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Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:46 am
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!
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:34 am
by retrovan
Wonder what he did to the gearbox and final drive to get that much speed from a VW........??
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:08 am
by DR WATSON
He took it to Bugger
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 12:21 pm
by retrovan
DR WATSON wrote:He took it to Bugger
You Right, Maybe Bugger will tell us what he done............Please......
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:26 pm
by karmakoma
Now that is cool.
Anyone have a spare drop tank for me?
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:46 pm
by fig
Fascinating! Thanks for posting Pine!
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:41 pm
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
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:25 pm
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
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:12 pm
by karmakoma
Cool, I see it comes with a free SC !
I'll fly down and drive it up.
When can I collect
Re: Drop tank racing
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:58 pm
by Klaus
Awesome
I've always known them as belly tank cars. Love the famous So-Cal Speed shop car.
