Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: neandethal on March 06, 2019, 11:29:41 AM
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Hi Folks,
Competed last year in the 100cc M-Vg class , and due back this year for the 100cc SC-BF/BG classes, whilst i build my streamliner, hopefully using the same motor.
I have build a prototype chassis to learn what works and what doesn't, including how to get it off the stabilizers and stay on 2 wheels! Just ordered the parachute braking system and still loads to do, but not planning on running it until 2020 earliest. My good friend Anders Jonsson has shared lots of good information and shortened my learning curve. Anyway just a few photos, i have access to a 1.7 mile runway to play on, and we have done towing trials up to 70 mph, and now i have covered the bike in papier mache, before plastering and laying on the fibreglass to complete the body. Constructive comments always welcomed.
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Whereabouts in the UK are you?
I like the papier mache approach. My last f'glass body was a gravity racer using polysyrene foam wrapped in kitchen film to protect against the resin, ouward layup and filler to finish.
I will be interested to see your body work develop and if it less finishing work than I had to do on the gravity beast - my Lakester will be a much bigger proposition so anything to reduce the labour.
John
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Hi Neandethal,
Welcome. What engine are you using?
I am also keen to know where in the UK you are based. Mainly to find out what i would have to do to get access to your 1.7mile runway for testing :-D.
Christian
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I'm base just outside Oakham, Rutland
Sorry, the runway is MOD property and i have spent years achieving access and even Trevor Duckworth of Straighliners fame has failed to soften their view on extending it. It's a favour due to all the charity work i have done, and even then still isn't cheap.
I have used North Luffenham, but last time out, had my collar felt by the military police - Oops! I am trying to find other venues, as even my access is limited.
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"... had my collar felt by the military police ..."
What a lovely turn of the phrase. :cheers:
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I am liking this project. Several years ago I was very in love with the little Triumph Terrier and Tiger Cub motor bikes. I intended to build a streamliner at some point. It is still on my bucket list.
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"... had my collar felt by the military police ..."
What a lovely turn of the phrase. :cheers:
English humour..lol. But in long forgotten days when a police officer could apprehend a person here in the UK the term ‘had my collar felt’ means the police officer physically had you by the collar. Now of course the police dare not touch you as the villain may well scream ‘you are infringing my human rights’ !!!!
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I find it amusing also, as my youngest daughter is a proper police officer.
The engine will be a 100cc turbo charged unit, using Italian TRTeam 2FAST cylinder kit, Borg Warner turbo and Swedish Boostbusters technology , and hopefully making close to 50 bhp.
So drag coefficient is everything. Would like to challenge the Buddfab FIM record of 151mph, but let's not get ahead of myself, need to get to the salt with it first!
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English humour..lol. But in long forgotten days when a police officer could apprehend a person here in the UK the term ‘had my collar felt’ means the police officer physically had you by the collar.
Oh, yes, I got the literal and the humourous translations on inspection - and thought I'd encourage more by offering recognition. 8-)
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I thought you were just nicked and then they confiscate your gudgeon pin! :roll: :cheers:
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Getting a Buddfab record is quite a goal. It's been a long time since that name appeared on this forum, but their exploits certainly would enjoy a replay – both at El Mirage and Bonneville. I'm not the one to do that – but I would appreciate it if someone else would.
Stan
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Was the Buddfab the little liner where the rider rode laying down with their head at the front?
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Like most streamliner pilots, i hope that the engine bay is modular and can then be used over a number of years to swap ou different engine to challenge a number of records. I quite fancy the 1956 NSU record for 100cc S- BG, that's not been broken in too long!
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Yes, Buddfab will be a tough nut to crack, that small team was focused at 200% all the time.
Their aero package was also top of the hill...
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PJX1UI4Hvy0/S8pn0Zv3BfI/AAAAAAAAA0U/29vMdYA7hd4/s1600/buddfabstreamliner.jpg)
Their power to speed ratio was just unreal, whatever engine size they choose to run on the day...
So good luck to you, Neandethal, from that guy in Cheshire!!!
Patrick
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Do I know you Patrick? or should I ?
