After thousands and thousands of hours, we're just at the beginning...



When are you ready? When is the goal reached? Is it even possible to get there? To reach a level where nothing more can be done? Probably not.

 

But there are milestones. Times when dreams converted to hard work has paid off and it's time to calm down for a short period of time. As you all know we're at such a milestone now when our Volvo Amazon Landspeed Racer is on the ocean.

 

As I was searching for a specific picture for a friend I started to rewind, go back in time and found some pictures from our 3 year journey. A journey that now continuous to the next goal. Which is racing the beast. 

 

It's late Spring 2017 and we're at a really good test track. Sun is shining, everything works fine and we're so happy. We've reached somewhere, but we were not ready yet.

 

But there was an earlier phase. When more violence was appropriate... 

Back in those days we were happy too. But we were not ready yet...

We were welding....

...and welding...

...and welding....

But we were dreaming as well. 

And dreams do come true! (if you work really hard)

Once again, we were proud.  But we were not ready yet. 

Kalle was fighting with The Coolant Tank. But even if he's happy, he was NOT ready yet..

We started to work with the engine. Here some top decking going on.

We were really proud to have the Swedish Hot Rod celebrity, Göran Ambell, in our workshop. 

We went to US to interview the super experienced man, Erik Hansson, about Land Speed racing. And we learned a lot. But we were definitely not ready yet.  

We celebrated Christmas and took a day off. 

Frustration. The engine doesn't run properly. Evening after evening with misfire only. Wanna know the reason? The crank signal went bananas above 700rpm. Sensor was changed and happiness in its purest form came to us all. But we were not ready yet... 

We're at Bilsport Performance & Custom motor show representing EFR, AirWerks and Magnuson Superchargers for the second time (2016) and we're cocky because car was running. But we were not ready yet. 

In the Sunshine 2016

 

Engine running doesn't mean that you've reached the power target or established a proper calibration. It took 3 times (all good things are 3?) in two different chassi dyno to get everything right. Sorry for the oil leakage, Hannes. Here Magnus is taking a spin in the rain. And believe me, we were NOT ready yet.

 But we made some progress.  Again, hard work pays off. Eventually...

'

Another milestone. After a furious work load the car got painted. Thanks Frank (at Universalteknik) for the excellent support!

 

And we made it! We managed to get the car painted, calibrated and assembled to the Bilsport Performance & Custom motor show 2017. What a victory!  Pictured: Early moring preparation before the show began.

But we were not ready yet. We had to fabricate a flat floor,a spoiler, a diffusor, a couple of inner fenders.... 

Let's put the home made aluminum bulb here! (It's the cover for the rear end, shown upside down) 

So, we're heading for the flat salt and dust surfaces.  

Conclusion: We've built a Amazon Landspeed racer on time, shipped it to US and we're soo happy.

 

But we're not ready yet.

 

The Salt Slush story will continue...

 

 

 

 



How did it all began? We're at A Bombers Old Style Weekend in the search for the Holy Graal.

Hot rodding is the base. The base for speed need no matter age. It's the base for creative dreams and the base for motorsports. Tune it yourself and go to the track to go fast. Simple as that. 

 

When you're contemporary and tuning a Supra of choice, building a Bad ass Beemer with a too big turbo or making your modern US or German V8 happier with a Magnuson Supercharger, you're at the roots hot rodding. Think, engineer and go fast. That's what it's all about and we really like it.

 

Salt Slush Racing has, in true hot rod fashion, built a Land Speed Racer based on an 50year old Volvo Amazon to which we've added a Volvo 6 cylinder and turbocharged it to 750hp. It's now heading it's way to El Mirage in California, US.  

 

While being in waiting mode, we're seek racing roots, how it all began. And we know where to look for these roots since we've been lucky with this before...so...we went to A-Bombers Old Style Weekend. Here's some pictures from the hill race.

Keep it simple. Low weight. Tuned engine.

Compromise comfort. Necessities only.

Same goes for bikes. Remove stuff that makes you slow.   

