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Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: LittleLiner on September 11, 2008, 02:30:23 AM

Title: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 11, 2008, 02:30:23 AM
(((      Note:  This is an old diary for a car that I sold in 2009.  I will be going through this diary and editing the posts to re-insert and attach photos that no longer appear because of problems with photo posting from Photobucket.   What follows in the original text fro 2008 and 2009.  )))

I will eventually be posting a build diary for my Gas Coupe but wanted to post some info on the car I (hopefully) will be running at Maxton in a few weeks.  Sorry for this long post but I need to get through the background on why and how I decided to buy this one instead of build it.

June 08   Admitted to self that finishing the gas coupe this year ain't gonna happen.  Time for Plan B

Researched  ECTA records.  Found some open or soft Maxton records that the right street car could snag. 

Logged on to ebay and started searching for a good car that could possibly be a record setter.  Found one and started to bid. 

June 30 – Won the auction

July 1st – paid the deposit via PayPal - contacted the seller and arranged to pick up the car.

July 19th flew from Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Met the seller.  Took a test drive.  The car is a beast.  Barely street drivable.  Touchy clutch, rough idle with racing cams and really really LOUD.  No air, no heater, no defroster, no radio, so-so paint, rides pretty rough (lowered suspension), blacked out windows, no cat, no emissions gear.  In short, Perfect!

Transferred title and got temp-drive-home plates.  By 2 pm I am on I-95 headed north with 1000 miles to go.  Did I mention that it was in the high eighties, sunny and humid with passing showers?  Did I mention the car does not have air?  Did I mention the ‘no-season’ tires that sure ain't rain tires?

10 pm in South Carolina and the engine quits.  Did I mention that the gas gauge is not real accurate?  Add fuel but car won't start.  Owner didn't mention that there was an anti theft system nor did he mention that there was a hidden switch.  Apparently when I locked the car to go for gas I somehow activated the alarm/anti theft system.  So I assume the starter is shot (wrong) and call triple A.  Got to meet some real nice state troopers.  Tow rig comes and says that the garage we were going to would be able to get er running with no trouble.  They didn't mention that the repairs wouldn't happen till Monday.  Did I mention that there was a full moon? 

Spent Sunday in Bluffton, SC.  Think ‘Mayberry RFD.’  Nice Holiday Inn.  Maybe after staying there I will be smarter since I did spent two nights in the Holliday Inn.  Monday morning I catch a cab (well he said it was a cab but wasn't marked) back to Tommy’s Towing.  Turns out Tommy is a real live dirt track racer with a really first class late model.  One of his guys crawls under the dash, finds the secret switch, fixes a few other problems and by 10 am I am back on the road.  I highly recommend Tommy’s.  Really good operation and nice people.

Unlike Saturday, Monday is even hotter!  Mid to high nineties and clear.  No rain in sight.  Did I mention that there is a non-stock turbo stuffed under the hood in this small engine compartment?  Within two hours I am re-living my youth, back in the 50s when it was common to experience ‘vapor lock.’  At least three times I have to stop, get off the highway, find shade, and let it cool down.  Finally I pull into a truck stop near Dunn NC. Park it with the hood up, go in, get something to eat and wait till the sun goes down.  Tried to work on the laptop (my vacation in Bluffton caused me to miss a day’s work).  A guy at the truck stop keeps trying to get me to accept Jesus. 

I get in the car around 8 pm.  It starts and runs fine.  Back on I 95.  Making good time.  Did I mention the speedometer is about 5% off?  Cooler air, no more vapor lock.  I get to my apartment building near Washington DC at 2 am Tuesday.  Did I mention that the car has a Turbo Timer?  I did mention that it is LOUD.  I stop down the street and let it idle for a few minutes to allow the turbo to cool then quickly drive up the block, pull into my apartment parking lot and over-ride the Turbo Timer.  Didn't get cited for disturbing the peace but could have.  Did I mention that one of my neighbors is an Arlington VA cop?  Home at last. 

