Nova Salt Flat Racer

[chris chabre]

3 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Thanks for providing valuable insight Chris. I have extremely limited knowledge and obviously making mistakes here. I'm dating this build to a 1995-2000 run and (wrongly) assumed rules were not as strict then. If you are shooting for 250, does that mean you already have your red hat?

it's an amazing build!  I'd leave the bumpers the way they are, I don't have a red hat yet but the last car I was a partner in went nearly 190 after I left the team. A red hat is a goal of mine though. Obtaining a red hat is actually harder that most people realize. going over 200 isn't the only requirement. 

[Belugawrx]

15 minutes ago, chris chabre said:

weight is your friend on the salt.

See..I learn something new every day...

Interior is looking great Pierre (2thumsup)

[chris chabre]

41 minutes ago, Belugawrx said:

See..I learn something new every day...

Interior is looking great Pierre (2thumsup)

When we started building one of the cars I was part of, a veteran racer told us to forget everything we know about racing set ups. He was right haha.

[Muncie]

8 hours ago, chris chabre said:

it's an amazing build!  I'd leave the bumpers the way they are, I don't have a red hat yet but the last car I was a partner in went nearly 190 after I left the team. A red hat is a goal of mine though. Obtaining a red hat is actually harder that most people realize. going over 200 isn't the only requirement. 

Good to see you here Chris.

I believe, at last count, that considerably more people have climbed Everest than have a red hat from Bonneville.  A red hat is awarded for setting a record over 200 mph. Blue hat for 300MPH.  A tradition that goes way back.

[chris chabre]

1 hour ago, Muncie said:

Good to see you here Chris.

I believe, at last count, that considerably more people have climbed Everest than have a red hat from Bonneville.  A red hat is awarded for setting a record over 200 mph. Blue hat for 300MPH.  A tradition that goes way back.

Im fairly certain that is true about Everest. I had been mentally planning a few different combinations for a new car and I even started collecting some parts but with our son being ill, Ive shut down any and all plans for the new shop, builds etc

[Pierre Rivard]

Last set of updates for this build I had to rush to finish. I wanted it done before final preparations for an extended vacation.

Aero hubcaps are from Parts by Parks. Original finish on first photo. I flat cleared them and added graphite dry pigments (photo 2)

 

[Pierre Rivard]

Made a parachute

Re-did the rear wing which was too big. Brush painted aluminium and sponge finished with a slightly lighter shade to give it an unpainted aluminium look

Engine installed and chassis installed to body, which allowed the final engine component sets to be integrated: ignition coil to firewall and inline fuel pump to right inner fender.

I decided to leave the bumpers rusted, and fabricated sheet metal inserts to block off lamps and grille inlets

Last item on the check list: exhaust dumps, made from 4mm Evergreen tubes with ends hollowed out.

This one is done. I'll try to post photos underclass tomorrow.

 

[slusher]

Looking 👀 awesome 😎!

[charlie libby]

Went back to page1 just incase i missed anything,very cool!  Nice job. And very guick compared to my builds

[Nacho Z]

As I’ve said before, I don’t get on here as much as I would like to. The upside to this is I get to “binge watch” everyone’s progress!  Pierre, you have done a fantastic job on this.  I truly appreciate all of your updates, photos, and explanations of what, and how, you do things!  Great job, buddy!

[MarkJ]

Totally awesome build, Pierre. Love the big moon wheel covers and the parachute and basically everything else about the build. Can't wait to see the under glass photos when you get them finished. One more thing. if Rex White and his crew from the early sixty's built this car it has to be a winner.

[chris chabre]

CAME OUT KILLER!!!!!

[Mark W]

Pierre, your attention to detail is incredible! 
The “Salt Rat” effect you were after came out perfect! I like all kinds of building techniques, but the weathered/rusted look is right on top.

My compliments!

[Claude Thibodeau]

Salut Pierre!

Was great to meet you yesterday at the Trois-Rivières show. I repeat what I told you: this build is world-class, original, and begs to land on contest tables!

Enjoy your vacation, and I look forward to meet you at shows this coming fall!

CT 

[kensar]

A marvelous result that really fits the theme!

[Pierre Rivard]

On 4/27/2025 at 9:43 AM, slusher said:

Looking 👀 awesome 😎!

Thanks Carl, much appreciated

On 4/27/2025 at 10:22 AM, charlie libby said:

Went back to page1 just incase i missed anything,very cool!  Nice job. And very guick compared to my builds

Thanks Charlie, actually much quicker than my usual pace due to a deadline to "close the shop" for travel.

23 hours ago, Nacho Z said:

As I’ve said before, I don’t get on here as much as I would like to. The upside to this is I get to “binge watch” everyone’s progress!  Pierre, you have done a fantastic job on this.  I truly appreciate all of your updates, photos, and explanations of what, and how, you do things!  Great job, buddy!

Well you are here now and that means a lot. Thanks for the constant support.

17 hours ago, chris chabre said:

CAME OUT KILLER!!!!!

Thanks a lot Chris. Mad a few mistakes with regulations but we showed up. Let's try to pass inspection!

16 hours ago, Mark W said:

Pierre, your attention to detail is incredible! 
The “Salt Rat” effect you were after came out perfect! I like all kinds of building techniques, but the weathered/rusted look is right on top.

My compliments!

Thanks Mark. The weathering piece was tons of fun. Not bad for a first try.

2 hours ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

Salut Pierre!

Was great to meet you yesterday at the Trois-Rivières show. I repeat what I told you: this build is world-class, original, and begs to land on contest tables!

Enjoy your vacation, and I look forward to meet you at shows this coming fall!

CT 

Likewise Claude, an immense pleasure to meet yesterday. Your job is to bug me until I cave in and participate in November. I think I could be convinced...

4 minutes ago, kensar said:

A marvelous result that really fits the theme!

Thanks Ken. Just posted under glass

[Pierre Rivard]

 

[Mark C.]

Love it!  Awesome concept and execution!

[chris chabre]

6 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Thanks a lot Chris. Mad a few mistakes with regulations but we showed up. Let's try to pass inspection!

always leave them something to find!!!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

You work too fast for me, Pierre, I don't have time to keep up with you.  It's unbelievable how talented you are, it's art, it's astonishingly realistic!  I'm going to go and have a look at your Under Glass thread. 😊

[Pierre Rivard]

11 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

You work too fast for me, Pierre, I don't have time to keep up with you.  It's unbelievable how talented you are, it's art, it's astonishingly realistic!  I'm going to go and have a look at your Under Glass thread. 😊

Merci Francis. This one was built very fast. I did in 3 weeks what I usually do in 8. I just wanted it finished to clean up the bench for a self imposed 5 month break (travel and golf on the menu). I'm happy you like the result, one of these rare builds where everything falls in place. Even the weathered painting process, something I had not even tested came out good. Next project (fall) will not be so easy, a Fernando Pinto resin kit.