); 6 drivers won features, led by Rico Abreu with 5 victories. Win-less Tracy Hines won his first series championship over 4-time winner Tanner Thorson by 18 points.
     51 – USAC-CRA Amsoil 410 Sprint Cars: 26 races at 9 dirt speedways (1/5 up to 1/2-mile) in 2 states (AZ and CA); 9 drivers won features, led by 8-time winner/three-time champion Damion Gardner. He beat 4-time winner/runner-up Richard Vander Weerd by 66 points.
     52 – USAC Honda Western Midgets: 12 races at 8 dirt tracks (1/4 up to 1/2 mile) in northern, central and southern California; 9 drivers won features, led by 3-time winner/repeat series champion Ronnie Gardner. He beat win-less runner-up Shannon McQueen by 229 points.
     53 – USAC Southwest Series 360 cu. in. Sprint Cars: 24 races at 11 dirt tracks in 5 states (AZ, KS, NM, NV and OK); 9 drivers won main events, including 10-time winner/champion R. J. Johnson. He beat 3-time winner Charles Davis, Jr. by 75 points.
     54 – USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Cars: 21 races at 7 dirt tracks in 3 states (AZ, CA and NV); 12 drivers won features, including 3 by series champion Danny Faria, Jr., who defeated second place/series non-winner Trey Marcham by 167 points.
     55 – Verizon Indy Car Series (Dallara chassis with Chevrolet or Honda engines): 16 races at 15 sites (4 street, 5 road circuits and 6 ovals) in 11 states (AL, CA, FL, IA, IN, LA, MI, OH, PA, TX and WI) plus Canada; 9 drivers won features, led by 3-time winner/champion Scott Dixon. He tied 2-time winner/series runner-up Juan Pablo Montoya at 556 points. Dixon beat Montoya for the title by using the tie-breaker—most feature victories. Dixon had 3 wins and Montoya 2.
     56 – WORLD OF OUTLAWS Dirt Late Models Series: 41 races at 29 dirt tracks in 18 states; 14 drivers won main events, led by 10-time winner/champion Shane Clanton by 42 points over 9-time winner Josh Richards.
     57 – WORLD of OUTLAWS 410 Winged Sprint Cars: 78 races at 49 dirt speedways in 24 states and 2 races in Canadian provinces; 23 drivers won features, led by 31-time winner/repeat champion Donny Schatz. He beat 9-time winner Shane Stewart by 544 points.
     NOTE 1 – Popular driver Rico Abreu has been called Mr. Personality. He also could be called Mr. Versatility. The 4'4” driver races almost year-round. Last year he raced from Jan. 1 to Nov. 26. He raced in 107 events including one foreign country (New Zealand) and in 20 states—AZ, CA, DE, FL, IA, IL IN, KS, MO, NC, NH, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WI. He raced 410 & 360 winged and 360 non-winged sprints, midgets, outlaw karts, NASCAR stock cars and NASCAR trucks. Rico set 13 fastest qualifying times and two new track records. His 2015 feature victories (17 total with two events co-sanctioned) came on dirt and paved speedways. Feature victories in ten groups attest to his versatility as shown below:
     2 at Tulsa (OK) Chili Bowl Midget Classic (1 on a preliminary night; 1 in the 55-lap A-main Saturday).
     1 in King of the West winged sprint car series.
     2 in World of Outlaws winged sprint cars.
     5 USAC National Midget Series midgets on dirt.
     1 NASCAR K & N East stock cars in a Chevrolet at Columbus, OH. As a series rookie, he finished fifth in final points.
     1 in Badger Midget Auto Racing Series on dirt.
     2 in USAC Western Midget Series on dirt.
     2 in MOWA / IRA410 winged sprint cars on dirt.
     1 in POWRi National Midget Series on dirt.
     NOTE 2 – Bryan Clauson is a USAC 2-time National Sprint and 2-time National Midget champion, from Carmichael, CA now racing out of Noblesville, IN. He ran 26 races in the 2008 NASCAR Xfinity Series for Chip Ganassi and had one fast qualifying time and two top ten in NXS features. He announced his ambitious plan to compete in 200 races during 2016. His races will be in New Zealand and 20 states—AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX and WA. That includes sanctioning bodies USAC, WoO, ASCofC and the Verizon Indy Cars. He will drive winged and non-winged sprint cars, midgets and in his third Indianapolis 500.
     Personable Bryan, 26, is off to a solid start in 2016 with a preliminary (Friday) A-main triumph and second place in the Saturday, January 16 Tulsa Chili Bowl Midget Classic 55-lap A-feature. He came to Peoria, AZ for the non-wing 360 sprint car “Winter Challenge” over two-weekends in late January; he won four of the five features. By February 4 he has 12 of his planned 200 races in the history books and has won 5 main events.
     NOTE 3 – Tyler Walker is a versatile and winning sprint car driver. He also raced in NASCAR with 19 Xfinity Series starts (2004-05) and seven NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races. NASCAR suspended him for substance abuse. He then raced in USAC and won Silver Crown Series features and raced 410 winged sprint car races on the tough “Pennsylvania Posse” circuit. A profane-laced verbal argument in the pits during 2013 over an official's decision was seen widely on You Tube. His ride in Pennsylvania ended.
     Tyler, now 36, has been absent from racing for several years. The reason was his notorious 50+ miles through three-states, 100+ mph pursuit and arrest on January 30, 2013 on I-15 near St. George, Utah. Court dates and substance rehabilitation treatment followed. In December 2014, Tyler pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, a fine of $1,665 and probation. He made his return to sprint car racing in the black & green No. 24 winged sprint during the summer of 2015. The Californian won three main events from August to October at dirt tracks in Stockton, Ventura and Tulare. Tyler is reportedly in a better place in his life now and plans to compete in California.2016 winged sprint car races.
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