Heard that some on this site also race CARS ?

[scott g]

I am shocked....SHOCKED.... to find that
some of the SH.o members also race CARS !

The latest "convert" seems to be KARL, who is
building / modifying some strange contraption
to race on the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats.

From the pic's I have seen, when finished this "car"
will have NO fenders, wheels that "stick out" to the
sides, and a body that resembles a cucumber........
but much larger.

Do other, normally sensible members ALSO race cars ?

This could be a thread to share your experiences,
and fondly remembered accomplishments.

Cheers, Scott

[Mont]

If Dodges count, we run a couple of Vipers and a Viper Truck.   The cars are a lot of fun, but the truck has more head room. 

[Rocketgeezer]

Scott, I must confess, I did race a drag car a few years ago, but it was a blown alcohol dragster, small block chevy motor, but it ran 6.20s, and I don't think there is a Busa anywhere that can do that, but if it make you feel better I did sell that car and used some of the money to buy the Busa and turbo set up I have now, 

[Team Millholland]

I've been drag racing cars a lot longer than bikes. Camaro's, 'Vette's, small block Vegas, etc. Never LSR'd any of them although we did get a new Mustang GT last year that I've installed all the bolt-ons and currently trying to decide what type of supercharger with hopes of doing a "Wanna Go Fast" 1/2mile event in the future.

This is a street/strip big block Malibu that I've been tinkering with for the last 18 years.

Dan

[entropy]

Dan,
I love every aspect of yr car!
karl

[entropy]

I have secret software which rings a bell in my head when Mr Guthrie posts on SH.org.  Scott's stuff is guaranteed to inform and/or entertain, often from left field (my permanent position in this game).

Cars owned by bike guys?  Yes indeed, good topic

Don Davila (lowflyer) & I both sold our LSR Busas and partnered up in July 2013 to run a lakester at Bonneville.  Lakester is an open wheeled, "special construction", 4 wheeled contraption.  Ours is built around a 29" belly tank, as Scott mentions, shaped like a cucumber.

Oct, last year, we took delivery of a 500hp v-8 car from Missoula, Montana "finished" in 2010, but never inspected/run.  We knew from the start that major structural mods would be required to fit tall-ish TeamFatAss core members.


Thanks to Don's long time fabrication abilities, the car:
chassis lengthened 22",
rear axle moved back 13.5", now adjustable up/down, front/back,
bunch of chassis mods to meet tech requirements, increase safety,
100% new canopy/windshield,
custom "zoomie-style" headers by Don,
all new controls,
all new seat/safety equipment,
full custom wheels to give "zero scrub radius" (10 bonus points to anyone who knows what that is; I didn't)
Digital dash & full Racepak data logging system + custom %wheel spin display (WIP)

We intentionally left the mild 383" crate motor & trans alone; that's a 2015 project.

In early May we got it back from powdercoating, now we gotta put it back together.
"TFA Racing's" #5448 will be Viper Blue with a white belly when we load up on Aug 4 to hit the road for Speedweek.

[scott g]

Scott, I must confess, I did race a drag car a few years ago, but it was a blown alcohol dragster, small block chevy motor, but it ran 6.20s, and I don't think there is a Busa anywhere that can do that, but if it make you feel better I did sell that car and used some of the money to buy the Busa and turbo set up I have now, 

Kool.......

Would have been interesting to see how the
Alky drager would have done in the mile....

What's your thinking ?

[Mont]

The Lakester looks like an amazing project.  I wish you guys much success with running it fast and safely. 

[entropy]

The Lakester looks like an amazing project.  I wish you guys much success with running it fast and safely.

Thanks for wishes, Mont. 
We are aligned with you:
2014 Objectives:    
   1. Build/modify a good looking Lakester with no compromises on safety, handling, reliability, driver ergonomics, data monitoring.
   2. Don & Karl get solid experience in each personally driving a 200mph parachute car at Bonneville.
   3. TFA Racing Team develop & implement robust operational procedures & checklists
   4. Develop accurate predictions of #5448's "mph vs hp" potential     
            (chassis dyno hp + actual Bonneville mph + aug 18 wind tunnel Cd = speed equations)
   5. D&K make informed decision for 2015 season:
        - make our TFA Racing Lakester faster, or
        - make our TFA Racing Lakester slower, go for a record
        - make "minor" improvements and run it for "cheap" fun
        - sell the car and take up fishing

[Stainless1]

Karl, the "trade in" is looking good, can't wait to see it on the salt..

We ran door cars at the salt in the 70s...

We have run a 4 wheeled bike on the salt since 1984 and we ran a GSXR 1000 to a Production record that stood for several years, finally moving it to Special Construction setting the first 200 MPH Club eligible record at 208.959 before they allowed the long tails.  Josh O still holds the A/G record on the bike naked.  So we probably qualify as bike guys and car guys. 

