From Scott Daloisio
Surf N’ Sprint.com and Loudpedal Productions are teaming up with veteran racer Damion Gardner and Steve “Biggie” Watt of Maxwell Industries to produce a made for television video on Gardner’s attempt to establish a land speed record in a sprint car. The two time Oval Nationals winner and 2005 USAC/CRA champion plans to go faster than 200 miles per hour during “Speed Week” on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in August.
Through the decades, the scope and intrigue of Bonneville has created a fascination for millions since the day in 1914 when “Terrible” Teddy Tetzlaff broke the land speed record on the famous Salt Flats. When many think of Bonneville, the mind harkens back to the days of Craig Breedlove in the “Spirit of America” and Art Arfons in his legendary “Green Monster.” Long, sleek cars powered by jet engines. However, Bonneville has always meant more than that. In addition to the efforts funded by millions of dollars, there are literally thousands of other cars and motorcycles that have been handcrafted in backyards and garages all over the world in an attempt to attain the pinnacle of speed on the famous Utah salt surface.
Now, a driver new to Bonneville, but well known in the racing world, is about to attack the salt in 2013. Gardner, a champion driver from Concord, California, with the help of Watt, is going to start a modern day sprint car class and try to institute a record by going more than 200 MPH.
As word has started to flitter out about Gardner’s endeavor, it has raised more than an eye brow or two and it will obtain massive attention by the time August rolls round. After all, when one thinks of a Sprint Car, the picture of an open wheel brute slinging clay on a quarter-mile or a half-mile oval at no more than 100 MPH dominates the thought process. Thus, going over 200 MPH and in a straight line of at least five miles permeates the mind with all kinds of thoughts regarding whether or whether not a sprint car can do it.
Big Mike, from SurfNSprint.com, the producer of the documentary, thinks it is a perfect endeavor to be the subject of an interesting television program.
“When “Biggie” got hold of me and told me about it, I said ‘I’m in,'” he stated. “I said I want to film it and I got in touch with award winning videographers Mike and Tim Truex from Loudpedal productions. They jumped on board and we are going to produce a documentary for TV; “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car.”
Hours upon hours of video will be shot detailing the daring enterprise from the days in Watt’s shop getting the car prepared until the time it tackles the salt. The produced piece will be polished down to approximately 20-minutes so it can fit into a 30-minute television slot.
“I have been working with Loudpedal for years at Ventura, more recently at Perris Auto Speedway and at tracks up and down the state,” Big Mike said. “For my money, they are just the best sprint car camera team on the west coast and they are perfect for the job. “Poppa Mike” Truex has got the experience and his son Tim has the cutting edge originality. Together they are just a powerful team and I am really stoked to be working with them on this project.”
Like Big Mike, the Truex’s found out about the project from Watt.
“We were at the Chili Bowl and “Biggie” told me they were going to try and set a land speed record and they wanted us to tape it,” Mike Truex said over the telephone last Friday. “I was blown away. It is such an out of the box project for an open wheel driver. We are very excited to sign on with a project of this magnitude.”
In addition to his own excitement, Truex went on to talk about what this project means to Big Mike.
“Big Mike is beyond elated,” Truex enthused. “This is the kind of stuff he loves. I call him “The Godfather of Sprint Cars” in Southern California. He is everybody’s biggest advocate including Loudpedal productions. He has been a supporter of ours for five or six years. We love working with him and this project is going to be a pleasure.”
Production and the buildup has already started for the documentary. Sounds bites of Gardner and Watt have already been shot regarding the noble endeavor.
“We did some initial sound bites and asked some of the important questions,” Truex stated. “The obvious first question was how fast can you go. They were somewhat elusive, but they know for sure they will be going over 200 MPH.”
The car will have cameras mounted on it during the run on the salt.
“Our partnership with RePlay XD will ensure that we have the best equipment available for capturing footage during the high speed runs” Truex explained. “The question on everyone’s mind is wind resistance. We’re all excited to see the fabrication work on Damion’s car, and we’re confident that everyone can expect the unique and exciting footage they’ve come to expect from Loudpedal Productions.”
More information on this exciting pursuit of pure speed will be forthcoming over the next few weeks and months. Be sure to share the news with all of your friends in the world of speed.
Media, to contact any of the principals in this endeavor, please contact Scott Daloisio at sdaloisiosports@aol.com or call 909 226-7768. Please feel free to publish the photo of Damion Gardner that is in this release and please give photo credit to surfnsprint.com.