Ear Aerodynamics: Primer & Update!

Primer By Harry Jennings A lot of people have been talking about their dog's ears of late, and I decided to do a little research and get the full story behind the stand-up "prick" ear that is seen in an increasingly large number of NGA dogs. Prick ears are nothing new, occasionally medieval manuscripts will talk of  dogs with prick ears (q.v. Le Levrier niais, Bib. Natl. MS 12203a).  However, it was with Downing in 1977 that the track world became aware of the efficacy of the prick ear. When coming into the first turn, the dogs must jockey for position, and decrease speed dramatically, so as not to go sailing off into the paddock area. Keith Dillon felt that what was needed was an air-brake system, similar to what was being employed on the Air Force's new F-15. Downing was the first and finest product of Dillon's directed breeding. Downing was able to sustain higher speeds further into the first turn, thus being able to pass the other dogs as they slowed. At the critical point,  Downing huge ears would pop straight up off his head, providing critical air resistance and slowing his speed dramatically, allowing him to make the turn. Eyewitnesses at the Hollywoodian in 1977 reported the "ka-WHUMP" of Downing's ears coming up was audible over the entire track. Invariably he lead races coming out of the second turn, and dominated down the  backstretch. Tragically, it was an ear accident that cut Downing's career short. During a  training race, Downing entered the first turn, but only his left ear deployed, the right ear, ironically, in a perfect rosette. The unstable aerodynamics of his half-deployed braking system pulled his head first down, then up over his left shoulder. Downing courageously avoided the traffic of the other dogs and attempted an emergency stop. Unfortunately, it was too late and Downing smashed through the outside rail, spun across an open area, and came to rest in a sno-cone concession. Downing did survive the accident, which Richard Petty compared to his dramatic turn two disaster at Darlington in 1967, however his hock was shattered and he could never race again. Keith Dillon, undaunted, pressed onward with his breeding program, producing Perceive, Nicky Finn, Keefer, Understood, and a host of others with the revolutionary air-brake  system. Mr. Dillon was sued by McDonnell Douglas (designers and  manufacturers of the F-15) for copyright infringement in 1980. The case is now in its 11th set of appeals, and is expected to reach the Supreme Court  by about 2007*. In other legal battles, the owner of the sno-cone concession was awarded $.75 in compensatory damages, and $11.7 million for pain and suffering. *NOTE: The case still has not been heard or settled and the expected Supreme Court date has been moved to 2017. DYNO-MUTT SYSTEMS PRESS RELEASE:     EAR AERODYNAMICS UPDATE Using the most advanced breakthroughs in genetic engineering, the  discarded design, and aged superstructure of a test vehicle codename "Lindsey Party", Dyno-Mutt Systems, Inc. research teams have been at  work. Background investigations show that this vehicle is a direct modification (mod. 4) of the land speed record holding "Downing" design.  Having no desire to experience the tragic structural failure and "crash and  burn" (see Ear Aerodynamics, above) due to improper air scoop  deployment, we have made the following changes. The "Lindsey Party" is lower to the ground (being in New Mexico may have influenced this) and the air scoops are reduced in size to 5/8  scale. We use and call this RAM AIR INDUCTION. This is how it works: The central processing unit (CPU) is suspended in a bath of shock  absorbing and electrically conductive saline solution. This has  reduced the "rattled brain" syndrome by 50%. The now smaller "air scoops" trap air and divert it down and  around the CPU. It is intercooled and an exchange of electrons is  passed to the CPU boosting RAM capabilities. The heavier, cooled air (mass now 1/3 greater) is passed around  the dual optical sensor array and is diverted to the "nose cone" of the Lindsey. This is where dual, water cooled (we think) passageways are located. These passageways are twin venturies and boost the air flow to SCRAMJET velocities. This now supersonic airstream can be controlled by the RAM expanded CPU to fire continuous thrusts or bursts (see snort, sneeze, sigh) of retro-rocket blasts of compressed air allowing subtle but effective braking control going into high speed turns. Safety note: during an actual live firing test of this model in Arizona, the Lindsey experienced an o-ring failure. This caused the CPU housing to veer from side to side (left to right) more than 10 degrees off the plane of horizontal travel. This caused a main structural failure of the port side, aft, propulsion device (see strut, actuator, "dog leg"). Our  bio-engineers provided a titanium pin once reputed to be  from a Warsaw Pact, "Red October", something or other.  After implementation of the pin into the aft, propulsion device, speed trials were set. Following completion of an extensive (and exhaustive) twelve weeks of "gotta walk before you can run" testing, Bionics department said A-OK. The 5/8 scale RAM AIR induction used in conjunction with the retro-rocket blasts has proven to be practical and very safe. After a field test in March, it was reported that John Glenn was present  and said, "I wish we had that system back in '63!" Actual performance testing was held recently in a remote area (56?) In New  Mexico and military installations of southern Colorado. It was there that the Lindsey upheld the field of honor (mom's apple pie, yadda, yadda, yadda) and we found that the system works. One point yet to be solved by our team  is that every time we are ready to leave the test sites, we are told to get  "BOB". After five recurring "Get the BOB" we really think we should look into this. Strange. Yours at DYNO-MUTT SYSTEMS, INC., Robert J. Summerhill President & King

The Lovely Chispa

Chispa - DM Bonnie Blue Flag

Chispa lives in Mexico City with her very proud dad, Carlos.  He's a great owner and I'm so very happy that he has one of my greyhounds.

Chispa  has her own sofa to lie on and she acts like a princess, unless squirrels are involved.  Carlos takes Chispa to the park for exercise and, what usually happens, is a squirrel comes along.  I don't know what it is about those long tailed critters, but greyhounds go wild when they see them.  Carlos lets her chase the squirrels and he tells me that she really wants those bushy tailed critters.  It reminds me of her Grammy Feather, who would go out of her way to try and get a squirrel.

Feather, when she was at Kathy's waiting to be bred, was tormented by a squirrel which would come down to the lowest branch of the maple tree and torment the hounds.  One day, Feather had had enough.  She watched the squirrel, positioned herself under the branch, sat and balanced herself on her haunches and then launched herself straight up!  She looked like a Patriot missile going after a SCUD!  Much to her disgust, she missed.  However, the squirrel, which by now had scurried to a higher branch, never came down after that.

Chispa - DM Bonnie Blue Flag

Here is what Carlos said about her in a recent e-mail, "Chispa's priority is to play and run.  We go running every morning.  I go in rollerblades and she goes very fast.  She is very dominant but also very affectionate and tender.  Her body is very muscular, but very light.  She looks like a ballet dancer.  Chispa is the most expressive dog ever.  With her eyes, she talks.  Her coat is soft and exceptionally shiny."

"Every time you send me pictures of her brothers and sister, I think I'm going to the ring.  I'm sure that she is going to win, because she is very, very pretty and her temper makes her a winner, nothing scares her.  I'm sure she is the kind, who in the ring, is going to grow.  I can tell when people look at her, she plays, "Paris Hilton."  She knows.  She also knows that she is strong, beautiful, fast and, with her eyes, she gets what she wants.  One of these days, you get the surprise of her in the ring."

"Do you think I'm a proud dad?"

I think Carlos is a wonderful and very proud dad!  He's also a pretty good photographer!  All of the photos on this page were taken by and belong to Carlos.