I also remember Car & Driver doing a top speed test of several cars at the Transportation Research Center near the end of the 1980’s. One of them was a heavily modified Callaway Corvette, and in order to keep the rear end planted they had 200 pounds of sand bags in the rear hatch.
C4 Corvettes are known for rear end lift at high speeds, and for a top speed run this was probably the best solution.
200 pounds of sand bags in the rear hatch...
In my youth, I was sent to traffic school.
Mostly a collection of grisly photos that I have not forgotten.
The late driver had a fender bender with a bowling ball on the rear ledge.
The ball did not stop and proceeded through the driver’s head.
Yes, the sandbags would be lower, but an estimated trajectory seldom comes with a guarantee.