An express train leaves Chicago headed West at 67 mph at 3:19 Central Standard time. At the same moment a guy in a '54 Chevy Pickup with a turboed 292 and a 700R4 with 3.54 gears and 30" tires leaves Modesto, CA. How fast will he have to drive to get hit by the train at the I80 crossing in Salt lake? What will his rpms be at point of impact? What will be his average mpg? What time will it be in Wendover?
Beater
I was told there would be no math . . .
The train has to cover ~1400 miles - the car perhaps half that distance.
If the guy in the pickup is leaving at the same time he could drive up through Reno at a leisurely pace to a point beyond mile marker 150 on I80 - spend a short night at a nearby hotel . . . and head for Salt Lake early the next day.
The train should be at the crossing around 11:15AM Mountain Time . . . so he'll need to plan breakfast time accordingly. RPM at the time of impact will depend on what gear he's in and if he's running late. Does the train have to hit him - or can he broad side it in the crossing and still win the game?
If he goes for dual carbs - his gas mileage will likely suffer - but he'll get more oohs and aahs when he stops for gas and pops the hood to pull the dip-stick . . .
If going for the old school look I'd suggest an Edmunds with 2 Stromberg 97's or 81's. A more modern look can be had with Langon's progressive Weber setup with adapters that will fit any of the log manifolds . . .
