Gosh you drag race characters have a lot to learn. SCTA/BNI have their own classes to run in; Streamliner, Lakester, Competition coupe, vintage streetrod and the list goes on and includes motorcycles and diesel trucks. Then engine displacement classification, then naturally aspirated or blown and then fuel being gasoline or fuel. Fuel could mean an alcohol, nitro or diesel.
You need to remember that a few short weeks before speed week the salt is probably under water and may still be damp. In 1998 the temperature was 105°F and the altitude is fairly high.
Yes weight is for stability but also traction with narrow tires for low resistance.
Friends from Calgary ran with number 1149 whoch was as close as they could get to N49 for North of 49. They could not crack 200MPH until someone told then to add weight for traction. They bolted 1" plate to the bottom of the chassis and finally went over 200MPH.
Licensing runs are on the short track of 2 miles with another mile to slow and stop. Once you have made progressive safe passes at increasing speeds but not exceeding 170MPH you are granted a license and can go to the long track for higher speed runs.
The best bet once you pick a class to compete in, you need to build a safety cage to specifications for that class, and then get ahold of SCTA/BNI for their tech inspectors to look it over with a core engine and MT trans case. Once your chassis is approved you can get serious about the engine build. Be forewarned you will likely be making a number of trips for inspection before even considering an entry to run. I would also seriously consider planning to attend Speed Week at least once and possibly with your car on a trailer jist to talk to other competitors. These guys and gals are generally the uppity types common in
other organized motorsports. The worst nose in the air snobs are probably the F1 crowd. The land speed crowd is pretty laid back. The Bean Bandits are a great bunch to get to know.
No racing is cheap and land speed is no exception.
