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On the Salt and Dry Lakes
June 14 2010
Land Speed Record Holder spotted
 at Woodland CA car show

Kevin Triplett
Live Oak California
Contributor to OWR3 
While attending the 11th annual Woodland, California Hot Rod and Custom Motorcycle Show held June 13, 2010 at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, this writer found the sleek Brant - Wright - Speranza streamliner #919 on display.  This beautiful car, built in 1994, is the current record holder at Bonneville in the K/FS class.  The FS designation means that it is a streamliner as defined by SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) rules:  a car designed and built for Bonneville racing, having four wheels, and at least two wheels covered.  The engine class designation, “K” means this car is equipped with a 30 cubic inch Honda engine.  With driver Jim Wright at the controls, this car set the current K/FS class record with a two-way average of 180.07 MPH in August 2007, with one run at 198.6 MPH. 
John Wright, Randy Speranza, and Dave Brant are the three partners in the streamliner.  Dave, who designed and built the car, is a second-generation racer; his father Carroll, raced midgets and big cars before and after World War 2.  Dave owned and drove a V8-60 midget in the 1960’s, and was an accomplished motorcycle AMA racer in the 1970’s, and currently operates Brant Engineering in Woodland CA, specializing in Speedway motorcycles, parts and accessories.

Photos by Kevin Triplett     

DWS1  "The sleek Brant Wright Speranza streamliner on display"


DWS 2 "A rear view of the sleek streamliner; note the wing to provide downforce on the driving wheels"


DWS 3 "The driver's office is a tight fit."


DWS 4 "The crew on car is comprised of Dave Brant, Sr., his son David, and grandson David The 3rd."


Mickey Thompson Challanger on the Salt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pClv-XwBVOs&feature=related

Nish Motorsports - 425 MPH Dream DVD Preview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2NenIO8tzA&feature=player_embedded


SCTA at Bonneville, New Records at Winter Finals
Film of Micheles Record breaking run below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtaG4U5PoUw

World Finals October 8-11 2009
Bonneville Salt Flats
World Finals October 8-11 2009Bonneville Salt Flats
Michele Brading below has a new record in class   "see below".  Second time this year on the Salt with a new record.


Driving the Costella Dennee lakester#6060, She came on strong for her second record this year in the Lakester division.
Jack Costella below holds many records on the Salt and Dry lakes as a driver or builder.

 
Spirit of Rett #1122 came oh so close to being the first over 400mph for "UN"Blown class record. 

They had to settle for 392.503 mph record with Charles Nearburg at the wheel. This after exiting the final mile over 400mph.

Vehicle Entry  Name                       Engine Body OldRec NewRec Driver

1122 Spirit of Rett             AA                                              FS      381.976          392.503 Charles Nearburg

6060 Costella-Dennee K                                               FL      157.370          175.405 Michele Brading

Al the new records set on the Salt last week below.
Long Course Records

Vehicle Entry Name Engine Body OldRec NewRec Driver/Bike
36 Steinegger & Eshenbaugh E      FR      231.928 234.797 Al Eshenbaugh
77 Seth Hammond AA     FL      301.636 311.412 Tanis Hammond
126 Cohn Jucewic Monza C      CGALT   238.241 245.776 Bob Jucewic
451 Spectre Performance AA     BGS     0.000 330.569 Kenny Hoover (3)
1122 Spirit of Rett AA     FS      381.976 392.503 Charles Nearburg
1690 Barnyard Bearcat G      GS      253.855 258.988 James Knapp
1757 Jack Rogers Realtor B      FALT    235.607 237.922 Steve Strupp (2)
1792 Munz & Busby XXF    BFR     0.000 200.875 David Busby (2)
2010 Hasport Insight G      GT      157.805 157.869 Brian Gillespie
2111 White Goose Bar Racing G      BMMP    158.828 165.989 Mike Manghelli
2115 Hajek Motorsports C      BFALT   254.135 255.764 Danny Thompson
6060 Costella-Dennee K      FL      157.370 175.405 Michele Brading
6972 Goldstrom / Jesel B      STR     217.026 223.623 Jimmy Shine
7571 Jack Rogers Realtor B      GALT    238.883 241.028 Jack Rogers
7662 Stringfellow & Kirk D      BGCC    243.370 253.757 Jim Kirk
7952 H&H / Old Crow Speed Special V4     BFL     125.276 146.819 Bobby Green
9499 Centimark Mustang C      PS      232.274 253.428 Steve Benyo (2)
331B NRHS V-twin Performance 1350CC M-PF    166.953 173.067 Susan Wilson
600B FL - Paul Thede 650CC  MPS-F   178.294 195.604 Honda
859B Van Butler Racing 650CC  MPS-G   177.013 180.004 Honda
1473B Vance & Forstall Racing 1350CC A-F     199.954 200.492 Suzuki
1974B Womack & Sandin 1350CC A-BG     214.859 216.527 Suzuki
1989B Bennett's Performance 1650CC A-PG    168.382 170.096 H/D
3956B Jim Meyer Racing 650CC  SC-BF   0.000 114.594 Kawasaki
6002B John V. Dobbs 1350CC A-BG    214.859 221.472 Suzuki

