Bonneville Class Guidance?

[oldcarfan]

I want to build a VW flat four powered Lakester. Anyone know what class such a thing might run in? There used to be an online page that had the specs, But I lost all my favorites when I got a new laptop. Help? Anyone?

[Alyn]

The typical VW engine, if I remember right would be around 1200cc to 1500cc. That would put it in the G engine class. Bore or stroke it past 1523cc, up to around 2000cc and you'd move into H.

Lakesters are designated with the letter L. So if you build a lakester powered by a stock displacement VW motor running on gas, you would run in H/GL. Switch to alcohol or nitro and you would run H/FL. Adding a blower to either gas or fuel; add a B as in H/BGL or H/BFL.

good luck with your project

[oldcarfan]

Thanks for the help. I found a 1/350th scale Kursk submarine and decided it would make a cool 1/25 lakester with a boxer engine.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Here's the 2015 FIA regs and classifications for vehicles attempting world records...

http://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/basicpage/file/20141218/Appendix%20D%20-%202015.pdf

Here's a recent overview of the SCTA class breakdowns

http://www.hotrod.com/events/coverage/hrdp-1301-salt-101-bonneville-racing-guide/

And this from the horse's mouth...

http://www.bonnevilleracing.com/find-your-car-classification-for-bonneville/

Edited March 20, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[LDO]

Thanks for the help. I found a 1/350th scale Kursk submarine and decided it would make a cool 1/25 lakester with a boxer engine.

I like the way you think. Sounds like a cool project.

[slantasaurus]

Thanks for the help. I found a 1/350th scale Kursk submarine and decided it would make a cool 1/25 lakester with a boxer engine.

Pretty sure the submarine body would make it a Streamliner not a Lakester.

[LDO]

Pretty sure the submarine body would make it a Streamliner not a Lakester.

If the wheels and tires are exposed, it's a lakester.

[Ace-Garageguy]

If the wheels and tires are exposed, it's a lakester.

Absolutely correct.

[oldcarfan]

Correction; The Kursk I bought is actually the 1/700 scale Typhoon sold by HobbyBoss, not 1/350th. These subs are essentially two submarines linked side by side so the hull is wider than it is tall. I think it will just hold a VW or Corvair engine. Incidentally, there are several 1/350 scale subs made by HobbyBoss that make pretty decent tank bodies if you shorten the length a bit. Their LA class and the Soviet Alfa come to mind. They can be found at most hobby stores for $10-15. I would post a pic, but I still can't seem to conquer that technology!

[Ace-Garageguy]

These subs are essentially two submarines linked side by side...

Hmmm...Howard Johansen of Howard's Cams built this twin-tank lakester in around '49. Not too successful if I remember correctly, but interesting.

[oldcarfan]

I can't post pics, but here is a link to a built-up Typhoon model. http://www.silentthundermodels.com/ship_models2/russian_typhoon.html . If you take away the tower and the fins, you are left with a pretty good shell about 9 inches long. Plus the models are cheap to experiment on!

Edited March 27, 2015 by oldcarfan

[LDO]

There's a big-scale Skipjack sub that would make an awesome lakester. I would guess it would be about 1/6 scale.

[Ace-Garageguy]

There's a big-scale Skipjack sub that would make an awesome lakester. I would guess it would be about 1/6 scale.

Great idea ! Soon as I read "Skipjack" my little brain lit up. Perfect lines for a belly-tanker.

[LDO]

I just looked up the dimensions for Skipjack. Assuming the Moebius model is accurately sized, it will be 5.25" dia and 42 inches long. In 1/6, that works out to 21 scale feet in length and 31.5 inches in diameter.

1/8 would be 28' long and 42" dia. That's kind of long, but the hull is in 4 pieces and could be shortened by anyone who would convert a submarine hull into a race car. A scale diameter of 42" is bigger than a P-38 tank, which leaves plenty of room for taking a little off the bottom to get it lower, then go with a canopy and fairing. Lots of model car parts available in 1/8 scale for the effort, too. But hey- if someone wanted to go 1/6, they could use a diecast engine, or a Tamiya motorcycle engine. There is a diecast Offenhauser 4cyl available. They have been used on the salt, too. Don Vesco's estate recently offered two for sale.

I really like Gary's idea. I hope my posts haven't sidetracked it too much.