Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Hot Pipes

CLICK TO SEE SECRET PICTURE The Speedwagen header design will be a custom built component. The naturally aspirated motor doesn't have a supply of off the shelf solutions. Outback sells a header stub for fabricating your own system. We have do do a little home work to decide which style header to build. 4 straight pipes,2 into 1, or 4 into 1 with a stinger. Any advice from out their in Blog land. Here is a link to an interesting header design article http://www.spectrum5racing.com/Technical/s5headerRevA.pdf

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Worlds Fastest Indian

http://www.saltflats.com/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=5284396.18909*f925K0&product=Video This is a very entertaining story about the passion and commitment associated with Land Speed Racing. If you want a sample of what the "Speedwagen" is all about, check out this flick. The link above also has some neat stuff from the USFRA (Utah salt flats racing association)

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Funny Bugs

This is the Peek Funny Car hanging in the rafters in their shop "backintheday" as they say This is the Peek Performance Funny car with the body off. http://www.peekperformance.com/ Here is a current version of a funny bug.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

FLIP-UP COMP COUPE

This is a Comp Coupe(cool little Chevy from www.classglassperformance.com) with a flip-up body, this is the plan for the Speedwagen. It's going to be easier to exit out the roof than try to craw around the roll cage. We will probably roll to the start with the driver loaded and the body flipped up, so the starter can get a good look at the belts and restraints, then latch her down and light the fuse!

Monday, October 09, 2006

AERODYNAMICS 101

http://www.mustangfaqs.com/FAQ/General/Auto_Aerodynamics_101/ This is a good link to become familiar with the basic principles of subsonic aerodynamics. A WARNING to Bondo users--never use Mary Kay products as a substitute for cream hardner (see photo above for results)

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Shifty Character

Using our inflatable driver manikin "Herr Speedwagen", we have began to work out the ergonomics of the Speedwagen controls. We are going to a VW swap meet next weekend,to look for a scat shifter to replace our photo shopped "rat fink" shifter. We need to get some pedals put in, and determine the scheme for the roll bar design. Now that we have decided to use the funny car body, we can start making things fit the Fiberglas. One of the things that we need to keep in mind is; we have to be able to get out of the car in 20 seconds, after hitting kill switch for spark and fuel,pulling the fire bottles for cab and engine compartment, pulling the parachute, undoing the belts and restraints, then get clear of the car. In order to do this we are going to poke out thru the escape hatch in the roof so our drivers can spring out like Joey Chitwood at the thrill driver show.