What we heard at Bonneville:
These are Greg's notes from Bonneville 2003
Body
Register as later hawk and then we can use rear deck
No door lock. Simplify opener
Hood hold-down should be well anchored
Bear claw latches recommended, but all studes used stock
Hood cable should be easy and straight
Maybe we can have vent behind window like Joe
Maybe perforate trunk surround and out 2nd exhaust pipe thru air amp
Wheels/disks outboard to fill well
Windows
Lexan on outside
Vents Perko brand
Number and letter plate with wing nuts
Brakes
Many run rears only
Jim Lang runs both: front disks from hawk
Stop quicker in a fire, can be set up for minimum drag
Tires/Wheels
Metal valve stems and caps
Space saver rims are 4.5"
Check with Fred, is front runner really the Bonneville type?
Joe uses 65# pressure and welded stude rims
#787 has 26" back and 26" x 4.5 front
Barlow says new rims
Weight distribution/ballast
787 51% front 49% rear caster 9+ 4210# loaded
Hart make it light
Joe 3200# 300# in trunk
Bruce Geisler 5500-6000# Go heavy 1500# in trunk, h2o tank, fuel in front
Stay in front of rear axle get some low
Springs/shocks
Geisler Ford coil-overs fit in front
½" to snubber
50/50 shock
he doesn't remember any bump steer problems
Roll Bars / mountings
Watch steering wheel inside roll-bar plane
Old Stude make front loop of drivers cage far enough back-behind rear edge of door opening. This will make entry/exit easier.
Seat/headrest
Seatback should be braced well up to neck/back of head
Fuel tank/Line/pump
Should need only 4-5 gallon for 4-5 passes
Fuel line must be protected as it passes flywheel
Tank up front means shorter lines, easier access and protection from clutch.
Water tank/ Radiator
No consensus
Turbo
We know as much or more than many out there racing. No blowthru was seen.
Intake design
Largely primitive designs
Ask Kennedy about a "bump" in the hood for the carb/turbo
If turbo'd, can we use an air-scoop?
Exhaust
Keep it short and up front. Could go "lakes" and adjust length
Paint
Paint everything! Salt works fast! FAST!
Wiring
Bloomberg crimps only
Route thru clean holes with rubber surround
If we "solenoid" parachute, then double team it with parallel systems to actuator lever with 2nd "hotwire" switch for chute.
Tommy Cox has bank of switches in a row to stop guessing: front to back fuel pump-battery-Ignition forward is off
Wiring diagram on fenderwell, in cab and in trunk
Harnesses
Full net over door opening, good welds!
Toe pull to pull accelerator
Clothing
Nothing outside of the rules
Battery
Remote battery hookup external, plug in to charge
In a box, they can blow up.
Many running dry cells
Some ignition set-ups need alternator (msd) but many run total loss with umbilical cord for starting.
(consensus on mailing list is to use alt of possible since the difference would be tenths of mph)
Gauges/ controls
Hood release accessible
Old stud running vcr
Many keep gauges to minimum
Speedo might be nice (qualifying runs etc.)
Tack oil pressure, h2o temp, boost, A/F ? EGT fuel pressure on engine
Pull knobs for hood release, fuel shut-off, parachute
Place controls in "shut down " sequence:
1) Standard Ign-fuel pump-bat-chute
2) Emergency fire-chute-fuel-bat
could have lever to shut off both fuel and battery at once
Drive shaft
Nothing
Clutch/scattershield
Consider aluminum flywheel
Transmission
Our choice of tough 3 speed is considered a good idea. #40 with turbo 350 and turbocharger blew up immediately. Towing automatic (common sight) is going to bite you sooner or later.
Rear end
Use a breather
Use higher number than we calculated, maybe 3.00 to 3.20 to start
Adjust gearing with tire sizing. Make sure front of car can tolerate the larger tires
Fuel
ERC catalogue. Like 120 octane
Push bar
Log Book
We bought one with sticker to place on rollbar after it is painted
Wire seals/safety wires
They take a strip of duct tape across top of fuel cell and use 4 drops of nail polish to seal
Ignition
Keep it simple as possible
Lock advance at 15-26 degrees on turbo'd car
Push button to start
Separate hot wire to coil
Fire extinguisher/mounts
Solid mounted bottle in cab
Nozzles mounted around feet and firewall
Under hood under header area
Not too many nozzles
Mount bottle to read tag easily, KEEP RECEIPT and inspect just before event.
Firewalls
Sealant around tunnel and trunk compartment
Fuel shut-off
Next to tank and 2nd with cable to driver
Throttle
Double springs
Bar to pull back with toe on pedal
Steering
Lang likes it fast, Geisler likes it slow
Alignment
Nothing
Air dam
We can use one and these are available fiberglass Hart has one
Bring also:
Sheet aluminum
Balls for tarps
Coffee urn or express maker
Brushes/whisk brooms
Hat pins and membership card
Press passes
Plastic garbage can and liners
Tarp leg extensions
Graduated cylinder
Water reclaim bottle
Nails and washers
Barn fan
Gum-off
Tire-air squirter ( a valve stem to put on a gas station air hose to shoot air)