Top Speed in a Unique??

[weaver]

I was black flagged at Lowes Motor Speedway for running too fast at a Kit Car event back in 94, 160 on the track radar. The next day I flipped the car entering turn 3, I had looked at the speedo going down the back straight and it showed 163 mph. The car was fairly stable but the tires I was running went away and rolled off the rim going into a chicane causing the rim to dig into the asphalt and turning me over. Terry pendleton was running with me that day and stayed on my tail, we both have Nascar engines.

[Aggressor]

For me top speed is 125 for a brief sprint on interstate 79 during the SAAC34 Convention last year. I got into it with an original 3000 series CSX (Number unknown) on the 20 minute run to Beaver Run Motorsports Park. Calculated top speed on my car is limited to 140 MPH due to the 39,500 RPM limit on the Paxtons.

A few more vintage racing photos.

- Geary

[Justin Upchurch]

In the FIA the speedometer only goes to 160, and I have had it that fast a couple of times, with a little room to go....maybe. It wasn't really too light, but you could tell a difference between 140 and 160.

I do not think Dick Smith"s car ever got to 198 miles per hour. I just don't think that he was running an endurance motor at the time that was capable of pushing that brick almost 200 MPH at Daytona's roval.

In 1993 Ford took a stock bodied 93 Cobra Mustang, and tried to get it to the 200 MPH mark. They finally got there but with an R trim Vortec and 740 HP to the wheels. This car is much more aerodynamic than our roadsters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nrba-lCFs8

Justin

[Aggressor]

Justin: Someday you'll have to upgrade and install one of my custom made Stewart Warner 240 MPH speedometers.

I just watched the video. Here's something for discussion.

The cd for a 1993 Cobra Mustang is listed at 0.37

The stats as published by Road & Track Magazine in 1966.

The drag coefficient for 427 Cobra S/C is 0.42, frontal area is 2.26 m2 (from Road&Track 1966)
(Daytona Cpe had cd = .29)

Coefficient of Drag (Cd): 0.42
Frontal area (sq. ft.): 24.3176
Vehicle and Rider Weight (lbs): 2550
Speed (mph): 198

Horsepower needed to push Dick Smith to 198 = 551.6

-Geary

[spd4me]

Gettin to old for this but I touched 133 on west Lakeshore, Birmingham, AL. Front end was very light and hard to keep in straight line. As I was slowing down, came over a slight hill, and the fuzz was on my side of road pointing radar right at me doing 90. Cost me $150. and 3 hrs in class. Now I make a first run down to check for cops. State Trooper ticket for speeding can run up to $300. Ain't worth the 20 sec thrill.
Bob

[davebetts]

On Pocono, PA tri-oval (North Course road track). I didn't have the courage to look down, I was mentally preparing for the braking to go through a sharp right turn; heavy brakes and throttle releveling of the car; but the driving instructor says we were doing 115 mph. Not enough track to go flat out, without continuing down the ti-oval (not allowed in roadrace program). Sounds as good as it feels though.
I must be getting older, but I will not do the high speed stuff without the right tires and track to safely run on. Doing AutoCross now, try it, alot of fun.

[Aggressor]

I understand one of the nastiest Uniques was built for wrestler Goldberg. 9000 rpm Ernie Elliott racing engine is what I have heard.

More Vintage
-Geary