Big Bend Open Road Race
04-26-2009, 06:21 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Big Bend Open Road Race
Just got back from the Big Bend Open Road Race in Fort Stockton, TX.
This was the 4th BBORR for me and my wife. We ran in the 130 mph class - trying to average 130 mph over the 118 miles of Texas highway. It has ~100 turns in that distance. You run 59 miles one way and then restart to come back the other way. So you have 2 starts to figure in.
We came in 5th in our class - 0.846 seconds slow at 129.966 mph. We were 0.009 seconds from 3rd, 0.5 seconds from 2nd, and 0.821 seconds from 1st. So it was pretty tight.
We only use stopwatches and landmarks to judge our time.
Imagine driving 120 miles on the highway and arriving .8 seconds from the time you said you would get there. Then do that at 130 mph with a bunch of curves in there.
The only mishap I know of was a guy in a Mazda that hit a buzzard. It dented his fender and ripped the drivers mirror off. He was in the 135 mph class and still got 1st place at 0.436 seconds fast.
Fun time.
This was the 4th BBORR for me and my wife. We ran in the 130 mph class - trying to average 130 mph over the 118 miles of Texas highway. It has ~100 turns in that distance. You run 59 miles one way and then restart to come back the other way. So you have 2 starts to figure in.
We came in 5th in our class - 0.846 seconds slow at 129.966 mph. We were 0.009 seconds from 3rd, 0.5 seconds from 2nd, and 0.821 seconds from 1st. So it was pretty tight.
We only use stopwatches and landmarks to judge our time.
Imagine driving 120 miles on the highway and arriving .8 seconds from the time you said you would get there. Then do that at 130 mph with a bunch of curves in there.
The only mishap I know of was a guy in a Mazda that hit a buzzard. It dented his fender and ripped the drivers mirror off. He was in the 135 mph class and still got 1st place at 0.436 seconds fast.
Fun time.
04-27-2009, 12:13 PM
#2
Team Owner
We were there too, SS Racing.
The car ran great, and we ended up a little fast in the 150 class. About 4 seconds fast. Too much fun running those curves at speed, and then pegging it on 168 on the straights.
Oh well, too much skinny pedal, finished somewhere around 7th in class.
Here are a few photos:
First Pic, this is the practice run, 8 miles of twisty road......you can't go to fast or slow.....they watch and time you. No room for mistakes. To fast, to slow DQ, you're out of the race.
Our cars- 4 of us from CO went down together.
The line up, waiting for them to stop traffic, clear the road, and then we go.
My friend's Ford GT and Z06
This is race day, they lined us up, two rows of 80....every 30 secs to a minute you take off
Next two pics are us in the car, getting ready to for our turn
This is us at the green light and green flag, a few seconds after this picture we were doing 160+.....it's open road
Here we are at Checkpoint 3, heading North. Zoom zoom!!
The car ran great, and we ended up a little fast in the 150 class. About 4 seconds fast. Too much fun running those curves at speed, and then pegging it on 168 on the straights.
Oh well, too much skinny pedal, finished somewhere around 7th in class.
Here are a few photos:
First Pic, this is the practice run, 8 miles of twisty road......you can't go to fast or slow.....they watch and time you. No room for mistakes. To fast, to slow DQ, you're out of the race.
Our cars- 4 of us from CO went down together.
The line up, waiting for them to stop traffic, clear the road, and then we go.
My friend's Ford GT and Z06
This is race day, they lined us up, two rows of 80....every 30 secs to a minute you take off
Next two pics are us in the car, getting ready to for our turn
This is us at the green light and green flag, a few seconds after this picture we were doing 160+.....it's open road
Here we are at Checkpoint 3, heading North. Zoom zoom!!
04-27-2009, 12:42 PM
#4
Team Owner
One guy in a modified CORVAIR ran 207 on Saturday.
400ci SBC, mid engine mounted, 930 transaxle, and a whole lotta HP got him there.
04-27-2009, 03:00 PM
#6
Team Owner
Well, there have only been a couple of cars in the 10 years, and 40+ events I've done that have run those kind of top speeds, so I hope you come down and get it done!
We clocked a 217 finish line speed, and a 196.7 average speed at the Silver State event a few years back.
S/C cars really don't like these types of extended runs, heat and belt failures are common. I can't think of a single S/C car that's finished in the Unlimited/Super Sport classes, for a long time. Keep that in mind when building- prep your car for a 30 minute continuous dyno pull, and you'll be in good shape!
We clocked a 217 finish line speed, and a 196.7 average speed at the Silver State event a few years back.
S/C cars really don't like these types of extended runs, heat and belt failures are common. I can't think of a single S/C car that's finished in the Unlimited/Super Sport classes, for a long time. Keep that in mind when building- prep your car for a 30 minute continuous dyno pull, and you'll be in good shape!
04-27-2009, 09:52 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
It is lots of fun. My wife navigates for me and she is super competitive. Many say they wouldn't race with their wives but we make a good team.
You do have to let harsh words roll off your back. We (ok mostly I) yell at the other from time to time. I think the navigator has the hardes job - at least the way we do it. She has to keep up with where we are on the course, what turns are coming up, checking out time with a stopwatch, and calculating how fast/slow we are. I give her
You do have to let harsh words roll off your back. We (ok mostly I) yell at the other from time to time. I think the navigator has the hardes job - at least the way we do it. She has to keep up with where we are on the course, what turns are coming up, checking out time with a stopwatch, and calculating how fast/slow we are. I give her
04-28-2009, 12:54 AM
#9
Race Director
We disastered this year in the black Pantera.