Sept 20 2009

On the Salt interview of Michele Brading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lLIXeD_Kyk


 
Sept 10 2009

                                     Retired ?
                          
                                                            Dennis Varni left and 'Retired" Joe Casanova right 

Dennis Varni was looking for a good car builder at the time and He found someone that was retired, He wanted to retire his old Belly Tanker and build a new streamliner and go for 300+mph. Well He drug out of retirement a good biuilder by the name of Joe Casanova.
 Joe now was really enjoying his new status at the time of being retired. Mind you this was going on three years ago !!!
Anyway they got some parts and proceded to build a car to run in the Class,EBGS,
 E, For Engines under 260 cui. B, For Blown they have twin Turbos on it.  G, For Gas and S, for Streamliner.

Dennis had some good connections and came up with some of the old Don Vesco stuff. The car will bear a striking resemblance to the Vesco car because they started out with one of His bodies.

Don Vescos Turbinator Below,  Team Vesco has announced it will return to Bonneville land speed racing in 2010 and continue the quest of becoming the first wheel-driven vehicle to break through the 500 MPH barrier. Don Vesco established the current record at 458 MPH in 2001. Since Don's passing in 2002, the team has been planning a return to the salt and realize Don's life long dream. The driver has not yet been sellected yet?
 

 Then through another connection got a, 24 vavle inline 6, around 260 CI, Dual over head cam Twin Turbo engine.

Below in line GM 6 cyl the dummy engine 

 
This was developed by GM for who knows what kind of vehicle? It was finaly discarded by GM to never sit in a production vehicle. I was told.
So now with several weeks to go Joe is thrashing  to get get this project done. Hopefully We will get to see it run at Winter finals on the Bonneville Salt Flats?
Below are a couple pictures I took at Joes shop where they are thrashing about trying to get it done for Oct Winter finals on the Salt.

Some of the body parts below and right the car with the lower half of the body parts on it.
                            

Retired Joe Casanova                                                                         Dennis Varni
                           

Well time is running short for them, I sure hope they make it and I wish then good Luck on the Salt.
aXe
Sept 5 2009

