We are very pleased to announce that we will be making all preparations for a return to Bonneville in 2020.
With the lessons learnt last year we now have a list of things to change or repair and hopefully have all the information we need to reach our target speed of 200 mph.
As our regular followers will be aware, the gearbox was the weak link in our last attempt. Once the decision was made we began our search for a replacement uprated gearbox.
We intend to use a Tremec unit from a Dodge Viper, which as well as being a much stronger and more capable unit also has more preferential gear ratios to reach our top speed. More importantly these can be obtained in used condition within our budget. Apparently a lot of Dodge Vipers get written off with fairly low mileages.
Bruce, our Californian team member, has kindly agreed to search for the components we need, gather them all together and then send them all as one unit to reduce shipping costs.
We have also made contact with emerald in Norfolk to upgrade our EFI systems and perfect the engine tune with the turbocharger. They specialise in this sort of one off tune and are very excited to be involved in our adventure.
The next step will be to acquire a new set of tyres. When we went through tech inspection last year we were restricted to 200 mph. This was due to the tyres we fitted, after our interpretation of the rules, buying items that were not high enough spec.
So this time we are fitting some proper race tyres so that our target should be a bit safer as we get closer to 200 mph. This hopefully will increase grip and stability at higher speed. Our homework suggests that over 160 mph our rear tyres would have begun to spin up. Having had this experience at Pendine in May last year Ian has expressed an opinion that this is sub optimal.
Once the new tyres are fitted to the car, we then intend to lower the car and finish off our aero package. This will involve fitting a flat floor and rear diffuser, extending the rear wing and adding some ballast in the correct area again to improve high speed stability.
For the first time since we started this project we actually have a sensible time scale to achieve these targets. As the parts arrive we will begin fitting, adapting and fabricating the items we need with a hope to achieving a more reliable race car.
Before we start the major stripping of the car we have a few ‘social functions’ to attend.
Having already displayed the car at the London Classic Car Show the next event on the calendar is to attend an event for our major sponsor and drivers business. We will have the car at Ian’s shop open day. Hopefully there will be live music, a bar, a barbecue and organised ride outs for those with a two wheeled penchant.
This will be on April 6th from 10.00 – 4.00 at
T Northeast Ltd
4 Station Road
Horley
RH6 9HL
It would be lovely to meet up with you and this should be a good opportunity for you to have a good look at what’s left of the car.
We have also received a personal invitation by the organiser of Brake horse power 2019 a charitable event held at Chelmsford horse race course at the end of July to raise money for the Sharon Dunster Foundation a very worthwhile cause. We have been asked to show the car and are hoping to use the event to raise awareness of our project and for this very good cause.
If you have interesting or unusual vehicles feel free to contact the organiser and bring along your machine. The more the merrier. If you want to attend the event just as a spectator please make the effort to find us and introduce yourselves. While we know many of you it’s always nice to renew friendships or make new ones.
