First Run - Shake out
Spent the day at Bonneville and WOW, what an experience.
Met up with the team and after introductions started helping out. Bill and the team are very welcoming and gratious and made me feel like one of the crew from the onset. Having met them only 10 minutes earlier that's a lot of trust to impart to a self-confessed diesel guesser for which I can't thank them enough. :grouphug:
Track was still very wet so runs didn't start until 11:00. We were in line shortly there after and only had to wait 7 hours to get the first and only run of the day in. A lot of disapointed car owners out there and the track officials got more than enough of an ear full from everyone, especially the guys from Virginia.
Results were mixed. Trip ticket indicated and average speed of 149 mph over the last mile. Average...GPS indicated top speed of 152. A little disappointing but keep in mind this was the first run with the new engine, the truck was held at the line idling too long and was a little too warm for Bill's liking and he was experimenting with a top end gear that proved to be too high.
The plus side: At the 1/4 mile he was at 147 mph and the track is three miles long. Last year the truck tended to want to wander so he added 300lbs of ballast to the bed and a very low front splitter on the air dam and it ran straight and true.
That is the quietest 6.2 I've ever heard. Amazingly so. My truck's exhaust is stock and it's louder. Even when he blasted off the line everyone around was amazed.
Tomorrow morning the team will change out the gearing and get their runs in. Starting time for first runs will be at 0745 but they didn't get out of the restaurant tonight until 9:30 pm (Thanks again for dinner Bill). I'm 100% positive the goals set for this event will be achieved if not exceeded.
For the :nopics: club...I’ve attached a few for your viewing pleasure.
I'll have to down size other photo's before they'll post and it is 2:04 am here in Utah so it will have to wait a little while.
Bill, Ted, Joe, Cody, Kent...:hail: You guys are great.
Thanks again for an exceptional experience. It was fun, an honor and a privilege. I hope to get out there again this weekend and in October. Everyone, if at all possible, make the effort to come out to see and support the team. All contributions of time and effort or good wishes, will be gratefully accepted and you be made to will feel very welcome and right at home w/in seconds.
Paul
