Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: BadHorse on April 17, 2020, 10:35:49 AM
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well i was reading a few of these and i think I've got the gist of it. well,,,,,,,,, i have so many questions as i start my journey to fly on the salt. and yes i know i need a rule book and im ordering one in the next couple days. but i figure this is as good a place as any to think out loud and have yall play devils advocate. i not only welcome your constructive criticism but look forward to it.
anyway a little about me, cutting up this classic to run on the salt ( yes i know about the 130 mph and 150 mph clubs) is the culmination of a dream ive had since i first got interested in motor vehicles back in the early 70's. i had heroes like Don Vesco! this drove me to read every printed word every year on Bonneville. i pushed and pushed to learn everything i could about engine building and building fast cars, i was even the service manager of a speed shop in orange county ca. now i do realize that in all these decades ive not only forgotten lots, but as i dive back in to motor sports yall changed everything. sheesh!
now my car, which i have taken to calling "BadHorse" (and yes there is a story) is an unmarked shelby surrounded by weirdness. it has the "P8J" delivery code in the vin, and "cd"build code on the door sticker for the gt500 rear end and third member (talk about saving money right there) which means thorsen 3rd, 3:55 gears and 31 spline axles. i honestly dont know what engine is in my car (4.6l or 5.4l 3v's). doesnt really matter i'll work with what i have and go from there. i will tell you this, this car goes like hell on pavement! 110 in 3rd gear, 145ish in 4th, and my speedo doesnt register 5th but i will tell you this i do know ive been in the 170s with this weirdo S197! and i dont like the lift in the nose at that speed, way to twitchy but an easy fix!
the day i picked up my car
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59659208_10215998823777404_4210258218661707776_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=R5M56fy49hMAX9mxHRj&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=602a2183cb5df8dc2ed37292c0ed8585&oe=5EC0B8F6)
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/59874760_10215998823137388_671297697533132800_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=imPA8l6hsUQAX9Kx9-7&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=0e38c46e9a5f97ff2a33b34529a95abc&oe=5EC0BC86)
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83382270_10218248582339962_702147923634290688_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=05277f&_nc_ohc=yCtT4ISb1s8AX-w6le7&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=df9541aebe42559c0d70ee70b244ce5b&oe=5EBFB9B3)
it was near this location i found a straight as an arrow dirt road that was flat and smooth as glass and roughly 10ish miles long and laid into her and got up over 140mph bringing back my want to run on the salt
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p640x640/89763395_10218677122693203_2610321525819047936_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=07e735&_nc_ohc=_smdTS9tJeAAX_hPw70&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&_nc_tp=6&oh=416ea5d170f2577a2dc9934f258b9f45&oe=5EC0B6EA)
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Well, I'll go first...
WELCOME & Good Luck with your project!
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Well, I'll go first...
WELCOME & Good Luck with your project!
thank yo so very much! its very exciting to be at the beginning of this journey knowing there is truly no end
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You mentioned your photography as well. Beautiful photos!
Lower the car as much as you can and if you run any class but Production, an air dam will help with the front lift (usually- some testing is in order) but generally helps overall drag as well. On my car adding an air dam reduced the Cd 20 counts, reduced front lift several hundred pounds, but increased rear lift. Rear spoilers are limited to factory only until you get to Altered which is another kettle of fish entirely.
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You mentioned your photography as well. Beautiful photos!
Lower the car as much as you can and if you run any class but Production, an air dam will help with the front lift (usually- some testing is in order) but generally helps overall drag as well. On my car adding an air dam reduced the Cd 20 counts, reduced front lift several hundred pounds, but increased rear lift. Rear spoilers are limited to factory only until you get to Altered which is another kettle of fish entirely.
after i make the 150 mph club qualification i plan on an air dam, and or front spliter. im also looking into wings and diffuses for the rear. with the weirdness of my car i dont know if it will be allowed in production, and im probably an altered guy anyway. my true goal is to slip my car up over 200 mph and still keep my license plates.
and yes i am a photographer, and im looking forward to shooting at Bonneville!! im sure there will be some happy folks to get copies of my work
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Not only are your car and your photos rather nice but it looks like you have a pretty awesome partner as well! :clap :clap :clap
Pete
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You will have a good understanding of the classes after you get your rule book and attend an event or 2. The USFRA clubs are a great way to get started in LSR on the salt.
Welcome to the fray... :cheers:
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Welcome...this is a great place to learn and ask for advice. So much knowledge exists on the forum. Look forward to seeing you on the salt!
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Not only are your car and your photos rather nice but it looks like you have a pretty awesome partner as well! :clap :clap :clap
Pete
thank you! you'll see lots of proffessional quality photos here real soon. the dog is and i kid you not RinTinTin V last of his line and i got him from Lee Duncans daughter. the Duncan family named him so,,,,,,,,,, but yeah he's my best friend and a service dog. i even have a custom restraint system in the car for him.
