Inside, looking out

[RayTheRat]

This is the driver's-eye view from the seat of the Target 550 streamliner. I asked if I could sit in it, Marlo said, "No problem." I got in (from a stepladder...it's way up on stands) and he asked if I was claustrophobic. Nope. He closed the canopy and there I was with a camera and a fish-eye lens. Absolutely fantastic!

No, I didn't make "vroom-vroom" noises. At my age they're not as much fun as they used to be. But being inside there sure got me pumped up for the test runs...whenever they're gonna be.

I've been busier than a 3-tailed cat under a rocking chair.  And it'll prolly continue this way until the middle of next week.  I thought I was retired.

[faksta]

I especially like the 'nothingness' behind the windscreen - it makes me feel like the thing is ready to start into something endless. Great shot.

[Ultra]

Great shot.

I can't say enough about this shot.  Looks like something out of a movie.  Really cool.

[RayTheRat]

My thanks to both of you for the kind words.  We finally got thru the PowerPoint presentation that Marlo gave to an almost-capacity crowd.  Tomorrow will be the tour of the car at his shop and then tomorrow nite will be the banquet and featured speakers, Betty and Tom Burkland.  The first attached photo is Tom coming into the pits at about a buck-twenty when one of his chutes didn't open.  He got the FIA wheel-driven record, tho at 415.896 for the flying mile: Category A, Group 1, Class 11.  He missed the flying kilo because he had to pedal the throttles at over 450 mph due to wheelspin.   

After he got it stopped (about 1/4 mile from becoming a statistic on I-80 Westbound) he couldn't shut the motors off.  He had to shoot a CO2 fire bottle into the air scoop to shut 'em down.  (Second photo.)  I'll find out if the stories I've heard about cracking valve seats in 2 cylinder heads are true when I talk to him tomorrow.  No time tonite.  It was kinda busy and I was doin the still photos and the A/V stuff.  What means retired?   

To see the stuff about the Burkland record attempt, go to the website in my profile, select Land Speed Racing, then 2008, then Top 1 Oil Streamliner Shootout, then Burkland Family Streamliner.  You can see the whole deal there.

Bedtime for this old man.