Casper goes 163.674 at El Mirage

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
11,249
26
38
64
Norco CA
www.mcratracing.com
Finally record was 163mph, for the fastest diesel truck to ever run at El Mirage.

I got chewed out for going past 160, since I still haven't put on the parachute. Bonneville is 175 for a chute, but El Mirage reduces it to 160.
 

LBZrcks

.........
Jun 2, 2007
5,297
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38
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SoCal
Finally record was 163mph, for the fastest diesel truck to ever run at El Mirage.

I got chewed out for going past 160, since I still haven't put on the parachute. Bonneville is 175 for a chute, but El Mirage reduces it to 160.

Congrats!
 

MACKIN

Smell My Finger...
Aug 14, 2006
3,948
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Connecticut

Mike L.

Got Sheep?
Staff member
Vendor/Sponsor
Aug 12, 2006
15,686
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Fullerton CA
Finally record was 163mph, for the fastest diesel truck to ever run at El Mirage.

I got chewed out for going past 160, since I still haven't put on the parachute. Bonneville is 175 for a chute, but El Mirage reduces it to 160.

Congrats on the record Pat.
Seems you're always getting chewed out by somebody. :baby::D
 

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
11,249
26
38
64
Norco CA
www.mcratracing.com
Thanks Y'all!:hug:

Could not have done without all my fellow diesel lunatics! This was a group accomplishment, I'm just the jockey. :D

First run in the AM was a rookie licensing pass, and it went smooth. Peak GPS speed was 175, so I had to give it up to get under the 150 cap.

Second run was at the end of the day, and the starter warned me the track was tore up, and to stay left. El Mirage is a 1.3 mile dirt dragstrip. Not alot of traction, not as much as Bonneville even.

I got rolling up to 150 then problems. Tires started to spin, slowing me down. So I babied it, spinning all the way through the beams at 163mph. When the aero resistance starts to approach the traction force, it's like driving in the snow is the best I can describe it. You can accelerate, but you must be careful. Never did a finish line look so good. Maybe I should have just cruised, but the killer instinct kinda overpowers everything else.

We have to work on traction if we expect to go faster. I ran 2wd, and did not use ballast. Mistake on both accounts. The 4x4 thing is being hashed out with the rules committee for 2009, but for this year, it's 2wd.

Could not look at the gauges, and didn't have time for datalogging. I was just going to drive.

We need to get the paperwork completed for the official record. The event was shutting down when we did our pass.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
Ralph Ibarra - Thanks buddy, COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU
Robert Miller- Worked long hours wrenching on Casper up until the last second. Puts 110% into his work.
Mike Lovrich - Lent us a torque converter at the last minute since we stripped out a bolt.
Guy Tripp - FedEx'd me a missing part for the engine at the last minute.
Dave at BMS Machine for the kick ass engine build
High Tech Turbo for rushing us a special charger
Mitch Howe for safety equipment - Probably the best TIG guy in the west.
The Roadrunner LSR club for pit help
Mike Cook Motorsports and Captain Billy for safety equipment and LSR advice
The SCTA crew for giving us a venue for our addiction
EFILive for the tuning tools. The right stuff.
PPE for all the help getting Casper where it is today.
And others to be named as I remember, if I forgot you, you know it's cause I'm scatter-brained, not dissing you, please call or PM me.

Pat and Kat McSwain
 
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