Time to go land-speed racing...

[Imperial Kustom]

As the wheels of the Gearhead mind turn, they can sometimes concoct some visions that seem a little bit out there. Case in point is the latest interest that I am finding myself attracted to. Land-speed racing. Not to say that this form of racing is out there by any means, it is the vehicle that I am considering as a candidate to go attack the salt with. A 60-63 short box fleetside.

Never known as the most aerodynamic of vehicles which can display some hair-raising characteristics at high speeds, this is definitely not the pinnacle vehicle of choice to do this with. I may also use a '71 Datsun pickup that I converted to V-8 power some years ago, but how rad would a 60-63 be as it blasts down the salt with an engine capable of 5 digit RPM numbers?

[jonzcustomshop]

Like pushing a box through the air, but I vote go for it! If the rules allow you can chop it way down and put a BIG air dam on it to cheat the wind.
I suggest taking a good look at a rule book before you start though.

I had dreams of doing a twin 455 60 pontiac bonneville, un til I took a look at the rule book...
those old codgers don't allow twin engines in anything but streamliners anymore.... what ever happened to all that experimentation that was going on in the late 50's and 60's?

I have a friend here in town that is building a bellytanker to go lsr.
looks like alot of work on small(but important )stuff: lots of safety equipment to buy build ect..

do the chev, datsun-not so exciting.

[mr48chev]

I'd first suggest getting a rule book and doing some serious studying. A lot of guys decide that they want to build a certain engine/ vehicle combination and then find out that they would be in a class where the record is many many miles per hour faster than their vehicle will be.
It may or may not be a lot of fun running a car that might be 100 mph slower than the class record.

I'd check and find out what class my chosen class would fit in and what the record was. Then I would check the rule book for what safety equipment I had to have including instructions on exactly how the roll cage had to be built.
I've wanted to do it for years. I got the bug hard when I went in 1988 and again in 1998.
I intend some day to run a chopped 48 Chev/GMC and may run an early GMC six in it to get in a class where it may be competitive.

[kizer]

Then again can you run just to run? Meaning "if" I had a 74 pinto and I just wanted to see how fast it would go or would they even allow it?

Or is it intended to just break records and show some promise of actually being able to do so?

[mr48chev]

Yep you can just run as long as your car/truck/bike or what ever passes tech. From what I have read and heard very few pass tech the first time.
After that you have to get your first in a series of licenses allowing you to run up to a certain speed.
What is important to the guys running the show is that the vehicle is safe and so are you.
First thing I would do before spending another dime though is to order a current rule book and go from there.

[kizer]

I watched the Worlds fastest Indian a while back about that guy who wanted to well run that Modded Motorcycle and man he had a hell of a time passing simply because his bike was a death trap in the first place.

[RunninLo]

As a Bonneville pit crew Vet I can say there is no experience like it and things you see there you'll never see anywhere else. Montana is actually quite the hub for LSR racers. In addition to the motorcycle crew I was on in 1990, and JonZ's friend with the belly tank, theres also the legendary Burkland family of Great Falls, MT who currently hold the LSR for a piston engined vehicle.(417.020MPH) Their crew chief Rex Svboda, of Missoula, MT also runs a LSR Saab. Sadly we recently lost (sept,3rd,2008) motorcycle streamliner pilot Cliff Gullet of Bozeman,MT in a 200+ MPH crash.

Not sure if you'd want to go this route but when I was there last there was a chevy luv that had a wedge attached to the nose for streamlining purposes. I can't agree enough with the suggestion to start with a membership to the SCTA and a current rule book. The cost of the safety gear,vehicle, and logistics of campaigning a LSR attempt may be bigger than your budget.

Josh

[Rogue]

You may also want to look into something like this..........

http://www.texasmile.net/

The TEXAS MILE- Top Speed for You- Video

[special-K]

I think if you spin the body around backwards and take the tailgate off it`ll go faster.
Sounds like a plan.