In the next installment I take the car to Pennsylvania . . .  plus I'll post a few photos.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Roadster943 on September 11, 2008, 03:10:04 AM

  So far so good. Good story and I am looking forward to hereing more.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Stainless1 on September 11, 2008, 08:10:17 AM
Pictures?
Sounds like a great road car  :roll: at least for stories....  :cheers:
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Dr Goggles on September 11, 2008, 08:33:44 AM
..great writing , great story........ that car is gonna get you , it will bend you to it's will, my money says you're gonna let it while complaining the whole time, and loving it :cry:.I'm thinkin' it smells like a mix of aerostart and spray deodorant inside and that's not the first time it's gonna dial up a phantom problem :? that will waste your time :x , take you to the very edge of selling it or parking it before disappearing just long enough for you to get your confidence up to heady levels again. :cheers:

I had a girlfriend just like that once.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: 4-barrel Mike on September 11, 2008, 10:00:46 AM
More!  More!  More!

Mike
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: t russell on September 11, 2008, 10:18:28 AM
You should have stoped by for a break
terry
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: McRat on September 11, 2008, 10:40:01 AM
Your car sound like what us internet jockeys call a "street car". :evil:

Yes, technically it can be made to operate on an asphault roadway, much in the same way a 10 gauge is a dove gun. :-o

Sounds like alot of fun! 

Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: 1 fast evo 2 on September 12, 2008, 09:25:52 PM
What kind of car is it ???
Sounds just about like mine.
Mike Reichen
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 17, 2008, 02:24:48 AM
[img]
What kind of car is it ???
Sounds just about like mine.
Mike Reichen

Well Mike it may 'sound just like yours' but the only way I'll get into the ECTA 2 club will be if Tonya lets me add the speed from two runs together.   :-)

The car is a Suzuki Swift with Turbo kit and other mods.  1300cc.    Front Wheel Drive.  Street registered and insured.  I'll be chasing the H/BFSS record (currently open).  Who's knows?  On paper it should fly but I won't know till I actually make that first run.  Unless something weird occurs I'll get that open record.  The challenge is getting a respectable time.  The ECTA record in I/BFSS is over 118 mph.  That's with a 3 cylinder Metro, SOHC, 2 valve engine.  If I don't get close to that speed I'll be disappointed.  I'll be happy and I'll have fun but I will be disappointed.

I picked this car for several reasons.  I avoided getting something with All Wheel Drive because it would limit me to SS and PS.  I avoided getting a two seater because it would limit me to SS, GT and MS.  I wanted a legit coupe/sedan without AWD that can run not only in Super Street but also in Gas Coupe, Altered Coupe and Competition Coupe.  It had to be street legal because I do not have a trailer or a vehicle large enough to pull a trailer.  It had to be able to compete for records under 135mph so I could enter without the expense of safety gear required for over 135mph.

The car is a legit Super Street Car.
To run in Gas Coupe I need to have a non-stock turbo . . .got it.
To run in Altered I need to cover up (tape) the front end . . . can do easy
To run in Comp Coupe I'll have to install a belly pan . . . not an engineering or financial challenge by any means.

At 1300cc this is an H class car.  Remember at Maxton you can run up in engine class.  There are currently 16 records in these categories in the H or higher blown engine classes that have records under 135mph, 5 of which are under 125mph.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: t russell on September 17, 2008, 08:15:37 PM
Sounds cool to me
terry
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: 1 fast evo 2 on September 17, 2008, 10:28:42 PM
Thanks for clearing that up for me. The car sounds like a fun little project.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 24, 2008, 11:20:53 AM
In the next installment I take the car to Pennsylvania . . .  plus I'll post a few photos.

(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/6954_1.jpg)

July 25th  -  After a week of work in DC I drove the 'Beltway Bandit' to Pennsylvania so I could register and title the car.  Anyone that has had the experience of driving in or around Washington, DC at rush hour knows the joy of bumper to bumper traffic.  On the bright side I got plenty of practice starting and stopping with this flywheel/clutch/engine combo.  In fact it was so much fun that I decided to press on so I could experience the same pain on the Baltimore Beltway as well.  No problems at all.  Fuel pressure stayed up and there wasn't any hint of vapor lock.  After three and a half hours and 120 miles I arrive in York.  My wife said she could hear me coming for five minutes before I arrived.

