Silver State Classic Challenge Crash

My Condolences to both of there families

Merle Hill, 41, of Ely, and Rick DeKneef, of California, were both killed Sunday when this 1994 Chevrolet Camaro crashed less than 15 minutes after this photo was taken. The car is shown approaching the starting line just after race officials inspected the tires. (Photo by John Plestina)
By John Plestina
Ely Times Editor
Published: Monday, September 19, 2011 1:45 PM PDT
A fiery crash on Nevada 318 about 20 miles south of Lund a little past noon on Sunday claimed the lives of an Ely man and another from California during the 24th running of the Silver State Classic Challenge.

Merle Hill, 41, of Ely, the navigator in the car, and driver Rick DeKneef, 53, of California, both died in the 1994 Chevrolet Camaro they were racing.

Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo reported Monday in a prepared statement that a tire blew out and the Camaro rolled several times and caught on fire. Both occupants of the car were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Nye County Sheriff's Office put the speed of DeKneef's car at about 200 mph. The car had a target speed of 180 mph.

The NCSO has jurisdiction and is conducting the coroner's investigation.

There had been two previous deaths in the 24-year history of SSCC open road races on Nevada Highway 318. There had been none since 1992.

The SSCC has stringent safety rules. Tires and passenger compartments are inspected as cars are approaching the starting line. Tires with nails or other visible damage are not accepted in that condition. All cars must pass tech inspections the day preceding races.

Sunday's race ran with no other incidents.

Six cars did not run the race as it was red flagged following the crash and then canceled.

The Ely Times will have comprehensive coverage of the race and the four days of accompanying events on Friday.

Performance Test Driver Job

Hey

I don't know if anybody qualifies for this but I thought I would pass this along. This job was closed they reopened it due to someone declining the position. My resume got lost in the shuffle so I'm trying again. Goodluck

Go to Goodyear.com and Careers, go under RD in TX.

John

Description The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's Product evaluation Department is
responsible for the testing needs of all the tires developed in its
North American Innovation center including passenger, light truck,
aircraft, radial medium truck, race and off-road construction tires.
Testing facilities include test labs and a test track in Proving Grounds
in San Angelo, TX.
Requirements

* Bachelors of Science degree or higher level in Engineering or Technical Science.
* Mechanical Engineer preferred
* Performance Driving Experience
* 2-5 years performance driving experience preferred
* Automotive industry experience preferred
* Basic understanding of automotive functions and vehicle dynamics with an interest in performance test driving.
* Team Environment
* Willing and able to travel domestic and internationally 30% of the time.
* Oral communication
* Written skills

Tasks

* Coordinate and run tire performance tests (such as wet and dry handling, noise evaluations and ride comfort testing) on passenger and light truck vehicles
* Communicate the strengths and weaknesses of a tire's performance with Goodyear's tire development engineers, project managers, and OE vehicle development engineers
* Provide quality data in time to meet product development deadlines

Type Full-time
Location TX, San Angelo

2009 Tire Rack One Lap Of America

Well its that time of yr again. One Lap Of America is only a wk away. Everyone is looking forward to Daytona this yr. There are bets going around on who will be the first car past 200mph!!. There's a auto-cross put on by the Cinn region and a paved oval. Normal fun stuff. Im again in a 02 corvette. Hopefully the car is going to be done. Whats left at GM HPVO is finshing up the motor. Guess they went into the C-5r parts bin. But I really wont know until I drive the car. What I was told and what is going to be done are 2 different things.

John




Last schedule update: 26 April 2009
(note: schedule is subject to change due to weather, track conditions and whim)

E LOCATION OVL DIST INC DIST TIME ALLOWED AVG SPEED DATE TIME DAY
Tire Rack 0 0 0 0.0 01 May 0800 Friday
Registration Opens 01 May 0800 Friday
Registration Closes 01 May 1500 Friday
Drivers Meeting 01 May 1600 Friday
Welcoming Party 01 May 1800 Friday
Tire Rack 0 0 0 0 02 May 0800 Saturday
1 Start Event 1 Skid Pad (Wet) 02 May 0900 Saturday

Autobahn Country Club 106 106 02 May 1400 Saturday map
2 Start Event 1 Time Trial 02 May 1500 Saturday

Turfway Park 410 304 03 May 0900 Sunday
3 Start Event 1 Time Trial 03 May 1000 Sunday

