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Projects Intro to building land speed cars?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Cambusta, Aug 7, 2020.

  1. Cambusta
    Joined: Mar 30, 2017
    Posts: 11

    Cambusta

    Always wanted to get into building a car to scream across the salts in. I’m finally in a position where I can start building something but I’m a bit out of the loop on the how to’s. Anybody got a link to the basics? I’m using a model a coupe.


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
  2. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,594

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    Get a rule book for starters. Then you need to pick a class you want to run in.
     
  3. WZ JUNK
    Joined: Apr 20, 2001
    Posts: 1,848

    WZ JUNK
    Member
    from Neosho, MO

    This is not a build of a model A but it is a link to the build of our Studebaker and the years we ran in at Bonneville and other land speed events. hooley-index.html

    The 3 primary builders of the car were your average retired middle class hot rodders. (We had a very limited budget and lots of good friends) A lot of the car was built outside in a driveway and it was stored outside most of its racing life. One of the big expenses was the cost of all the safety equipment.

    You will spend a lot of money. You will have a lot of fun.
     
    swade41, ss34coupe and VANDENPLAS like this.
  4. randydupree
    Joined: May 19, 2005
    Posts: 667

    randydupree
    Member
    from archer fl

    i have a 57 fiat comp coupe thats run Bville and Maxton,parked in my trailer for the last 15 years,for sale,no engine.
    quick change and BW super T10 included.
    fast car,needs a home.
     

  5. WiredSpider
    Joined: Dec 29, 2012
    Posts: 1,258

    WiredSpider
    Member

    As said.get a rule book and go to Speedweek
     
  6. birdman1
    Joined: Dec 6, 2012
    Posts: 1,591

    birdman1
    Member

    Run a motorcycle
     
  7. fortynut
    Joined: Jul 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,038

    fortynut
    Member

    Get a sponsor. I have seen how this deal works close up, and it takes talent, ingenuity, craft and a wad of money. And, you should already know all this from the club you belong to. Yeah. Dry lakes racing is something else again. I did say it takes money, right? Get a sponsor who has money to burn. Then get the rule book. It's the old saying all over again."How fast do you want to go? How much money do you want to spend?" Just like making movies, never spend your own money. Get a sponsor.
     
  8. Stan Back
    Joined: Mar 9, 2007
    Posts: 2,179

    Stan Back
    Member
    from California

    It may be hard to get a sponsor when you've got no car, no experience and no money.
     
    deucemac, rod1, flatford39 and 2 others like this.
  9. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,802

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    It will be a lot cheaper to buy one, work it into your needs, and I personally see LSR in a different light than I did years ago. It is an expensive ordeal especially with safety requirements today. As speed increases so do the requirements you need because of existing records which dictates what you will need.
    I’ve competed since 1975 and looking back it was fun, frustrating, expensive, and for the entire time I was in vintage cars with vintage engines.
    I’m not telling you not to do it at all, but in this time, what’s going on in our county, and the salt surface everything should be considered. I wish you well.
     
    5window and Stan Back like this.
  10. My buddy and I built a car in my 2 car garage. We did everything but the roll cage and the engine machine work. Took it out there the last two years. Skipping this year due to personal issues and Covid . Nowhere near the record yet but:: 1) I built a landspeed car in my garage 2) We made it through tech and I did a bailout (68 years old and kinda chunky) 3)We broke 100 mph (107) 4) I got to race on Bonneville Salt Flats!!!!!
    IMG_1399.jpeg Total build cost of the car, ready to race was less than $30K.....money well spent. Hopefully we are back next year.

    Go for it
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
    Th6467, deucemac, Todd553 and 8 others like this.
  11. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,180

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    been to Bonneville Speed Week? - learn a lot by doing so - yes, need to read rule book over and over to make sure that your ride, built by you or one that you buy, meets all requirements of class that you will run in - changes in rules usually every year - dedication and passion required for any type of racing -
     
  12. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,180

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

  13. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That is an absolute must. Get a current rule book and study it until the pages are worn out.

    Probably not a good year for it but if you make it to Speedweek as a spectator this year spend a good amount of time observing the tech inspection operation at a respectful distance.

    I'd agree that your best option is probably to buy a car that has passed tech in the past and has raced. Something like Randydupree's Fiat would probably put you two years ahead in your quest to get to the salt. The comp coupe class you ran in would depend on the engine you ran.

    A guy had an OT land speed car plus trailer for sale a hundred miles from me a few years back that would have got a guy into a 200 mph + car for a seriously friendly price. He had marked land speed racing off his bucket list and was selling the whole setup and moving on to the next thing on the list. I looked at that add for a long time but still couldn't afford it.
     
    SR100 likes this.
  14. WZ JUNK
    Joined: Apr 20, 2001
    Posts: 1,848

    WZ JUNK
    Member
    from Neosho, MO

    From experience. It is hard to get any sponsor help even after you have broken two records. We appreciated all the help we got, but it was a small part of the overall expense.

    After the car is built, you have the travel expenses, entry fees, high price motel rooms, and restaurants. Again, it was all worth the cost, but it is not cheap.
     
  15. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    Maybe subscribe to the Bonneville Racing News and see what is for sale in there. Rule book of course. Where are you? Maybe ECTA makes more sense that El Mirage and the whole club requirement. Are you thinking V4/pro or something like that? If your thinking 200 club, Model A isn't the best body style if you plan to get serious about big speed. Or 32. But some guys never seem to catch on. 66465085_10215358470458669_4977418564039344128_o.jpg
     
    Stan Back likes this.
  16. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    117334577_3848881155128171_9220280370800585302_o.jpg [[/ATTACH] Robert Dalton

    ·
    Mickey Thompson Tires 24.5 x 7.50 -16 12 total
    $600 · San Martin, California
    Mickey Thompson Tires 24.5 x 7.50 -16
    Land Speed Tires

    6 mounted on custom rims rims maybe available

    Contact me for more info. You need good safety stuff to pass tech.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
  17. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    If you by chance, decide to purchase a car that has run B-Ville before, study the rule book in regard to current roll cage sizes, I have seen a few that won't pass today's tech.
     
  18. Can't tell from your profile where you are located but the east coast has the ECTA that runs a paved LSR event in Arkansas a few times a year. they do have a flathead (pre 47) class as well as others.
    Not sure how this compares to El Mirage and Bonneville but it is Land speed racing and, depending on your location may be a less expensive option...
    Info can be found here https://www.ectamile.com/about-2/
    Chappy
     
  19. chryslerfan55 and Just Gary like this.
  20. chop job
    Joined: Feb 16, 2013
    Posts: 596

    chop job
    Member
    from Wisconsin
    1. WISCONSON HAMBERS

  21. As said, you need a rulebook first. Then plan on hitting a couple meets, Speedweek, World of Speed etc BEFORE you make any decisions. Racing on the salt is unlike any other motorsport endeavor. Building the car in many cases is the easy part. The logistics of getting there are just as big of a hurdle. Plan on packing like you are racing on the moon.
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.

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