Building a Salt Flats Racer
Browniepetersen
Senior Contributor
Last year while sitting at a car show a good friend said: "Let's build a Salt Flats Racer!" Sounded good to me so we gathered at his shop and looked over his collection of buildable stuff and gravitated towards a 1929 Ford (Yes, that 4 letter word that starts with an "F".) He had a frame, some engine parts and a few old racing parts so we started... Last week we headed out to the war surplus place near here and we found our body. Today we added a gas tank (just behind the back wheels inside the cone. We started it up and took a short drive. She need work; but, we are now well on the way. How about Bonneville Salt Flats in September. We are going for over 100 mph...
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Comments
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Looks like a special project, have fun with it, best of luck in your endeavors
Pete0 -
May be a dumb question but I have no engineering sense.
Would it be more aerodynamic if the point was towards the front?
Just curious.
Keep us posted with pictures. It's facinating.
Ron0 -
FYI
Looks like you guys came a long way in a short period. You probably have a Class in mind and will build to that spec.0 -
Sweeeeet. That gets me all tingly... My best friend and I build a Lotus 7 frame in our tiny condo garage in college, but sold it when we realized how big a project it was going to become. Wish we could've at least gotten it rolling. Good luck with it Brownie!0
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I am not sure that aerodynamic was the engineering point that we were trying to make. Back when I was a teen (around 1955) I would go out to the Salt Flats with the friend that I am working with here and about a third of the cars there were Model A's and Model T's that were frames with WWII "Belly Tanks" attached instead of the body. Most of the rest were early 30's and mid 40's hot rods. This is more of a "Back in the day" thing than an honest attempt to set any records. However, with what is available for this drive-line configuration speed and records are more of a concept of how fast we are dumb enough to go. This is simply a "Because we can" thing....0
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Still using mechanical brakes?
There are several modifications that can increase the braking power.
Are ya'll going to wear a leather helmet? Use a seatbelt?
Good luck, have fun, maybe more fun to enter the old car rallys. Bob P
How about a roll bar or two?0 -
Gee Bob, almost sounds like OSHA (What I use to do for a living)or Salt Flats Racing Association (SFRA) trying to take all the fun out of it? Brakes are not a major issue if you are running on the Salt Flats. They have a long run-out and if you do not make it the "swamp" or "lake" will be there to meet you?
The Salt Flats Racing Association (SFRA) has several requirements that you have to meet even if you are running in the antique classes. When I ran my 52 Hudson out there a few years ago they required seat belts, helmet and a full flame suit. We have all those things. We have ordered a "racing seat" that we will install to the wood floor, however, the four point seat belt will be attached to special brackets welded to the frame.
By the way, hobby, and cars driving under 150 mph driven on "run what you brung" day do not have as many requirements as do the "serious" racers. We do not plan on a roll bar and some of the other stuff.0 -
Ain't that a Hoot!
"Thunderbolt Grease Slapper" comes to mind.
John0 -
John, That cartoon must have been from after I grew up. Googled it and got quite a kick out of it. Billy Burke built the first Belly Racer in 1946. Saw him race in the 50's and have to say he is the inspiration for our fun....
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That thing is AWESOME. i want one...
Except i would need one with ski's since we dont really have salt flats here, more like snow flats in North Dakota........hah
thanks for the pix, keep them coming.0 -
Sure don't wanna rain on your parade, Brownie, but when I saw that car made from a gas tank, sitting high up on a Model A frame with skinny wire wheels, and you're gonna go a hundred miles an hour in it, my first thought was. . .
Gee, what could possibly go wrong?:ohmy:
BTW, good to see that you are running for director in our district. We need enthusiastic folks to keep this ole ship runnin'.0 -
Yes, I have thought more than once "What could go wrong?" Will not be the first dumb thing that I have done in my life...
BTW, thanks for your comment and support on the election. It is good to be able to have fun in many ways.0 -
WOW!!! I absolutly love it!
I've thought about building something similar, just for fun. Never got around to it. The black wires, the shape, everything. Just awesome.
More pictures!!!!
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Note the similarities to this 1917 Hudson Race Car
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Great Photo of the 1917 Hudson, thanks. We glued the photo to a board and nailed it up in the shop. Do not expect that we will ever look that good... Took a few new photo's. Got the seats. Not sure if they will work. You need to have the body of a 20 year old swim suit star to fit in the seats? Got the tail lights and trying to decide if we will fix them on the body or on the frame. I'll have photo's next time we work on it. Also, we about have the front done but we are not sure on color. Most likely go silver or flame it back on the body.
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Looking good! May I suggest something? A P-40 Warhawk like front nose would look awesome on that. Pointed nose with the radiator opening underneath. And dont forget the shark teeth. 0
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GrimGreaser wrote:Looking good! May I suggest something? A P-40 Warhawk like front nose would look awesome on that. Pointed nose with the radiator opening underneath. And dont forget the shark teeth.
