The team was back before sunrise the next day to get ready for the Ion’s second run.  Ice was put in the intercooler as the team got ready for their chance to go for the record.

Russ O’Blenes, from GM’s Racing operation, was here to give the team some hands on technical assistance.  His years of experience had shown him that anything could happen.  “We know we’ve done everything right – the car’s right – but it’s still, you don’t have control of anything.  Once you let her off and let her go, it’s in the hands of the motor,” said O’Blenes.

Once again the car was brought up to the starting line.  While they waited the officials from the Southern California Timing Association were watching the clocks for all the teams and announcing the times for each run.

The tension mounted while they waited.  Finally, they were off.  The Ion was responding just as they’d hoped it would.  It appeared that the driver, Jim Minneker, was doing every thing right but it’s impossible to tell how fast a car is going as it streaks down the seemingly endless expanse.

Then the CB radio in the team’s chase truck squawked with a report from the timing tower, “That qualifies for the record – chutes out.”

It was even faster than the first run made the day before.  The Ion tore down the salt and hit over 204 miles per hour.  The team and the car had performed.  They’d done it.  The record was theirs. 

Pete Chapouris, So-Cal Speedshop’s president was beaming with pride.  The car his team had built had done what it was supposed to do and more.

“It was a thrill to watch the car go 204 miles an hour today.  Our internal goal really was to just break the record of 183 and to have the car go over 200 on its second pass was – just the clockwork of all that - it’s just very difficult to do,” said Chapouris.

The rewards for all of the hard work and for all of the money that’s spent wouldn’t buy a set of tires for an aging Pinto.

“There’s no money in it. I mean there’re hardly any trophies.  There’s a red hat you get if you go 200 miles per hour – the 200 mile per hour club.  And guys have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get that ball cap,” said Chapouris.

It was time to put it in the record books.  But we wondered if they were going to make another run.  They’d driven all this way from Los Angeles.  They still had enough gas and a good set of tires.  Even if the engine blew they’d still have their record.

While you’re not allowed to make any modifications in between your first two runs once you’ve established a record you can tear into the car.  The team decided to let O’Blenes get in there and see how the Ion was holding up.  The heads came off and the wrenches came out.  It looked good.  Not much wear.

They were off for run number three.  This time, driver Jim Minneker didn’t have to worry about saving his engine.  It was flat out.

Once again the timing announcer told the story, as the Ecotec delivered over 211 miles per hour.  Intoxicated by their success, the So-Cal/GM team decided it still had another run in it.  Run number four sent the Ion racing to 213.507 miles per hour.

The long hours and gamble had paid off.  There was a new record on the books; 212.684 miles per hour -- nearly 30 faster than the old one.  It was quite an effort and the team vowed they’d be back the next summer for a return engagement at the Salt Flats.

This gave them time to build new cars for their next assault on the salt.  They’d be back looking for a shot at the 300-mile per hour club.