WENDOVER, Utah - GM engineer and driver Jim Minneker is in good condition after an incident at the Bonneville Salt Flats today while making a qualifying run in the Chevy So-Cal HHR.
Minneker was beating the previous record of 226.835 in the G/BFCC class (G Class/Blown Fuel Competition Coupe) with a qualifying run of 246.686 mph when the HHR lost traction after parachute deployment at the five mile mark of the long course. The vehicle's terminal speed at the time was 249.793 mph.
Minneker was able to walk away from the incident with nothing more than a stiff neck.
GM Engineer is Safe and Sound after Bonneville Speed Week Incident
WENDOVER, Utah - GM engineer and driver Jim Minneker is in good condition after an incident at the Bonneville Salt Flats today while making a qualifying run in the Chevy So-Cal HHR.
Minneker was beating the previous record of 226.835 in the G/BFCC class (G Class/Blown Fuel Competition Coupe) with a qualifying run of 246.686 mph when the HHR lost traction after parachute deployment at the five mile mark of the long course. The vehicle's terminal speed at the time was 249.793 mph.
Minneker was able to walk away from the incident with nothing more than a stiff neck.
"We take any kind of racing very seriously, and the safety of our race drivers is always of paramount importance," said GM Performance Division Executive Director Bob Kruse. "GM's technology, equipment and procedures for racing are world class and today's incident is a prime example. The special structure of the HHR was outstanding, and it performed exactly as it was intended for this ultra high speed type of incident."
Fabricated at the So-Cal Speed Shop by Robin "Silky" Silk and Paul Rivera, the HHR's specialized tubular chassis was inspired by the Pro Mod chassis used in drag racing and patterned after some of the top fuel drag racers in the world.
Per Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and Bonneville Nationals Incorporated (BNI) rules, when an on-course incident of this nature occurs, the vehicle becomes the property of the sanctioning committee until a thorough assessment and tech inspection of the vehicle can be completed.
A technical committee made up of SCTA-BNI inspectors and officials, and GM and So-Cal representatives will determine what happened and will make whatever recommendations might be appropriate.
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about
the former." - Albert Einstein
