Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: Buamotorsport on March 11, 2018, 04:48:02 PM
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Car in the workshop
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This is 7707 in its new home in LA. I will be writing up our story over the next few days documenting what I hope will be a fantastic year.
The story starts at Bonneville in 2017 with a chance meeting between myself and Carl Olson one of the owners of 7707. Carl told me that 7707 was up for sale and would I be interested. After various emails a deal was struck and I became the owner of 7707. Fast forward to February 2018 when I was in LA on business. Myself together with Bob Muravez and Ray Iddings made the trip north to its temporary home to pick up the car and bring it back to LA.
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The Team.
Of course this could not be done without the help of my team. The names may sound familiar as we have been involved with Drag Racing most of our lives. This race car is to stop us old boys getting up to mischief.
First up is Bob Muravez aka Floyd Lippencotte..driver of the “Freight Train” twin engined chef top gas dragster.
Then we have Bill Schultz member of the “Over the hill gang” and owner of the Schultz and Glenn Nosalgia Top Fuel Car, and Sparky Perry, tuner and Top Alcohol Funny Car Owner and driver. Team “MOM” is Sharon Muravez who looks after all us. In addition Carl Olson is continuing to be part of the team going forward.
At this point I need to thank a few people beside my team. My sponsors so far this year currently are “Lucas Oil” and “Iskenderian Cams” and I need to thank Simpson Safety Equipment for supplying my new fire suit and helmet. Anyway..I will post a few more pictures in due course. Any questions please feel free to ask.
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Great to see you have the 7707 , so best of luck in the future and looking forward to seeing you at the SALT! With that list of guys for a crew you should not be short of horsepower!!
Rex
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Hi Rex,
To be able to do this is just amazing and I am so excited not only for me but for the team. This is outside the box for them and a new discipline. So it’s a steep learning curve for all of us. We are hoping to be at El Mirage in May to test and get some seat time weather permitting. There is a lot to learn so Seat time and running is important.
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Continuing the story.
7707 had been sitting around for a year or so before I spoke to Carl and quite simply as Mike Kuhl had been taken ill and the team decided to park the car. So, when we got the car back to LA and in its new home we had a real close look at the car. It was everything and more. The detail, the workmanship was fantastic. But we need to give it some “TLC”. The car has been stripped back to the chassis and working from the front to back every “rod end” has been cleaned and serviced in fact everything we can see has been cleaned and oiled (where need).
The motor...well we are putting together what we think should be a nice motor. Nothing to outrageous to start with but something that will allow us to put some passes in without too much trouble. Our aim is to continue where Kuhl and Olson left off. Nothing would make me prouder than to achieve what Mike and Carl set out to do originally.
Currently we have items out for servicing. The fuel system, the Mag, the Heads and the Blower are all being checked, serviced and freshend up. We need to update some of the safety equip so we have a new seat harness and blower restraint on order plus the fire bottles are being refilled and Recertified. Basically anything that needs checking is either with someone or will be.
At the same time we are searching for or ordering up spares to build up our inventory. But, I want to thank the guys at HILBORN, NORM GRIMES, HAMPTON BLOWERS and DJ SAFETY for all their help and advice so we can start off this project without doing something silly.
I make no bones about it...as I have said before this year we want to learn about the car, I want to learn to drive it as it is quite different from my previous drive and achieve the goals we have set ourselves.
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April update.
Well everything is coming together. All the items that where out for servicing are now back. Plus everything that needed to be updated or recertified has also been done. A Huge thank you goes out to the guys at Hilborn, Norm Grimes Racing, Simpson, Lucas Oil and To the “Camfather” Ed Iskenderian. Cannot thank them enough for all there input, advice and support.
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May update
Lots been happening recently. The trans has been fully serviced, we have replaced the master cylinder and during the work we discovered the brake pads had seized into the brake callipers. It took a day just to free them off but glad to say they are now working. My new Simpson seat harness is all installed with my seat, fire bottles installed and then many general small jobs all completed. I was hoping we would be ready for El Mirage but sadly not. We are waiting on some parts for the motor which have been delayed.
We took delivery of the trailer which looks fantastic and we are waiting on the design for the vinyl wrap. So, all in all everything is good and progressing well. We will be testing soon and then get ready for Bonneville.
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There are some picture updates on our Facebook page. 7707 salt shaker - enjoy.
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Looks like you are almost ready for Speedweek!
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Fingers crossed we will be ready. My team are just amazing and i cannot thank them enough for everything they do to make my dream come true.
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That is a nice clean workshop! :cheers:
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
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That stack of tires is making my trousers tighten...…………….
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Lol...the answer is go on a diet lol !!!
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I haven't heard the name Lippencotte in many years.
