• August 24, 2008
  The POP Motorsports landspeed race team has returned from Bonneville's Speedweek with a sad tale to tell. Doug Odom made the first test run on Monday and ran 236 MPH.  Gail drove her first test run late Wed.
  
  The run went well until the shut down at the 5 mile when the high-speed chute came out. The brand new high speed chute ripped a panel out and pulled hard to the side. It pulled the car over on its side. We were able to see in the video what happened. At 242 MPH the car rollen over on its side, slid a long ways, then began to roll until it came to a stop, fortunately top side up.
  
  Gail managed to get herself out, with a little helping hand that she later discovered was her own husband's - Al was the first car on the scene. After the paramedics checked her over she was able to convince them that she was okay.  The prediction of sore muscles the next day did not materialize although several bruises did appear in odd places.
  
  5 accidents occurred in 2 days but we believe none had serious injuries, thankfully. The salt was the best it has been in over 30 years and they had 3 courses set up, 1 long and 2 short so even the lines were manageable.

• August 14, 2008  Doug has decided to run our tried and true E motor (258 CI) which holds many successful records, and a B motor (400 CI) - both are ready and raring to go fast. We head to the salt on the 16th and hope to be through inspection and relaxing by the end of the day on Sunday the 17th (fat chance). Racing starts at 10 am (Utah time) on Monday and Doug's plan is to get a check out/test run that day.  Gail should make her first runs the following day depending on how long the lines are as we work the bugs out of the new Streamliner at this much anticipated event!  Plus the Discovery Channel will have a crew filming us and several other teams for a special show on Speedweek, we'll post the scheduled date as soon as we learn when it will air.

• July 12, 2008  Everything continues on track for Bonneville's Speedweek event which begins August 18, 2008.  Fine tuning work on the Streamliner continues to keep Doug busy as he finalizes cockpit changes and engine work on the Nissan 3L which is going to the Dyno any day now.   The VETTE Magzine article came out and has been well received by those who were able to find it. Check it out on our CORVETTE page.

• May 5 2008  Al and Doug, with Don West helping, picked up the Streamliner in Long Beach and have actually found room to squeeze it into Doug's shop.  He has already started work on it, along with the Nissan motor so everything appears to be on track for a successful Bonneville Speedweek. 

• April 22, 2008  Gail & Al arrived back in the U.S. in early April and Doug is working on the Nissan motor in anticipation of the arrival of the shipping container with the Streamliner expected on April 30th.  After the liner is prepped some low speed test runs may happen at El Mirage in June.  Check back to see how it goes.                  

          Also note that our indispensible Crew Member - Wayne Villard - graduated from             

          the California Highway Patrol and has been assisgned to the Santa Barbara area. 

          So everyone better watch out and SLOW down....Is that an OxyMoron for a 

          Land SPEED team?  Congratulations Wayne!!!

• February 12, 2008 As one can imagine everyone is very disappointed and frustrated by the cancellation/postponement as the event won't happen while we are scheduled to be in AU.  We have started the arrangements for getting the Streamliner out of the Museum and getting a container arranged to ship everything back to the U.S. so we can run at Bonneville in August.  As they say - That's Racing!

• February 10, 2008 From the Webmaster -THE DLRA SPEED TRIALS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED! 
  After an inspection of Lake Gairdner by representatives of the DLRA and Rangers from the South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage, on Friday 7th February 2008 and again on Saturday 8th February 2008. It has been decided to indefinitely postpone the 2008 DLRA Speed Week.
  
  This decision has not been taken lightly, and in consideration of the wasted travels made by many competitors last year it was deemed appropriate to make a decision at this time. It is understood that there are some international vehicles in transit now and their departure was guided by the best information available at that time.
  
  Using GPS an inspection of the track surface was undertaken at each mile mark, the salt was soft enough for a large screwdriver to be pushed in by hand. Where vehicles had driven over the salt, the depression left by the tyres immediately filled with water. On the Friday a DEH 4WD got bogged at the northern end of the course, fortunately they had a satellite phone and were able to contact DLRA members who brought out the necessary equipment to effect a difficult recovery.
  It should be noted at the inspection at the lake in December 2007 by DLRA members, even though there was surface water, it took up to 5 blows of a mallet to drive a sharpened spike on 25mm into the salt.
  
  Several teams are still planning on going out to the Lake around the 3rd March 2008, another inspection of the lake and track surface will take place at that time. It is not anticipated that the surface will be suitable at this time, so further inspections are planned for later in the year.
  
  The issue of cancellation or postponement was discussed by approx 70 members at a meeting in Melbourne on 10/02/2008. There was overwhelming support to conduct a meeting later in the year if conditions were favorable. There are a number of other considerations to be taken into account for another date including the Newtons giving their approval, fire and safety crews availability, surveyors being able to mark the track at short notice and many, many other details.
  Keep the shiny side up!
  
• February 8, 2008 Gail & Al are in South Australia and have finally picked up the crate after it cleared Customs and Quarantine today.  No damage, everything seems fine and they are now just awaiting Doug's arrival on the 20th.  The weather is unseasonably cool and comfortable but the hope is that the lake is still dry.

• January 20, 2008 The shipping crate, with two Chevy race motors we are planning to use in the Streamliner, is on its' way to Australia and should arrive within a few days of Gail and Al's arrival on February 3rd.  Everything is in place for a successful and fun meet as the weather seems to be holding and the lake continues to improve daily as the race date approaches.