Update: Phil Shinnick world record long jump gets wind-tunnel OK

Phil as a kid

Two years ago, we raised the issue of Phil Shinnick’s lost world record in the long jump — 27-4 at Modesto in 1963. Phil has stayed on the case, and this week he sent a scientific examination of film that depicts his jump. (See it here.) The conclusion by Grant Birkinshaw: “Comparing the video footage from (1) the start of Mr Shinnick’s jump and (2) the bunting tests carried out in the wind tunnel for wind speeds just below the threshold for a valid world record, shows much less movement of the bunting in the former. This is strong evidence that the wind conditions during Mr Shinnick’s jump were within the 2.0m/s threshold, and that there is no reason for him not to be credited with a valid record on the basis of wind assistance.†Reason this is a masters track issue: Phil’s original appeal appeared in National Masters News.

Here’s email on this issue from Grant:

From: Grant Birkinshaw [mailto:grant.birkinshaw@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 24 August 2011 9:30 a.m.
To: ‘ee_e_evans@live.com’
Cc: ‘Phillip Shinnick’
Subject: Phils data 1 of 3

Hello Lee,

What a coincidence that I’m writing to you today !! Just last night I went out
to dinner with my two daughters and wore the purple shirt that you helped me
pick out when we went shopping in Greensborough during the UST&F congress in
2003.

I hope all is going well for you. Phil keeps me up to date with all that you are
doing in Africa and other places.

Phil has asked that I send the attached information to you as he’s currently out
of computer connection. He would like you to get this information to the IAAF
records / technical committee.

Last year I commissioned a wind tunnel test to get some hard evidence on Phils
situation. The test as it was set up replicated the wind at Modesto in 1963.You
will see that the bunting directly behind Phil on the Pathe film clip as he
starts his jump is not as great as the wind in the tests which were blowing at a
constant 2.0 metres per second. Therefore the wind behind Phil was less than 2.0
metres per second.

AS there is a lot of data I’m sending it in three or four mailings. The first
is with the film, the wind report. The ones to follow show the bunting in the
wind tunnel showing different angles.

Enjoy the World Champs. Its shaping up to be a great one, particularly in the
sprints.

Cheers,

Grant

Grant Birkinshaw BAES BAUP MNZPI FAAIP
28 Major Drive, Kelson, Lower Hutt
Ph: 04 565 1212
Fax: 04 565 4212
Mobile: 027 234 9797
Email: grant.birkinshaw@gmail.com
www.communityplanners.co.nz

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August 24, 2011

4 Responses

  1. Ken Stone - August 24, 2011

    And let’s count the minutes before this posting on the T&FN Message Board is deleted:
    http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=44215

  2. phillip shinnick - April 29, 2015

    Hi Ken
    You might have seen Bob Hersh off the IAAF board, Stephanie Hightower is in, executive committee of IAAF ousted Hersh. So the WR will move forward. Lee Evans came back formaAfFrica now in Hayward ca should give him a cll he has good history from his years in Africa.510 4617006

  3. al cestero - April 29, 2015

    with all the scientific data available, and factual re-creations that are used in scientific studies,if we can measure the beats per second of a bumble bee’s wings, or we can re- create and measure the velocity of a bolt of lightning from a video, surely we can substantiate or deny a simple thing like a wind greater than , or less than 2.0 meters per second, from a film….it’s documented, we just have to prove it, or disprove it..it’s not rocket science

  4. Marcus battle - April 30, 2015

    Good luck

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