Geary, I love this picture
Geary, I love this picture
Tony
Unique 427 #4279480 Precision Engine Machine Company 427 s/o 483.47 stroker close ratio toploader 3.31 jag rear
Looked at the speedo on the back straight at Loews in 4th gear....135+...front end was not touching the ground very hard....touchy steering....then had the ephiphany "I built this thing" going into NASCAR turn one!!!!!
dickieboy7
Unique 289FIA-Green
351C-4V cobra jet
Toploader
did it myself..and fix it
Pride in accomplishment is a wonderful thing.
I love life and all body parts functional. After 1 year 105. But who knows. maybe 106 some day. The beauty of it its as much fun to me at 45 as it is 105 or more for those with you know what!
Quite a few years ago while attending a DSCC event on the Sebring FL race track, the instructor riding with me stated, "this car really pulls hard and you need a larger speedometer." I glanced over at the speedo and it was pegged at over 160 mph (my speedo only reads to 160). Sometimes I was hitting my rev limiter in 4th with a wide ratio top loader transmission with 133 rears.
Have no idea how fast I was going because I glanced at the speedo a second after I took my foot off the gas peddle and was moving my foot to the brake peddle to start braking for the next corner. The car was vibrating so bad at top speed that the road became blurry (I guess the muscles in my eyes couldn't keep up with the vibrations), so I never looked at the speedo on most laps and concentrated on trying to focus on the approaching corner. As soon as I got off the throttle my vision of the road immediately cleared up. The instructor also stated that the car was too fast. At first I had thought that was a compliment, but then realized he meant I was driving the car past it's limits. The 4-piston Willwood brakes with racing fluid couldn't keep up with the speed as I could only make about 3 circuits before my fluid boiled over and I lost partial brakes. That was real scary the first time I lost brakes. Luckily I lost the brakes on one of the much slower straights after coming off one of the long, faster straights. I anticipated it the next couple of times on the track after replacing the fluids. After the thrill wore off, I came to my senses and thought to myself, "Are you crazy? The terrible vibration was probably because the car was getting ready to fly and no brakes? What am I thinking?." The more I thought about it, the more scared I became about what might have happened. That's when I also realized why the instructor said to pull into the pits and let him out and what he meant by "the car was too fast.". I consider myself lucky that I didn't kill myself that day. Have never attempted this again. Pretty much lost my desire to drive anywhere near this fast after that.
Last edited by Jerry Cowing; February 3rd, 2011 at 12:18 PM.
Jer
Great story Jerry, let me know your tire diameter, your rear end ratio, and what your rev limit was set at and I can calculate your speed.
Rod
Roseville, Ca.
289 FIA #9152 "The Flintstone Cobra"
Rod as I recall Jerry runs 133 rears. (Sorry Jerry - Ya missed a typo.)
-Geary
Another image or two for ya'll
-Loading problem & fighting to save it
Last edited by Aggressor; February 3rd, 2011 at 11:01 PM.
That would explain the vibration and blurry vision
we could call it the Cobra factor
Rod
Roseville, Ca.
289 FIA #9152 "The Flintstone Cobra"
That's it Rod.
The "Cobra factor"
Tony
Unique 427 #4279480 Precision Engine Machine Company 427 s/o 483.47 stroker close ratio toploader 3.31 jag rear
Rod,
You were close. According to my calculations at 6000 RPM the speed would have been 154 mph. I have a 6500 rev limiter and this calculation would have been 167 mph.
Anyway you look at it, both of these speeds are too fast for a Unique running Goodyears. I had them squeeling on all the corners and could feel the tires fold over on the wheels and settle in each time I entered a curve. After reading Alan's thread about his tire coming off the wheel and flipping his car, I count my blessings even more that I didn't crash that day.
Jer
Hey guys my OH $hit story was at Mid Ohio on the back straight I'm not sure of the speed around 140? The car lifted off the ground and made an immediate stage left. Let off the throttle and was able to gain control to manuver the next right turn. I would reccommend a front spoiler to keep the air from the underneath.
Scott
4279454
SA 428
3:54
I think Jerry means he has a 3.31 rear end ....
dickieboy7
Unique 289FIA-Green
351C-4V cobra jet
Toploader
did it myself..and fix it
Yup, transposed a couple of numbers. Minor mistake. The 1.33 rears meant I would have gone 384 mph at 6000 RPM, so I guess 3.31 rears is a little closer. What's a few numbers amongst friends? Flying for the Air Force, I used to travel at twice that speed when I went supersonic (650 Knots+). A little different sensation however breaking the sound barrier and not touching the ground or worrying about whether the tires can take the speed.
Last edited by Jerry Cowing; February 7th, 2011 at 04:24 PM.
Jer
Let's see now ...... so with a 12,000 rpm FE and proper tires ....hmmmmm!!!!!!
Last edited by Aggressor; February 7th, 2011 at 08:46 PM.
Since we are correcting:
Never have seen a 3:31 rear end
Maybe it's a 3:31 Differential!!!!!!
Rick
427 S/C , 427 Side-oiler, 4 Speed Close Ratio Top Loader, 3:73 Gear
#4279405
Here is a rear end
Tony
Unique 427 #4279480 Precision Engine Machine Company 427 s/o 483.47 stroker close ratio toploader 3.31 jag rear
Good call Tony. You know one when you see one.
I think I know her ...she owes me money as I recollect.
Last edited by Aggressor; February 8th, 2011 at 08:24 PM.