The Bockscar is a Lakester, open wheels like Karl's but probably slower... 
We initially hid a 750 Honda Interceptor Bike in it... really, everything but the tank, seat, handlebars, triple tree and forks.  Took it to the salt and set a record around 140 MPH.
It since has housed old Kawasaki ZX10 and ZX11 motors, Hayabusa motors of various sizes, naturally aspirated and blown, and the GSXR bike's motor... setting multiple records along the way. 

[entropy]

Just so everyone here knows...
Stainless is the one who sent me a head's up email on Sep23 last year,  "V-8 bellytank lakester for sale"...

Sooooo... It's all his fault!!!!

[Stainless1]

Just spreading the infection... 

[Ozonkiller]

Hey Karl,

If you want A/C in that thing, you know who to call...   ya puss

Looks really fine.  I hope to see you up at Bonneville

Tom

[entropy]

Hey Karl,
If you want A/C in that thing, you know who to call...   ya puss
Looks really fine.  I hope to see you up at Bonneville
Tom

hey Tom, Mr AC-man:  It will very "cool" to see you at Bonneville, we are going to Speed Week, Aug 8-15.
When are you heading up there?

karl

[entropy]

back to Stainless...
Not only is he respnsible for TFA Racing getting a specific car, he is also responsible for our engine class decision. 

We originally planned to do an MC engine based car.
I'd build the motor, Don would do chassis mods.  Then we looked at the lakester records in the smaller engine classes and Stainless seems to have set all the records so high we decided on a V-8.

For a guy we've never even met, Stainless sure seems to be influencing us 

[Rocketgeezer]

Scott, I must confess, I did race a drag car a few years ago, but it was a blown alcohol dragster, small block chevy motor, but it ran 6.20s, and I don't think there is a Busa anywhere that can do that, but if it make you feel better I did sell that car and used some of the money to buy the Busa and turbo set up I have now, 

Kool.......

Would have been interesting to see how the
Alky drager would have done in the mile....

What's your thinking ?

Not sure but a couple of the guys In my area, were always trying to get me to take it to Maxton, a ton of changes would had to be made, gear for one, not sure how tall a gear you could get for a 9in ford, and you sure could not run a drag race tune up for a mile, probably would not have made it to the 1/2 mile turning into a lot of little pieces, a wild ass guess would be if this and if that, all came together at the same time the planets lined up it may have been able to run with Bill (Rip), but unfortunately we will never find out as Bills gone and the car got sold a while back when operational costs needed a second job, and the work involved was a bunch more than my old ass wanted to do anymore........it was not a total loss the sale financed the two bikes I have now, the turbo Busa and a Harley Ultra Classic,..........thanks for asking.....Dave

[scott g]

back to Stainless...
For a guy we've never even met,
Stainless sure seems to be influencing us 

When you do meet him, you will
find him a man of intelligence, knowledge
and a strong sense of humor.

He has put 3 or more people in "The Club,"
and knows far more about cars than I ever will....

Scott

[Stainless1]

Karl, I aimed you that way to protect our records...     didn't want you to embarrass us first time out. 
The Lakester you have was a good start, I can't wait to see it on the salt, you guys are going to have a lot of fun and go fast.

We will see you at SpeedWeek,

Scott, the thing I know most is don't try this at home

Pictures by our teammate Thomas "Pork Pie" Graf, one of the 7 our team has in the 200 MPH Club

[scott g]

Wow !

Pretty gruesome pictures,
and taken by Good Ole Porks himself.

Pictures by our teammate Thomas "Pork Pie" Graf, one of the 7 our team has in the 200 MPH Club

It is VERY complimentary that Mr. Pie was happy to drive your
lakester AFTER taking those photo's. (or was it before)

& members of the Club is Hammond and Vesco territory !

Good on you !

[GBUSA]

 

[Stainless1]

Scott, Pork Pie set his record at the World Finals in Oct, 2012, with the same 2001 motor we used in the bike for the 1000 Production, APS/G and A/G records...
I crashed the liner at SpeedWeek 2013, as usual PP was shooting our return record run from the 5 1/2, the crash was at the 4... going about 250. 
It was a good looking car

[Pork Pie]

Scott,

it wouldn't have make a different to me, if I had done the liner picture before....when you get a chance to run a car like the Bockscar.....you take the chance and figure out if you can handle the lakester.......if you can work it out the right way....you try the best....pedal through the metal.....

...it wasn't the first "salt happens" I saw.....this time it was only a little bit private....Stainless was the driver...but as a pro behind the camera....click...click...click...just for the history.....

[pasodude]

Awesome karl & don !

[entropy]

Awesome karl & don !

Jeff, maybe we'll see you out there?
karl

[pasodude]

Be heading bonnieville motorcycle speed trails,two weeks after speedweek! But good luck karl & don! I think green would better !