Dave Schroeder and John Ens Join Tom Bailey and Sick The Mag to Team with Keith & Tonya Turk for an Eventful Speedweek at Bonneville Salt Flats – Setting 2 Class Records, Joining the 200 MPH Club
Getting a chance to drive a car that has set class records for several drivers, at seven different locations, can hit a prospective driver with high levels of excitement. But it can also come with pressure, wanting to deliver a solid performance on the given opportunity.
Two drivers that have participated in numerous drag and drive events for over a decade got the chance to trade the streets and the quarter-mile drag strip for Utah and the Bonneville Salt Flats this year. Tom Bailey and Dave Schroeder made the most of the opportunity, with both drivers earning not only a class record, but joining the prestigious 200 MPH club, and adding their names to the Turk’s Camaro on the sail panel.
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A place as unique as the vehicles that attempt speed records each year, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Northwestern Utah spans a 12-miles long and 5-miles wide salt pan provides both a picture-perfect location, as well as a solid base for high-speed record attempts.
Dozens of classes exist for competitors with cars, trucks, motorcycles, and purpose-built vehicles to try their hand at a good time, fast runs, and possibly, a class record with the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA).
Annually, the Bonneville Salt Flats hosts the SCTA’s Speedweek, and this year, thanks to a joint effort from Keith and Tonya Turk, along with the Bailey and the Schroeder-Ens Racing teams, Tom Bailey and Dave Schroeder got the chance to pilot the Turk’s 1980 Chevrolet Camaro at Speedweek.
To provide motivation for the Camaro, the Schroeder-Ens Racing team had two engines built by Ken Murray. This plan allowed both Bailey and Schroeder the opportunity to qualify / possibly set a class record, in two different classes.
The engine for Bailey checked in at 415 cubic inches (we had previously reported a 417 cubic inch size), while Schroeder’s would spec at 347 cubic inches. Built with similar off-the-shelf parts based on a World Products block, and AFR (Air Flow Research) cylinder heads and intake, the teams would be able to make the switch from one engine to the other in a reasonable time frame.
Both engines employed a Scat crankshaft and connecting rods, Isky Racing Cams camshaft and valve springs, and Crower rockers on the AFR cylinder heads. A blow-through carburetor topped the AFR intake, and gets additional atmosphere from a Vortech supercharger.
Bailey’s 415 cubic inch engine classified it into the B/CBGC (Classic Blown Gas Coupe) designation, while Schroeder’s smaller 347 cubic inch engine put it into the C/CBGC class.
With both drivers new to Bonneville and SCTA, they were required to make licensing runs before attempting to set their class records. The first license is for a stable run between 125-149 mph, the second license for a 150-175 mph pass, and the third license pass for 175-200 mph.
With the 415 cubic inch engine in the Camaro, and Bailey behind the wheel, his three licensing runs were accomplished on the first day of Speedweek, Saturday, August 2nd. Bailey’s first record attempt run on Sunday, August 3rd, resulted in a Mile 4 speed of 235.368 mph, better than the existing record of 226.243 mph, and completing the first-half of a record attempt.
When a vehicle has exceeded a current class record, it enters the impound area, where the driver and crew have four hours to work on the car before it is secured for the remainder of the day. The team gave the car a once-over, put in a fresh set of spark plugs, and called it good.
To be able to set a record at Bonneville requires two runs, and the second run, sometimes known as the ‘record return run’, is afforded to competitors the next morning. “The average of two runs has to be greater than the record to qualify (to set a new record),” said Keith Turk.
Bailey got the chance the following morning, Monday August 4th, to not only back up the record attempt, but also enter the prestigious Bonneville 200 mph club. With a speed of 232.442 mph at the same Mile 4 he recorded the 235.368 mph the previous day, an average of 233.905 mph would solidify Bailey’s new class record, as well as entry into the Bonneville 200 mph club.
With a record completed, the car returns to impound to verify specs and legality, including pumping a cylinder to verify cubic inch displacement. A little while later, Bailey was given the green light, and received his accolades, which include the coveted 200 mph ‘Red Hat’ for his club induction.
With part one complete, the second part of the Speedweek plan was put into play. Schroeder would attempt his trio of licensing runs, using the existing engine that powered Bailey’s runs. Schroeder was able to get all three of the licensing runs complete on Monday, August 4th.
The large team would make the engine switch, plucking the 415 cubic inch engine from the Camaro, to make room for the 347 cubic inch version, and attempt to smash the record in the C/CBGC class.
Schroeder made his first record attempt on Tuesday, August 5th, and that run would result in a speed of 223.688 mph at the Mile 3 mark, and a Mile 4 speed of 228.558 mph, both eclipsing the current C/CBGC class record of 219.739 mph.
The Turk’s Camaro would go to impound for the second time in as many days, and Wednesday, August 5th, Schroeder attempted to back up the record. The team made some jet changes, figuring the better morning air would give them a shot at more speed.
Unfortunately, the Camaro ran out of fuel before reaching the necessary speed to complete the record, nullifying the record attempt. That put Schroeder and John Ens back in the pit area to reset. But once they went out for their next record attempt, the result was impressive. The speed at Mile marker 3 was 230.055 mph, and a Mile 4 speed of 233.862 mph.
That run gave Schroeder and team another successful first-half of a record attempt, and a visit to the impound area for the remainder of the day. On Thursday morning, August 7th, Schroeder would get the chance to back up the record, and become the second driver in four days to do it in the storied Camaro.
Schroeder, Ens, the Turks and team delivered on the final shot, as Schroeder speed came in at 236.701 mph at Mile 3, while Mile 4 mark increased to 238.791 mph. The average of the speed at Mile 4 of 233.862 mph on the first run, and 238.791 on the back up, resulted in a 236.326 mph average speed, beating the existing record by over 16 mph, and getting Schroeder the class record, as well as entry into the Bonneville 200 mph club.
To read the ‘Sick On The Salt’ part 1 story – CLICK HERE!
To read the ‘Sick On The Salt’ part 2 story – CLICK HERE!
A brand new video, the latest in the ‘Sick On The Salt’ coverage, is below:
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Keith and Tonya Turk, Jason Sack, Andy McConnell, Schroeder-Ens Racing.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com