The officials from the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and the Bonneville Nationals, Inc. (BNI) who together — for more than 60 years –have produced the world famous Bonneville time trials each August  selected “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth’s photo of the Speed Demon Streamliner for the the 2010 Speedweek Press Pass. All members of the media who intend to cover the thrilling week-long event will be required to register with the SCTA media office to obtain the coveted credential.

When journalists finish a piece of work there is a sense of relief, to be done and to have accomplished something that will be of value to others. how many others is always a mystery. When the work is published there is a small bit of pride seeing the work placed into the public forum. When readers respond — with praise or criticism, it is bonus, a chance to take a measurement of value, worth and direction.

The big leap is entering the work into competition. Peer review can be as merciless and stinging as it is uplifting and rewarding. The point is, the journalist takes the chance, puts themselves out for critical inventory of where they stand in their craft. Oh sure, some competitions have silly judges who allow personal emotions to factor into their decisions thereby rendering the awards pointless.

Through the years, I have only entered those competitions where my writing, photography, design work and publicity efforts would be given fair, serious review. Where I place provides me with a litmus test of the work, of whether or not I might be slacking off and resting on some laurels. If so, I can kick my own butt to knuckle down and do better. It looks like 2009 was one of those years. I collected five awards, four for writing and one for photography, but not one merited a first place.  This isn’t ego crying out here. I understand that there were many submitted works that failed to place at all. In some categories the judges gave no award, ouch!

The idea is if I take up the readers time it damn well ought to be well worth it. If my peers don’t think so then I need to examine the reason why. Of course, no judge in a competition can tell how a particular work resonates with each reader, and I so often hear words of encouragement form readers that I understand that my work, especially chronicling the events and people in land speed racing, is appreciated and has value to many.  In the end, I want my work to be real, raw, current and above all — accurate. When I take on historical work, the accuracy is the driving force, the point of the entire exercise.

I thought it might be interesting to make all of you judges and see how comments compare to the professional reviews. Below are the links to each of the articles and the photo. Give a read and a look and then give my a piece of your mind. I’d dearly appreciate your feedback on these winners.

American Auto Racing Writers Broadcasters Association

2009 Third Place – Web Log Entry – “Jesse James Isn’t a Dead Man, Just a Brazen Liar”  – website

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/jesse-james-false-claims-of-world-recor.html

2009 Third Place – Magazine Column Writing – “The First of His Kind” – Goodguys Gazette

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/wp-content/uploads/FFT_July09.pdf

2009 Second Place – Photography – “Inspiration’s Record Run”, www.landspeedproductions.biz

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/worlds-fastest-kettle-gets-its-steam-on.html

19th Annual International Automotive Media Competition

Magazine column writing/series – Third Place – Fuel For Thought | June, July, November

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/wp-content/uploads/FFT_June09.pdf

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/wp-content/uploads/FFT_July09.pdf

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/wp-content/uploads/FFT_Nov09SteamCar.pdf

Internet Blog – Investigative -  Second place – “Jesse James Isn’t a Dead Man, Just a Brazen Liar” -www.landspeedproductions.biz

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/jesse-james-false-claims-of-world-recor.html

I spent the morning and half the afternoon listening to America’s brain trust talk about how they were making tomorrow better by working out today’s problems in federal laboratories all across the country. This was the annual meeting of the Federal Laboratory Consortium whose organizers had asked me to give the keynote luncheon presentation on land speed racing. As a mere high school graduate who only got college education by sneaking into classes at the Illinois Institute of Technology, impressed doesn’t begin to explain my thoughts about hanging out some of the best brains on the planet, but let’s just say I slept easier that night knowing knowing these people were on our side.

What bothered me was how nearly every one of these brainiacs cried about how hard it was to get, and hold the attention of, young people — part of an outreach program every lab has to encourage students to take up study paths in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The idea is to keep the educational pipeline filled with future candidates for the labs. Places like NASA, NIH, DOD, CDC and US Air Force Academy.

I sat in one audience after another listening to their elegant tales of woes and thought to myself, “I’ve never met a kid, boy or girl, that wasn’t fascinated by a land speed racing machine, they ought to use the fastest cars, trucks and motorcycles on earth as the teaching metaphor so the kids won’t get bored and tune out.”

