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Larry O'Toole (Graffiti Publishing) Just back from the salt lake with exciting news. John Lynch finally got his 300 mph in his bellytank lakester, going 301.729 on Tuesday afternoon. We stood at the four mile marker on the rocky outcrop and watched him go through - awesome. Much excitement and celebration in the pits afterwards and the whole emotional scene captured by the Aussie 60 Minutes crew who were filming out there all week. I had Ryan Pierse with me who works for Getty Images, a worldwide news photo service, see pictures below.

The 2005 DLRA Speed Trials were featured on 60 Minutes on Sunday 3rd April at 7:30pm EST. (transcript)

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Street Machine Magazine - June 2005

Rod Ramblings

Without doubt the last 6 weeks have been the busiest of my life, returning home from the United States, (where I have been setting up a base and campaigning car shows since Christmas) two weeks prior to Lake Gairdner.

We had worked hard to get the salt car ready to go before Christmas, so checks were make, truck and trailer packed and then off. This year was by far the biggest yet with many pre-entries and many phone calls indicating that entries would go to an all time high, with over 100 drivers in the finish. I rang Len and Joy at the station prior to the meeting to warn them to be ready for an approximate 25% increase on the previous year which proved to be correct.

It was a credit to the early arrivals who had things ready to go by Monday, you know who you are, thanks on behalf of everyone. John Dawson and the other scrutineers did a sterling job and many people noted your efforts. Peter and Cled did a top job also (as usual), Andy in the camp had things working and kept the toilets rotating, not the job everybody envies, thanks Andy.

What about John Lynch's run? Congratulations John, well done, thanks to everyone for working with the 60 minutes team, special thanks to President Rob who kept things running and was, as in the past, left to finish the packing up. What a sterling job Joy and Len did at the canteen, I just hope they can continue the quality, variety and price, why would you even consider taking food?

A special thanks to Steve Charlton (Animal), once again in all his roles, he did a top job with the auction raising approximately $5,000.00, if and when everyone pays their bills.

Wasn't it great to see U.S. members, Gail and Al Phillips there, along with Tex Smith and Ron Ceridono (from American Rodder), also new U.S. member Peter Aardema who is considering campaigning a car here next year.

Talking to Len after the meeting, he was quite happy, except for those mindless few who threw cans and bottles from their vehicles along the road requiring people to stop and retrieve them, plus a few didn't knock the salt from their vehicles when leaving the lake and dropped it along the track and at the canteen, please rectify this in future if you are guilty.

Our team drove all Friday night to get home, a quick clean of the car and truck, unpack and jump into our '32 Roadster to be on "Chainsaw Bob's" Rod Run from Berwick to Southport in Queensland for the Street Rod Nationals. Upon arrival I was pleasantly surprised to meet up with Bob Ellis and members of his team who had their Falcon on display in one of the pavilions along with a video showing the public what we are about. Well done Bob and thanks for flying the flag for the club.

We also met up with Matthew Saunders there, Matthew has attended many of our members as a spectator, but this year arrived with his own car and although not until Thursday he got all his licensing passes in and his Son also got to steer, so they were happy, their V8 Holden powered Fiat Toppolino is a good looking car and when finished will be a winner. Matthew already has a record in his previously uncontested class.

Back home from the Nats Carol is working around the clock getting everything in order, banking, accounts, minutes, memberships (we now have 473 members), letters etc. We received a letter from the Government regarding our Leaded Fuel Passbook system, which they are extending for another 12 months if we wish to apply, so you know which box we ticked there, so keep the fuel book you currently have.

We have found a Dyno strong enough which bolts to the axle flanges off the diff of our Commodore to get some figures on the motor and fuel combination before we pull it down, this machine also measures the rear squat on the car under full power, this will enable us to get parts when I go back to the States if needed. We will return home in July to catch up on all the paperwork and a general meeting before returning in August to attend Bonneville and the U.S. Street Rod Nationals in Kentucky.

