Any Bonneville or El Mirage Land Speed Racers or Fans here?

[71GSSDemon]

Trying to see if there are any landspeed racers on here. Or fans of.

I am building a 68 Charger to go to Bonneville to race on the salt. I probably have an old post or thread on here from years ago. Should be ready for 2026 WOS.

 

[71GSSDemon]

Here are the before and so far pics.

68 converted to C500 ish. I built a full tube chassis, all the cage work, etc. Has a Crown Vic front suspension, MP rear leaf springs with sliders. The first trip os more about passing tech and seeing how the car feels. 383 10:1 small lunati cam, 4spd OD and 2.94 gears. I have a 470 in the works for a real speed run in 2027.

 

[ckessel]

I like that!

 

[Krooser]

Bonneville is the ultimate gearhead experience... NOTHING COMPARES

Been there twice... 1979 and 2002.

 

[Virg464]

What a cool project, and what a cool car to use! Look forward to seeing the video of the run on the salt flats. Do you have a "MPH" that you want to hit? Best of luck!!

 

[chargervert]

My friends took this car to Bonneville they went 218 MPH. They are still cleaning salt out of the car years later.

 

[Krooser]

My friends took this car to Bonneville they went 218 MPH. They are still cleaning salt out of the car years later.

View attachment 1958549

When I was there in '79 a Daytona only managed 199 as I recall.

 

[RemCharger]

I was there in about '80? Maybe 79. But wasn't at a meet.
@440 4 speed ?

 

[71GSSDemon]

What a cool project, and what a cool car to use! Look forward to seeing the video of the run on the salt flats. Do you have a "MPH" that you want to hit? Best of luck!!

Thank you. It has been a very fun journey so far.

This first year it is about just making the trip, passing tech and making passes. I have no idea a target speed. Rookie run, competition licensing takes place, etc. Everyone always wants to go fast as possible. I just want to get there and give it a try. I am piecing together a 470" motor for a fast run, 2027????

A friend had his production body Daytona clone with 950hp near 240mph last year. Another had his Cyclone Spoiler II with 600hp go 201mph.

 

[71GSSDemon]

Some of the cage work.

And I built a bolt on "nose" for it in case I want to see what more cna be had. I will bring it with and possibly try back to back runs.

Rear spoiler is CAD built, but need to make it for real. Lol

 

[chargervert]

You should go with a Daytona wing,it's already proven effective!

 

[440 4 speed]

I was there in about '80? Maybe 79. But wasn't at a meet.
@440 4 speed ?

1979.

 

[71GSSDemon]

You should go with a Daytona wing,it's already proven effective!

The Daytona wing and nose add their own issues. 1200lbs of lift on the nose per engineering paperwork until the under nose spoiler is sorted out. Aaron Brown at The Gatage Shop spun their Daytona until they sorted out the cars rake. Remember, no traction out there.

I have already talked to Grant Jannak about making them for me for Bonneville. Id like to try the C500 esque as there aren't any out there.

This spoiler is the most common design out there. Stability over downforce. Downforce is drag. Better off with ballast.

Daytona has aero advantages for sure. $$$$ i dont have right now. I built this 100% myself in my unheated crappy lit garage.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

We were supposed to go spectate in August but didn't make it. Trying to get my 13 year old nephew out to watch. But, he is like a lot of kids nowadays..has lots going on. Still want to go though! Post ahead of time when your taking your car..!

 

[Krooser]

Almost forgot...

My first oppotunity to go to Bonneville came courtesy of White Motor Company and their POS trucks.

My co driver Wendy and I were coming back from CA with a load of produce when a fan blade exited the hub and punctured the doghouse on our Road Commander ( should have been named Road Commode!).

We broke down west of Salt Lake, got towed in to SLC. We had another truck come down from Logan, UT to swap trailers and Wendy went with the load.

It was Speed Week so I rented some POS Datsun and headed to the salt flats.

Things were still pretty laid back in '79... not too many $1,000,000 operations back then...

I befriended a group of guys running a Model A roadster in a few gas roadster classes. I volunteered to do some menial stuff in exchange for a place to sleep on the floor of the motel in Wendover.

The SBC in the roadster blew on one run so I wound up washing parts in the bathtub while the other guys screwed a new engine together.

Great memories...

 

[71GSSDemon]

We were supposed to go spectate in August but didn't make it. Trying to get my 13 year old nephew out to watch. But, he is like a lot of kids nowadays..has lots going on. Still want to go though! Post ahead of time when your taking your car..!

Will do, I hope you make it out there. I think our group will have 3-4 cars going.

 

[71GSSDemon]

Almost forgot...

My first oppotunity to go to Bonneville came courtesy of White Motor Company and their POS trucks.

My co driver Wendy and I were coming back from CA with a load of produce when a fan blade exited the hub and punctured the doghouse on our Road Commander ( should have been named Road Commode!).

We broke down west of Salt Lake, got towed in to SLC. We had another truck come down from Logan, UT to swap trailers and Wendy went with the load.

It was Speed Week so I rented some POS Datsun and headed to the salt flats.

Things were still pretty laid back in '79... not too many $1,000,000 operations back then...

I befriended a group of guys running a Model A roadster in a few gas roadster classes. I volunteered to do some menial stuff in exchange for a place to sleep on the floor of the motel in Wendover.

The SBC in the roadster blew on one run so I wound up washing parts in the bathtub while the other guys screwed a new engine together.

Great memories...

Those are great memories! Thank you for sharing