 Already early men understood that a light car and a powerful engine is a good thing to combine. The obstacle associated with this strategy could still kept low cost when following this advert.

This is nice. Spot on. Simple, low weight, V8 and not to forget, cool looking. 

Basic, down to the roots hot rods and howling engines attract people of all ages. No matter if it's a Ford 32 with a hemi or a Supra at Time Attack. Horsepower and sunshine makes us all feel fine.    

There a car for each event. But nothing is perfect. A couple of Ardun cylinder heads would makes mine and Carina's Ford -46 a better ride. It would make life more exiting and provides a better connection to where it all began...

 

 

 

Automotive Krankenhaus

Since The SSR Amazon was shipped the focus has been on 

neglected and not so prioritzed matters.

We have spent time in the gardens, fixing the boat and other stuff (Cars and Bikes).

When I looked around in the workshop today it became obvious...

 everything was apart, waiting for parts or on the move.

It looked like an Automotive Krankenhaus !

Carinas BMW should be fixed for the annual inspection, some lights, brakes etc.....

The week before the German Mercedes adventure Håkan got his BMW inspected.

Anders El Camino is to be updated mainly regarding front end, 

Anders wan't it to feel more modern. His vacation is ended now so he is focusing evening and weekends on the Krankenhaus.

Some internet and Summit Racing, 

2 weeks later  a big box of parts is in the work shop.

The SSR Car trailer is under treatment, all lights fixed, brakes adjusted, 
cleaned and greased......... 

Kalles Model A get some brake work and a complete overhaul 

of the front end new king pins etc.

The 69 Z28 Camaro got it's annual inspection together wit a new battery, 

some new power and ground wires to the EFI, 

the work with calibrating and geting th EFI to work good is ongoing.

The C10 got some TLC new battery and alternator since the old didn't make 

that much magic anymore. 

Celebrating with some photo shooting for a possible article in a Swedish Magazine.

The boat got a new alternator since the old got sick together with new bushings in the sea water pump, new belts etc.

What would life be without .................

Epilogue

On top of above the Mercedes adventure in Germany created some nursing needs on the the 450 SLC and the 350 SE......

While waiting and dreaming...Speed up!

The Land Speed Amazon is on the Atlantic and the Salt Slush Race team is preparing mentally for dry lakes, sun and speed. But we're not there yet. We're just in waiting and dreaming mode.

 

But instead of just bouncing back and forward between dream and reality in lazy, hazy summer days Anders, Carina and I went on a road trip to meet up with friends in Germany.

Cina's view: Things that used to be fast should still be fast still.

At least as fast as they once were.

So we pick up our V8 Benz from the barn and jumped breakfast.

Anders washed the dust off his 450 SLC (1971) too and meet up at sunrise.

We filled up the old Benz with 96 liter gasoline and enjoyed a McMuffin & Coffee as the sun was rising.

Facts:

Engine type: V8 SOHC, Grey Iron cylinder block, Aluminum heads CR=8,5, Piston cooling.

Power: 200hp

Capacity: 3,5L

Stroke: 65,8mm

Bore: 92mm

Transmission: Manual

Mileage: 277 000 km

Model year: 1975

Potential: Probably very well prepared for boosting...

That all you need to know for now.

Not Tesla alike. +40 years old cars like these can be in the fast lane (+160km/h/ 100mph) for many hours on autobahn.

Bremen old style pleasure dome. Bacchus place.

Be there or be square. Anders Mercedes 450 SLC in Rockenhausen, Germany.

Waiting for adventure was easy when Mario kept the barbecue going and the cold beer flowing.  

At some point we had to go home to take care of business at home.

But first, we have to buy some low tax essentials.

On our way back to home, we took the time to visit places with good stuff, like US parts in Osby, Sweden. A car graveyard packed with thing we like. Parts that that seams to be ready for an afterlife. On the race track?

3000 km in 5 days. Dirty, but home at bay with its revving heart still pounding strong.



 

Word of advice: Bring old cars out, change oil, drive them hard and have fun!