Great idea... a land shark!0 -
Already done by Chip Foose. Not a bad idea however......0
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I'm assuming that you are going to the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association Meet. I don't think the SCTA is gonna let you run!! Too may rules!!
As I understand it, the USFRA is much more lenient with who gets to run the course. I think they also have 130 mph and 150 mph Clubs if you need a goal to aim for!!
As an aside, just having the car @ the SCTA August races would be a blast!! The meet is the best show of "rat rods", customs and Hot Rods around!! Just great fun--I'm hoping to bring my '49 Coupe to cruise the Salt and do some of the Casino shows this year!!
Let us know when you are going to be @ the Flats!! Hope it's August!! I'd love to see that car!0 -
Yes, it is our plan to have the car ready for Speed Week (August 13-19) for the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Salt Flats Racing Association has a big show and party held on the starting Saturday of Speed Week. That is also the week when you can run about anything you want, golf carts, bar stools, lawn mowers, ect. The Salt Flats Racing Association also races the week of October 5-8. It is much cooler the October week but sometimes an early rain hits the Salt Flats and ends the season early. Let us know when you are bringing the Hudson out and a few of us Hudson guys will make the trip to the salt just to watch you run or give you a hard time--only kidding. Check the Salt Flats Racing Association web site just so you will know the requirements and they like every one to sign up that plans to run. Would be great to see you there....0
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Here is another set of photo's of the racer. We took it for a ride and all I can say at this point is that it was cold.....
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I'm glad you've had a chance to get it running Brownie. Really neet looking racer. Love the airplane radiator cap. Does the prop turn?
What car will you bring to the Western Regional Meet? See you there.
Good lock with it at bonneville.
Lee O'Dell0 -
3wo words... Kick ass!0
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FYI
Looking Good.....Although at the rate your going it will be finished way early..... Im wondering if your going to form a lexan windshield or use goggles to be Period correct....0 -
This project brings back some thoughts of some of the crazy and wild things we did with cars back in the '50's.
Why did we do it - well I'll give you two reasons: the first is a quote from Terraplane Kelly who said "When we were in our twenties we wouldn't have done the things we did if we knew we were going to live this long!!!" The second is we were to damned dumb to understand that we could kill ourselves and that what we were doing was impossible for the most part!!!!!!"
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
Very cool. More pictures! More, more, more!;)0
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hudsontech wrote:This project brings back some thoughts of some of the crazy and wild things we did with cars back in the '50's.
Why did we do it - well I'll give you two reasons: the first is a quote from Terraplane Kelly who said "When we were in our twenties we wouldn't have done the things we did if we knew we were going to live this long!!!" The second is we were to damned dumb to understand that we could kill ourselves and that what we were doing was impossible for the most part!!!!!!"
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN
Alex, not to pick on Terraplane Kelly-because I think he was right. However, I have to add: "The difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys."
Last year when I was on the Bonneville Salt Flats a gentleman in his early sixties was running a bike at around 180 mph when he came off the bike. He skidded down the salt for about 75 yards and then went into a tumble. He went head-over-hill for another twenty-five yards. When we got to him he was walking back towards his bike speaking some of those words we learned out behind the barn. Back in the pits I asked him: "Why do you do this?" His answer was: "Because I can?" I am thinking that when you get to be our age (over 65) it is time to check off some of those Bucket list things that you could not do when you had all those middle age responsibilities? This is not a reason for why we do some dumb and perhaps dangerous things but I bought his logic... The "need for speed" often causes one to throw caution to the wind and normal adults become kids again? Kids that have lived past most major responsibilities? What-do ya think? Am I all wet?0 -
You're not all wet - I think you nailed it perfectly. But I think I'd put it this way:
In our teens into our 20's we did a lot of dumb things because we were maybe trying to prove something - what I've long forgotten. Cars were a part of it;
Later, in our mid-life, we toed the line, raised our families, became conformists;
Now we are older, kids are grown, life's a tad dull as we sit and watch the sun go down. So why not do what we want to simply because we can.
Retirement is strange. All the time we were raising families we really didn't have the time, to do what we wanted. Now we're retired, many have the time, but not the money. So goes the merry-go-round.
Hudsonly,
Alex B
Memphis, TN0 -
Yep, we are on the same page my friend....0
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I hate it when I hit a bad key and loose everything. Here we are agin with the final photos. It is now complete. We took it out on the freeway today and took it up to 85. We will wait until a Sunday morning in early summer to go faster before we take it to the salt flats. You will notice that "Tin Liz" who is the nose art is a little different on each side of the car. That is a story in and of itself but we will let it pass for now. Woops, I noticed that I put the same twin up in the photos. It is best that you not see the passenger side nose art. Some might not think she is presentable in such fine company as you folks?
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