1972 Charger at speed, approx 150mph flyby..

[russg]

Just returned from another stint as coarse worker for the Silver State Classic a couple days ago and made sure to catch this 73' for you guys.  He is in the 145 division so probably running 150 plus in this section near the begining.  Runs quiter than I expected!  Is this guy a forum member by chance?

http://youtu.be/uW7pZBWMW44

In contrast, here is a 2006 Dodge Charger (race car) running this same stretch about 70mph faster reeking major havoc on quiet desert surroundings...

http://youtu.be/yyx3fNZFeek

FYI, still no sight of our own Rallye Mike at the event.

On a somber note, one of the unlimited drivers and their navigator lost their lives in this event a couple days ago.  In the faster classes there is not much runoff once you leave the 2 lane road onto the desert floor.. I happened to be stationed only a about a mile away from the crash and could see the huge black mushroom cloud billow into the air

[AKcharger]

cool video!

[Chryco Psycho]

Sounds like a blast just to do what you were doing , I had originally planned to get my 71/72 prepped to run the SS

[RallyeMike]

Just returned from another stint as coarse worker for the Silver State Classic a couple days ago and made sure to catch this 73' for you guys.  He is in the 145 division so probably running 150 plus in this section near the begining.  Runs quiter than I expected!  Is this guy a forum member by chance?

The Charger is a 72 and it belongs to Ken Steffan (Sp?) from Elko (or Ely?) NV. It is 440 powered, I believe with a gear vendors OD. I had not seen him at an event for quite some time. Good to see he's still getting it out there. I don't think he is a member of this site.

On a somber note, one of the unlimited drivers and their navigator lost their lives in this event a couple days ago.  

Arg. Sad, sad, terrible news.      ORR is a dangerous type of event - another incident caused by tire failure evidently. The organization I typically run with had cancelled the Unlimited Class due to tire failures and resulting crasses. My understanding was that it was in response to a direction from the State of NV (who issues the permits) "to get safety in line or else". I don't have personal knowledge of this .... its only what I heard as scuttlebut at events. The Silver State guys where this crash happened still runs the unlimited speed class cars, though apparently the Camaro was only running 180mph average, I can only wonder if there will be some fallout because of this accident?

I didnt know him, but here is a good story on the racer that I found. RIP.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8361832

FYI, still no sight of our own Rallye Mike at the event.

Yes, I suck. I know. Have not run in 2010 or 2011 due to various factors. This will have to tide you over for now  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hski4e-6kPU

[BrianShaughnessy]

 

[RallyeMike]

I forgot to mention that between the red 72 Charger in this video, and mine, it's pretty obvious that 72 Chargers are the fastest Chargers.   Uh, except for 2006 Chargers I guess.

[tan top]

good video thanks for posting !!  

Just returned from another stint as coarse worker for the Silver State Classic a couple days ago and made sure to catch this 73' for you guys.  He is in the 145 division so probably running 150 plus in this section near the begining.  Runs quiter than I expected!  Is this guy a forum member by chance?

The Charger is a 72 and it belongs to Ken Steffan (Sp?) from Elko (or Ely?) NV. It is 440 powered, I believe with a gear vendors OD. I had not seen him at an event for quite some time. Good to see he's still getting it out there. I don't think he is a member of this site.

On a somber note, one of the unlimited drivers and their navigator lost their lives in this event a couple days ago.  

Arg. Sad, sad, terrible news.      ORR is a dangerous type of event - another incident caused by tire failure evidently. The organization I typically run with had cancelled the Unlimited Class due to tire failures and resulting crasses. My understanding was that it was in response to a direction from the State of NV (who issues the permits) "to get safety in line or else". I don't have personal knowledge of this .... its only what I heard as scuttlebut at events. The Silver State guys where this crash happened still runs the unlimited speed class cars, though apparently the Camaro was only running 180mph average, I can only wonder if there will be some fallout because of this accident?

I didnt know him, but here is a good story on the racer that I found. RIP.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8361832

FYI, still no sight of our own Rallye Mike at the event.

Yes, I suck. I know. Have not run in 2010 or 2011 due to various factors. This will have to tide you over for now  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hski4e-6kPU

Just returned from another stint as coarse worker for the Silver State Classic a couple days ago and made sure to catch this 73' for you guys.  He is in the 145 division so probably running 150 plus in this section near the begining.  Runs quiter than I expected!  Is this guy a forum member by chance?

http://youtu.be/uW7pZBWMW44

In contrast, here is a 2006 Dodge Charger (race car) running this same stretch about 70mph faster reeking major havoc on quiet desert surroundings...

http://youtu.be/yyx3fNZFeek




FYI, still no sight of our own Rallye Mike at the event.

