David Kirkham Test Drive

RaceDeck · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 07:02 PM

Both David and Tom Kirkham had been helping me with a few final details on my KMP and after many hours of helping me David says " Lets take it for a LITTLE test drive"....

As I head around to the drivers side, I find David already strapped in and ready to go with a big smile on his face....

So I get in the my "wifes seat" and we take off.....he heads out and goes through all the gears and turns off to a nice canyon road that I never knew of ~~~~~ Now David's smile is even bigger as he drives my KMP like it is supposed to be driven....I am now seeing all of the technology they have build into this car....before I realize it we are back at the KMP factory....it was over sooo quick...but then I look at the odometer and I see that we went 156 miles.. ( I can not tell you how ling we were gone

)....

It was truly a great experience to be with someone who not only builds some of the greatest cars in the world,,,, but truly enjoy them as if he got in the drivers seat for the first time....NOW, GET OUT OF MY SEAT

RedCSX · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 07:17 PM

Jorgen,

Great Story, Makes me long for days that my Cobra will be in my garage. That reminds me, maybe I should install race deck before it arrives.

Morgan

Side Oil'r 69 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 09:20 PM

Jorgen,

How did the engine perform? Did you have any leaks or misfires?
Did David think that it performed adequately? Just wanting to know because I believe we have the same spec SA csx engines.
Also what kind of H.P. do you think you are generating.

Michael

P.S. It sounds like ya'll are having a great spring in Utah!!

Jamo · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 09:34 PM

Jorg

You let that crazy sonofagun take you up in the hills in your own car?!!!

Yeah...I did that too...I've still got a nervous tick in my left eye.

And the folks living around BYU are still talking about the day they heard a voice from above...screaming and using REALLY bad words. They figure the Lord was just having a bad day or stubbed his toe or something.

It is not a good feeling to be looking over the door of your Cobra and looking straight down about 2,000 feet or so...with some crazy grinning guy behind the steering wheel laughing his a$$ off.

Next time a Kirkham takes me for a drive...it's going to be Mary.

Morgan

Sounds to me like you're in need of a fix. Can you break out and come on down for lunch one day? If you promise not to black flag my ass off a track again, I'll let you take the helm. Give me a call and we'll set a day when I'm not on the road.

David Kirkham · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 09:53 PM

Just another test drive

Around the lake...

Up Nebo Loop...

and for the grand finale...

My favorite...

Up Squaw Peak...

David

Jamo · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 10:07 PM

"...up Squaw Peak...."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

David Kirkham · #7 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 10:12 PM

Jamo,

You would have loved this trip. I had to drive "slow" because there was gravel and lotssss of loose dirt on the curves...

David

David Kirkham · #8 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 10:13 PM

Man I have a tough job...

David

Jamo · #9 (**permalink**) 05-10-2004, 10:15 PM

Poor baby.

Lew Ledyard · #10 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004, 08:10 AM

How was the SA engine?

RaceDeck · #11 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004, 08:28 AM

Side Oil'r 69:
The motor has fantastic power and gobs of torque....This is the second motor I had built by Southern Automotive ( the first was for another car I owned)...Bill built me a very agressive motor for the street and I could not be any happier with the performance of it...As for leaks? I am still in the 'break in' stage of the motor so I have wrenched down the valve covers and oil pan as specified in the owners manual...There is also a noticable difference in the handling between the steel block and the aluminum block & heads. I think that Bill Parham ( of SA) is one of the premier FE engine builders in the country, I will absolutely have him build me my next motor for any future project I have....Did you know that he has an engineering degree from Georgia Tech!

Jamo: I did not know what David had in store for me....but it was fun to see David do the " Dr. Jeckle & Hyde" thing

I have a plan for him this summer though....He may have to take a ride with me out on the salt in my 32' high boy at over 200mph! then were even

David Kirkham · #12 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004, 09:30 PM

I liked the Southern Automotive stroker engine.
I liked the torque.
I liked the test drive.
I liked the look on Jorgen's face.

I don't think Jorgen liked all of the gravel on the road from the winter...

David

Side Oil'r 69 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004, 07:55 PM

David,

I just have to come out to Provo and get one of these joy rides!

Maybe in the car that has that fuel injected stroker motor of Tom's in it?

By the way how fast is the car going past the camera at the salt flats during the intro to the video and when Dralle is on the staight at Willow Springs ?

Michael

David Kirkham · #14 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004, 08:01 PM

Michael,

I was driving the car on the salt flats. I tell everyone I was going 120 mph...but the tach said 5400 rpms

Dave Dralle was probably going around 120 at Willow. He couldn't go much faster because of the camera mounts.

If you come out, I will be happy to iniciate you into our little club.

David

David Kirkham · #15 (**permalink**) 05-12-2004, 08:05 PM

Just bring some depends along...

David

shaps · #16 (**permalink**) 05-14-2004, 04:53 AM

Side Oil'r (Michael),
Two things:
1) Take David up on his offer, an experience u will not forget...
2) Take his advice ..."bring some depends "

Shaps