At a cocktail party that evening I mentioned my thoughts to a number of giant brains who introduced me to Caroline Hardman from the National Network of Digital Schools, part of Lincoln Interactive, an “e” learning company in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The result? It was an educational speed record where we went from concept to contract in a few weeks. As I write this we are a few weeks from completing an 18-lesson study course for middle schools students that will not only provide a comprehensive accredited educational curriculum, but expose kids to a broad spectrum of  technical and scientific career paths. This Cutting Edge Science educational course, Engineering the Future is meant to be a “captivating” primer to the whole engineering field, to expose students to the many segments available to them, not to try to teach them to be any one segment of the profession.

The number of graduates in these fields in recent years is scary short of what this country needs. In fact, there is direct relationship between the end of the US Space program and the dramatic fall-off of engineering degrees in the country. The”bleed-over” effect has slammed Great Britain as well. That’s why Richard Noble’s 1,000MPH Bloodhound project is touting education over the record-setting goal. Well, that and because road racer pal Paul Drayson also happens to swing a lot of political torque as the UK Minister of Science and asked the boys to help bolster the educational needs of the nation.

Helping me do this the same fine thing here in the States are some very kind and generous people from motorsports, with particular emphasis on land speed racing. They are the “Subject Matter Experts” and while I could have written most of the content myself, it occurred to me the bigger vision was to have as many people in the sport take part so that in the end the very people who give the sport its vitality and its verve would vicariously teach the children.  

On behalf of young students I am very grateful to all that the people listed below agreed to join with me to inspire young minds to take up science, technology, engineering and math courses.  If we can inspire children when they are young, and full so many tomorrows, to take up a STEM study path, the whole world will be better for it. And by using land speed racing as the teaching metaphor, we ought to have a bunch of fun doing it.

I publicly thank the Engineering the Future Subject Matter Experts for their contributions!

LEGEND: Color-coded names denote a special racing achievement distinction for the individual.

200MPH Club Life Member – Class Record Holder

300MPH Chapter – Class Record Holder, also a member of the 200MPH Club.

WLSR – World Land Speed Record (WLSR) in excess of 400MPH, also a life member of the both the 200MPH Club and the 300MPH Chapter.

CRH – Class Record Holder

ODB – Owner/driver/builder

_________________________________________________

Eric Ahlstrom, Fossett LSR

Ron Ayers, Aerodynamicist, ThrustSSC, JCB Dieselmax, Bloodhound

Dave Brant, Race Car/Motorcycle Builder, Brant Engineering, BWS Streamliner, CRH 180MPH Class K/FS, 1998 SCTA Points Champion

Tom Burkland, ODB, 411 streamliner – WLSR  415MPH

Paul Carosa, VP Engineering, AC Propulsion, White Lightning Streamliner WLSR 245MPH

Dave Dahlgren, data acquisition Zen master, Engine Management Systems, CRH???

Bonner Denton, ODB,#3000 AA/BGMS, CRH 298MPH, Galileo Professor of Chemistry and Geosciences, University of Arizona

Ken Duttweiler, master engine builder, Duttweiler Performance,

Nord Embroden, WLSR holder, land yacht designer & builder, NORD Design

Pete Farnsworth, Builder, Reaction Dynamics, Blue Flame Rocket – WLSR 622MPH

Don Ferguson II, ODB, Ferguson Racing, CRH 302 MPH Class XXF/BFS

Don Ferguson III, ODB, Ferguson Racing, SCTA President

George Fields, ODB, Trackmaster Fabrication, Trackmaster Competition Coupe, CRH,  3??MPH

Rick Gold, owner, ERC Racing Fuels, www.ercracingfuels.com

Travis Heap, Crew Chief, Phoenix Diesel Race Truck, CRH 272MPH Class U/DT

Curtis Halvorson, driver, Mormon Missile, engine builder, CRH 305MPH, WLSR 341.165MPH

Seth Hammond, ODB, #77 Lakester, CRH

Ed Hillstrom, team member, Buckeye Bullet Electric/Hydrogen streamliner, BNI Record Holder

Tom Klein, Mechanical Engineering Masters Degree, master engine builder, Klein Engine Technologies

