Local Couple fulfills a Long Time Wish at Bonneville Speed Week

Speed Week at Bonneville Salt Flats had been on our “bucket list” for years. So when our son, Shane, introduced us to a Tacoma team one week before the 2012 Land Speed Event and they invited us to join them, we knew it was time. Little did we know that this would be one of those adventures that would forever change us.

Eric McClain is owner / driver of the Diesel Streamliner called “SwampWitch” with over 20yrs Auto racing Experience. His crew members include his wife Pam, Dean Conway: Crew Chief with over 25yrs of auto racing, Shane Conway: Driver of Conway Racing #47, David Trapp: with over 20 years racing dirt track cars and David Hyder.

This pit crew is a combination of loyal friends and family that volunteer their time and energy in helping set world speed records. The “SwampWitch” is the worlds fastest Cummings 4BT Diesel whose former life was a Bonneville, record setting, gas powered entry. Built and maintained in their home garage in Tacoma, WA it is the gathering place of people intent on helping the “SwampWitch” evolve and go faster each year.

Armed with little more that Eric’s name, the name of his car and the number 1190, we headed to the flats several days behind the “SwampWitch” crew. Arriving Saturday afternoon, at Wendover UT, it became apparent we were totally unprepared. This was BIG! No place was available to hook up our little travel trailer, so we headed out to “dry” camp where the pavement meets the salt. Campers and racers were parked haphazardly for miles.

My husband was somewhat prepared, but I had no idea that this was where people from all walks of life, all stages of automobile appreciation and any type of vehicle, came each year, to follow their dream of going faster in a vehicle of choice. As long as it passes inspection, anything can run. It was like a cross between mini-Woodstock and hot rod mania.

There are two major land speed events that take place at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Bonneville "Speed Week" takes place mid-August while the "World Finals" take place early October. The Southern California Timing Association organizes and plans these events along with prepping and maintaining the salt. Depending on the class (there are hundreds of classes that participate, from motorcycles to streamliners, to cars practically driven off the lot), racers are assigned to courses accordingly.

Sunday morning we headed for the flats. We got in the racers line and were waved through, as if we knew what we were doing. The closer we got to the action the more daunting our task seemed. How were we to find Eric and his streamliner amongst the thousands of participants and spectators? They stretched for over 5 miles along the tracks. We had been told to follow the orange cones, but which orange cones? So we just headed after other cars, leading to the big mass in the far distance.

It was at this point we began to realize how well know Eric McClain and his car were and how respected he was in this crowd. Each time we would pull over to ask if anyone knew where we could find the “SwampWitch” …people would give directions and wish us good luck. Finally at the 4-mile marker we found their tents, the streamliner, tow truck and parts trucks. A group of people welcomed us as if we had been a part of the pit crew for years. They were just hooking up to be towed to the starting line, so off we went.

Not knowing anything about the process, Pam and Cheri gave me a quick course on Setting Speed Records #101. The object is to beat the existing record. Eric and the “SwampWitch” held the record already at 164.842 mph, so they were attempting to beat their previous speed. If that was accomplished then the car is taken to impound where it and all the paperwork are checked. The car must remain there until the next day. If the crew needs to do any repairs or adjustments, they have 3 hours the day of impound and 1 hour the next morning. The next day the car must run again beating the previous years 164.842. An average of the 2 runs becomes the NEW speed record and is logged. We are also told to dial our radio to 88.7. Each car, driver and sponsor is announced and thousands of radios are tuned in as each run is broadcast. Everywhere people are clustered around the incoming announcements

We got to the line and WAITED, as all the others before us took their turn. It’s Hot! The glare off the salt is blinding and the air is filled with tension and energy. The constant sound of engines revving and the smell of oil, diesel and gasoline saturates our senses. I notice the “SwampWitch” crew works together like a well-oiled machine. Each person knows his or her job and there is no negativity. I ask Pam about this and she said it’s Eric’s one rule. “No matter what happens … breakdowns, poor times, aborts …there is no room for negative energy.” There is enough tension being strapped into a bullet with wheels and then screaming into the distance, without adding stress.

As the starting line got near Pam and Eric begin a ritual that is all their own. She helps him into the fire retardant suit, shoes, gloves headliner and helmet. Then she helps him into the streamliner and straps him in. The starter tells Eric to take his time. With a kiss, Pam closes and locks the cockpit. This is a time for only Pam and Eric. All the crew respects these last minutes before the “SwampWitch” takes off. I now have tears running down my face.. but no one notices. There are more important things happening.

Suddenly The “SwampWitch” is shooting down the track. Then the crew begins looking back and forth. Their shoulders begin to sag and it is apparent something isn’t right. I’m afraid to ask, so I just hang back. Eric is ok, but had to abort at about the 2-mile marker. There was no boost and he couldn’t get up the speed.

The SwampWitch gets towed back to the pits and this is when I really got to see positive action during time of disappointment. All day the crew works. It is obvious they have worked together for so many years they think and act as one. No anger, no thrown wrenches. Eric quietly explains to me that this is all part of the game … especially when you are doing it without sponsorship and limited money for extra parts. Finally, after many hours of troubleshooting, they find the problem. Excitement returns. They are going to be able to run on Monday.

Monday morning is like a holiday…back to the starting line. We hunker over our radios as the “SwanpWitch” is announced and her speed climbs. Eric hits 169.8 mph in 4 miles beating his previous record and the car goes to impound. The air is filled with excitement. The body cowling is removed to check the engine. Once again I see shoulders sag and the energy changes and all becomes quiet. Under extreme heat the header has cracked in 4 places where the exhaust manifold bolts on.

There is a quiet huddle then Eric makes the decision to forfeit today’s new speed and tow the car back to the pits. Once a car leaves the impound all is null and void. Eric explains to us newbie’s that to replace the headers would take more than the 4 hours allotted in impound. All Monday the crew works. Again positive attitudes prevail and as the day progresses a sense of hope begins again. As a huge wind storm rips across the salt flats the “SwampWitch” crew finishes up the rebuild and battens everything down to start again Tuesday morning.

Ed and I had to leave the next day. We spend Monday evening with Eric, Pam and their incredible crew of family and friends. As we traveled Tuesday the “SwampWitch” was never far from our thoughts. Around 7:00pm we received the following text: “we’re just leaving the salt to go back to camp! We are in impound!! Yahoo! He went 174.123”

Wednesday at 9:23am comes the text: "ok! We did it we now have a new world record of 170.988 yahooooooooo!!” They had finished a second successful run and were packing up and heading home.

Monday evening as we were all sitting around visiting, I asked Eric if there was anything he regrets. His answer “ Yes, I would really like to have a sponsor. All these years we have done it alone, operating on a shoestring, all volunteers and a simple faith in our car and ourselves. I would like to have that one chance to be able to show the world what diesel can really do and it’s importance in the future of auto and racing industry.”. With the positive spirit and the records “he has already set … I would like to believe there is a sponsor who will help Eric, the “SwampWitch”, his family and friends achieve this one final goal.

Doris Ritzman and her husband both worked for and retired from Tacoma Public Utilities. They raised their family in Graham, WA.