Oldwick, NJ and Sarasota, FL Café Racers, Dave Lounsbury and Rob Gibby, shake the Salt at SpeedWeek 2011.
It was close, but no cigars (records) for the Team 608 (Dauernheim-Biglow-Davis) AA/Gas Lakester, above, Jeff Davis photo, and Team 1986 (Dripps & Gibby) E/Gas Roadster, below, Michael Alan Ross photo. Affectionately known as the Jersey Boys, the Lakester’s pit crew included Oldwick CR, Dave Lounsbury and local Oldwick car guy, Lou Mack. Sarasota CR, Rob Gibby, below, right, spent time with the Lakester crew and was co-driver of the Roadster.
Team 608 was at SpeedWeek with a new racecar to raise awareness of Autism and raise money for Autism Speaks. By running over 300 mph, they triggered a $5,000 donation from the Kend family in Darien, CT. All they had to do was run over 300 mph to activate the donation and the Lakester ran a top speed of 312 mph (on a 314-mph record). Total donations to Autism Speaks based on the Lakester’s performance on the Salt Flats this year: in excess of $15,000!
Biglow, left, Jeff Davis photo, made one run in the Lakester that was data-logged at 320 mph. Unfortunately the chute opened prematurely and the car ended up being officially clocked at 312 mph. Plus the rear Moon discs, along with welded-on mounting lugs, were sheared off!
Last year, the Dripps & Gibby small-block powered ’32 Ford posted a top speed of 168 mph. This year Robin Dripps qualified the E/Gas Roadster at 204.7 mph on a 202.9 record! After the run it went to Impound to get certified for the backup run the following day. Sadly the air tank line was not hooked up to the air shifter, forcing Dripps on the backup run to manually shift the transmission and drive with one hand. She stopped S.C.T.A.’s clocks at 200 mph, a tick too slow to lock in a new record. Rob Gibby, right, Michael Alan Ross photo, belts Dripps in for the backup run.
Both the Lakester, below, Michael Alan Ross photo, and the Roadster ran and handled incredibly well all week The E/G Roadster produced consistent 195-200 mph times all week and the AA/G Lakester ran 312 mph the first time out and raised over $15,000 for Autism Speaks. Best of all, the Car Guys Who Lunch in Florida and New Jersey had a ball.
Michael Alan Ross is offering a fine art photo of #608 on the Salt Flats, valued at $750, for any donation over $250 to Autism Speaks. Michael can be contacted at, http://www.michaelalanross.com/
Checks for donations (fully tax deductible) should be made out to AUTISM SPEAKS and mailed to Team 608, c/o Rob Gibby, 9 Timothy Lane, Bloomfield, CT 06002.
For more information about Autism, which affects 1 in 110 children, and the work that Autism Speaks does, please visit, http://www.autismspeaks.org/