Chris
Your description of the car is perfect. Yes I would love a copy of the
article. Seeing what it did when it got away that day in the pits is why the
rules say there must be a driver/rider in or on the vehicle when the engine
is running.
As far as our friend Gray Baskerville, he is a legend with all of us and we
are the fortunate ones because he was a big part of our lives and our sport.
He will be missed by all.
Glen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris R Harris" <yesford@clear.net.nz>
To: "glen barrett" <speedtimer@charter.net>; "Malcolm Pittwood"
<MPittwood@compuserve.com>; "LSR List" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Cc: "Glen A Barrett" <speedtimer@charter.net>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: Under Pressure
> List,
> Firstly, its a sad day indeed with the passing of Gray Baskerville. Like
Ed
> Vanscoy I signed onto HOT ROD in the early 60's and hold Gray along with a
> few others responsible for making the trek to Bonneville. I actually met
him
> just beyond the start line at Bonneville in 88 as I was walking around
> trying to stay cool in my black firesuit prior to an early run and had a
> brief talk to him. He certainly kept the fires burning through that
> 'twilight zone' period that HOT ROD went through.
>
> Glen, I actually have an article about that 'bottle rocket' with the Air
> Research in it. Looked like an extended lay down go-kart, driver very
> exposed, certainly laid rubber. Often wondered what became of it. When I
dig
> it out (probably Easter after we've moved house) I'll scan the article if
> anyone is interested.
>
> Chris Harris..............NZed
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "glen barrett" <speedtimer@charter.net>
> To: "Malcolm Pittwood" <MPittwood@compuserve.com>; "LSR List"
> <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Cc: "Glen A Barrett" <speedtimer@charter.net>
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 9:21 AM
> Subject: Re: Under Pressure
>
>
> > Malcolm and List
> > The system you describe regarding the air system used by Mickey Thompson
> was
> > the original concept of the Late John Bowen. John was a partner of mine
> for
> > many years on several cars.
> >
> > He was always looking for new ways to do things. It's funny this comes
up
> > now as I have been going through my old files and found a bunch of the
> > original sketches we used during the early development of the air
system.
> >
> > John and I built the 1st. system for a small block Chevy. We machined
and
> > hand fabricated all of the parts except for a couple of the pressure
> > regulators and valves.
> >
> > We tested it for about a year on an engine stand, no dyno at that time.
> John
> > got a commercial company involved and due to other racing and raising a
> > family I had to drop out of the project.
> >
> > Danny Ongias had a hand full when the system came on, sorta like a bunch
> of
> > turbo boost, like big time. He had a heck of a ride. The project was
> > workable but the hauling around a bunch of scuba bottles and having a
lot
> of
> > private time to test and develop it just didn't happen.
> >
> > It also required a lot of plumbing and caution as the high pressure
stored
> > is dangerous under any conditions. At one time at Lyons Drag Strip a car
> > with I believe Air Research turbos connected to the rear wheels and two
> > K-bottles of air strapped to the chassis and some how a neck got broke
off
> > the bottle.
> >
> > The bottle stayed attached to the car, however it spun the car around in
> the
> > pit area and caused some damage. I don't recall if anyone was hurt or
not
> > but they were banned from ever coming back. Never heard any more on the
> car.
> >
> > Glen
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Malcolm Pittwood" <MPittwood@compuserve.com>
> > To: "LSR List" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 9:00 AM
> > Subject: Under Pressure
> >
> >
> > > The use of compressed air as a substitute for atmospheric air (thats
all
> > > around us) has been tried on the 1/4 mile, as others have indicated.
> The
> > > top fuel dragster in the Garlits Museum was owned by Art Malone - it
is
> > > interesting in that the motor is a 'sidewinder' with the axle running
> > > through the engine 'V'. The tank was the full length of the chassis
in
> > > front of the cockpit. Called the "Air Car" I guess it was set to last
> say
> > > 8 seconds (I do recall it was charged to a pressure of 600psi). Car
was
> > > not a success on the tracks - but it could have been the sidewinder
> > concept
> > > not the air.
> > > So a Bonneville racer may have to be fitted either a large tank or one
> > that
> > > is under much higher storage pressure. If at higher pressure the
single
> > > tank wall thickness could be very thick - up to 1/2 inch is my guess.
> (I
> > > used to be able to do the maths, but it would take some more thinking
> > > about).
> > > Hot Rod magazine (December 1971) ran an article on Mickey Thompsons
> trials
> > > with a compressed air system on his Funny Car dragster. The engine is
> > said
> > > to have dynoed at 2800hp on alcohol. Diving SCUBA tanks at 2000psi
were
> > > used. Start up and burnouts would have been made as 'normally
> aspirated'
> > > before activating the "Thermocharger" system for a sub six second run.
> No
> > > news on how far this experiment went forward on to the race tracks.
> > > With the modern control techniques and EFI etc... this could be a good
> > idea
> > > for a small capacity engine at Bonneville where it would overcome
> altitude
> > > and reduce charge air temperatures (the expanding air will bring down
> the
> > > temperature). I guess though that the rule makers will call it a
> > > 'supercharger' or blower. And would the lectronics be allowed on the
> > > 'blower' system?
> > > We need someone like Mayf to run the numbers, before it can be said
that
> > > this idea is of zero merit.
> > > Malcolm.
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