On a somber note, one of the unlimited drivers and their navigator lost their lives in this event a couple days ago.  In the faster classes there is not much runoff once you leave the 2 lane road onto the desert floor.. I happened to be stationed only a about a mile away from the crash and could see the huge black mushroom cloud billow into the air

Just returned from another stint as coarse worker for the Silver State Classic a couple days ago and made sure to catch this 73' for you guys.  He is in the 145 division so probably running 150 plus in this section near the begining.  Runs quiter than I expected!  Is this guy a forum member by chance?

The Charger is a 72 and it belongs to Ken Steffan (Sp?) from Elko (or Ely?) NV. It is 440 powered, I believe with a gear vendors OD. I had not seen him at an event for quite some time. Good to see he's still getting it out there. I don't think he is a member of this site.

On a somber note, one of the unlimited drivers and their navigator lost their lives in this event a couple days ago.  

Arg. Sad, sad, terrible news.      ORR is a dangerous type of event - another incident caused by tire failure evidently. The organization I typically run with had cancelled the Unlimited Class due to tire failures and resulting crasses. My understanding was that it was in response to a direction from the State of NV (who issues the permits) "to get safety in line or else". I don't have personal knowledge of this .... its only what I heard as scuttlebut at events. The Silver State guys where this crash happened still runs the unlimited speed class cars, though apparently the Camaro was only running 180mph average, I can only wonder if there will be some fallout because of this accident?

I didnt know him, but here is a good story on the racer that I found. RIP.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8361832

FYI, still no sight of our own Rallye Mike at the event.

Yes, I suck. I know. Have not run in 2010 or 2011 due to various factors. This will have to tide you over for now  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hski4e-6kPU

aww man that sad !! RiP

thats up setting when his son is chatting !! saying wish i was in the car with his dad ! aww

[russg]

Mike,
Which of the other organizations are you running in?  Personally, from the viewpoint of the side of the road any class above 160 really just does not look safe in my mind on this road, they look uncomfortably fast.  There is just no runoff area once your past the small gravel shoulder.  Look at my video for instance at the end of them off to the right, I'm probably 50' from the road and you can clearly see all the rusted large old farm equipment easily in harms way if someone were to leave the road in this location.  Last year someone left the road in the 145 class (tire failure) and tumbled numerous times into the desert floor from tire failure, both walked away from that one.

[RallyeMike]

Mike,
Which of the other organizations are you running in?  Personally, from the viewpoint of the side of the road any class above 160 really just does not look safe in my mind on this road, they look uncomfortably fast.  There is just no runoff area once your past the small gravel shoulder.  Look at my video for instance at the end of them off to the right, I'm probably 50' from the road and you can clearly see all the rusted large old farm equipment easily in harms way if someone were to leave the road in this location.  Last year someone left the road in the 145 class (tire failure) and tumbled numerous times into the desert floor from tire failure, both walked away from that one.

I ran with "USAS", formally "MKM Racing" from 2003-2008, and the Silver State only in 2009. Prior to 2002 they were "Roger Ward's Classic Auto Racing Society" (CARS). Their Pony Express race was the original ORR event that started all this madness. USAS has suspended all Open Road Racing events and now only does a 1 mile drag race shootout. It's unknown if they will resurrect when the economy improves. See www.openroadracing.com

Its also my opinion that safety in the top speed classes, if not all of the classes, is lacking compared to other racing venues. I equate ORR to the Wild West of Auto Racing. These are two lane, high desert roads designed primarily for 70mph traffic. In many places there are no guardrails, and if there was one it is certainly not designed to protect for high speed crashes. As you mentioned, in many places there are no run-off areas. There are places where you can drop 10 feet off the road into a field of boulders. This is coupled with car safety rules that are also pretty lax compared to what I  am used to from circle track. Now add on top of this that it is possible for the nearest aid unit or fire truck to be maybe 25 miles away from your crash zone. Lastly, this is not a closed and maintained course. It's 50-90 miles long of public road and who knows if there is a nail in the road or whatever. They do drive the course to check condition, but they just can't catch it all.

Given all this, ORR actually has a pretty good safety record outside of the fastest of the classes.  I think the two factors that attribute to this are 1) drivers who know the risks and drive appropriately, and 2) luck. You do NOT hang it out all the way when driving around a dangerous corner. The faster classes do not have this luxury - they are hangin it out all the way, and luck doesnt always hold out. Still, my impression is that the majority of all major crashes are the result of tire failures while at or near maximum speed.

Even given the risks, I still recommend that any gear head give it a try at once in their life! (before they make it illegal).

[mauve66]

i keep saying i'm gonna do the gate watch deal (they send me a post card 2 times a year) but something always gets in the way, maybe next year

[ACUDANUT]

Sorry, I can't view U-tube video's on this computer...Wish I could have watched it.