Over the next few weeks I spent some time going over the car and removing what seemed like 500 layers of window tint (see photo above).  Found out that my 13 inch wheels and H rated tries from the Geo Metro (future LSR gas coupe) won't fit the Swift GT ( front calipers require at least a 14 inch wheel ) so I'll be going to Maxton on the 205/50/15s.  Not my first choice by any means but will have to do.  Not a safety issue so I'll live with it for now.

August 15th - Took the Swift to the auto club to apply for title and registration.  The clerk says that I need a bill of sale.  Don't have one.  Didn't think I needed one since I have both a valid Florida Title and valid Florida temp registration in my name and have appropriate paper work that shows that I have paid all the required fees and taxes.  Did I mention that the Florida Temp plates will expire on August 19th?  Did I mention that our Condo Association rules do not allow cars parked (outside) on the premises unless they have current registration?  Did I mention that my wife will not give up her side of the garage? (My side has the Geo Metro - in pieces -)  Anyway the nice lady at the AAA says she thinks that my paperwork will be OK but they have to check with Harrisburg (state capitol) and won't be able to get an answer until Monday (August 18th).

August 18th - AAA calls with good news.  My paperwork is OK after all.  Within an hour I have the new PA Plates on the Swift and am on my way back to Washington (where I work during the week).  My wife says she could still hear me five minutes after I left. 

Since then the car has been parked and only driven a few times to keep up the battery.  I've been installing a tach and waiting for the end of September to go to Maxton. . . .

in the meantime I have preregistered for the Maxton event and reserved motel space. 

September 24th - I leave tomorrow in the afternoon.  Rain is predicted for tomorrow but it should clear up some time before Saturday in Maxton.  I'll probably be driving in rain the whole way. . . should add to the excitement with my 'no-season' tires.

hopefully I'll be able to post again Friday evening and let you know how the trip went and fill in the blanks on getting the car through tech and me through rookie orientation. . . later.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: SPARKY on September 24, 2008, 01:13:08 PM
great times to be had by all :cheers:
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: RidgeRunner on September 24, 2008, 03:51:00 PM
LL,

     Sounds like a plan.  We'll keep an eye out for you, not leaving up here until Thurs afternoon also, prob won't get in 'till later Fri.  Have a safe trip and I'll look you up over the weekend.

              Take care,

              Ed
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 27, 2008, 08:17:53 PM
I had intended to post a description of how the trip down here Thursday worked out, how I went through tech and driver's orientation on Friday, how I made four runs today, set one record and have my sights on a second record tomorrow (hopefully.)  I will post that in a few days plus let you know how I do tomorrow (Sunday). 

But not today . . . .  That information can wait for another day.

As most of you now know, today, very sadly, we experienced the first fatality in the history of the ECTA and the Maxton events.  See the topic posted elsewhere by others here on Landracing.com.  I didn't know Dave Owen.  I wish I did know him.  My thoughts are with his family and with those that were his friends.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 29, 2008, 01:22:54 AM
It is about 350 driving miles from Rosslyn, Virginia to Laurinburg North Carolina . . . mostly on Interstate 95.  At 1:30 p.m Thursday I’ve loaded my limited tool set (Leatherman, small emergency tool kit from Michelin, jumper cables, two quarts of oil, one roll of pink duct tape, one oil rag, one small flashlight, tow strap, AAA auto club card and two dozen tie wraps).  Clothing-check.  Helmet-check.  Money-check.  Camera-check.

The Bandit runs fine, a little rain is not that big a problem and by 8 or so I am at the Hampton Inn in Laurinburg.  I notice two LSR bikes from Indiana on a trailer and that Ranchero race ‘car’ from Canada in the parking lot.  This confirms that I came on the correct weekend.  Don’t laugh . .  it happens.  Milestone 1, complete. I got here.

Friday morning still raining but forecast to clear.  Spend five hours on the laptop doing stuff for my day job.  Around 2 p.m. head over to Maxton to register and get the car tech inspected.  Tonya does the paperwork and Keith does the inspection.  No problems.  Life is good.  Milestone 2 – check. 