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Those Buddfab guys did really well. Was that 2006? 2008? I cant remember, it was my first or very early visit to the salt I think.
I look forward to watching your build progress and wish you fantastically good luck Neandethal. It should be a lot of fun along the way. :cheers:
best wishes from down in Kent
John
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Neandethal: Do I know you Patrick? or should I ?
Dunno!!! I suppose not!!!
Anyway, as I said, best of luck.
Patrick
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Tomorrow i am off to see KS Composites, as UK firm that does carbon fibre and fibreglass stuff for both F1 teams and rally teams. Hopefully, they will share the wisdom of how to apply the final layers/coats of fibreglass, and then the separating away from the former. its going to be interesting but i guess i will use a dremel or similar with a fine wheel to cut it off in sections, including the access canopy.
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All hasnt gone smoothly, the first fibreglass layer was just fine, but they undersupplied catalyst which i didnt realise so gelcoat took 3 days to set off and still isnt great, will apply another high catalyst content one on top to give a hard shell before attempting to cut off in sections, but it does look moody!
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I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but you're in deep doo doo.
You are going to hate what's in store for you. I wish I'd seen this before you got going on the body work.
I feel for you brother but you need to pay the school fees on this one.
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Did you put gelcoat on top of the glass? You have to seal it to get gelcoat to dry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en-8SbhdF_k
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I am no fibreglass expert but have built my own kayak with the stuff and rebuilt two f'glass bodied cars and done lots of kayak / canoe repairs; I was advised that, if using Polyester resins, they of the 2.5 - 5% Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) catalyst, that the lovely smell is styrene fumes.
If you are doing a reverse layup (i.e. not in a mold) then when you have laid your last chop strand / cloth and wetted it out, when it goes like cheddar cheese (that state when you can slice the fringes with a Stanley knife without tearing the strands apart), then coat the entire thing in a skim of good body filler - the syrene bleeds through that as well and somehow you get a chemical bond (not just the usual mechanical one).
I tried using tissue aka veil (ultra fine chopped stand) on the rebuild of the Lotus door but that was ugly to use - it seem to lift with the brush when stippling the resin on as it wetted out and sort of went like candy floss in places - I 'bogged' over that before it was hard and had a really nice finish to sand down. Didn't use veil but did do the cheesy bog step with the gravity racer.
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Cheesy bogg step is interesting. Never thought to do that but may give it a try on next fiberglass project. To lock down body filler, I used two layers of finishing matt.
John
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Experience has shown me that the body should be weighed before additional material is applied. It is possible to fix everything on the finish so it looks good and the end result is too heavy.
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the gelcoat has finally gone off but remains slightly tacky, guess the poorly catalysed layer is still influencing. yesterday we decided we would cut the body off in the panels we require and can then work on how to remount with dzus or similar. This will allow us to resolve retracting the stabilizers and best of all do coast down tests to determine the drag coefficient, the key number in my life.
Part of the mountainous learning process , would have me question if i should spend time smoothing out this body with filler and use it as the male buck to make traditional moulds, up for review.
Have also been distracted by building a 100cc turbo charged sidecar for this year, and doing further mods to my 100cc M-VG bike of last year.
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Despite covid have been able to finally get back on the runway and this time got her moving under her own power and using the electronic gear change, too windy for bodywork or parachute deployment but great to be back on 2 wheels. more video footage on my website www.racetothesalt.com as file size too big to attach here.
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Which runway, did you have it to yourself? How?
Hoping to start body work on Lakester in the next few weeks. Wish me luck.
John
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It's probably (what was) RAF Cottesmore. muutt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Cottesmore
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yep, its the old Cottesmore have military connections so get in under cover, public hire is about ?1000 for the whole day and to yourself, way too much for any regular use other than journalists, exotic car owner clubs and Guy Martin!
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Been a while but the streamliner progresses. I decided my fibreglass body wasn't good enough so entrusted the bike to a local coachbuilder to clothe it in aluminium.Very happy I made that decision. UK is holding s Speedweek equivalent in May 2023 and hope to use it for a shakedown run or 10!
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Are you looking to run at Bonneville in 2023?
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That's in my plan yes, export it one way