Jerry Kugel, ODB, Kugel Komponents – World Land Speed Record Holder, CRH 

Joe Law, ODB, Grumpy Old Men Lakester, CRH, C/BFL 349MPH

Les Leggitt, master engine builder, CRH

Mike Lefevers, master engine builder , Mitech Racing Engines, CRH

Dr. Tim Leverton, JCB Dieselmax, CRH, WLSR 350MPH

Roy Lewis, ODB, Chassis Engineering, CRH 306.8MPH

Craig McCarthy, Chief Engineer, Aerodine Engineering & Aerodine Composites

Dan Metz, ODB & University Professor, Motorsports Consultant

Terry Moreau, ODB, Moreau & McBride streamliner, CRH 224MPH, ESC Systems, www.oneliterlandspeed.com

Mike and Terry Nish, OBD, Nish Motorsports, #998  streamliner, CRH, Top Speed: 386MPH

Richard Noble, ODB, Thrust II & ThrustSSC – WLSR / 633MPH

James Rice, ODB, CRH, Owner, Chronologic Timing, Official Supplier of Timing Equipment to SCTA, BUB, BNI, FIA, FIM, USAC, ACCUS and AMA, sanctioned events — http://www.chronologictiming.com/

Pat Rummerfield, Driver, White Lightening Electric Streamliner, WLSR 245MPH

Harry Schoell, Inventor of the Cyclone-Schoell Cycle Engine

Nick and Ken Smith, Drive Train Experts, Hot Rod Works, www.hotrodworks.com

Bob Stroud, Principal, Stroud Safety, parachute & safety equipment    www.stroudsafety.com

Rex Svoboda, 411 streamliner crew, CRH

Al Teague, ODB, Spirit of 76 streamliner – WLSR 409MPH

David R. Thom, Collision and Injury Dynamics, Inc

Dan Warner, driver, SCTA Speed Records Official, CRH 230MPH

Sam Wheeler, ODB, EZ Hook Motorcycle streamliner, fastest speed to date 355.303 MPH

Oscar B. Will, Automotive Tech Instructor, ASE Master Technician, GM Certified Service Manager

Chuk Williams, ODB, Land Speed Steam Car

Dan Wright, ODB, USFRA Chief Tech Inspector, #677 Streamliner, CRH

__________________________________________________________________________

If you want to know more about the course, check out The National Network of Digital Schools that offers an impressive range of interactive coursework, developed by experienced educators and professionals, and supported by a network of certified Teacher Facilitators. This is dynamic curricula — for lifelong learners.

website at:  http://www.nndsonline.org/

BURBANK, Calif. – The 2009 All-America Auto Racing Team has been chosen by the nation’s motorsports press with a surprise and a shocker coming out of the final totals. Just two drivers are contenders this year for the Jerry Titus Award — the team’s Driver of the Year, both of them dominating the vote in their category. One is not all unexpected but the other is a high surprise and they stand just two votes apart in the final tally. Who those two are is not revealed until the All-America ceremonies in Brownsburg, Ind., on Jan. 16 but they will come from among the eight drivers named to the First Team by the voting members of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.

Two former Titus winners are on the team this year — Indy Car champion Dario Franchitti (2007) and NHRA Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher (2006, 2008), both bidding to repeat this year after winning their categories.

The Titus, given in remembrance of the late racer/journalist, signifies the top vote-getter on the All-America team regardless of category, is announced at the conclusion of the annual AARWBA banquet, which is open to the public. One drivers from each of seven categories is elected to the First Team, one more to the Second Team, and all drivers receiving at least five percent of the vote (minimum five votes) earn honorable mention.

Schumacher won his seventh NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel championship this year, his sixth in a row. With his 5-win season he won his seventh selection as an All-America in the Drag Racing category, every one of them First Team.

Franchitti was last selected when he won the IRL Indy Car championship in 2007 when he. After a year racing stock cars, he returned to the IRL in 2009 to win it again and also rejoin the All-America team for a fifth time, his second as a First Team member.

The shocker came in the Stock Car category where Jimmie Johnson, on the heels of his unprecedented fourth straight Sprint Cup, and sentimental favorite Mark Martin, virtually split the vote with the ageless Martin coming out on top in the balloting by just two votes. It is Martin’s 15th time as an All-America, his fifth on the First Team. It is the eighth time Johnson has made the team

Donny Schatz also scored a championship four-peat this year in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series. It was not his only quadruple as he also won the prestigious Knoxville Nationals for a fourth consecutive year in addition to 12 wins on the WoO circuit. Winning the Short Track category, this also becomes Schatz’ fourth straight year as a First Team All-America.