2009 Speedway weeks new Records

Day Crs Number Entry Name Engine Body OldRec Speed Driver / Bike
10 S 2 Pro Gear ETA Spec H      GR      139.608 141.612 Mark Lintner
9 S 5 Team McLeish Brothers K      BFL     115.961 140.523 Derek McLeish
11 L 27 Callaway & Smith B      FRMR    203.864 235.436 Calvin Smith
14 L 36 Steinegger & Eshenbaugh D      FR      230.697 239.210  Al Eshenbaugh (2)
11 L 45 Wasted Willie Flatheads XXF    GR      184.627 187.292 Willie Glass
13 L 46 Mariani Farms E      STR     183.812 190.452 David Silveira
13 S 57 Larry's Old Volks Home H      BGALT   139.800 150.014 Jim Bradshaw
12 S 60 Fast Four Special V4F    STR     114.157 115.681 Pete Hendrickson
11 S 69 Lattin & Gillette XF     PP      101.091 107.140 Jim Lattin
9 L 76 Ferguson Racing XXF    BFS     290.774 302.462 Don Ferguson Jr. (3)
11 L 77 No Nitro Hammond A      GL      290.090 300.311 Lee Gustafson (3)
12 S 108 Brent Racing XF     GRMR    0.000 105.663 Don Brent
9 L 126 Cohn Jucewic Monza D      CPRO    201.201 221.064 Bob Jucewic
9 S 153 Ferguson & Osborn XXF    VGCC    0.000 157.516 Tyler Osborn
12 S 231 Sunneyside Up A      CBGC    203.522 207.160 Mark Harbaugh
10 S 246 Mariani Farms XF     BSTR    160.711 162.421 Dennis Mariani
13 L 283 Oxylance XXXLR Cadillac C      GMS     245.135 247.070 Bob Johnson (2)
9 S 298 Raver / Cochran Racing F      PS      221.383 224.044 Ron Cochran
14 L 299 Christeson & Stuck B      FR      268.063 269.440 Ed Stuck
11 L 302 Goldman & Shores XXO    FR      213.093 215.748 Garrett Goldman (2)
10 S 308 The Hudson Boys XO     GL      180.744 186.287 Don Wilson
14 L 315 Hardman Racing F      BGS     279.111 291.673 Ken Hardman
11 L 325 BMC Special D      GRMR    208.114 231.027 Robert Blakely (2)
9 L 346 Mariani Farms A      GR      236.741 253.449 Justin Walsh
12 L 428 Chauvin & Sharon Emmons Special C      BFRMR   240.710 280.012 Chauvin M. Emmons (2)
14 L 468 Mormon Missile B      DS      242.816 305.145 Curtis Halvorson
12 S 477 Stunato Race Machines XF     VOT     135.153 137.819 Donald Houseman
12 L 527 Chock Full o' Nuts C      PP      173.408 174.572 Jim Webb
10 L 549 DC Water Jet - Kroyer F      BFMS    202.743 207.669 Gary Cole
12 S 551 Donnie Hicks F      FCC     166.438 176.699 Donnie Hicks
12 L 553 Haas Racing G      BGR     154.559 189.093 Tom Haas
9 S 627 Online Racing H      BFMR    0.000 137.515 Bob Sights Jr.
11 L 630 Spencer Racing AA     CFALT   252.481 256.233 Gary Spencer
11 L 675 Harris and Wester XXO    GCC     0.000 200.540 Dale Wester (2)
9 S 686 Nelsons and Creel V4F    FMR     115.868 132.645 Eric Nelson
13 S 714 Leclaire Special M      VOT     134.800 136.094 Bill Wendt
12 L 757 Jack Rogers Realtor D      FALT    222.708 236.144 Jack Rogers
10 S 760 Team McLeish Bros. K      BGL     73.590 133.274 Derek McLeish
13 L 777 Fjastad - Kinne - McNeil A      GRMR    266.426 273.393 Dennis McNeil
10 L 788 Costella + Yacoucci + Papas + Stevens XF     FS      236.337 280.023 Rick Yacoucci
12 S 796 R2 Racing V4F    BSTR    108.742 115.092 Richard Reed
9 S 812 Bajurin & Swansborough XO     BSTR    118.885 158.915 Don Bajurin
11 S 827 Pro Gear ETA Spec H      GMR     133.861 146.786 Bob McMillan
9 S 831 Aardema Eyres Braun V4     FMR     164.448 172.427 Scott Goetz
14 L 843 Thompson Racing XF     BGMR    172.711 194.555 Mike Reyman
11 S 845 Matrix Machine V4F    BFS     99.448 160.116 Joel Young
9 S 847 Meierle's Madness F      BMMP    0.000 137.400 Mike Meierle
14 S 853 Ken Cook XF     MP      105.482 111.719 Ken Cook
12 S 866 Pro Gear ETA Spec H      FMR     0.000 144.026 Tom Holt
11 L 898 Norris Andersen A      MP      187.096 191.966 Norris Andersen
10 S 907 Miller Radtke V4F    VOT     0.000 94.025 Doug Adler
11 L 912 Walter L. Medlin F      BFMR    193.847 209.056 Walter L. Medlin
13 L 913 Jan Berry Motorsports D      GT      212.382 213.822 Jan Berry (2)
11 L 920 Contrivance Special B      GMR     255.698 271.386 Ro Yale
14 L 928 Contrivance Special E      GMR     221.524 231.918 Ro Yale
