[ratpack] Re: LSR
- From: humminboid@xxxxxxxxxxx
- To: ratpack@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:54:16 +0000 (UTC)
WOWZA! 600+ HP & 300 mph from a 1950 flathead ??? Wonder what it might do
with as Buick or whatever aluminum block OHV that has been warmed a bit? Or
izzat about what they have done?
C.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Buck" <rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ratpack@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 8:35:15 AM
Subject: [ratpack] Re: LSR
Well, that liner (Speed Demon) is very different. Most of 'em follow the
theory that says you need lots of weight to maintain traction. This makes a
humongous motor necessary just to move all the dead weight. Ron Main decided
that he'd go the other direction when he built the original car which was built
to prove that a flathead Ford motor could power a car to over 300 mph:
http://flatfire.com/index.htm
The car has evolved since then, first becoming the EcoFire, using a GM Ecotec
motor. This was the form I first saw it in. I wasn't all that excited. But
when I got involved with the team and started shooting fotos of the car 3 years
ago, it had become the Speed Demon which had a much sleeker body and much
larger vertical stabilizer. That's when it was using a Mopar midget motor.
Not a downsized motor, but a pushrod motor used in midget race cars. Chrysler
Corp makes special engines just for that use. I don't explain 'em, I just
report 'em.
A bit of modification was necessary to use the "Hellfire" V8 motor, but not
much. Back to the basic concept, it's much smaller and lighter than most other
liners capable of speeds over 300 mph. It beats the hell outta me how they
maintain traction with it, but I can tell ya that it has enough traction to
twist an oversized driveshaft by 30 degrees and break another one completely.
I think that'll be changed by the time the Shootout comes along. (Sep 20-24.)
As I wrote, I've been told that it's likely that they'll use the bigger, "C"
class motor since, "George wants that 450 BAAAD!" I think that's his goal: to
own the outright piston-powered record and to be the first man over 450. He's
already run 437 in it, so I'm sure he's capable of driving that fast. It's
just a question of having all the ducks in a row at 2 precise moments in time:
first to qualify for the record (and not break anything) and 2nd, to back it up
within one hour.
In case that wasn't clear, the team will be running at the Top Speed Shootout
in September which is NOT an SCTA-sanctioned meet. I'm not sure what will
happen if the get the FIA record. I suspect that they'll come back and shoot
for the SCTA record, possibly in 2011, cuz on the Hot Rod trophy, the names are
engraved on a brass plate on the bottom portion. Right now, George has 2
consecutive entries: 2009 and 2010. No one else has done 3 in a row. I heard
'em talking about that, so I think it's a possible goal for them. That would
mean that if they get the FIA record at the Shootout, they won't do any more
racing with the car until Speed Week 2011. I know that's kinda like looking
into a crystal ball, but it's my hunch.
r
Sent from my Dreadnought using that barely tolerable Thunderbird email program
On 8/22/2010 10:51 PM, humminboid@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
WOW! Streamliners sure look different nowadays. C.801-850-7279
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