New class for Bonneville

Me being very new to this, dreaming about it forever, now I am finally in the stages of building a car, I cannot see the real vintage OHV V8's being competetive against a new OHV V8... Thats just my thought.. What do you think ?

 

This is my point guys, you don't even know.

Thats okay, the SCTA is happy to have any new people to join in on our fun. Just read the rule book first and build your machine per their requirements. As you all can see everyone builds what they think will work, not many belly ****on cars at the salt or on the dirt. As for your chosen cl*** you might not want to run a certain body or engine if you don't think you can make it compe***ive. I don't think the SCTA should make a cl*** because you want to run a uncompe***ive package. There are places to run these vintage engine, look in the book.

 

Michael: Sorry for asking, help ''us'' out here.... I have a rule book, where does a vintage OHV V8 fit into the rule book... I am asking this as I am builidng an GL/XO car, obviously NOT using a V8, and I just find this thread interesting....

You are correct: I don't know, so help me out a bit buddy to understand... I am not being confrontational, just asking.... Thx....

 

Actually I looked into F/GL after my first foray out there. Life and family kept me building hotrods. And >>> I have spent 5 years putting a house/shop together and will look into another cl*** when I am ready. Our boy is now about 4 so I can get back into the swing of things

 

I bought a rulebook in 02, after my first trip out there, to me is was good reading before bed! Myself, I understand what it takes to run and live.

 

If you had a cl*** for pre 62 OHV V8 over and under 325 (why not stay with the established 5 liter break?) Except for some Chryslers that would move into the cl*** and it would just be more of the same. This makes no sense. What is it about the SCTA that people think they can build what ever they want and then expect a cl*** to be made so that they can get a record? Do people do that with the NHRA? NASCAR? SCCA? I don't think so. Would you field a basketball team of 5ft. 5 players and pe***ion NBA for a rules change to make your team a winner? Can somebody explain this to me?

 

Two words, HAMB Drags. Build em and they will come!

 

My friends and I worked for two years, spent thousands of dollars, and I only got to make one p*** at Bonneville at 89mph for all our effort and money.

It was the coolest ****ing thing I have ever done.

Sam

 

You forgot to say "and it was well worth it, and cant wait till next year!!"

 

Sorry for posting.... My apologies...... I just thought an old iron motor cl*** which would not have to compete against todays hi-teck motors in the OHV V8 cl***es....

This board is becoming more about conforming than anything else, please, please do not ask questions..... HA HA HA

 

This is the true spirit that we forget. A world record or a personal goal of going as fast as YOUR vintage combination can carry you, records be damned.


If you want to be compe***ive, then get what it takes to do so. Get in where ya fit in and GOD's speed to ya.

If you want to just have fun and see what the old girl will do, then do so. Find the cl*** where your mess fits and safely make a go.

Be realistic and honest which one are you really after?

 

I think that you can expect to hear some bigger numbers from Sam next year. But look. I like vintage motors. In '78 I set a record with a 270 GMC in my '32 five window. Set more records with it in my Vega and still hold one at El Mirage. In '84 got another one with a 12 port motor in the '32. Set a Muroc record with a '57 Y block head on a '32 Plymouth engine. Set El Mirage records with the same Plymouth with a fined aluminum head I made and ran in the V4F cl***. First car to get in the Hop Up Magazine 100 mph club. Then I put a Hilborn injected Packard V8 in my altered and ran it at Bonneville. I think I can say that I know something about putting my time, work and money into Vintage OHV V8s, sixes and fours. What I didn't learn was asking for my own cl*** so that I could get my name in the book. I totally agree running Vintage OHV V8s is a worthwhile endeavor. Within the existing rules. But if you can get your own cl***, more power to you.

 

I have an idea.

One common thing I hear from hot rodders is "I want to go 200mph."

It's a common milestone... and an epic thing to build your own car, take it out there and run two bills.

We've seen guys build cars with the goal od driving to Bonneville, swapping some equipment, and run the number. We're seen guys build a car that the KNOW is not going to be compe***ive, but with going 200 as the primary goal of their build.

So... here's the idea...

Why not have a 200mph gang?

The SCTA could write a set of basic rules that people could follow in order to have some guide lines to follow when building a car... and have a special hat that guys could shoot for...

I myself would love to go 200mph in a car I built.

And would love to see how cheaply I could do it...

Sheesh, maybe some magazine or web site like the HAMB could sponsor it. (how about it Ryan?)

It would allow guys bragging rights to say "Hey, I made a Studebaker six run 200mph!"

It would give guys a goal... you know, something to shoot for.

I think it would be hugely popular.

A couple other things... you could put a cap on it... and say you couldn't go faster than say 225mph...

As far as the SCTA rulebook is concerned... they would have to either say what the minimum requirements are to have on a car that goes 200.

OR... just overlook the rule that says that you have to have the equipment on a car based in the speed the existing record holder... and then if you go over 225... you get your license pulled... do it again, and you get kicked out.

I think you would also have to make sure guys didn't double dip... you know, enter in a cl*** AND in the 200mph gang cl***.

Well guys... how about it?

Sam

 

There was a thread on here a while back. A sort of hot rod bucket list. I read through it and there was around 400 replies at that time. About 85% had race at Bonneville on their list. My guess is of that 85% maybe 1% will actually do it. I can't picture the SCTA dropping their safety standards for such a cl*** so I reckon the cost of building a car would eliminate most people.

