90's lakester on eBay

[4-barrel Mike]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rear-Engine-Lakester-Dragster-Bonneville-land-speed-SCTA-/150738247095?pt=Race_Cars_Not_Street_Legal_&hash=item2318b31db7

Rear Engine Lakester/Dragster for Bonneville, land speed, SCTA

This is a lakester/rear engine dragster my father had built to NHRA specs in 1989 and raced until 1996.  It ran at Bonneville and El Mirage, as well as at a handful of drag strips around Northern California.  It set records at Bonneville in the XXF/GL and XXF/FL classes at between 183-195 MPH with an Ardun and C4 transmission in it.  In 1996 it ran at Bonneville with a SBC, it's last meet.  At that race the roll cage was deemed to not meeting new SCTA rules regarding tube thickness and the car was retired.  To make it elgible to race under SCTA rules again it would require a new roll cage.

The chassis is made of chrome moly tubing and was built by Frank Shonig Fabrication .  The body was made by Jack Hagemann Jr.  The car is designed to allow for either coil over suspension in the rear for land speed racing (169" wheel base) or to bolt up solid to the frame for drag racing (150" wheel base).  The rear end used was a Halibrand Champ quick change with Strange axles - as you can see in the pictures the axles and axle tubes are included but the quick change is not.  The front used a torsion bar suspension and a dropped front axle and Anglia spindles.  Spindles are not included either. 

What is included is everything you see in the picture of the parts on the shop floor.  This includes Wilwood disc brakes for the rear, motor plates for a flathead/Ardun and SBC, scoop, various chassis  tie rod pieces, driveline...... everything you see in that particular picture.  I have also included pictures from when the car was being built and photos of the lakester on the salt as we raced it.  THERE IS NO MOTOR, TRANSMISSION, WHEELS, TIRES, QUICK CHANGE, HEADERS, RADIATORS, OR ANYTHING ELSE INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION THAT CANNOT BE SEEN IN THE PHOTO OF THE MISC. PARTS ON THE SHOP FLOOR OR ON THE VEHICLE AS IT SITS ON THE GROUND WITH NO ENGINE OR WHEELS.  The first 8 photos are all you get.  Period.  All other pictures are included for you to see what the car looks like complete.

Vehicle weight when complete, with driver, was approximately 1800 lbs.  It made approx. 2 dozen + runs at the drags in the 10 second E.T. range with a naturally aspirated Ardun on gas. 

The workmanship involved in this car is absolutely beautiful.  As mentioned it would take a new roll cage built to SCTA specs to make it eligible to run again.  Or use the front half as the foundation for your Rear Engine Modified Roadster (RMR) project.

I have this vehicle for sale locally and reserve the right to end the auction early if it sells.  Local pick-up only.

Mike 

[Milwaukee Midget]

Wow - no reserve.  Couldn't by the tubing for what it's at right now.

[Glen]

What is the thickness of the main  frame tubes and the diameter??

[4-barrel Mike]

He sold an Ardun in December for $20,000. http://www.ebay.com/itm/150700355388?item=150700355388&viewitem=&vxp=mtr

"...The motor was built by my late father, Ardun Doug King..."

"...This particular engine is responsible for a handful of Bonneville/El Mirage records between 143-219 MPH set in a Streamliner, Street Roadster, Lakester, Modified Roadster, as well as in a Dragmaster Dart where it made many passes in the 150+ MPH range and mid to low 8 seconds..."

[4-barrel Mike]

From scta-bni.org: "09/16/11:
Douglas M. King, 5/6/37 - 9/16/11 


At approx. 3 AM Friday morning , SCTA member  (Ardun) Doug King passed away after his battle with cancer. Doug, a member of the Super Fours, was active for many years in both Land Speed Racing and Drag Racing. He was an El Mirage and Boneville 200 MPH Club member and set many records. His specialty was the "Ardun" engine, with which he was very sucessful . He is survived by his wife Mary Lou and 4 sons. "

The Doug King Story: http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/guestcolumnists/richardscorner/A-Visit_With_Doug_King/

[Tman]

I remember seeing construction shots of that thing in Rodders Digest or SRM years ago. Was a neat car.

[V4F STR 60]

Can anyone tell me for certain that if the roll cage was brought to current specs, that the rest of the chassis would be legal under the current rules?  I'm a roadster guy and know nothing about lakesters, but I'm intrigued...

[Glen]

As I recall SCTA deemed it illegal due to the frame thickness and other out dated items on the car.Dan Warner should know if this is the reasons. In the past there have been a couple of older drag race frame break or show cracks.

[dw230]

Thanks for being so positive about my expertise Glen. Sorry, I am unable to correctly remember the reasons for this carbeing retired. Maybe Jim Lattin could answer any questions. He and Elmo were involved with the car at the end of its career.

DW

[desotoman]

Can anyone tell me for certain that if the roll cage was brought to current specs, that the rest of the chassis would be legal under the current rules?  I'm a roadster guy and know nothing about lakesters, but I'm intrigued...

If you are a member of Ebay, you can ask the seller any question you need answered. On the Ebay page under seller information, it will say "Ask a Question". Just click on that and it will send a message to the seller through Ebay. The seller usually will respond within a day or two.

Tom G. 

[V4F STR 60]

Can anyone tell me for certain that if the roll cage was brought to current specs, that the rest of the chassis would be legal under the current rules?  I'm a roadster guy and know nothing about lakesters, but I'm intrigued...

If you are a member of Ebay, you can ask the seller any question you need answered. On the Ebay page under seller information, it will say "Ask a Question". Just click on that and it will send a message to the seller through Ebay. The seller usually will respond within a day or two.

Tom G. 

Thanks, but I've already asked the seller.  He doesn't know since the car hasn't been through tech since '96.  Can anyone enlighten me to what rules may have changed for lakesters since then.  I hadn't even discovered salt in '96...             well except on fries.   

[Stainless1]

 RED frames are flexible by design and that is not a good thing on the salt.   Most lakester frames are integral with the roll structure, that one looks that way to me as well.  Count on duplicating the frame in min 1 5/8 X .125 mild steel with additional supports to help confine legs.

[V4F STR 60]

RED frames are flexible by design and that is not a good thing on the salt.   Most lakester frames are integral with the roll structure, that one looks that way to me as well.  Count on duplicating the frame in min 1 5/8 X .125 mild steel with additional supports to help confine legs.

By duplicating do you mean completely reconstructing what exists, or simply adding additional bracing and safety support?

[Stainless1]

Yes, I mean you would have a pattern and if you made the new one the same shape the body would fit... Of course, that is just my opinion, not necessarily that of the staff and management of the scta.  If the frame was in good shape, you probably would have to cut it up to install the roll structure, then figure out how to stiffen it... might be easier to just start over.
Maybe you need to inspect it or have someone sonic test the frame.

[desotoman]

Most lakester frames are integral with the roll structure, that one looks that way to me as well. 
 

I just looked at all the pictures again, and I must be missing something. The first two rollbar hoops are offset from the bottom tubes, so why couldn't they just be cut off at the top frame rail and be replaced with the required size. Same goes for the rear two hoops although they look to continue down and act as a back support, they don't, as they attach to the top frame rail that wraps around the back of the drivers compartment.

Tom G.