Awesome day! Here's a few photos (no action). Just cars and people motionless like the local cows. I'll add text later.

Buttonwillow

I watched some of the bumper-cam videos last night and hope to have some formatted for the internet this weekend.

------------------
Regards,
George
george@spikeengineering.com
http://www.spikeengineering.com
---------
Red 2000 Lightning, #4033

White 1996 Whippet (1/2 mile course, 6 turns: 40 Seconds)
Red Wheaton 1995 Ridgeback (1/2 loaf of bread, 6 bites, 4 seconds)
New addition:
2001 RR Puppy: 0 to stumble - next two months

[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 04-14-2001).]

 

This is gonna be good!

 

First file (not uploaded yet) is only 2.4 MB and is the entire 3.x miles, and it begins and ends with video of the main straight (two drag races, the second with a surprise at the end). The quality and sound is good, although the camera was slightly off so the horizon is at a small angle.

I'll work on creating larger files later. The compression of the video and sound takes some time. The actual file size I'm working on is over 700 mb.

Spike

[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 04-14-2001).]

 

Some more pics:

Changing Tires
RUSLOW's L
Spikeengineering going by
Jeff_S approaching
Jeff_S going by
Bolt going by
Spikeengineering mounting bumper-cam
Road Race tires being well used!

 

Smaller video - This is for the modem folks:
Buttonwillow 12 fps, mono , 2.4 mb

Larger video - This is for the broadband folks:
Buttonwillow 24 fps, 21 mb

Maybe other videos later....

BTW, I'm a rookie and it's faster than it looks on video!

Spike

[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 04-15-2001).]

 

Hot damn that looks like fun, Jorge. Sure sorry I had to miss it. Maybe next time, if Ford ever comes out with the fix for the i/c.

------------------
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.

'00 SVT Lightning, silver, built 2/9/00, #133 of 4966, G-tech Pro, JBA headers, 4.10 gears, Swanson chip, Pro-M, NGK plugs, carbon drive shaft, Roadmaster suspension kit, TransGo shift kit,
13.39 @ 102.5

2001 Kevlacat 2400, twin 115 Evinrude FICHT, Raytheon VHF, radar, autopilot and GPS chartplotter/fishfinder.
http://www.zing.com/album/?id=429389...4647875&idx=15

gmvye@pacbell.net

 

BTW, quicktime is required for the videos. While I've been waiting for the computer to crank thru the compression, etc., I've been watching "Eat my dust." What a riot. Good news is that the larger file is done and uploaded (links above). The track was rough and the location I used on the bumper had too much vibration for the image stabilization to take out.

Alpha,

Bummer you still don't have the IC fixed. Geez, it seems like the problem has existed about as long as I've owned my Lightning. If I was dealing with that problem, the veins on the sides of my head would have popped by now (Ford induced frontal lobotomy).

[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 04-15-2001).]

 

Buttonwillow Full Lap 12 fps, mono , 2.4 mb

Buttonwillow Full Lap 24 fps, 21 mb

Better sound in these:

Into the dirt 24 fps, 7 mb

Behind the scenes (pulling off course) 24 fps, 7 mb

Pass #1, 24 fps, 6 mb

Pass #2 plus main straight, 24 fps, 9 mb

Spike

Rob at Buttonwillow:


[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 04-15-2001).]

 

For those of you who saw and heard my truck.Here is what happened so far,I have compression in #1,5&8 cyl and 0 in the rest.When I cyl leak, the air comes out the other plug holes so I blew both head gaskets.#2,3,4 and #5&6 cyl.Will have apart by tomorrow and see what else I did.

[This message has been edited by Ruslow (edited 04-15-2001).]

 

Stan,

Are you already home? BTW, thanks for riding with me at Buttonwillow. Next time I'm out on a track, I'll be giving it "more gas, more gas."

Good luck at Silver State - Win!

George

 

The larger video is awesome. The sound is really enhanced, I love the sound of the tire squeal going through the corners. Sounds like you were really pushing the limit through some of them. I will be lucky if I don't get a ticket now, trying to emulate that on Hwy. 33. And yes, the i/c issue is very frustrating. Maybe I should have had it replaced when it started to go south six months ago, but I figured that running water through the motor wouldn't hurt it, so why have to go through the hassle of replacing it a second time like many of you. Maybe I should have just kept pumping green stuff through it, and let Ford buy me a 2001 motor. Supposedly the "fix" is near enough that I can endure a little longer, but when I take it in for service next week I may have them drain the reservoir.

Oh, yeah, who was that you were overtaking at the very end? And in the stills of Jeff, was that an S2000 he left in the dust? My goodness, what must a sports car driver think when a pick-em-up runs away from him like that?

[This message has been edited by alphadoggy (edited 04-15-2001).]

 

Alpha,

I'm working on four more videos - the computer's grinding thru them now, and the sound is MUCH better. I had to boost the gain a little. One of the video's is the last part of the next lap.

Another video is pulling into the pits for a behind the scenes look. Nothing exciting - just another view.

Next time, I'll mount the camera on the other Lightnings. Everybody else pushes them much harder than I do. They're better, more experienced drivers. I rode with Azeem before he got used to the track. He's got racing tires and Brembo's. After a couple of laps, you'd be imitating Grandma Joad screaming "Praise the Lawd Almighty!"
And it's NOTHING compared to a ride in his Mazda. I wish I had Jeff' on video after he got out from his ride with Azeem in the Mazda. "HOW-LY COW - That thing doesn't stop pulling, SHEE#$% - It doesn't stop pullen until he slammed on the brakes and SHEE#$%..."

One other video is me running into the dirt. Oh well - it's a truck.

Check back soon and I'll have the links posted.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that all the people that I've met are a good group of guys. It's one thing to spend a day racing with a crowd, but it's another to brag to your wife about how enjoyable they all are.

Azeem,
Laurie wants a ride in your Mazda!

Spike



[This message has been edited by Spike Engineering (edited 04-15-2001).]

 

Just for fun (forgot to mention it):

Download any of the videos to your hard drive.

When you play them, hold down your mouse on the fast forward button. You'll see and hear the track at F1 speeds!

Spike