Perhaps the SCTA could commission a car capable of say 220 to be built and rented out at SpeedWeek. I know people have rented racers before but this would be SCTA owned and maintained. It, I'm sure, would be a money maker for the SCTA. Would be 200mph racers would be saved the h***le of building a car and the SCTA would have the peace of mind knowing the car was built exactly to their standard,

 

I agree with Firingorder. No way is the SCTA going to drop the safety requirements.
In the not so distant past it was something you "could" do (drive 200 mph). today, not likely. I think the end result is to do like Jesse James, buy your time at the track, pay the help, and show a time slip that means nothing to anyone but you. Sorry to be so blunt but there is no "easy" way to go 200.

 

There is no easy way to go 200. And there is no easy way to do Bonneville. It requires a commitment and a fair chunk of change. I've never had a lot of money to throw around and I never will be in the 200 mph club. But thats OK I'm happy where I am. I've always been a one man band and I built my sidecar for a little less than $2000. And with two records at El Mirage and two at Bonneville I'm a very happy camper. See ya in 2011!!

 

I don't know if you still can but the Flat Fire car used to be rented out. If your the type that just wants bragging rights with out having to do anything but sign a check. I think that's just wrong. Sorta goes against everything I like a about Bonneville. There is a real "200 mpg gang" it's called the 200 mph club. Bonneville has always been about compe***ion. If it was easy everyone would do it. Save yourself the money, and the time, just print out a little deal that says you went 200 mph.

Sorry for the rant but SamIyam's post disgusted me a bit. Bonneville is no place for this sort of thing. Save the salt for those that want to compete. There are people waiting in line with every penny they have sunk into a car, trying to break a record. Don't waste there time just so you can brag to your friends about how you went 200 mph in a cl*** with the record at 250.

 

Some people build cars and bikes to see just how fast they can make them run. Some of them will never break their cl*** record but for them its a personal thing. No harm with that. My SCTA building a rent-a-car was an attempt at sarcasm. Regretfully the world has a lot of people who want to say they did it but keep the involvement to nothing more than writing a check.

Last years Lars Neilsen brought his blown flathead Indian over from DENMARK!!! Not ?Denmark, Idaho but Denmark in europe. Talk about comittment!! He has a build thread over on landracing that is well worth the read. He had trouble at SpeedWeek and stayed over for the BUB motorcycle meet. Kept blowing head gaskets but had the time of his life and will be back next year.

 

Wasn't there a guy from NZ that used to bring an old Indian MC to Bonneville? Found a cl*** he wanted to run and outsmarted the rules?

 

Making it easy to go 200 MPH on the salt takes away from the accomplishment. It is like a car show where everyone who entered gets a trophy.


You need to pay your dues to the salt and the gods of speed.

John

 

Love that movie. Show it to my students every year. Just did last week. Let's see, I've now seen/heard it about 30 times I guess. Still love it. Shows what p***ion and dedication can produce, which is one reason I show it to my students, because that is something lacking in this microwave world.

 

Hey! SamIyam did build a really nice roadster and run it at Bonneville. In Vintage four so he isn't about to go 200 in that. But again, he built and ran a roadster on the salt. That is way over the head of lots of posters on the HAMB. Anyway, Hey Sam. My Vega has been over 2 a few times. Not with the Packard engine. But you are welcome to borrow it and install your own or a buddy's motor and go 200 in it. It's just sitting here.

 

Cool at***ude Rich!

 

Hey rollingbones1. What about the Rolling Bones Challange idea that was thrown around a bit? I still like that idea. Are you guys up for it?

 

I'm not saying to drop the safety standards at all, guys.

Sorry if you misunderstood me.

What I am saying is... lets say I wanted to go 200 in something.

I would buy the slickest car... probably a Firebird... and then put the biggest motor I could afford in it.

The problem with the Rulebook now is, that combination would require extra safety gear because the records are approaching or exceeding 300 mph.

So, what's wrong with setting some safety rules for guys who want to go 200 with a combination that is not compe***ive for a record?

Sam

 

Wow Rich! That is a genrous offer! I might actually take you up on it.

What kind of power would it take to move the Vega up to that speed?

I have a SBC that makes 550hp at 7000rpm... and if we added a supercharger, change the pistongs and swap the rockers on the roller cam, I'm sure we could squeeze at least 600 up there...

Hmmmmmmm....

Sam

 

What was the rolling bones challenge?

Sam

 

The only thing I am proposing is to allow guys to run combinations that have records much higher than 200 mph (say 300mph) but have no way of actually going that fast... and in fact, limit them to 200.

Here's another idea... what about going by the time trap at the end of the 3rd, 4th or 5th mile that would read your exit speed and basing the 200 mph gang hat on that speed?

And I disagree that it's like giving everyone a trophy... I mean, how easy is it to go 200mph on the salt?

This may all be a moot point.

Isn't there a provision where you can go for "time only" on the salt?


Sam.

p.s. I'm not trying to take away any of the fun or "prestige" of going 200 on the salt... I just like to see guys go fast. I came up with the HA/GR cl*** rules and safety guidelines... and that cl*** has gotten tons of guys out in the garage and on to the track all over the US and in Australia... it would be cool to get the same thing to happen on the salt.

Would doing so lessen the accomplishment of setting a record out there? Maybe it would... I mean, I guess if I spent 50 grand to set a record at 200 mph out there I'd be pretty pissed off if a guy came out and went the same speed for 20 grand.