I have mentioned several times that I no longer allow myself any high speed runs and withdrawal has been tough. A customer is trying to get his GT40 computer re-flashed to eliminate the factory 205 mph limiter and it made me break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. Age has slowed the reaction and blurred the eyes but there is new hope on the horizon. A good friend is going to run his Model A coupe at Bonneville in August with a stock block where the record now stands at a whopping 97 mph. There is a line up of brilliant engineers and mathematicians that came out of the woodwork to contribute, all gratis. Wind tunnel time also donated and yielded some astonishing information. Seems as though nostalgia has a strong pull on a whole cross section of car nuts. The on paper prediction is 117 mph---TWENTY MPH over the existing record. The old bones don't let me contribute any hands on but the telephone line is kept hot with all the ideas bouncing back and forth. The guys are going fit the panels many times better than a Rolls or Lexus and smooth the final finish till a fly can't keep it's balance if it lands on it. The innovations, which all fall within the rules, are astounding. If this works I am already fantisizing about a 130 mph 216 babbit rod AD.
Bonneville salt track Wow Evan This exciting. If your going to put this trough i`ll think everyone is to here how it went , i mean the record atempt with a tuned 216 engine? Hope your going to make a lot of pictures or maybe do a UTube film shot. About the bones , old but wise. Remember some of the old guys whom have done attempts before at Bonnevile! Remember Burt Monro from New Zeeland? http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/munro.htm This is great man Martinius.
Evan, That is great hearing that you can still stay in the mix of things. Keep us in the loop on how the run turns out.
Evan, if that works, you need to post all you can about it right here, hear? There is something sexy about a straight six that can kick it on down the road, no?
Here's my line of thinking: if, that's IF the Model A does as predicted then the AD will have many advantages. A few are the windshield is sloped, not vertical; no built on sun visor which the rules won't let you remove, the front fenders deflect air and not scoop it up like an A; lower profile and better aerodynamics, OHV engine of 216 ci displacement vs 200 ci engine with valves in block, and a still viable market for hypo parts from places like Patrick's and Clifford. As long as the block is of factory issue things like carburetion, ignition, and exhaust can be of custom design. The first thing will be to find or make light weight pistons and rods so that massively heavy crankshaft can be put on a severe diet.
