(Photo credit: Jack Donohue Motorsports) – It was just before Bonneville Speed Week 2014 that we first told you about a nearly incomprehensible project. It was the conversion of a classic Ford 8N tractor into a land speed racing machine to compete on the Bonneville salt flats. We told you about how high speed tractors were not foreign to the salt but it had been a good long time since someone went land speed racing with fam equipment. YOU CAN READ THAT ORIGINAL STORY HERE. The speed benchmark for tractors in the land speed realm was laid down by Ab Jenkins some 80 years ago when he stopped the timers with a terminal speed of just over 68mph on an Allis-Chalmers. Needless to say, 8Ncredible is built to bury that mark and it was built with an eye for keeping the classic appearance and tone of an 8N but using as much modern technology in construction and design as possible. The man who came up with this idea and who followed it through to its stunningly awesome end is Jack Donohue of North Carolina. He spent the greater majority of his life as a NASCAR car builder, fabricator, mechanic, part time driver, and full time bad ass. He’s loved 8N tractors since his dad dragged one home to the family farm when he was a kid and being able to combine his racing past with his love for the tractors results in a vehicle so cool it nearly brings tears to our eyes.
The things we love about this machine are many but we’ll start with the lowered stance, the custom built front axle, the front runner Goodyears, and the fact that the factory cowl was used and seems unaltered in our eyes shows how serious Jack was about keeping the 8N feel alive and well here. Using the flathead V8 is great and totally stays within the 8N heritage as companies like Funk and others made V8 conversion kits for farmers who wanted more power out of their machines back when they were new. The massive enclosed rear fenders are beautiful examples of metal working, the cage is looking robust enough to keep the driver safe in the event of trouble, and fact that there is a parachute hanging off the back is enough to make us jump for joy.
We’re going to catch up with Jack this week to get the specific tech behind this thing and get his expectations about the performance of the tractor along where and when it may show up to the races. I sure hope the ECTA is in his plans!
Thanks for the tip Steve Moore!
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This thing is sooooo bat**** crazy , insane and cool it almost hurts [ in a good way ] to think about it . The fact that it uses a Flathead Ford only ramps it up another notch in my opinion
Can’t wait to see the videos of this beast tearing up the Salt next year !
Damn ! 😉
Unholy crap , used to use one of these for scraping shit in the calf barn . I cant imagine going over 10 mph with that type front axle . Rotsa Ruck
This has got to top my list of the best BangShift features ever! Can’t wait to see some video of it on the salt!
He better look at the rule book definition of roll cage first.
Unless he gets a variation the cage is too wide at mid helmet level which can be resolved but better now than at the Salt.
Bring it to Loring in July!!!
I wonder if the tin was aftermarket for use in orchards.
I could have done with one of these beauties when I used to cut grass for my local council!
Mind you it would be better driven by a cider addled straw chewing Zomerset lad down the main street of nice country village whilst he’s being distracted by thinking of that new ewe that Farmer Brown’s just bought!
Flip those spindles upside down and switch sides and git that nose inda SALT !