Drop tank racing

Fables and Facts from ACVW History
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Pine
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Drop tank racing

Post by Pine »

After World War II, hot rodders raced the dry lakes of California to set new land speed records. War surplus drop tanks were plentiful and aerodynamically neutral, and it didn't take long to make one into a car, dubbed a lakester. According to GM historians, Bill Burke of the So-Cal Speed Shop first attempted to convert a 168-gallon P51 Mustang belly tank, before switching to the larger 305-gallon P38 Lightning tank. Even now, lakesters compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

In 1960 Dick Beith became the first man to set a land speed record in a VW. In 1961 he went back to Bonneville and broke the 100MPH mark with his modified dual carb VW motor. His 1963 Pepco super charged 36hp lakester was able to pull 130MPH!
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retrovan
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by retrovan »

Wonder what he did to the gearbox and final drive to get that much speed from a VW........??
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by DR WATSON »

He took it to Bugger :lol:
IM DIAGONALLY PARKED IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE!
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retrovan
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by retrovan »

DR WATSON wrote:He took it to Bugger :lol:
You Right, Maybe Bugger will tell us what he done............Please...... :D
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by karmakoma »

Now that is cool.
Anyone have a spare drop tank for me?
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by fig »

Fascinating! Thanks for posting Pine! :hangloose:
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by Bugger »

Ok Back in the 60`s the longest Diff Ratio was a 4.125(33and 8 teeth on Ring and pinion)
Below is the formula to work things out


Formula is D X Pie X N X 0.06 / i D x 3.14 x N x 0.06 / i
D= Tyre Diameter top to bottom eg (62cm/100=0.62mm)
Pie = 3.141
N= RPM
0.06= convert RPM to Km/h
i = Gear ratio x Diff Ratio




RPM D 3.141 0.06 Diff ratio Gear ratio Km/h
ACSF Early 1600 6000 0.58 3.141 0.06 4.125 0.88 180.6723967
Adapterplates Available for Rotary in Beetle and others aswell
And Special Boxes built for Rotary Conversions and Scubies
Pierre
082 600 8663

CLick on Banner Below to be routed to the Web site

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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by jolas »

karmakoma wrote:Now that is cool.
Anyone have a spare drop tank for me?
yeah I have a spare one for you, but you must arrange collection karmakoma :twisted:



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by fig » Mar 26, 2018
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karmakoma
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by karmakoma »

Cool, I see it comes with a free SC ! :twisted: I'll fly down and drive it up.

When can I collect :mrgreen:
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Re: Drop tank racing

Post by Klaus »

Awesome

:hangloose:

I've always known them as belly tank cars. Love the famous So-Cal Speed shop car.

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