Fluge/Lowblad “Coast” into Vegas
Posted by: bryce on August 3rd, 2007Fluge/Lowblad “Coast” into Vegas
The #18 Saleen team were off to an early start leaving Denver at 7am in route to Las Vegas.
The first pit stop of the day was taken at Loveland Pass as the team also took a “Pre-Kilimanjaro” test hike at over 10,000 feet.
Back on the road, the smooth, desolate straight-a-ways of Utah gave the team a good chance to put the hammer down and cruised at 164mph!
Those same desolate roads that produced blistering cruising speeds also produced plummeting gas mileage.
Fluge/Lowblad blew through Green River, Utah, so fast they didn’t realize the next gas station was over 100 miles away. Never ones to turn around and run from adversity, the team decided to push on to Salina, Utah.
After a difficult but rapid calculation, they found themselves to be coming up 7 miles (of gasoline) short to reach Salina.
Not to fear! The team put practices in place to make up the missing gasoline that would make a pit crew chief proud. Slower (75mph) speeds were employed, zero supercharger boost was used, drafting behind 18 wheelers, and yes, most importantly, of all “Coasting” down miles of the Rockies foothills in neutral to reduce rpms.
Finally the team pulling into the gas pumps just as the engine sputtered and died. An edgy risk - a surprising reward.
Even with that slow 100mph average section, the team arrived at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas over 3 1/2 hours early. Enough time for check-in and a few hours at the poker tables.
Next stop - Willow Springs Raceway in California - then Los Angeles!