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Well....Floyd is very much alive and kicking and my adopted brother. This project would not be happening if it wasn’t for Floyd and Mrs Lippencotte.
You can catch Floyd at the “Nitro Revival” meets run by Steve Gibbs and at many other races. Floyd will be with us at Speedweek. Come say hi.
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Poor Rev. Jer "The Pistol Packing Preacher" gets abused again...…………….. :cheers:
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Hi all....there are updates on our Facebook page.... 7707 salt shaker
We are nearly there. I will post pics on here in a couple of days.
Enjoy.
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Motor just about to go in the car.
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Thanks for the picture.
Question, how is the dry sump pump driven?
Thanks in advance,
Tom G.
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It’s a custom built gear drive.
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Is that the engine you got from Ken up in this neck of the woods?
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No it isn’t. We have got that as our spare and we have been collecting parts etc to give us a complete spare motor. 🙂 the heads have all been serviced and freshened up so we have 3 sets all matching. Are you coming this year?
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Maybe for one day. If we do Ill look you up. SB
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Just look for a "Black Rig" with ISKY and LUCAS OIL on the side and that's us.
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A few pictures for you.
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Final fitting in the car
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Where's the roadster part?
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Does the top front cage hoop extend beyond the front of helmet with driver strapped in ?? STEVE
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Yes the roll cage does extend beyond the helmet. When I have my hans device on and all strapped in it is a snug fit.
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Where's the roadster part?
if you use Facebook there are pictures on there but in case you do not I will post pictures of the car with the body on.
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I don't.
(Nor want to.)
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My engine is a English Austin 7 , 1937 with lots of race parts from your area , Billet crank , steel rods , custom cam , piston design , head design for pistons cast there , gear oil pump and umlimited help from Paul Bonewell near LONDON .. STEVE
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Hi, I don’t know Paul Bonewell and Sounds a great guy. There are loads of places that specialise in the small UK Motors that are used for Drag Racing and Historic Racing over here so if you need me to research someone or something let me know. Happy to help.
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Where's the roadster part?
see below
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That, is a nice car. Have fun with it. Stay safe and go fast. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Pete
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I intend to do just that. First priority is to get there..lol
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I see that your headers are like the older style funny car headers have you ever thought about turning the exit down to say 30 degrees to get more thrust. Had a big effect on fuel funny cars. At 300 mph each lb of thrust (from the exhaust?) is worth about .75 hp. You fuel motor could probably make lots of thrust.
As Pete said, "go fast, and HAVE FUN!!!!"
Rex
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We have numerous things on the ‘to do list’. Like all projects we are running behind schedule with a few curved balls being thrown at us. My 3 main targets are to 1. Get to Bonneville 2, pass tech inspection 3, get some seat time plus Getting used to the car and getting consistent with it and then we can start stepping up the tune up.
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some more pics
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pix ..Mr 400 AL Teague was helping us out over the weekend. Cannot thank him enough for all the help, advice and encouragement on this project.
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Pix..Still lots to do but we are getting there.
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You do have some "High Class" help!
Rex
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Yanno, that's the heck of it with land speed racing. These "old" dudes that have done well -- can't seem to get it out of their system, let it go and retire to chewing gum and reading old TV Guides.
Thanks!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Well...we or more to the point I need to deliver on the salt. It’s going to be fun.
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Yanno, that's the heck of it with land speed racing. These "old" dudes that have done well -- can't seem to get it out of their system, let it go and retire to chewing gum and reading old TV Guides.
Thanks!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
I am so glad they don’t. ISKY is 97...has forgotten more than I will ever learn now. So proud I can represent my hero and hopefully get in the record books. With Floyd Lippencotte’s experience and “Legend” Bill Schultz with my buddy Sparky Perry wrenching and tuning. Carl Olson & Al Teague giving us some serious input we are on a very sharp learning curve. My targets remain....get there, get through tech, then get seat time and put some laps on the car and do nothing stupid.
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As for inspection , I like to take the list and go through it line by line and explain how I am meeting the rules to someone else !! Pic of my '37 English Austin Opal getting it's engine back finally !! STEVE
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As for inspection , I like to take the list and go through it line by line and explain how I am meeting the rules to someone else !! Pic of my '37 English Austin Opal getting it's engine back finally !! STEVE
I’m pretty confident we will get through tech. Just you never know. I have checked and checked so fingers crossed.
Have not seen a 37 Austin in years an they are pretty rare even over here.
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The motor is in. Now to bolt all the other bits and bobs on. Not long now.
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Good luck Geoff.
I'll be keeping an ear to the radio from this side of the pond if I can. I'm looking forward to hearing you do well.
Cheers
John
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The Trailer is ready to load. Yippeee
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Good luck. Have fun. Wish I was there.
