57fordpu, off topic, but in what class would a efi fuel injected twin turbo 292 y-block go with for example '60 Ford Starliner body and what would be the record to break? Not that I'm intending to attend, but...

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

Isn't Banks the turbo guy? They have a lot of money to throw at it.  The pictures of the trucks, is that a 57 hood with a 60 grill and headlights?

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

Hi charlie, nice to read of another Y-BLOCK pioneer and your exploits, great work! Have you seen the nice photo of your truck in Feb 09 GOODGUYS magazine, nearly 1/2 page! Thought you may like to know.  Theres and old saying that i think about when i read of your trucks great results with that little engine; "Run what you brung and hope you brung enough!" . best regards, Aussie Bill.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Roy, We haven't talked since Bonneville, so, congratulations on your latest record.  I really meant it when I told you "good luck" as we were leaving, you just don't give up and you deserve it.  However, we will be back and doing our best.

Glad you like the site, these are really good people.  Look for a PM soon.

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Seppo, what are you dreamin' up?  It is nice to think about these things, I do it all the time.

Interesting you should ask about these classes as this is my next area of classifications with a Y-Block (2009 will be the last year for the truck).  I will try to keep it short, but I need to write a little to spell it out.

Stock type coupes and sedans run in two basic categories, "classic" (1981 and earlier) and "regular" (they really don't use that word), (Usually 1982 and up) (most often Cameros, Firebirds and sometimes late model T-Birds).  I don't know exactly how many years ago it split like that but it was around 2000.  It gives the less aerodynamic bodies a chance to run in their own group.

In your case the EFI is not allowed in the classic category unless it is OEM.  That means you would be placed in the regular classes and the records for your dream machine would be in that area.

292 cu. in. would be in the "D" class, the turbos would be considered "Blown", with no blowers available in 1960, you would have to run "Gas Coupe" instead of production.  Your class would be D/BGC.  The record currently is 265 and change, set in 2003.

Mechanical fuel injection or carbs would allow you to run classic and that would be D/CBGC.  The current record there is 209 plus set in 1980 by our friend Gail Banks.

Our older friend Karol Miller, went just over 150 in 58 with this same kind of setup, Latham Blower (with carbs) and 259 cu. in.  In 1956 he went 139 plus with a 312 E-code and in 1957 he went 150 plus with a 302 E-code (as per articles I have read).

Too much information and hard to believe?  Yeah, but with new technology and deep pockets, these guys can do unbelievable things.  Besides that, the current engines are almost all aftermarket parts (blocks to heads).  Probably the only thing from the "factory" is a thermostat housing.  By the way, this is gas, fuel adders start a "whole nother" conversation (and higher speeds).

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Gary,

Banks is the turbo guy alright.  He is into everything now (especially trucks) including NASCAR.  I met him in Las Vegas a year ago and he shared some wind tunnel (legal for my class) info that he thought would help my truck.  I have not been able to adapt it yet, but I will for this season.

All of the trucks that you saw were 57's.  The first three had 58 grilles because I liked the quad headlights better.  However, now that I am racing a 57 I thought it would be more nostalgic to run the correct grille.

Thanks for asking............ 

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Aussiebill,

Thanks for the comments and heads up on the magazine.  Actually the March issue of GoodGuys Magazine has more pictures.  Classic Trucks had a nice picture and caption in their March issue and the editor told me that there would be more as they picked us for an award at the Texas Loan Star Nationals car show in October of 2008.  I'm told there is still other magazines that will run pictures and information soon.

Please note that there would be no success without the help of engine builder Tim McMaster.  Not only does he design and build the power for this thing, he also calls quite often and makes sure I am on the ball with finishing touches.

Thanks again...................

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

57FordPu, thanks about that info about classes. So, you won't be seeing us racing at Bonneville .

About aerodynamics. How about flat aluminum sheet under the car with Formula One style ground effects and diffusors to direct air and to generate suction to keep the car steady at high speeds. And installing radiator horizontally to the bed with fans sucking air from under the car to create more downforce.

I might be wrong, but for me it seems that your car "travelled" quite a bit at speeds on that video clip. Is it about the tyres or the grip or the tracks on the salt?

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

Seppo,

Good question about aerodynamics.  Pickups are handcuffed as to body changes.  There are only two categories, production and modified.  Modified basically means an engine swap to something that was not available during the production year for your vehicle.

The rules specifically state that you cannot use belly pans, change the location of the radiator, no air ducts, no vents, no vortex generators, no spoilers, and no changes in body panels (cannot even cut a hole in the bed).  Only in "modified" can you use a front bumper air dam.  The only hole allowed in the body is to add a hood scoop.

Changing any of these rules will put you with the faster (much more aerodynamic) coupe and sedan altered classes.  This is one of the reason the records are so much lower in the pickup categories.

Good eye on the movement of the truck at speed.  Most cars move sideways quite a bit during the highspeed portion of the run especially later in the event when ruts from high hp vehicles make the track surface a little uneven.  If you are fortunate to be among the first to race on a new surface, it most likely will run straight and true.  Other reasons for the movement are soft spots, car aerodynamics, and the rearend trying to drive around the front end. 

When viewing cars from the side, they look like they are running straight, but if you saw an aerial view, you would be surprised at the movement (fish tailing and drifting).  I asked lots of questions about handling and the old timers warned me not to correct much during a run.  They said if it wants to drift, let it drift, and it will eventually come back.  Sounds good, but the pucker factor gets a little high the closer you get to the cones.  You probably hear quite a bit about spins.  The two main reasons are over correcting and the rear trying do drive around the frontend (and who wants to lift on the throttle?). 

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Got a great private message from Charlie M.  He was thoughtfully (without being public on the forum) trying to ask a question about my possibly bending the rules on the race truck.  He noticed that I molded in the gas filler neck hole on the side of the cab.  Thanks Charlie, I never even thought of it.

But not to worry, the rules (there are so many) state that you must remove the gas tank from inside the pickup cab.  So, when you remove the tank, you also remove the filler neck and the hole that is left open now must be closed.

I did have a problem once when I was trying to increase the pressure behind the rear window.  I ran the exhaust up into the bed just behind the cab in an attempt to shoot big holes in the low pressure area (interesting idea huh?).  When the tech inspectors saw it, their eyes got real big .  However after a huddled conference, they said that it was a grey area due to the exhaust rules (another long story) and that they wouldn't stop me from running.  They also said that if another entry (that means you Roy) protested, they wouldn't guarantee I would have much of a leg to stand on (protests do happen, but I have never seen one).  Long story short, I removed it.

Please feel free to ask questions or recommend your ideas.  You know how it is, when you are so close, it is easy to overlook something.  Besides, 2008 was our first full year of racing and we are still learning every day.

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com