- Joined
- Sep 16, 2014
- Posts
- 217
- Reaction score
- 117
Several of us were out at Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds event on Feb 10th, up early and out at the runway with high expectations for the day. Tech inspections done, cars numbered, safety briefings done and we all roll out on the runway and line up for our 1/2 mile shakedown runs. All went well other than car kept going into limp mode when I lifted after crossing line. We just kept clearing the codes and going again. Mile runs get started, I had a goal of 200+ in the mile and within a run or 2 it hit 203.896 MPH and I was done with the mile. After that it's time for the big runs, 2+ miles on a 3.3 mile long runway. My first run was 229.445 MPH with a passenger........and I'm already realizing that this is going to be an insane day! So I figure out my passenger weighs at least 1 MPH so I tell that fat guy to get out. Next run is 232.672 MPH and I knew it had more in it. So we back up to the grass, launch hard, as I'm shifting into third it hangs up in neutral and my hand hits the dash and cuts my finger, not looking good but I recover and quickly get back to business. Bad thing was in the process of all this I forget to arm the computer that controls the nitrous, so now I'm at the top of forth and I hit the switches, shift to 5th and wait the 7 seconds it takes to arm. Finally at maybe 185-190 MPH I hear it and feel it. Now it's just waiting for the magic number. I'm going from tach to looking down track over and over, tach is bouncing back and forth, I see the timing lights and cones coming up, by now I'm talking to the car, convincing it that a few more RPM is all I need................finish line, I lift, let the car settle, lay into the brakes, lift off and just as I'm about to lay into them again the dash lights up, every warning light is on and then the tach goes to zero, no power, no power brakes, no power steering so I'm picking the spot that I'm going to end up. I've got all the leg I have on that whoa petal and it doesn't end badly. I get it started and back up out of the grass, cycle the key a few times and get most of the lights to clear and get it out of limp mode. Back to start and on the way I look over at the guy running the timing and he has both hands up in the air, with what just happened I assume he was just glad car and I were ok. I get back to start and the crowd is already coming my way............235.232 MPH.........fastest car there to include the Lambo crowd and a Porsche 918. After that finish I was done for the day, didn't need another ride after that one. Now no one tell my wife but I hear 250 MPH isn't that much further..........LOL