Alfa Odyssey at Bonneville - Day #6 Results

[DBesic@domain.elided]

    After the morning's disappointing result on Bonnie's record attempt, the 
team is more determined than ever to break the old record in H/BMS.  Every 
body seam is filled, every exposed bolt head and pop rivet is filed smooth, 
the chin spoiler is massaged to fit flush against the airdam, nothing is left 
to chance.  The team is stoked.

    By Wednesday afternoon, the pits have thinned out dramatically.  The 
Duece coupes and Highboys, with their "shoebox" areodynamics and high center 
of gravity, are spinning out with amazing regularity.  (An unconfirmed source 
said he saw a '32 coupe driver shaking out his pant leg after he spun out at 
140 mph.)  The Long Course is also claiming some victims.  A streamliner got 
sideways and performed a barrel roll, looking much like a pencil rolling on a 
table top.  A tweaked 911 lost control and flipped violently, completely 
destroying the car.  Bits and pieces were strewn over a linear 1/2 mile.

    As a result of the attrition, the staging lane was short and Bonnie was 
able to get four more runs in before the day was out.  Keith Martin redeemed 
himself with a gorgeous run of 146.559!  At the end of timed mile, the inlet 
hose to the intercooler burst but no harm done.  The hose was replaced and 
Craig Bielat ran next with a 146.563.  Rick Dunleavy, our "back-up" driver, 
went out next and really wound her up and clocked an amazing 148.126 mph!  On 
the last run of the day, Mike Besic took her out for a qualifying run and 
posted a 147.413 mph.  Good enough to get her back into impound.  Four 
consecutive runs with four different drivers, all posting speeds in excess of 
the old record.  At least she's consistent.

    The mysterious MR2....

    Sometime during the week, a non-descript transporter delivered a rather 
non-descript Toyota MR2 to the Bonneville pits.  No one noticed the letters 
"H/BMS" emblazoned on the side.  Only after our crew reviewed the posted 
daily runs did they learn that the MR2 had clocked a speed of 163!!  on its 
very first qualifying run!!  Where did THAT come from???

    Spies were dispatched to the enemy encampment who learned that the MR2 
was factory-backed and developed by TRD (Toyota Racing Development) with a 
budget ten (yes, ten) times what Dick spent on Bonnie.  We also learned that 
the engine was a turbocharged 2.2 litre de-stroked to a 1491 putting out 
nearly 450 HP to the rear wheels.  A dark gloom hung over the Alfa pits....  
The crew speculated and wondered and prayed:  Will the Toyota grenade its 
motor during the record run tomorrow?  Will the car be DQ'd for an illegal 
engine?  Is there REALLY a God?

Darren Besic

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