Driver orientation at 5 run by Keith with some additional words of wisdom from Joe.  A couple of first time spectators from New York tag along to here the orientation.  They ride along with me in the Bandit during our tour of the Starting line, the traps and Shutdown.  Nice guys,  I haven’t even made a run and I have a fan club.  I’ve done this orientation before as a lurker/spectator but this time it is for real.  I am actually paying close attention.  Telling self to focus so I don’t screw up tomorrow.  Milestone 3 – check.

Saturday – Arrive at track on time before 8 (rare for me to be on time).  Drivers meeting around 9 or so.  Good crowd.  This is also the special Super Street Bike Event.  Lots of bikes, appears to be even more than usual. 

Meeting over , . . . drive to starting line.  At Maxton there are three staging lanes.  I am about 10 rows back.  Mill around, talk to a lot of folks, some new friends, some old friends.  History Channel is doing a documentary on motorcycles.  They drag their camera and sound equipment from one bike team to the next.  They don’t seem to care about the Bandit even though it is a Suzuki.
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/100_0875a.jpg)
We edge forward.  It seems to take forever but the ECTA is running the event like clockwork.  No delays.  I am now about three rows back.  Time to put on the helmet and buckle in.  Assistant starter checks my belts and helmet.  I am now in the first row.  I get flagged to move to the on-deck position.  There’s a bike on the starting line.  I watch the starter as he handles that biker so I know what to expect.  The bike launches.  The starter motions for me to pull to the starting line.  I’ll be underway in less than 45 seconds.  Mental checklist –  water temp? - looks good, fuel pressure? - good, oil pressure? – I really need to hook up that gauge.   I will limit this run to a max of 7000 rpm and be ready to back off if there is even a hint of a problem.  I remind myself that this car has never been over 85mph and I have no idea if it will have problems at speed.  I also remind myself that the transmission is fragile.  And I remind myself that this car has to take me home.  It is only 45 seconds but seems much, much, much longer.  The starter is talking on the radio.  He points to me and gives me the gesture to be sure my visor is down.  It already is but I move my hands to make it look like I am lowering it anyway.

He steps out of the way and gives me the signal to go.  The track is now mine, all mine . . . .

Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Dr Goggles on September 29, 2008, 05:26:45 AM
..what is this an ad break?the suspense is killing me......you left off ..." afterthe break....."
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 29, 2008, 02:48:56 PM
The first eighth of a mile or so at Maxton is actually part of the old taxiway leading to the original runway.  Then there is a very slight (very, very slight) ‘bend’ to the right to put you on the actual runway and from there it is straight through the traps and beyond for another three eighths or so to short shutdown. If you need to ‘go long’ to stop there is another slight bend to the right as you pass short shutdown.  Overall the track length from starting line to the end of long shutdown is about 1.9 miles.
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/100_0883.jpg)
This was taken before I pulled up to the 'on-deck' spot.  You see a car on the starting line and the bike between us is on the on deck spot.  I was next after the bike.

now to pick up where I left off . . . the starter signals for me to go.  I ‘launch’ smoothly and run it up through first, not watching the tack but watching for the first bend.  Now I am in second and the car is really pulling well, turbo is spooled up and I see that I’m passing seven grand on the tach.  Smooth shift to 3rd, still pulling well, boost gauge about 8 psi . . car is stable . . feels really good. . watch the tach . . here comes 7 grand . . 4th gear . . nice shift.  Woooo . . . she really noses over in 4th.  Note to self – try to get well over 7 grand in 3rd before the shift to 4th.

All is Ok. . engine is pulling, rpm is climbing.  Didn’t expect to have so much speed sensation at around ‘only’ 100 mph.  Seems a lot faster than I expected it to feel.  Orange cones ‘going by’ really fast.  Relax . .keep head in the game . . . . track seems really narrow all of a sudden. . .  major ‘tunnel vision’. . . here comes the traps . . past the last marker . . what did Keith say about smooth transitioning from fast to slow?  Out of the gas,  Gentle on the brakes.  Short shutdown coming up faster than expected . . harder on the brakes, down shift again, steady and smooth through right hander to go off track at short shut down.  Thumbs-up to shutdown volunteers as I pass them. 

