ItB次元官网网址檚 been said that B次元官网网址渕an plans and God laughs.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a truism that was confirmed in Sooke resident Shawn DriverB次元官网网址檚 mid-August foray to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah where his dream of pushing his 1953 Studebaker to 300 mph was stymied by bad weather.

B次元官网网址淲e got down there and theyB次元官网网址檇 experienced rain and the track was really bad,B次元官网网址� Driver said.

B次元官网网址淭hey tried to get some tracks in shape, but it just wasnB次元官网网址檛 happening.B次元官网网址�

Speed Week officials tried their best, but a wet spring and a number of small storms passed over the dry lake bed, leaving their mark with standing water in the pits and on various parts of the racecourse.

B次元官网网址淭hey had the long course running, but only to the four-mile mark. You had to exit before the six-mile mark because conditions after that were quite bad,B次元官网网址� Driver said.

B次元官网网址淲e tried the four-mile, but even there it was like driving on the beach in three inches of sand. You canB次元官网网址檛 chase high speeds in those conditions.B次元官网网址�

Driver made one run, getting to 158 mph, but then allowed his car to be used by otherB次元官网网址檚 who qualified for the lower speed qualifications.

Some other drivers of the faster cars simply packed up and headed for home, noting that, even after several days of drying, wet salt is not fast salt.

And for drivers like Driver, chasing significant performance goals wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have made much sense on the surface that was available.

But while Driver was disappointed, heB次元官网网址檚 far from giving up.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be waiting to see what the conditions are before we head out, but if all goes well weB次元官网网址檒l be heading down to the BNI World Finals on Oct.1,B次元官网网址� Driver said.

B次元官网网址淏ut we might just try to go 250 mph twice and set our record that way this year and push it further next year.B次元官网网址�

DriverB次元官网网址檚 reasonable level of caution is fueled by two crashes that happened at Bonneville recently.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if it was the conditions, or what, but one fellow crashed at 350 mph and had to be airlifted out in critical condition. Another crashed at 285 mph and destroyed his car.B次元官网网址�

Driver said he will be without some of his pit crew as they had worked with TV personality and female land speed record holder Jessi Combs. She was killed in August when she crashed in OregonB次元官网网址檚 Alvord Desert while trying to set a new record. She was reportedly travelling in excess of 400 mph at the time.

B次元官网网址淚t can be dangerous, but weB次元官网网址檙e doing everything we can to make it as safe as possible,B次元官网网址� Driver said.

mailto:tim.collins@sookenewsmirror.com
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