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You will have a good understanding of the classes after you get your rule book and attend an event or 2. The USFRA clubs are a great way to get started in LSR on the salt.
Welcome to the fray... :cheers:
yeah i kinda know how this works, old time drag racer. run at el mirage a couple times. the people are awesome, and the people reaching out to me and welcoming me is what i miss about the old days. i want to dive in head first. find someone i can crew for and i want to volunteer while running/building my car. its like meeting family
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always remember,
you can choose your friends, you cannot choose your family.
welcome aboard, John
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G'day BadHorse,, I travel (from Australia) to the States quiet often and am always interested in 'ole USA (drove thru and around Battle Mountain last year), im interested to know where that last photo was taken ??
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G'day BadHorse,, I travel (from Australia) to the States quiet often and am always interested in 'ole USA (drove thru and around Battle Mountain last year), im interested to know where that last photo was taken ??
about an hour south of I80 beowawae exit
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im new to Bonneville building. im shopping for roll cages and i need recommendations. and no i dont have a rule book yet
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Question time BadHorse?
How fast do you really want to go?
Are you trying to build a dual porpoise vehicle?
Are you considering returning it back to a "collector" car when you are finished racing?
And just for GP, weight in general, is not a bad thing in a land speed car. Especially a coupe like yours.
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When you ask" how fast do you want to go" Translates into how much money are you able to spend!
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Question time BadHorse?
How fast do you really want to go?
Are you trying to build a dual porpoise vehicle?
Are you considering returning it back to a "collector" car when you are finished racing?
And just for GP, weight in general, is not a bad thing in a land speed car. Especially a coupe like yours.
the car is never leaving my family and i dont care about cutting it up some. this being said i would like to occasionally drive it on the street but primarily its gonna be a salt car
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When you ask" how fast do you want to go" Translates into how much money are you able to spend!
im going to shoot for over 200 mph. that being said it would be in my best interest to buy and install a roll cage once
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im new to Bonneville building. im shopping for roll cages and i need recommendations. and no i dont have a rule book yet
Try Chris Alston Chassis Works
JL222
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At least for SCTA events you have to meet the specs for the record in the class you enter. So if your car won't go over 100mph but you enter an class with a record of 250, you have to meet the 250 specs. Cage requirements don't change though a few other safety specs do when you go over 200. Cage specs are minimum required and generally people will build, or at least recommend, in this sort of case to over do it. Like go to 1.75" tube (or bigger) from the 1.625x.120 requirement. Cheaping out on safety specs is not considered wise...... lol8. The addition of head restraint/full containment seats/"funny car" type driver enclosure etc add modifications to more standard cages. Be sure your cage builder understands. Also, moly specs are slightly different but as weight is your friend may not be considered beneficial to go lighter. I am not sure of any sort of official opinion but heard that for deformability reasons that mild steel was preferred but I am not sure that is true. Ask Steve Davies (chief car inspector or Mike LeFevers ( Dynoroom)who has already posted on this thread.
You are not but often people will try to repurpose a race car from other venues, SCCA, NHRA and so forth. Their cages generally will not meet SCTA specs so starting from scratch is best, as you are.
When you get your rule book you'll have a better idea about this.
There is a guy in SLC that I ran into last year at Speedweek. They were involved with a streamliner. His work looked good. You might try. Lockhart Enterprises. 801-485-8029 is number I have.
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im new to Bonneville building. im shopping for roll cages and i need recommendations. and no i dont have a rule book yet
Try Chris Alston Chassis Works
JL222
We have an Alston complete body over chassis more than you are looking for but it took years for the SCTA
to meet its standards and not all.
Also Alston's cages are safety engineered not so by most fabricators.
JL222
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this very morning on the salt.
(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/95648521_10219266527027943_6239828633381240832_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=ATzZWKMH-BEAX9wromg&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&_nc_tp=7&oh=255db636fb48af5f5ee15a5a453850e1&oe=5EDA9F1C)
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I want to wish you the best of luck with your build. Our car (1993 Trans Am) quickly snowballed into a large project. We just wanted to put a different engine in it and go run the salt but once we got our hands on the rule book and attend Speed week two years ago we realized just how much work we had ahead of us. But it is coming together and hopefully we will have the car running down the salt in 2021. Good luck with your project and see you on the salt!
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I want to wish you the best of luck with your build. Our car (1993 Trans Am) quickly snowballed into a large project. We just wanted to put a different engine in it and go run the salt but once we got our hands on the rule book and attend Speed week two years ago we realized just how much work we had ahead of us. But it is coming together and hopefully we will have the car running down the salt in 2021. Good luck with your project and see you on the salt!
thanks for the welcome!! and i know this is going to snowball out of control! lmao. this may be my first salt assault, but its not my first "race" car. i do have experience building cars for drag racing. yes i know not the same thing but thats ok, i know i have a mess of confusion to sort out and i look forward to it and what my BadHorse can do