This story is two and a half months old, I know, I know, but I ‘m having a miserable time with my web guy. He’s more interested in hot rods, then web development. But you need to see inside our chase for the STR record. So here it is.

THE FOUR YEAR QUEST

I’m proud to announce that the Jesel / Goldstrom Team having chased the STR record for four years, has returned from Bonneville victorious.

I joined the Jesel Team about two years ago aiding their quest to achieve a street roadster record. In about the same time Wayne has also campaigned a full size Dodge pick up running the same Dodge NASCAR motor with great success. The truck has put five people into the famed 200MPH Club over the past few years. Sadly for the roadster, its level of success has been dismal on the salt flats. In the past its been a real crap shoot whether or not the car could get down the track without going into a flat spin. I’ve been on a few of those rides and I think I’m about 7 to date.

Returning from Bonneville Speedweek in August was disappointing, but not worthy of all the rats abandoning what seemed to be a sinking ship just yet. Having made a few more high-speed passes to see what the car was doing we felt now we had a better idea of what to do to make the car handle. Tick tock, only so much time to tear down the car, make changes, prep and load, then return to Bonneville for World Finals. Now when I say get back to Bonneville you have to know that Wayne has the roadster way back in N. Carolina. Wayne, Bob, Don, and Dell had their hands full. We worked over the phone and shipped some parts from So-Cal. The guys did a phenomenal job and were ready to pack up and head to Bonneville with only a day to spare.

The truck, trailer and roadster left on Saturday then we all met up in Wendover, Nv. on Monday afternoon. Much to everyone’s disappointment the weather was working against us. While everyone was en route to the salt, the salt flats had once again been hit by a fall rain-storm. The salt was under some water but the forecast was promising that things were going to dry out. Standing in the parking lot with Mike Cook, we got a call from Roy Creel (SCTA President ) that the meet would be bumped back a day to Thursday and possibly lose out on a four day meet. The news was not good but hope wasn’t lost. We knuckled down and went over the whole car again now having an extra day to kill in town.

Thursday morning came and we were greeted by blue skies and sunshine. The only down side was that the air temp was in the 30’s. It did however bring down elevation, increasing air density, which is a major player in running an aspirated engine. All was beginning to fall into place.

The drivers meeting was from 9:00AM to 10:00 followed by a releasing the pits to line up in the staging lanes. Needless to say we didn’t waste any time hot footing it down to the zero.

For World Finals Wayne decided to run the car in the B/STR class and chase the 214 MPH record. I too thought this would be a better idea as well for the B record was 4 MPH softer than the C. On the first pass my only thought was to get down the track straight at over 200 and feel it out -- the car, the salt, my confidence in the car, etc. I short shifted at about 6000 in each gear making sure not to blow the tires away and keep it hooked up. This was shy 2000 more RPM than Wayne had suggested to shift. The pass felt good and I went through the lights at 7800 RPM rock solid and straight. My confidence in the car is coming back, not completely, but definitely in a positive direction. I just wanted a clean run under my belt and was surprised when Wayne rolled up with the push truck and informed me that we qualified at 215.825 . . . . . that means we’re going to impound and get ready to back up the run in the morning.

Friday morning was almost a carbon copy of Thursday, blue skies, bright sun, and cool air. For the back up run we had to run 213 plus miles an hour to get an average above the existing record. It would be a shame to squeeze it too hard and spin out but also not hard enough and lose our qualifier. I leaned on it just enough to run 218.228. That gives us an average of 217.024! We we’re off to see Dan Warner with time slip in hand and finally certify the record. Dan and Bruce Vaughn signed off our log book and the necessary paper work, mission accomplished. The Jesel team finally got a record with the Demon roadster over 200 at Bonneville.

Later that morning, word came down from the SCTA / BNI powers that they would in fact extend the event for one more day. Wayne and the crew however had flights to catch out of Salt Lake. We all decided with time short, we would continue racing the car with the B motor in it and chase our own record. Basically it came down to me driving the car and going faster than the 217 to qualify, if I couldn’t, we’d pack it up, go home and enjoy the fact that we finally did it.

I went out and laid down a 220.591 qualifier, looks like we’re staying another day kids.

Sunday, yet another gift from Mother Nature. To describe the sunrise on the salt while standing in Impound waiting to back up a record run over 200 is something you just need to experience to understand. Wayne and I discussed our game plan and it was simple. I was going to shift at 8500 RPM, carry 3RD gear to about the mile and a half, if it’s hooked up click 4TH gear. Hold 4TH gear until the 2 mile then shift to 5TH. In high gear I just settled down, held on, firewalled the throttle, opened it up and just let it eat. The car moved around a little bit but never got away from me. Our time at the 4 mile was 220 and the 5 was 226.656 with a 228.193 exit speed. I pulled the chute and got off the course at the 6 mile mark. An SCTA patrol raced up to me with a post it note with all the mile times written on it. I almost fell out of the car, total disbelief that we ran 228 out the back door. To explain exit speed, that is your timed through the last 130 feet before the 5. Bonneville is the timed mile, meaning that your record times are an average between mile markers.

Our two runs, the first at 220.591 then the back up run at 226.656 gave us a new record of 223.623!! We did go home a day late and more than a dollar short but who cares? The fruit tree that the Jesel crew had been shaking for four years had finally come to bare fruit. That fruit came in the form of two land speed records in four days. I would really like to thank Wayne Jesel for the opportunity to join his team and hunt this elusive record. We had some really good times, a slew of disappointments, some busted knuckles and a few chuckles. If any of it was easy it just wouldn’t be as rewarding. I’d also like to thank my now good friends from the crew, Don Sutherland, Jimmy Barton, Dale Cherry, Bob Hustler, Mike Jr., Donnie and Glenn. Long hours and low pay, you guys rule! Here’s to the one truck, truck show, featuring Glory Bound -that’s an inside joke only those in the know, know. What’s next? I don’t know, possibly running the roadster at El Mirage 2010 season. Maybe get a 200 MPH ticket on the dirt. I spoke to Wayne the other night and brought the subject up, he just smiled and said “ great minds think alike, which surprises me that you thought of it.” I’m not sure but I think I was just insulted.

Stay tuned for further adventures !

A couple of things to note: You read the disclaimer above about my updates, well I'm tellin' ya right now there are no updates scheduled until after the Grand National Roadster Show (Jan. 29 - 31, 2010 -- Yeah, I said twenty-ten!). I gotta couple of things to do between now and then!

You better make sure to stop by the SO-CAL booth at the GNRS... We'll have the Emerson '33 Sedan, Tom Leib's Roadster, the Devine F100 P/U, Billy F. Gibbons' ZZ Top Mexican Black Bird, Bill Lindig's Blown Ardun Roadster P/U, and the SO-CAL Belly Tank!

Bring your friends and schmooze with Pete Chapouris, Alex Xydias, and yours truly!
--Jimmy Shine