Highland Rim Speedway 656 246 03 May 1800 Sunday
4 Start Event 1 Time Trial 03 May 1830 Sunday

Talladega Gran Prix Raceway 925 269 04 May 0800 Monday map
5 Start Event 1 Time Trial 04 May 0900 Monday
6 Start Event 2 Time Trial 04 May 1300 Monday

Sebring Int'l Raceway 1521 616 05 May 0800 Tuesday map
7 Start Event 1 Time Trial 05 May 0830 Tuesday

8 Start Event 2 Time Trial 05 May 1230 Tuesday

Gainesville Raceway 1743 202 05 May 1800 Tuesday
9 Start Event 1 - Drag Race 05 May 1800 Tuesday

10 Start Event 2 - Bracket Drag 05 May 1830 Tuesday

Daytona Int'l Speedway 1871 128 06 May 0800 Wednesday
11 Start Event 1 Time Trial 06 May 0830 Wednesday

12 Start Event 2 Time Trial 06 May 1300 Wednesday

Braille Batter MPG COntest 06 May Wednesday
13 Start Coast Shell Daytona Wednesday
Finish Riceboro Shell Wednesday
Tire Rack Midway GA
optional tire stop 06 May Wednesday
Carolina Motorsports Park 2310 439 07 May 0800 Thursday map
14 Start Event 1 Time Trial 07 May 0830 Thursday

15 Start Event 2 Time Trial 07 May 1230 Thursday

BMW Performance Center 2464 154 07 May 1600 Thursday
16 Start Event 1 Time Trial 07 May 1630 Thursday

BeaveRun 3006 562 08 May 0800 Friday map
17 Start Event 1 Time Trial 08 May 0830 Friday

18 Start Event 2 Time Trial 08 May 1230 Friday

Tire Rack 3265 239 09 May 0800 Saturday
19 Start Event 1 Skid Pad (Dry) 09 May 0900 Saturday
Finish Event 1 09 May 1130 Saturday
Finish Tire Rack 09 May 1200 Saturday
Awards Banquet 09 May 1300 Saturday

Copyright 2009 Cannonball Circuits, LLC - all rights reserved.
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Push rods and flywheel bolt kit

I was cleaning up some stuff and found some parts.

A set of Used trick Flow 7.400 length .080 Push rods. They were in the car for 2200 miles. I removed them and went to longer ones. $60

A new un-opened ARP Flywheel Bolt kit. 330-2802 Chevy LS1 11mm. $20

John

2008 Tire Rack One Lap Of America

Well its that time of yr again for me. Wasnt even thinking about going, until I got the Phone call a few wk ago.... I will co-driving a 02 Vette. There is 2 F-body entered a 4th gen and a 3rd gen. Anybody thinking about coming to the track stop in a say hi. I don't know our car number just yet.

John Oliver

The Schedule:

Date -- Event -- Track -- Location
May 2 -- Sticker Day -- The TireRack -- South Bend, IN

May 3 -- Wet Skid Pad -- The TireRack -- South Bend, IN
-------- Time Trial -- Road America -- Elkhart Lake, WI

May 4 -- 2 Time Trials -- Mid America Motorplex -- Pacific Junction, IA

May 5 -- 2 Time Trials -- Texas World Speedway -- College Station, TX
-------- Low E.T./Bracket Drags -- Lonestar Motorsports Park -- Houston, TX

May 6 -- 2 Time Trials -- No Problem Raceway -- Belle Rose, LA

May 7 -- 2 Time Trials -- Carolina Motorsports Park -- Kershaw, SC
-------- Time Trial -- BMW Performance Center -- Greer, SC

May 8 -- 3 Time Trials -- Virginia International Raceway -- Alton, VA

May 9 -- 2 Time Trials/Autocross -- BeaveRun Motorsports Complex -- Wampum, PA
--------- Passage Control -- Design Engineering Inc. -- Avon Lake, Ohio

May 10 -- Dry Skid Pad -- The TireRack -- South Bend, IN


All of the tracks should allow spectators, in 2006 when we visited No Problem Raceway I think they charged a small fee. Other tracks may do the same. If you are coming out to visit, things will get started at 8:00 am - 8:30 am, there will be a break for lunch around noon, and then most cars will be gone by 3:00 pm.