Slow down for the pits, pull up to impound (it is a open record class), set turbo timer for one minute, remove helmet and try to look calm and cool as I walk over to get time slip.  Bandit sitting there just idling.  After one minute it shuts it self off.

The speed is 114.92328.   This is great news.  It’s a record.  I have not screwed up.  The car still has a lot more left to go faster.  No point in changing classes.  114mph won’t break any of the other Super Street, or Gas Coupe or Altered Coupe Records for classes this car could fit. 

I head back to the starting line.  Next goal – get this speed up to over 125 to get my D license and bump the record to a ‘respectable’ level.

Life is good.  I am now a Land Speed Racing Veteran, I hold a Record.  I imagine that somewhere John Beckett is smiling.  Thanks John, thanks ECTA.   

What I did not know . . what nobody then knew, was that we would suspend racing before my next round.  At about 11:04 Dave Owen would crash at speed while I was in the staging lanes.  Racing would not resume until almost 3 p.m.  At 3:10 the Bandit is on the line and I make a strong, clean, run.  I still note that I should take it to over 8 grand in third to help prevent that big lag after the 3 to 4 shift.  Even so I get a good 126.450 to make the new H/BFSS record a respectable one.  I also qualify for my D license. 

I pay the fee and switch to H/BGSS. (current record held by Tom Bruch at 123.292)

Run 3. . . I miss the 2-3 shift - Big Time.  Note to self, find somebody that can drive this thing!  Although I recover pretty well, a really good run ends up only netting 119 mph.  Not good enough to bump the record.

Run 4 . . .Good launch, perfect shifts pulling 8 grand in each gear . . . then the power falls way off.  Can't accelerate in 4th.  Did the turbo fail?  Well almost. . the intercooler plumbing popped one of the connections resulting in zero boost.  Speed is only 101mph and change.  Time to call it a day.  Tighten the clamps and drive to the motel.

Sunday – Run 5 will be a test run shifting at 7 grand to see if the repair has worked on the intercooler.  Smooth run with a speed of 112.  Nothing breaks.

Run 6 . . . This will be the money run.  I am ready to pull 8 grand in each gear.  It starts as a near perfect run.  Then at about the Three Quarter mile I think I run over something.  I can see something bouncing on the track in my rear view mirror.  The power falls off just like the day before.  I slow and abort the run coasting through the traps and pull to the right – that's the signal at Maxton that there is a problem on the course but no need to send crash rescue because I am alright (Alright? - then pull to the right).  The car seems to be OK, brakes and steering are fine, no flat tires, so I drive down and take short shutdown exit.  Jump out tell Ken to tell the tower that there is debris at about the ¾ point. And I see that half of the intercooler plumbing is gone.

Track safety finds the missing piece and I have it returned to me in impound.  A little scratched and dented but usable.  A couple of biker guys help me by fixing the damage and I am good to go.  I decide not to risk another problem and leave for home.

350 miles later I arrive with no problems at all.  Average gas mileage coming home 33 miles per gallon.

What next for the Bandit?  I don't know . . .   When I do I'll post it here.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Glen on September 29, 2008, 02:55:03 PM
Good job LL, and a nice report. Congrats to you.  :-)
 :cheers:
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: comp on September 29, 2008, 09:47:20 PM
congrats  :-D
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on September 30, 2008, 01:06:06 PM
LL, watch out -- or you'll have campaigned and been nominated to be our Maxton correspondent for landracing.com.  Nice reporting, good photos, fun story.  Good work!  Thanks, too.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 30, 2008, 01:47:24 PM
LL, watch out -- or you'll have campaigned and been nominated to be our Maxton correspondent for landracing.com.  Nice reporting, good photos, fun story.  Good work!  Thanks, too.

Thanks Jon.  Me missed you guys this weekend.  It was a good weekend for a lot of individual efforts . . but . . . keeping it in prospective was the oh so sad loss of fellow racer Dave Owen.  Times like this make you realize that it isn't the record speeds or the unique vehicles or the superb racing that makes Maxton so great . . it's the people.
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: 1 fast evo 2 on September 30, 2008, 09:20:09 PM
Hey LL it was nice talking to you this weekend in staging. I wish I would of had more time to talk and come check out your car but as you know I was thrashing on my pile all weekend trying to get in a good pass.
If you come next spring I'll probably be there and hopefully we can talk more in depth about the cars or whatever.

