Chat Board: Re: Congrats to Bob Griffith & Eric Lenore!

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Re: Congrats to Bob Griffith & Eric Lenore!
Posted by Lenore on August 20, 2009, 8:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Congrats to Bob Griffith & Eric Lenore!"
The short answer is that it takes about 1000 HP at the flywheel to push this car through the air at 240 MPH (1981 Camaro). The motor is right at 500 CIs but the AA class allows for any size motor in AA. We have motors to fit three different classes and usually run something between 440-500 CI.

The long answer is that Bonneville is very much a traction limited arena. The salt is like driving on hard packed snow with a inch or so of soft stuff on top. The skinny tires are basically high speed rated front runners on all four corners and traction is like Palmdale during a hail storm. Unlike a drag car designed for acceleration, these cars typically carry a lot of ballast (ours weighs 5,000 lbs). The engine can easily overpower the wheels given the lack of traction, so the trick is to get enough weight and/or downforce to keep the car on the ground and the tires hooked.

Separately, the engine has to survive nearly five miles at full throttle so it is built more like a NASCAR motor than a drag motor. A big armed drag motor probably would not live during the long run and that is likely why you do not see a lot of big CI combinations. There are tons of parts (mainly rods, pistons and oil pans) that fall victim to the salt. I know we have donated our fair share over the years. Nevertheless it is a lot of fun and every gearhead should go check it out at least once in their lifetime.

Eric
--Previous Message--
:
: how much horsepower does it take to go that
: fast???? how many cubes it that thing? I
: would think if its AA it has to be big?
: --Previous Message--
: Bob Griffith just broke the "AA Classic
: Coupe" record at Bonneville. The
: previous record in this class was 225 mph,
: and Bob just went 242 mph to break it. Eric
: told me that this was done in the heat of
: the day, and their goal is to go 250 mph.
: Good job guys!!
:
:
:

Message Thread:

Congrats to Bob Griffith & Eric Lenore! - Chris C August 11, 2009, 1:47 pm

Re: Congrats to Bob Griffith & Eric Lenore! - wild17 August 20, 2009, 6:14 pm

Re: Congrats to Bob Griffith & Eric Lenore! - Lenore August 20, 2009, 8:23 pm

Wow, I like that explanation! - Rim High Auto August 21, 2009, 12:06 am

Re: Wow, I like that explanation! - Lenore August 21, 2009, 10:03 am

Re: Wow, I like that explanation! - Rim High Auto August 21, 2009, 10:39 pm

Great job guys!!! - Mel / PSCA August 17, 2009, 8:33 pm

Re: Congrats to Bob Griffith & Eric Lenore! - artiehou August 11, 2009, 11:15 pm

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--Previous Message-- : The short answer is that it takes about 1000 : HP at the flywheel to push this car through : the air at 240 MPH (1981 Camaro). The motor : is right at 500 CIs but the AA class allows : for any size motor in AA. We have motors to : fit three different classes and usually run : something between 440-500 CI. : : The long answer is that Bonneville is very : much a traction limited arena. The salt is : like driving on hard packed snow with a inch : or so of soft stuff on top. The skinny : tires are basically high speed rated front : runners on all four corners and traction is : like Palmdale during a hail storm. Unlike a : drag car designed for acceleration, these : cars typically carry a lot of ballast (ours : weighs 5,000 lbs). The engine can easily : overpower the wheels given the lack of : traction, so the trick is to get enough : weight and/or downforce to keep the car on : the ground and the tires hooked. : : Separately, the engine has to survive nearly : five miles at full throttle so it is built : more like a NASCAR motor than a drag motor. : A big armed drag motor probably would not : live during the long run and that is likely : why you do not see a lot of big CI : combinations. There are tons of parts : (mainly rods, pistons and oil pans) that : fall victim to the salt. I know we have : donated our fair share over the years. : Nevertheless it is a lot of fun and every : gearhead should go check it out at least : once in their lifetime. : : Eric : --Previous Message-- : : how much horsepower does it take to go that : fast???? how many cubes it that thing? I : would think if its AA it has to be big? : --Previous Message-- : Bob Griffith just broke the "AA Classic : Coupe" record at Bonneville. The : previous record in this class was 225 mph, : and Bob just went 242 mph to break it. Eric : told me that this was done in the heat of : the day, and their goal is to go 250 mph. : Good job guys!! : : : : :

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