12 S 1026 McGuire Family XO     BMP     120.551 122.167 Mike McGuire
10 L 1122 Spirit of Rett AA     GS      364.761 368.136 Charles Nearburg
12 L 1126 Cohn Jucewic Monza D      CGALT   224.928 234.316 Bob Jucewic
12 L 1190 McClains Swamp Witch E      DS      144.244 156.171 Eric McClain
10 S 1360 Fast Four Special V4F    GR      110.609 116.439 Chris King
13 S 1503 Jeff Brock XO     GCC     127.761 130.838 Jeff Brock
13 L 1608 Dauernheim Biglow AA     FL      286.271 290.488 Don Biglow
9 S 1616 Casper / McRat Racing A      DT      0.000 175.033 Pat McSwain
11 S 1660 Fast Four Spectal V4F    FR      109.836 117.597 Tony Smith
9 L 1690 Barnyard Bearcat G      FS      230.851 233.491 Jeanne Talbot (2)
12 L 1788 Costella - Yacoucci + Pappas + Stevens XF     GS      215.246 253.995 Rick Yacoucci
12 S 1901 Lickey - Split V4F    BVGC    90.255 97.177 Tonya Harding
9 S 1926 Radford Racing G      GMR     153.820 160.244 Randy Radford
9 S 1931 Likety Split V4F    VGC     82.803 96.016 Tamra Slagle
10 S 1934 Shaen Magan E      BSTR    199.633 205.254 Shaen Magan (2)
12 L 1946 Van Blarcom Racing D      BSTR    216.839 216.979 Stene Van Blarcom (2)
9 L 2001 AutocomponentI G      BFMS    221.252 225.839 Bill Lightfoot (2)
14 L 2081 AutocomponentI G      BGMS    217.152 230.352 James Steck
14 L 2130 Hondata RSX G      BGALT   213.510 219.049 Doug Macmillan
12 S 2220 Bone Evil J      GT      96.066 96.683 Mark Brinker
9 S 2257 Marsh Runyon XO     STR     151.954 153.688 Marsh Runyon
12 L 2626 STD Racing C      P/MP    202.174 205.287 Jim Sims (2)
10 L 3000 Bonner's Bad Berkley AA     BFMS    0.000 272.732 Bonner Denton
12 L 3251 BMC Special D      FRMR    202.475 235.437 Robert Blakely (2)
12 L 3444 Griffith Racing AA     CGC     237.280 240.778 Bob Griffith
11 S 3522 ICE Racing G      GC      166.834 169.741 Jack Iliff
11 S 3544 Blakemore-Shea Racing XF     BVFCC   146.470 157.410 Gary Blakemore
12 S 4005 4 Ever 4 Special V4     BGL     104.365 132.069 Ron Mosher
13 L 4344 Kirk Manuel D      DT      182.761 191.992 Kirk Manuel
13 L 4441 Team Vesco Racing C      FS      332.921 335.325 Rick Vesco (3)
14 L 4448 Jesel Land Speed B      MP      219.094 221.330 Robert Hustler (2)
12 L 4449 Jesel Land Speed Team D      BMP     241.458 262.118 Jimmy Barton
12 S 4594 Salt 2 Salt XF     BFALT   0.000 114.149 Greg Meyers
13 S 4599 Salt 2 Salt XF     BGALT   0.000 115.841 Robert Waitz
14 S 6060 Costella-Dennee K      GL      149.904 174.466 Michele Brading
11 S 6868 Nelson and Creel V4F    GMR     119.604 123.026 Eric Nelson
14 S 7603 McLeish Zero Emission OMEGA  GL      0.000 46.723 Derek McLeish
13 L 7717 Seth Hammond A      FL      292.309 303.298 Seth Hammond
12 S 7952 Old Crow Speed Shop V4F    GS      0.000 127.270 Bobby Green
13 S 7961 R2 Racin V4F    BGMR    100.935 111.734 Richard Reed
10 S 8311 Aardema Eyres Braun V4     FR      168.968 169.274 Scott Goetz
13 L 9431 Due Cento D      CBGALT  219.624 223.238 Jim Lange
12 S 9602 Rod Nestmann D      P/MP    144.755 170.816 Rod Nestmann
13 S 9796 Mike Roman J      GL      163.884 164.754 Mike Roman
10 S 9991 Salt Cat Racing XO     BGALT   168.200 175.763 Doug Grieve
9 S 9997 Salt Cat Racing XO     BFALT   129.176 173.583 Doug Grieve

Aug 17 2009

Just in from the Bonneville Salt Flats
Michele Brading finaly got in a record run and backed it up!  Results from this aftenoon are posted below.  Thats right she shattered the old record by 24.562mph.  She did this using a V4 Kawaski power plant under 30 cubic inches in an open wheel Lakster! This Lakster was built by that old speed genius Jack Costella,who holds probably more records out there then I can count!  My hats off to her dad, Glenn Dennee, an old oval OPEN WHEEL RACER and at times a midget owner and driver.

Number  Entry Name Engine Body OldRec Rec Driver
6060       Costella-Dennee         K              GL       149.904    174.466  Michele Brading 
This added Aug 17 2009

From youtube, Michele's last run over 174+mph, filmed by hbalogi.


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