There was still a lot of organizing that had to be done. Now that the riders had gone through their preliminary schooling and passed with flying colors. Next was to familiarize the new crew as to loading the liner on the salt trailer. Steve Doherty was put in charge of this. We had been communicating by e-mail as to the height and size of ball required for his Blazer tow package. He would be the person that would retrieve the liner after each run and return it to the pits. Three pit crew members were assigned to assist Steve with this important phase of running a streamliner. Not only does he pick up the liner at the end of a run, he is also responsible to aid in the event of a crash. His tow vehicle has to have a c.b. which is in communication with the tower. As the salt is so vast and the liner is so small, seeing the darn thing is a bit of a chore. The tower directs the liner's assist vehicle i.e. Steve, as well as the S.C.T.A. safety crew to the crash scene. Steve was fully prepared, providing the c.b. required and training his three helpers. All I can say is that they all did a great job throughout the entire meet, going through the drill at least 20 times. Thanks Steve, and crew.

I had 30 or so T-shirts made with pit crew above the front pocket, which were passed out to all the pit crew members. Just a touch to make us look more professional for we were about to enter the Twilight Zone, where anything can happen, i.e. tech. the pit crew were instructed that all who would be going to the line for a run had to have a pink wrist band, which told the line officials that they had signed a waiver in the case of an accident. The signer of the waiver couldn't in anyway hold the S.C.T.A. accountable in a court of law.

We pitted at about the four mile marker of the long course. The tech area was set up at about the two mile marker. With money in the pocket for entry fees and B.N.I. Membership dues for the riders and a few Black Lightning T-shirts for officials. How can I say this? Let's see. They are flexible in interpreting the rules. That's it. The liners log book was put into the truck and all was ready. The order was given to "round ''em up and head ''em out' Steve did his thing and we were soon in the tech line. There were thirty or so ahead of us, so the wait began, moving up one bike at a time, after the scrutineers either passed the contestant or gave the contestant a list of items that require attention before they would give him a "go". first, I sent Don and Hartmut to get their B.N.I. membership and have them get their rider waiver signed. Riders receive a yellow wrist band, I wish they would change the color of the yellow wrist band, because 40 years ago we used to meet at Sonny Angels Motorcycle Shop for rides in the twisties of the California mountains. I was really out of my league. Don Vesco, Sonny, Digger, Rebel, to only name a few were so much faster than I was, it was a bit embarrassing. It wasn't the machine they were beating, as I always took my Vincent. It was the man. One of the fast guys tagged me with the handle "yellow wrist". I can't remember who. Oh, well, going around a corner fast wasn't my cup of tea. Later in my life a quarter mile straight line was more to my liking. Here someone tagged me with "Mad Max, the Kansas Bad Man" Somehow this one met my approval and the yellow wrist was forgotten. Sure do wish they would change those yellow wrist bands for the riders!