Introduce Yourself

[BenFranklinHarp]

Hello all,

My Name is Ben Harper. Just a simple small town country boy that has always dreamed of going fast on the salt. I grew up in Alabama driving old Fords, 65 Mustangs, 72, 79 and 1991 Ford Pickups F100's and the 91 a F150. I also owned 65, 82GT, 89GT, and built a 79 Mustang with 460 Roller cam engine, with Blue Thunder Heads. Sold all that but still have the 91 Ford F150 and my 1965 Ford F100.
I wrote a book report once about it when i was in 7th grade on the Bonneville Salt Flats and have always wanted to build something to run on it at least once. That book report was about a motorcycle but I am now into Pickups. So
My current build is a 1965 Ford F100 SWB step side with 302 roller 302 with 5 speed manual. I have a simple goal. 130 mph! not that hard to achieve right? We shall see.
Thanks
BenFranklinHarp

[salt27]

Welcome to our addiction Ben.

I assume you are considering the USFRA 130 club.

Don't think it is a cake walk, the 130 club has humbled many.

Start a build diary so we can share in your endeavor.

See you on the salt, Don Jackson

[Stainless1]

Welcome Ben...  hope to see you at the USFRA WoS event trying to reach your first goal at Bonneville.
 

[OldCarNerd]

Old Nerd....  have you been to Bonneville to look at tanks in person?  That would be a good first step.
Do you have rules for the venue you want to race?  That would be the next step.
There are no patterns for lakesters... very few using the same tank look alike.  If you like the way it looks upside down, build it... but be aware most were built to be aero neutral on the plane, and when released, it was desirable to fall away... not climb up into the plane. 
If you post pics there are plenty of folks here with opinions of what you should do... 
Have fun with your project, start a build diary 

OK guys so this popped up shortly after asking and is what I was talking about.  This one has a go-cart motor but you get the idea I was asking about.  Currently I'm waiting for an axel but I've got it mapped out on the floor for what that is worth.   

[kiwi belly tank]

The first thing you need to do if you're going to build a tank is stop calling it a "tanker" unless you intend to fill it with liquid & drag it down the road.
Making a line of parts on the floor is the way I built my tank & the liner but a tank is a little more like building a ship in a bottle. Your banana tank is early jet like an F-86 with the turned up tail. Aerodynamically it's better to run it with the tail up as it was mounted under the wing rather than up side down. The biggest mistake I see on race tanks is guys building an oil rig on top of the driver that sticking way too far out of the thing. The more crap that's sticking out of it is more drag you create. If you're not going to be looking through the nose but sticking your head out the top, get your eyeballs down at tank level. By the time you jam a brain bucket on your head, then padding plus clearance & the cage you've added another foot to the height.
I built mine with an F-101 Voodoo tank. I still have one more 101 tank, an F-105 tank & two new F-4 tanks & I gave away two other F-4 tanks to racers in Montana & Wisconsin.
  Sid.

[tortoise]

Nobody's mentioned you should design your car around the smallest wheel/tire you can find suitable for your target speed.

[TAKERRY]

Look out. Once you go to the salt you will be hooked. I drove out from Chicago in 2021 made the 130 club. For the next 10 years I thought about Bonneville almost everyday. Moved to Arizona drove back in 2021 ran 152. Will be back this year trying to hit 159+.

[TAKERRY]

Oops 2011 drove out from Chicago made 130 club

[ClintBarrett]

Hello , my name is Clint Barrett , I am from Austin , very happy to be a new member of this forum. wish everyone success and have a good day .

[Stainless1]

Welcome to our world Clint... 

[scotty2hotteee]

Hi, I'm Scott. I've been lurking and always kind of dreamed of running at Bonneville. This year is out but next year I want to make an attempt at the 130 MPH club. I have a 1965 Ranchero with a paxton supercharged 331 stroker and a Tremec TKO 600 5 speed. I live in Northwest Washington, born and raised in Kalispell Montana. Coast Guard Veteran and gear head from birth. Hello!

[Stainless1]

Hi Scott, welcome to the fray... 

[Gazza]

Hi all

Mainly interested in ULSR/ALSR as you would expect of a Brit . I'm in my late sixties and spent many years in the Air Force. I'm very much into the scientific approach and looking forward to adding to some of the threads I've already read. However, due to me going on vacation for the next 2 weeks that will have to wait. Cheers.

Gary

[dw230]

Bon Chance mate. You are aiming for the stars.

DW

[Matt-Lagusis]

Hey Everyone. Matt Lagusis here. I joined here after suggestion from someone on the HAMB. Been on there since 2009. Been going to Speed Week since about the same time. I'm in Dripping Springs Texas. Glad to be here.