 Mike Reichen

P.S. that was an excellent story
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on September 30, 2008, 09:56:56 PM
. . . . as you know I was thrashing on my pile all weekend trying to get in a good pass. . . .

Thanks Mike . . . I'd have to say your thrashing paid off.  Top speed of the meet for cars and two new records over 220mph.  Impressive.  Not bad for a 4 cylinder, four door 120 ci street car.   8-)
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: t russell on October 07, 2008, 07:58:54 PM
. . . . as you know I was thrashing on my pile all weekend trying to get in a good pass. . . .

Thanks Mike . . . I'd have to say your thrashing paid off.  Top speed of the meet for cars and two new records over 220mph.  Impressive.  Not bad for a 4 cylinder, four door 120 ci street car.   8-)
Con grats two both.You two had alot of people rooting for you.
terry
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: hotschue on October 08, 2008, 07:39:16 AM
Hello LL,  If you get LSR withdrawal give me a call.  Sounds like your close by, I'm 20 minutes east of the beltway (Rt.50).  Our small group has five cars, 2 have records at Max/Bville, 1 hopefully ready for Max to test later this month and 2 under construction.

Udo Horn
410-279-5021
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on October 12, 2008, 05:59:43 PM
Oct 6th - After problems with the intercooler piping coming undone at Maxton I did a little research and concluded (well duh) that the water hose screw type clamps really suck.  Ordered some T-clamps.
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/IMG_3552.jpg)

Oct 7th - Part of the deal when I bought the Bandit was that after I ran it I would have to decide if I would stay with the Bandit as my racecar and sell all my other Gas Coupe stuff, or sell the Bandit.  Since this car is more marketable (it's together, runs, titled, etc) I decided to bite the bullet and put it up for sale.  That night I put it on ebay.  Item number 280274907831.

Oct 9th - With a flashlight and a piece of old carpet to lay on, I crawled under the Bandit and swapped out the five clamps with the newly acquired T Clamps.  That should be good for another 20 mph.  (yeah right) :-D

Oct 12th - two days left in the ebay auction.  So far no bids.  I started the entry bid level pretty high so (if there are any bids) I expect all the bidding will come in the last 5 minutes Tuesday night.  So far nearly 1000 hits on the ad and about 30 people have put it on their watch list.  Who knows, stayed tuned . . . .

Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on January 06, 2009, 07:25:51 PM
Well boys and girls, it seems there is some sort or recession/depression thing going on  . . . and  . . no . . I didn't sell the Bandit . . I didn't want to give it away and no one wanted to buy at my price, . . so it looks like for 2009 I will again be running the Suzuki Swift at Maxton (yeah I know this is posted under the Bonneville Build Diaries but there ain't a Build Diaries area for ECTA).  Right now I am using it as a driveway protective device to prevent bird-dirt from marring the pavement.

This weekend I'll begin work on changes for the first meet at Maxton.  The plan is to 'enhance' the body to make it 'legal' for Competition Coupe.  Why?  Well there are two records at Maxton just begging to be broken.  H/BFCC at 90.271 and H/BGCC at 90.271.

In spite of the total lack of mechanical and driving skills in my team (that would be me) the Bandit has already exceed a buck and a quarter at Maxton. 

So the question is - should I modify the body with a "full belly pan" or lengthen the body the appropriate amount to transform the little Swift into a 'bow knee fyed' Comp Coupe?  Which will it be?  The rules say how long the body must be extended but are not all that clear about how wide and tall the extension has to be.  I am thinking about a removable "cow catcher" thing that will bolt up to the front end.  Not trying to win 'best appearing car', just want to be legit in the class.  Visualize electrical conduit with pop rivet mounted aluminium dressed up with duct tape.
First photo - Without mods . . .
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/6954_1.jpg)

Second photo - Cow catcher
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/Picture2.jpg)

Third photo -Fab some brackets and move the front bumper out
 and fill the space with a fairing (the air-intercooler would not be moved
out like this mock-up)
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/Picture3.jpg)

Anybody out there have any photos of others that have made this type of mod?   I recall a 50s Buick running something like this but can't locate a photo . . . . . . . .
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Stan Back on January 07, 2009, 11:26:36 AM
I think for Maxton I'd put a 2 or 3-inch PVC pipe 18'' out of the hood, tape the hood seams and call it a Comp Coupe.