Before we even arrived, we stopped in Langtry at "Roy Bean's" for a potty stop and my wife slipped off the edge of the sidewalk and sprained both ankles! While she spent the next day at the Atrium Inn with ice packs, we missed the car show and parade while we fixed a leaking water tank on another Team Pantera car. Next day we only made it 20 miles out and our Pantera (the black one #174) went bang and the oil pressure dropped. We spent the day on top of the hill with the Ft.Stockton Fire truck, TNT rescue guys and the EMS truck. They treated us to Jalapeno poppers, Charcoaled pork-chops, corn on the cob, beans, shade and good ol' Texas hospitality while we watched everybody roar by. 
Only the race was lost but not the good time! We're trying to get up a team from TCA (Texas Corvette Assn.) for next year. That race is made for a Vette, as we've literally "done the poor Pantera to death!"
One 3rd, One 2nd, and Five 1st in eight years. Our first DNF!
Before we even arrived, we stopped in Langtry at "Roy Bean's" for a potty stop and my wife slipped off the edge of the sidewalk and sprained both ankles! While she spent the next day at the Atrium Inn with ice packs, we missed the car show and parade while we fixed a leaking water tank on another Team Pantera car. Next day we only made it 20 miles out and our Pantera (the black one #174) went bang and the oil pressure dropped. We spent the day on top of the hill with the Ft.Stockton Fire truck, TNT rescue guys and the EMS truck. They treated us to Jalapeno poppers, Charcoaled pork-chops, corn on the cob, beans, shade and good ol' Texas hospitality while we watched everybody roar by. Only the race was lost but not the good time! We're trying to get up a team from TCA (Texas Corvette Assn.) for next year. That race is made for a Vette, as we've literally "done the poor Pantera to death!" One 3rd, One 2nd, and Five 1st in eight years. Our first DNF!
Last edited by Klondike; 04-28-2009 at 01:02 AM. Reason: add wins
04-28-2009, 01:10 AM
#10
Race Director
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W. Detroit Events Coordinator
Cruise-In VI Veteran
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Cruise-In VII Autocross Champ
Nice job, damn that's close.
Looks like that would be a ton of fun but sure seems hard on the cars
Looks like that would be a ton of fun but sure seems hard on the cars
04-28-2009, 01:29 AM
#11
04-28-2009, 08:37 AM
#12
Team Owner
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did you guys see this one run?
Dave,
I have 600rwhp in my C4 Open Road Car and the fastest I have hit is 206mph and that was about all she had.
Interesting enough this was the Dolly Varden straight about 30 miles west of Wendover at appox. the same altitude as the salt. This is also on pavement which has somewhere 25-30% less rolling resistance. I have a buddy offically radar clocked at 227mph and said he saw 232mph once again on pavement. He has 850rwhp. Now I will grant you that my wing will cost me some top speed, my buddy also has the same wing on his. Once again I am not trying to discourage you, but passing on info from some one who has been in simular shoes.
Jeff
I have 600rwhp in my C4 Open Road Car and the fastest I have hit is 206mph and that was about all she had.
Interesting enough this was the Dolly Varden straight about 30 miles west of Wendover at appox. the same altitude as the salt. This is also on pavement which has somewhere 25-30% less rolling resistance. I have a buddy offically radar clocked at 227mph and said he saw 232mph once again on pavement. He has 850rwhp. Now I will grant you that my wing will cost me some top speed, my buddy also has the same wing on his. Once again I am not trying to discourage you, but passing on info from some one who has been in simular shoes.
Jeff
04-29-2009, 06:54 PM
#13
Team Owner
I run a 3" shoulder belt, which isn't particularly Hans-friendly, and my seats are the OEM seats, also a hinderance to the Hans- the belts tend to slip off, even though I run a sternum strap. For me, the Hutchens made more sense, and the price is better.
I've known Jeffy Vette for some years now. That's a fast car..........when it finishes. HA! (I know Jeff is reading this).
I'm pretty sure he'll be running it at the Nevada Open Road Challenge here in a couple of weeks on Hwy 318 out of Ely, NV.
Ely is a much faster road. Much faster. Big Bend is a lot more technical.
Car can run 165 all day long. The Unlimiteds are the machines that are really stressed. Corvettes can run the 150 class bone stock, and never miss a beat- piece of cake. Truly an amazing car.
Last edited by scottycards; 04-29-2009 at 06:57 PM.
04-29-2009, 09:18 PM
#14
Racer
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I was there also..
Did you know the stop watch on the dash starts when you release it not push it in? I reviewed videos etc and thats the time difference.
I was off 1.5 seconds in the 130mph which was good for 7th car 625. They had something screwed up on the paper work so I show up as 122
I run ~5500 rpm in 5th at 145mph, my oil temps and coolant temps were fine. However my tranny temps not so much. Warning light kicked on both legs. ~280 deg. I need a trans cooler and an MN6 transmission. a C5 Z06 can not run in the 150 mph class stock
I will see some of you in arnold. I won't be heading to Ely.
Did you know the stop watch on the dash starts when you release it not push it in? I reviewed videos etc and thats the time difference.
I was off 1.5 seconds in the 130mph which was good for 7th car 625. They had something screwed up on the paper work so I show up as 122
I run ~5500 rpm in 5th at 145mph, my oil temps and coolant temps were fine. However my tranny temps not so much. Warning light kicked on both legs. ~280 deg. I need a trans cooler and an MN6 transmission. a C5 Z06 can not run in the 150 mph class stock
I will see some of you in arnold. I won't be heading to Ely.
