Tails from Bonneville

[aerohead]

here are some boat-tail shots I got at Mike Cook's 'Shootout' the week after World of Speed.
There are a few views of the Poteet/Main 'Speed Demon' boat-tail a car which likely will turn out to be the worlds fastest traction-driven car.I was told that it had run 469-mph on a one-way pass the day before.
You'll notice the reflex-camber of the body sides at the termination of the tail,to guide the air parallel with the parachutes.
Aerodynamics is by AEROSMITH.
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The blue car is the Nish Family streamliner which is the fastest small-block,normally aspirated car.386+mph.
Terry Nish told me that the car is his design.Jim Burkdoll ( USFRA President) and his son have done the most recent body mods at Burkdoll's shop in Ogden,Utah.
You may notice the VGs at the wheel fairing terminus and also preceding the parachute tubes.
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A camera boom would be necessary to capture these cars body architecture in true-length,something beyond the scope of my trip.Maybe another day.
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I tried to add more photos but a 'security token' warning came up.I'll have to get help on that.Sorry.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by aerohead

There are a few views of the Poteet/Main 'Speed Demon' boat-tail a car....................

Your partial photos made me curious. Found this webpage with an image and a video. I don't know what kind of engine that is, but it sounds sort of like a P-51 Mustang, and I bet faster.

Poteet and Main Speed Demon Streamliner 435mph Run! Enough Said! | Automotive Addicts


With that wheel layout/arrangement, I think this is more like a motorcycle than a car - just say'n.

Looks like a crash landed jet fighter.

Bang Shift : Event Coverage : Land Speed Races : Poteet and Main Speed Demon Streamliner runs 387 at Bonneville Speedweek 2009


EDIT: found more information.....................
Mopar Magazine | Four Mopar® Cylinders = 400 MPH?

“The mighty 4-cylinder begins with an 8.40-inch-deck-height Mopar A4 aluminum Midget race block.

[aerohead]

I believe the engine is a Chrysler Hemi-derived unit.
As far as the wheel layout,the rulebook says 4-wheels.
She is very fast.
Goldenrod was designed for 555-mph.She ran 421 mph,one-way, in 3rd-gear on 'slush'.She averaged 409 and change.Chrysler had more powerful engines waiting in the wings.She'll never be raced again so we'll never know about that cars potential.
I would anticipate a new world record for Speed Demon next years season.
Nice tail!
P.S. a de-winged F-14,or F-18 will run soon at Edward's Air Force Base,California,on Roger's Dry Lake.

[jime57]

Fascinating pictures. I guess we might say these guys are working at the other end of the spectrum from ecomodders!

The body shapes interested me. The Nish car "appears" to stuff a lot of air under the front, which I would have thought would be bad, but perhaps they are generating downforce?

The Speed Demon looks in profile like a wing. One would think that would generate enough lift to cause it to get airborne.

But - I don't really have a clue on cars running at these speeds.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by jimepting

The Nish car "appears" to stuff a lot of air under the front

Yea, the blue car's nose is way up in the air for some reason. It's like they want to count on a certain amount of air flowing under the car and it's smooth underbelly.

In contrast, the Speed Demon seeks to eliminate all air flow under the vehicle, but you know a little is bound to get under there.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by jimepting

Fascinating pictures. I guess we might say these guys are working at the other end of the spectrum from ecomodders!

The body shapes interested me. The Nish car "appears" to stuff a lot of air under the front, which I would have thought would be bad, but perhaps they are generating downforce?

The Speed Demon looks in profile like a wing. One would think that would generate enough lift to cause it to get airborne.

But - I don't really have a clue on cars running at these speeds.

Yes,they take Hucho's relationship about Cd/MPG/Top Speed and concentrate on speed.
The cars attempt to minimize projected frontal area as much as possible while shrink-wrapping the driver and all mechanicals.
The cars are typically quite heavy,some are 3-tons or better.With 5-miles/7-miles of acceleration distance mass is less important than aerodynamics.Also,the extra weight helps prevent wheelspin which can and does get the cars sideways.
Drag coefficients for the streamliner class reach into Cd 0.11 territory.
Goldenrod averaged Cd 0.115 in the Lockheed tunnel.
A scale model of Kenny Lion's BMW motorcycle registered Cd 0.11 in the Texas Tech tunnel.
Speed Demon strikes you as a fuselage.It is fully ground-effects back to the diffuser.
The Nish car does allow air underneath.The lower profile may generate downforce.I don't know and I didn't want to pester Terry or his family/crew.
Both cars have the stabilizing rear fin to keep the CP rear of C.G..
These cars can fly if rotated sideways,as I witnessed with Ed Tradup's 'Danny Boy' streamliner.
You may have seen Burt Munro 'get some air' on 'World's Fastest Indian.'
The ARVW and 1st-gen VW 1-liter would make fine Bonneville cars.
If I can ever get the T-100 to Bonneville I'll finally have some accurate data from which to reverse-engineer the trucks Cd.It's been unofficially to 115 mph,with plenty of throttle left.That's about 20 mph faster than stock so something's going on.

[JethroBodine]

I'd love to take my "tail" out to Bonneville to see what she can do.

BTW, thanks Aerohead for your work with the Templates and relentlessly telling us Newbies to concentrate on the rear of the vehicle. Some of us do get it.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

I'd love to take my "tail" out to Bonneville to see what she can do.

BTW, thanks Aerohead for your work with the Templates and relentlessly telling us Newbies to concentrate on the rear of the vehicle. Some of us do get it.

It would be nice to put you and the car in a worm-hole and transport you out to the salt flats.Vermont's a looooooooooooooong way away!
I'd really like to see your car run.I'd pay for your USFRA membership and World of Speed fees.
When the other attendees saw your time slips,they'd probably never think about their daily-drivers the same way ever again.Which would be the whole point.
Thanks for doing your car.There's no way to guess how many onlookers have been permanently affected by their experience seeing it.
This sort of thing was transformational for me,I can only imagine how it affects others.

[JethroBodine]

2500 miles, one way. I'm thinking VERY hard about trying to do it. Lots to do between then and now, either way.

[Sven7]

Very interesting photos! Has basjoos ever raced the AeroCivic?