Stan
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: sockjohn on January 07, 2009, 06:32:53 PM
I think for Maxton I'd put a 2 or 3-inch PVC pipe 18'' out of the hood, tape the hood seams and call it a Comp Coupe.

Stan

+1   

But can you modify the rear end, that should give you a bigger increase in aero I would think.  Coroplast Kammback?   :-D
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on February 05, 2009, 11:50:49 AM
I think for Maxton I'd put a 2 or 3-inch PVC pipe 18'' out of the hood, tape the hood seams and call it a Comp Coupe.

Stan

Might actually work . . but I am leaning toward adding a belly pan instead doing of the 'body stretch.' 

Right now (since Jan 13th) the priority is on finding a new job since it is impossible to support my racing addiction with unemployment checks . . .
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on June 26, 2009, 09:02:19 AM
Beltway Bandit for sale . . .again . . . . (Photos by www.dwphotosonline.com)
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/_ECT1495.jpg)

(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/_ECT1011.jpg)

It's been awhile since I posted.  Here I sit in my office at 8 am EDT while I would really rather be at Maxton helping with track setup and getting the Bandit teched.  But it ain't happening . . .

Back in January I lost my job (there is alot of that going on these days).  Through sheer luck I landed a new job and was working again by March.  Great job but lots of deadlines and no time to work on the car or go racing.  Bummer dude! (did I get that right?)

On top of all that my wife and I have developed an addiction to bicycling and are burning up what little free time I have training for and entering 60 mile charity rides.  We are thinking about authoring a horror movie screen play titled "Old People in Spandex!"

All this time the Bandit sits in the driveway.  And the Geo Metro sits in the garage with the engine positioned on blocks in the engine bay awaiting me to engineer and fab some mounts for this front wheel drive, chain driven, motorcycle engined gas coupe project.  Plus the little 500cc engine and all my assorted bits and piecies for the Little Liner remain stashed in the four corners of the basement.  Progress zero and counting. . . . . backwards . . . . .

Anywaaaaaaay . . . . I am again biting the bullet and have listed the Bandit on ebay.   Check it out.  Buy yourself and instant ECTA or Loring record breaker.  Ebay listing number 280363249223 . . . . . .

Of course if it doesn't sell there is always a chance I can make it to Loring . . . . . .hummmm (psst.  Don't tell the Mrs)
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on July 19, 2009, 10:58:18 PM
The final chapter . .   

Almost a year to the day of acquiring the 94 Suzuki Swift (aka Beltway Bandit) it is officially over . . done . . finis ..  history.

Friday afternoon I last saw the Bandit headed north on Interstate 83 toward Harrisburg PA en-route to Detroit, the Motor City, it's new home.  Parted with it sadly, but, after all, the plan was to buy a car and set a record.  Mission complete. 

New owner has no interest in LSR.   So for now my record at Maxton might last a while.  What do we say?  We don't own records we just borrow them until someone else borrows it for a while.

Within a few days I'll start a new build diary for the car I have actually been 'working on' for the last 5 years.  This will make my wife happy because I will have to clean the garage before I take any photos. . . . . 

A few hints  . . 15,000 rpm red line, . .  Gas Coupe . . .  red . . in honor of Maxton it will be called the Fire Ant. 

Goal - Points contender 2010.

Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: Stan Back on July 20, 2009, 11:25:04 AM
Oh no -- not another Vintage Flathead-Powered Coupe?
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: 55chevr on July 20, 2009, 08:51:05 PM
Not with that red line ... that is Hyabusa RPM
Title: Re: The Beltway Bandit
Post by: LittleLiner on July 20, 2009, 10:33:16 PM
Hayabusa?  I wish . . .Here's a shot from a few years back of an early test fit(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/Arto_x04/5%20inch%20wheels/metroengineswap2lowcompression.jpg)

CBR600RR