My current U.S. phone number is: 0011 1 714 936 0074, if you need me to get anything a container will be coming back to Australia at the end of the year.

We have had a committee meeting since the March event and have picked vehicles for next years T Shirts and posters, arranged a mid year general meeting, got the drivers list off to Peter Noy so that certificates can be printed and posted, all our current accounts have been paid, if you have any outstanding money owing please get it into us as soon as possible to make the club financial.

I was a bit disappointed that the 60 minutes program didn't give any recognition on the history of the club, but at least they didn't give any reason for repercussions, which was always the worry.

I sincerely hope that by the time you are reading this that our website and Newsletter co-ordinator problems are sorted out, Greg has done a wonderful job over the years and I just wish he could have continued.

Stewards Report

Available soon.

John Lynch after having broken the 300MPH barrier

"60 Minutes" chopper getting nice and close

Bob Ellis's XP Falcon

Bob Ellis's XP Falcon

For all you Mad Max/Road Warrior guys. It was running around 160mph with a warmed over 351 Cleveland. He was hoping to get to 170 before the week was out.

John Lynch's belly tank on the way to 301.729MPH!!! The first Aussie to go over 300 at a DLRA meet. Well done Lynchy!

The world's fastest Taxi. Rod Hadfield's Commodore was running around 255MPH, but he was hoping for 270.

The boys at 'Big Knob Racing'(tm) were having a ball. I think their best run was 188, but they were hoping to crack the big 200.

The HK Monaro of Wayne(?) Pickle was running over 180MPH and looking very cool doing it. Could use a set of Moon discs though. Don't worry I told him, but he prefers the 'I just pulled the hubcaps off to go racing look.'

The world's coolest FJ Holden was running 106MPH. Pretty good for an old Grey motor!

Just as we were leaving on Thursday morning this Topolino showed up! It was running a 253 Holden engine and it was the first trip to the salt. When I asked how come they got there so late, the answer was "We were still screwing it together on Monday!"

At this point, just after the first timer, the car is already doing 250+ MPH!!!

This is what it's all about. Passed this on the way in, Windsor powered and well used.

That crazy looking streamlining was originally a Ultralight aircraft fuselage, even the bit at the back. Bike is a Suzuki GT 750 two-stroke.

This is what the late model Aussie Falcons look like. Built from a wreck in 8 weeks, it ran over 160MPH with a 5.0. Animal ran 166MPH in it and the two other drivers ran just over 160 from memory.

International truck was channelled to buggery and runs late model Mercedes front and rear ends. Steve 'Smurf' Vorwerk put it together from stuff he had laying around his backyard (big backyard obviously) and ran 118MPH.

This is what the Aussie Falcon's looked like in 1966, except they weren't chopped and sure as #### didn't run a Chevy engine!

Push car? We don't need no steenking push car!!!

Stampy's roadster at the start line.

Here's Drewfus's mates and their 'Stan-mobile'. During one run on the Wednesday 'No Under Stan' was running at about 150MPH when the car went into a spin. At the end of it he'd gone around four and a half times. They decided it was maybe a bit windy after all. New name for 'No Under Stan'...? 'Donut Stan' of course!

A line-up of fine Ford machinery. (L-R) The 'Big Knob Racing' '34 roadster, Mark Hadfield's '67 Mustang and Dan Maconald's XB (74?) Falcon coupe.

This was a beautiful bike. Not sure what it ran though.

New car on the salt was this lakester. It had a 302 that was angled slightly so that the driveshaft ran to the left of the driver, similar to those old Indy cars. I wondered if it was a converted circuit racer, but on speaking to the builders it was built specifically for the salt. They ended up having a problem with the gearbox bearing due to the angle of the tailshaft so didn't make too many runs. They also discovered how hard it is to get traction over 140MPH. Hopefully they'll be back, it was a pretty cool looking race car.