Kirkham at Bonneville Salt Flats

[Tom Kirkham]

Some reflections:

For me driving on the salt was a lot like driving on hard pack snow.

Do to the rules limiting the tire requiring a speed rated tire, with a maximum width of 10 inches, and our desire to maintain the original look, we ran Avon 225/65-15 front and 245/60-15 rear. They worked great.

Bonneville is a truly must do experience before you die.

[speed220mph]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

Some reflections:

For me driving on the salt was a lot like driving on hard pack snow.

Do to the rules limiting the tire requiring a speed rated tire, with a maximum width of 10 inches, and our desire to maintain the original look, we ran Avon 225/65-15 front and 245/60-15 rear. They worked great.

Bonneville is a truly must do experience before you die.

Tom
It is an experience alright, especially when you spin at over 200 mph. Due to the shortage of tires back when I did my record runs we were allowed to run the best Michelins. Found out real quick when the tread separated and I spun through the lights at 210 mph why race tires should be used.

Hard packed snow, well not quite that slippery. We would leave black marks when leaving the line. But when you're under the car and a chunk of it falls off into your eyes you know it's not snow . . . ouch.

How about replacing that barn door of a windshield with a short race-type windscreen? That should reduce the aero drag a bit. A LeMans roof would help, too. That "wall of air" is hard to overcome regardless of horsepower. Do you have a Coupe on the drawing board?

[Tom Kirkham]

Originally Posted by speed220mph

Tom
It is an experience alright, especially when you spin at over 200 mph. Due to the shortage of tires back when I did my record runs we were allowed to run the best Michelins. Found out real quick when the tread separated and I spun through the lights at 210 mph why race tires should be used.

Hard packed snow, well not quite that slippery. We would leave black marks when leaving the line. But when you're under the car and a chunk of it falls off into your eyes you know it's not snow . . . ouch.

How about replacing that barn door of a windshield with a short race-type windscreen? That should reduce the aero drag a bit. A LeMans roof would help, too. That "wall of air" is hard to overcome regardless of horsepower. Do you have a Coupe on the drawing board?

I agree the salt is not quite as slippery as snow. I guess it is more like a fresh groomed dirt road. Also when you clean up the car you know it is not snow. It really dries out your hands.

My understanding is the 130 club the car is supposed to be street legal. A LeMans roof would of course help. Hmmm, I think I have one.

Yes, we have a Coupe on the drawing board...We will probably have to talk with Badger to get some pointers on how they ran theirs...

[Dominik]

You need about 750Hp with hardtop to go 220mph (580Hp for 200mph). Are you allowed to use a hardtop? Or a single racing screen?

The single racing screen reduces frontal area from about 16.5 sqft to 12sqft.
I am sure you can confirm frontal area looking at some of your CAD files.

Remember, the car tends to lift at speed and increases frontal area and aerodynamic drag.
Keep it down and you gain.

Dom