Full swing Bonneville action is just days away. Cars and trucks will be hauling ass by the buckload and they’ll be doing it in all shape and sizes. From the usual production bodied suspects, to sinuous streamliners, to big honkin’ trucks, and diminutive motorcycles, men and women are getting ready to get it done at high speed on the salt. The LSR world is easily the most wide open and mechanically creative form of motorsports left.
That’s not to say that they are light on rules in LSR racing, because they are not, but they are not rules that completely stifle creative thinking and weirdo combos that make even the most knowledgeable and hard core car guy’s eyes bug out. Arcane engines with modern EFI and turbochargers jammed into weirdo body styles to fit into a class that may have a soft record are not uncommon, they are the rule of the day on the salt!
So, knowing what you know about Bonneville and LSR in general, we’re wondering what you’ve dreamed about building or just saddling up in. Would it be one of those amazing streamliners that run into speed levels that only Top Fuel Dragsters tickle for a few tenths of a second at a time? Maybe a classic muscle car that you’ve always wanted five miles and no legal reason not to wind all the way out. Perhaps you are one of those creative types that wants to jam a twin turbo Buick straight eight into a 1990s vintage Toyota Supra and make hay. You tell us!
What is your ultimate or dream land speed racing car?
Tough call, really. I love the idea of a lakes T, think driving the Goldenrod would give me permanent wood, as a bike racer riding something well up in the 200’s would be cool, but I guess a jet would have to be the ultimate rush.
I would have to say a Bell’y Tank with a ‘Banger would be about as pure of a speed run on the salt one could get.
My 65 Impala. Though I don’t think I’d want to live with the cage necessary. Maybe build another 65.
An 80’s square S-10. I like the challenge of making a truck fast, I like S10s, and I know which class I’d be in. And I’m convinced I can do it cheap.
just having fun with you 🙂
I have a 86 C10 the will drop 200 g.per.mile now. If could stand on it long enough it might do 200 mph too
Lee Scilio’s Charger Daytona.
Twin turbo viper powered E type Jag
The 10 should fit where the 12 lived & the E type is wind slippery .
?? hay yep yep yep humm
Don’t have one or the means , but I think it could be a package ???
🙂
ABG/Alt Jensen Interceptor
Love, love, LOVE the ’53 Studebaker! It would be so cool to see one with a wicked chop, a sweet rake and a cowl-induction hood rising to the roof line barely containing a radical twin-turbo/ intercooled I-6 with methanol injection! I have no idea if anyone would consider building one, but it would be cooler than all get-out!
The Oddliner: Well it’s really a lakester but Oddliner sounds cooler.
It’s a lakester with an engine compartment designed to swap engines readily and large enough to fit anything from a motorcycle engine to a turbo GMC V12. The idea is not so much to chase official records but to say “I have the fastest _________”.
First engines I’d try are a pair of Series III Buick 3800’s, turbo 4.0L Jag AJ16 I6, and an Atlas 4.2L I6.
Belly tank with crosley power has been my dream LSR car for 60 years.
I don’t know if I’d pick a Saab 96 . The suicide doors MIGHT make a cool air brake as long as they would deploy at the same time.
While I am a member of the “dare to be different” camp, there is something just “right” about a Studebaker Hawk slingin’ salt.
I was always curious what a Tucker would be like as a LSR vehicle.
Bob and son Rob Ida have built fiberglass Tucker replica bodies at their Morganville, NJ business….There is a great video about building the Tucker “Torpedo” concept car on his website. http://www.robidaconcepts.com
They also made/make some insane Willys street rods.
Simple. Goldenrod.
I always liked the bellytankers. Maybe a drop tank from a B-56 with twin quad turbo straight eights.
Agreed . A belly tanker w/ a contemporary turbo’d 4 cylinder ……. zoom
My 70 Jensen Interceptor II someday…
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, like the one Bangshift featured last year.
A fancy bus with a Locomotive or Haul Truck V16 or V20 diesel engine uprated to how ever high it can be uprated. Shouldn’t have any issues with weight, but traction with the torque might still be an issue. Should be good for well over 4,500HP and ungodly amounts of torque.
In always thought one of those 2 door bug eyed AMC Matadors would make a great proMod car but would likley be great for land speed too. use those big headlight openings for tubo inlets. Not too weird but I’d have to go AMC power.
I want Tom Rutherford’s Jaguar and the girlfriend to help polish it. Look it up…
My UltraVan.
The RV land speed record is pretty low, barely cresting 100 and they cheated by having it gutted. That’s not an RV, that’s a giant fiberglass log. Do that in an RV with a toilet.
I think it’d need a pretty good size chin spoiler and ground effects due to being sort of a lifting body design.
I’m sure it’d be the fastest air cooled RV on record.
I saw a photo of an rv at the last El Mirage event, maybe they will be at the salt too.
There you go! One of those old GM motorhomes with an Allsion V-12 and turbos!!!
I’ve thought about this a lot, and decided the the my dream B’ville car is….someone elses. Then I don’t have to worry about all that stuff…..
my dream car would be a Lamborghini superleggera with twin turbo kit making 1700 + hp with like all types of army camouflage as a paint job with black wheels
A caddy with that engine out of the Spectre streamliner. Probably would only go a little over 200 but it would look awesome haha.
Jako’s streamliner, way ahead if it’s time.
Just dreamin’ but an old semi with a giant V16 diesel, like the Phoenix International. In reality something like an old S10 or Ranger, with a LS1.
A lowered, sectioned, and chopped ’81 E100 with longitudinally opposed twin, tri-turbo big 6’s mounted mid ship.
Set the record for my friend Billy Dale Stephens in his Green Hornet 54 Hudson Hornet. then retire the car to a museum some where. We were close went 128 on 3 cylinders on a 136 record. he passed away before we could solve the last few problems.
a super bad ass twin turbo ls powerd c4 corvette