John
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So do I. Lots of Brits coming out this year..not only to compete but watch as well. Shame you cannot make it. Salt conditions are supposed to be really good.
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Update. Firstly we got there...a day late but we got there. Saturday we set up the pit and got the car through tech. Exhausted after the 15 hour tow it was get some sleep and ready myself for Sunday. The plan was not to rush ourselves. Making sure we checked everything. Fired the motor and boy did it sound good. The blown hemi cackling away. We decided as it was my first drive of the car to go over to the rookie course. Just a gentle drive to get the feel of it and not set the world on fire. 7707 was just so easy to drive. Really smooth. Everything worked the way it should have.
Back to the pits and just check it over. Reset the valve clearances, etc etc. Then out for the 2nd run.
More to follow....
But I need to thank my team...Bill Schultz, Sparky Perry, Bob Muravez, Sharon Muravez, Carl Olson, Tony Betts and Al Teague. It would not have happened without them. So many hours putting this together. Plus very special thanks go to my family for letting me do this and HUGE thanks to ISKY himself for his guidance, help and making a product so good. Lucas Oil also for supporting me and providing the best products.
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Anyway...13th ...at 15.24
2 mile 216.573 alt 7345 with 13% humidity
21/4 246.512
3 mile 223.429
14th At 12.03 alt 6828ft with 16% humidity
2 mile 211.601
21/4 242.663
3 mile 251.917
4 mile 243.488
This run put us in impound .
15th at 8.08am alt 5937 with 39% humidity
2 mile 231.347
21/4 256.221
3 mile 265.221
4 mile 256.626
Class record of 258.679 set. 👍👍👍👍
We achieved far more than we thought we could. So a huge thank you to everyone, from the security, the start line crews, tech, announcers, medical crews and the SCTA. The only down side was even at 265.221 and the record we didn’t hit the 290 minimum for a red hat when you get a blue hat for 300 just 10mph more. I wish the minimums could be reviewed as 290 seems over the top but we will see what happens next year.
The car is now in the workshops being cleaned and readied for next year.
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With the C/Blown Fuel Rear-engine Modified Roadster record at 316, it doesn't seem unfair to ask 290 for an A.
The A/Blown Fuel Roadster (nee altered) record is over 300.
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Doesn’t mean it’s right. Some of the minimums need looking at so that it encourages entries and innovation.
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Looks right to me.
How about Participation Trophies to encourage more entries?
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I'll go with Stan on this one. I was involved with some of the minimums discussion with Dan during this time with rear engine modifieds (I don't remember which ones so don't ask) and with the "C" being well over 300 a 290 minimum should be plenty of incentive.
It isn't the 2 Clubs intent to make it ez. Your record of 265 in B, and a record in C of 316, will give a lot of incentive for engines to be built for existing cars or new cars built.
You should be happy with a SCTA-BNI record in one year and I'm sure you are. I started in 1975 and got in the club in 2003. Even with that time it took the last 6 years of dumping nitro thru an engine to get the hat.
I'm sure you won't give up....good luck. :cheers:
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i don’t know what I am going to do yet for next year but I took many positives away with me. I got my “A” & “AA” licence. The car went the fastest it has ever been with this setup by some 30mph plus and we got a record. Do I think it could run 290 plus with its current combination....unlikely. We don’t have traction control or electronic injection. Just a good old aluminium KB with a blower and injection.
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"We don’t have traction control or electronic injection."
I'm not sure, but I don't think Dave Davidson has either of those. You did a hell of a job first time out. Perhaps massaging what you have is the answer.
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I have efi and traction control but have never allowed the traction control to actually do anything. When running my rear modified, was able to hit the minimum for fuel at elmo but I did it on gas. I also hit beat the minimum for gas by over 30mph. Having run the class and knowing what my own car was capable of I think the minimums are very doable. Easy.. maybe not but as said before it isn't meant to be easy the opposite actually thats what makes it a special club.
I don't think that traction control is required to set any record. It may make it easier to drive but it doesn't get the record. Unfortunately for me the two rain out years got into my ability to run my roadster to its potential at bville and I had to sell it to move forward with my streamliner . My goal was to do over 300 on a gas b engine. I am very confident it would have done it with a few more runs. My first year with it I ran 276 at the 4 without being turned up.
Keep working it. It takes time to get these cars running their full potential. Sounds like you had a good first year. Just getting started
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I also have to agree with Stan here. When smaller engine cars in your class are exceeding 290, it's very hard to justify a 265 mph minimum just to allow you in the club. The only answer that I can see is that you will have to step up your game.
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yes indeed or change class.
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What does it weigh?---especially on the rear axle?
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My understanding of the Bob Dalton/Don Jackson school of thought for adding speed. More nitro. Bigger pump. More nozzles. Just generally more nitro.