Kent Fuller's flathead-powered streamliner is just about ready for paint and final assembly. Up to this point he's done it all out of his own pocket, but he's now in need of some serious support to finish the 'liner and put it through shakedown testing this year before it's subjected to record runs, planned for the 2008 LSR racing season. Fuller has interested several potential backers in the project, with the most promising being the LA Roadsters. Fuller will make a full presentation to them at their next meeting near the end of January, and he very much needs a good visual representation of how the 'liner will appear with their logo and colors. Fuller has one general sort of illustration that was done about six years ago, but -- IMHO -- it's rather nutless; the 'liner just sort of lies there. I have some additional pics of it during construction, and I feel a more dynamic illustration is in order. Fuller isn't asking for a freebie. He's willing to pay a reasonable fee to someone who could help him over the final hurdle to get some backing for what is certain to be a landmark streamliner in LSR racing. I'm posting some images here, of the yawner illustration plus some images of the actual car to illustrate just how extreme it is. The frontal area of Fuller's car is less than that of the majority of motorcycle streamliners! There has never been a car-class streamliner even close to as slippery as this one. Also included are a couple of images of the LA Roadsters logo which would probably appear on the front-wheel housings in the club's outlined oval, in place of the V8 logo in the illustration. The car will also be red with the exception of the full-length polished stainless steel stripe that's TIG'd to the monocoque steel hull. For anyone interested in helping Fuller, please send me a PM or e-mail with your contact info and I'll put you into direct contact with Fuller's wife who handles their computer duties and communications. TIA to any and all who would like to help with this presentation. Mike -- just on of Fuller's pal
WOW, that is AWEOSME! It's exciting to see it finally coming to fuation. The are some wonderfully talented photoshoppers and any one of them I'm sure would be honored to work on the Fuller "team". Will you and Kent be at Speed Week this year even though you don't plan on runner the steamliner till 2008?
We'll both be there for sure in '07 because Fuller is part of my racetruck crew, and then will be back in '08 helping one another with his 'liner and my truck.
I missed something somewhere.......Not to hi-jack this thread but PLEASE fill me in on said racetruck. In a PM or better yet, a whole other post cuz I'm sure more here would like to know as well. BTW, I've missed you around these parts. xoxox
Has Kent considered bringing it to the GNRS and fishing for sponsors? You won't get a second chance to get as many Ford flathead V-8 people from all over the country (world?) in one place for a long time. Just a thought. Dennis
If I had any time to spare I would offer help. That front 3/4 shot is a great angle too. Hope Kent gets the help he needs.
Boy - what an opportunity... I wish I had better software at home. I could really rip on this. Any idea how touchy the LA Roadsters are about taking a few liberties with their logo? I have some ideas - but they might require a little tuning in those regards. Also - is there a chance that a paypal deal could show up for donations? BTTT
I like that. I read (on here maybe?) that matt/satin black helped the top end MPH by heating the air flowing over the car, so, as every little bit counts maybe darken the top section? Not much fun for the driver I guess, who presumably is laying down in there somewhere?
I second that! BTW-what is the existing speed record he is trying to break, and who holds it? (A pic might be nice, but understand if this isn't the thread for it)
Well I dont know if you have anybody working on this yet but I really wanted to show you what we could do for you. I know that the proportions are still wrong and the render is still grainy but I wanted to get this posted before the post got to old. Here is a 3d version of what I was talking about in my PM. Carter
Hat's off toad. That's exactly what I have been working on. I don't have a proper PC at home so I been hacking at it during my lunch breaks etc. here at work. Yours is much further along, looks like we found our winner. Kudos bro. Looks sick!
Photoshop art is great, but you cant beat a great idea done the old fashion way....with paper and pens. I have a paint job idea for that, that'll knock your socks off. email me and we can talk.. jeffallison@hotmail.com
There is one person working on it at this point, but perhaps some collaboration is possible. I like your illustration style very much and will pass this along to Fuller. Thanks for your considerable efforts at such an early point. Thanks, too, to everyone who has responded with suggestions and offers of help. I talked to Evenlyn Fuller last night and told her of the insterest and she asked that I thank everyone for Fuller and her. Mike
My guess is that they're very touchy about their logo, although I think the roadster should be turned around to face forward on the right side of the 'liner. The Paypal suggestions is a good idea, something to pursue.
Hay guys and gals i challenge all HAMB members to pledge $5.00 to give to Ken.With 20,000 members at $5.00 each that is$100,000 and thats not chump change. A HAMB logo would look good on the car. _____________________________________________ Put the saddle on the stove honey,were riding the range tonight.
Fuller's initial goal was to build the first flathead to run over 300 mph, but that honor went to Ron Main in '03 when he pushed Flatfire to a 302.674 mph record in XF/BFS (Ford-Mercury flathead V8/Blown Fuel Streamliner). Fuller is confident his 'liner will run faster than that because of its considerably smaller frontal area. Initially it will run in XF/GS, as an unblown gas streamliner, while he sorts it out. Fuller has never done things by half, and there is enough new and unique about this car to warrant a bit of caution at first. The record in XF/GS is 215.246 mph, set in '94 by Costella. Running it in XF/FS, as an unblown fuel streamliner is also a possibility, mostly because of the low agony of cooler-running alcohol. For this class the record is 223.462 mph, also set by Ron Main in Flatfire, in '02. There's some very interesting subtext to all of this 'fastest flathead' drama, not the least of which is that Main and Fuller are in the same club, the Sidewinders. The 'liners themselves are as different in concept as can be -- like chalk and cheese. And particularly interesting is that the motor Fuller will be running at first, during the sort-out, is a fresh and very serious race piece originally built for Flatfire! The motor, a 296 incher with a 180-degree crankshaft, roller cam, and Webber-like Solex downdraft carburetors, was set aside before ever being run in Flatfire, in favor of a radically re-configured motor built by Dick and Mike Landy. Incidentally, Fuller and Dick Landy have been good pals since the '60s when Fuller was building and maintaining chassis for Landy's Dodge drag cars. We're talking less than six degrees of separation in this story . . . Mike
That would provide a 'war chest' to finish the 'liner and campaign it for almost three full seasons. The costs of design, engineering, and construction so far, not only of the 'liner but also support gear like the handling cradle and trailer, are worth at least a couple-hundred 'thou to duplicate. Fuller estimates that final work and racing budget for '07 is about $50K with $30K to run it in '08. For just about any amount of reasonable support, the HAMB would be acknowledged prominently on the trailer as well as the 'liner. I've kept Fuller fully aprised of the positive aspects of the HAMB, and one his favorite young builders is also a favorite here -- Keith Tardel. He likes what he "sees" here. I don't think Fuller will be upset by me speaking in his behalf when I say do what you can and TIA. Mike
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