The Puzzle Post!

[BS25]

I think the clamshell wings are no longer available on the newer cars - though most did go out with the cycle wings, the clamshells kept the car cleaner when used all year round in the UK! Is it your car Tony?

I'll have a look around for a suitable vehicle for you all to ponder over!

[Sud 145]

No not mine Bryan it's in one of my customers "Bodyshop" not just a "fit parts" place. The clamshells he said are now unobtainable new so these he'd refurbed. He does other racing stuff i've seen more than one Ginetta in there. Spots like this is why I always have my camera with me - no smart phone. Lol

[BS25]

Here's one for you all:-

[Kegsti66]

Love the rocket launchers !!
I will have a crack at something like a Chevron ?

[BS25]

Nope - of that era though - I took the pic at Classic Le Mans 2012, the car in front is a Porsche 917 but I thought you'd all get that!

[Sud 145]

Love the Goodyear stickers but riding on Avons. Ford rear lights-is that a clue?

[Jube]

Good one Bryan, The rear lights are from a MK1 Cortina which could suggest a 60's race car with a Ford connection?

Looks quite bespoke so maybe a special one off TVR as they were also using the MK1 Cortina lights on their 60's Grantura MkIV around this time.

Anywhere near?

[Jube]

Ah, not the only one to spot the Ford connection then!

Just shows how slow I am at typing.

[Kegsti66]

Second choice was a Lola of some sort

[Jube]

Wow, managed to finally find out what it is BUT only due to your clue - I'd have NEVER of got the answer without your additional info!

I won't spoil it yet for everyone though...

[Sud 145]

Wow took some googling. Howmet TX turbine.

[Jube]

What a really interesting car for it's time (or indeed now) - actually had an electric motor for reverse.

Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howmet_TX

[Sud 145]

Thanks for that I couldn't copy the link. Great read.

[BS25]

That's correct! It made a fantastic noise too!

[Spacenut]

Darn it! I knew the answer to that one!

I love the Howmet Tx! McKee CanAm chassis, and (in the originals at least) a Bell-Textron prototype helicopter turbine. This looks like the one belonging to the French guy, who has re-instated the original wastegate set-up (the centre pipe), where you can dump the boost, oddly by flooring the throttle.

If you haven't seen this incredible car spooling up on the start line, may I introduce you to some of the best in-car footage ever...

http://youtu.be/x24c-7pJZeM

(Qualy at Spa-Francorchamps)

http://youtu.be/Zk8tfSFOJ9Q

(Le Vigeant)

The guy only has one hand, but that doesn't stop him blasting past a lot of fast machinery!

The sound is awesome!

Always wanted to make a jet car - Allison 250 helicopter engine is the preferred starting point, about 300 shp at sea level, with over 625 lb/ft of torque at zero rpm...

Lauren

[BS25]

Brilliant videos - it blitzed past the Ferrari Daytona on the run up to Les Combes!

The sound was so distinctive at Le Mans too - it was easy to tell what was approaching during the night!

[Kegsti66]

Oh Lauren !!
What fantastic clips, that thing is unreal. How does he drive it with one hand ?
Thanks also to Bryan for getting us searching.
Awesome !!

[PETROLHEAD]

Ditto!

Fantastic to see and even better to hear i bet,

Crikey!!

[junior]

Ha. That footage made me smile. Excellent. Reminded me of a friend who was late to meet me one evening and when he arrived he was still shaking

as his friend had asked him to help while they ran up a home made model of a jet engine in his garage. He said it was terrifying being next to an

untested engine, but he would not have missed it for the world. Large thermos flask sized.

[Johnboy]

OMG. That sound amazing but ive got to say my 33 sounded better round spa tho well nearly

[Spacenut]

Ha. That footage made me smile. Excellent. Reminded me of a friend who was late to meet me one evening and when he arrived he was still shaking as his friend had asked him to help while they ran up a home made model of a jet engine in his garage. He said it was terrifying being next to an untested engine, but he would not have missed it for the world. Large thermos flask sized.

I've been discussing the use of a small axial gas turbine like that with Graham Boulter, who was looking for something that would qualify as a Shelsley hillclimb special. I liked the way that Nick Mann had harnessed a Merlin helicopter APU with a 2 litre Cosworth engine (the piston engine uses bleed air from the APU compressor to provide forced induction), but the system is highly unreliable as it operates on a knife-edge. So I thought an open-loop system might work better - gas turbine exhaust drives turbo impellor which in turn provides constant boost pressure. I got the idea off the turbo pumps we use in rocket engines. I call it a turbo-compressor, but perhaps wisely Graham has gone down the supercharger route for his latest hillclimb project. It might not be mad enough to be classed as a Shelsley Special, but it will be VERY fast!

One day though, my turbo-compressor will howl. Maybe.

Lauren

[PETROLHEAD]

I'll look forward to that Lauren

[Alfasixnut]

Talking of turbine engined specials there is a build going on now of a turbine engined Spridget!
The builder (Frankenhealey) has a V8 powered Healey 100/8 and his race car transporter is a much rebuilt "Green Goddess" ex MoD fire engine - so he knows what he is doing. I wonder why I picked up on the "spridget - modified" thing??

[Kegsti66]

Come on Philip, you know we want to see some pictures. Any chance ?
The service barge sound fun as well.

Can someone tell me how to post a link to a youtube clip please.

[BS25]

Here's another one for you all - it's an easy one so lets have year, model, engine configuration and main driver!

[Spacenut]

Crikey! Transverse cart spring and a swing axle - anything that lethal ought to be the brainchild of Dr Porsche

And it appears to be silver so I would venture Auto Union, Tazio Nuvolari? 1936, mid-engine? I'm probably completely wrong. Can't we do some more post-war stuff, I'm useless at this game!

Lauren

PS - I've just had a horrible thought - what if its grey and is the mid-engined Alfa 6C...? Oops!

[Sud 145]

Think you got it spot on but maybe a different driver.

[BS25]

Pretty much there! 1934 Auto Union Type A, V16, principally driven by Hans Stuck (Snr). As you say, pretty lethal - this had a fairly mild 295bhp - by 1936 they were up to 525bhp - bigger capacity, bigger supercharger and evil empire fuel helping it get up there!

This was another pic from the Goodwood Revival in 2012 - they had several pre-war Auto Unions and Mercedes there - all were demonstrated on track, brilliant sight!

Here's the engine- just look at the detail!

[Spacenut]

Well, that was closer than I thought!

Beautifully engineered, but utterly bonkers - swing axles at the back, Beetle-style torsion beam at the front, skinny tyres and a supercharged V16 behind your head!

I'd forgotten about Stuck. The only other driver I could think of was Caracciola.

Lauren

[Alfasixnut]

[quote="Kegsti66"]Come on Philip, you know we want to see some pictures. Any chance ?

7eaa52ce-8f34-47c6-a9d3-9df186be2915_zpsa00431f6.jpg (59.99 KiB) Viewed 17585 times

Well that is the turbine unit.....
The service barge sound fun as well.
Hi Lauren
There is a build thread "Green Goddess" on Retro Rides website.