In the Road Racing category, drivers racing as teammates in the same car are voted on as a single entity resulting in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series’ Daytona Prototype champions Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney winning First Team honors. Their four victories made them the most winning pair in Daytona prototype history. It is the third time as an All-America and the second on the First Team for both.

In Touring Series it was another 50-plus veteran, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, atop the tally after his six-win season. It is Hornaday’s fourth All-America selection, each of them First Team.

The vote in the At Large category produced IRL Indy Lights champion J.R. Hildebrand as the First Team choice on the strength of his 4-win season. Hildebrand was last on the team in 2006, a first-team selection that year as the Formula Ford 2000 Champion.

Information on the All-America Banquet is available at www.AARWBA.org. The banquet and ceremony is open to the public.

FIRST TEAM
OPEN WHEEL: Dario Franchitti
STOCK CAR: Mark Martin
ROAD RACING: Jon Fogarty/Alex Gurney
DRAG RACING: Tony Schumacher
SHORT TRACK: Donny Schatz
TOURING SERIES: Ron Hornaday
AT LARGE: J.R. Hildebrand

SECOND TEAM
OPEN WHEEL: Helio Castroneves
STOCK CAR: Jimmie Johnson
ROAD RACING: David Brabham/Scott Sharp
DRAG RACING: Ashley Force Hood
SHORT TRACK: Joey Saldana
TOURING SERIES: Parker Kligerman
AT LARGE: Frank Manzo

HONORABLE MENTION
(At least 5% of the vote)
OPEN WHEEL: none
STOCK CAR: Kyle Busch. Tony Stewart
ROAD RACING: Gil deFerran/Simon Pagenaud, Luis Diaz/Adrian Fernandez
DRAG RACING: Larry Dixon, Mike Edwards, Robert Hight
SHORT TRACK: Levi Jones, Brad Kuhn
TOURING SERIES: Justin Lofton
AT LARGE: Travis Pastrana/Christian Edstrom

The Southern California Chapter of the Society of Automotive Historians announced the winner of the 2009 James Valentine Memorial Award is “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth, Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette columnist and author of Bonneville Salt Flats. The award for periodicals is granted for Excellence in Automotive Historical Research was presented for her October 2008 column “The Science of Speed”

“The thing which impressed me about the article,” explained Chapter Director Bob Ewing, “was the importance of the physical records. Lots of people have anecdotes to relate about who did what and when, but to have actual physical evidence of the event years after it was over is something else again. A real human touch to the whole story.

The Valentine Memorial Award is named for the late J.H. Valentine, at one time the recognized authority of automobiles built in Los Angeles. Always a strong supporter of the Southern California Chapter SAH, Valentine devoted his life to accurately compiling nearly insignificant data on early automobiles one by one. With no chance of personal wealth, he ensured that future historians would have a large quantity of priceless material. The Valentine Award honors authors whose automotive historical research is linked to people and events in California, but does not preclude significant historical milestones anywhere in the world.

“Walt Sheehan is virtually unknown in land speed racing circles, yet he was directly responsible for all five of Craig Breedlove’s World Land Speed Records” said author Noeth of the winning column, “I am forever grateful to the Goodguys Gazette for providing monthly space the past seven years enabling me to tell wonderful stories of the worlds fastest cars, trucks and motorcycles. The Society of Automotive Historians Southern California Chapter humbles me with the honor.”

Noeth was first honored by her fellow SAH SoCal members when she was awarded the Valentine for her book: Bonneville Salt Flats in 2002. Known to her readers as “Landspeed Louise,” she became the first recipient of the award to be honored for both a book and an article in a periodical. “What’s an FIA World Land Speed Record Worth?“, which appeared in the Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette in October 2004, recounts her efforts to spur the FIA, which is nominally responsible for land speed record keeping as well as other aspects of motor sports, to officially recognize the efforts of competitors before they passed away. She again took periodicals top honors in 2006 with the September 2005 FUEL FOR THOUGHT column “Speedy Thoughts From Wally Parks”

To download a PDF of the winning article:

http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/media/FFT_Oct08.pdf