Target 550 Update 204: the engines have been fired up!

[RayTheRat]

Target 550 updates from the last few days.  We've been a little busy with a lotta stuff and I failed to post a couple of updates...so here they are:

http://www.target550.com/gallery/202_wiring_ignition_install_fuel_system/index.html  Update 202 was the last post of 2012 and shows Bob Harris wiring and connecting the ignition systems for both motors and Marlo Treit installing the fuel system.  He's been doing fuel delivery systems for other people for over 25 years and hasn't done anything for his own car since he retired his lakester.  Finally, his efforts are going into his own project.



Update 203 was a Happy New Year wish from the Target 550 team....but 204 is something a whole lotta folks have been waiting for: the motors being fired up!  And it was captured on video!
http://www.target550.com/gallery/204_startup_videos/index.html  This is what Glenn Freudenberger (team press relations guy and photographer) had to say about it:
"Les [Davenport] announced that the engines would be started on Propane and then switched over to run on alky.  After the initial shock wore off the Propane bottle was attached, the alky was plumbed in and the starter whirred. It fired immediately the switch over was made and the engine ran somewhat above an idle.  The second engine received the same treatment and another step in the life of Target550 had been accomplished. 
So Ray Therat has taken the video that Bob Harris filmed with his i-Pad and made two short movies."

I've attached a low-res vid-cap image...the video was totally impromptu and no one even knew it was happening....but the quality isn't what I'd call "Oscar Award" material.  In any case, the engines being fired up, especially the idea of starting 'em on propane is one huge milestone.  Oh.  The reason for the propane:  It's done so that there's no possibility of having nitromethane-laced alcohol spilled into the enclosed engine compartment.  The liner has a full belly pan and any spillage could result in bad things happening.  Since Les is the driver as well as part of the design and fabrication effort, he figured that having a fire in front of him at over 400 mph might not be such a good idea.  Thus the idea of the propane start was born.  I don't think anyone else has done that on the salt flats. 

Enjoy the vids,

[Otto Puzzell]

Cool videos

[RayTheRat]

Cool videos

Considering the fact that I'd never created any video except some stuff I'd shot with my Canon 7D, and the original .mov files were shot from an iPad and the guy who shot 'em kinda did it on a "spur of the moment" thing...well, they're a lot better than what I started with.

But the important thing is that we've passed another BIG milestone. I talked with Marlo on the phone yesterday and we agreed that the next milestone will be when the car moves under its own power.  I did my best to extract a promise from him that I'll have enough notice before the that happens that I can throw some stuff in a suitcase, toss it in my Burb or Camaro and hit the road for the 800 mile trip from Utah to Oregon.  Hell, I'll be there if I have to hitchhike.  The assault on the record is getting closer and closer!