Expert advice being executed

Ok. So we got a lot of advice.

And shared experience is a really good thing. But there comes a time when ideas fades in to useless dreams when not executed.

So we read the rule SCTA rule book again. Then we look at each other. It was time to Chop the Top.

We called our reliable source of Volvo Amazon parts, a junk yard man in Floby, Sweden, specialized on old Volvo's. His name is Harry. Amazon-Harry.

We drove up with powerful angle grinders. Too powerful it turned out. When Karl-Johan revved up his Shiva-grinder the A-pillars fell like weed. It was a short magic moment. Until we had a brownout.

Nevertheless, when our mission was accomplished the donor Amazon looked like a surreal painting.

But we were happy

 

Back at home we started to think about how low we could go

 



 

And we measured...

...and discussed..

...and measured..

 and measured..

 

Then the point of no return!

 

 

and afterwards...the rewarding relief of hard work

  

 

and honestly, why did'nt the Amazon have this design from the start? 





We call in another expert who has done it and is still doing it

Since questions are piling up we're in need for some answers to our probably very basic questions.

So I called Erik Hansson who owns and runs Scandinavian Street Rods in Huntington Beach (LA) see link http://www.scandinavianstreetrod.com at his home page you find info about his services and his wing tank, Land speed racer which is a record holder and made him a member in the prestigious 200 mph Club.

Below you see some pics on the tank at Bonneville !

Preparing for race.

Besides of racing, Erik is a legend in the Hot Rod World. Lars Martin and I in the team has done business with him with good result. We bought a lot of parts from him ending up in a Roadster each. 

Below you see Erik by his no 100 32 Roadster body since then he has built many more.

My roadster. Pictured is my friend Ich S from LA and Lars D (it's Lars ModelA)

From a driving around day me and Ich did when he visited Sweden.

OK what did We learn from him ? I can tell you it was a lot and for sure not enough.

He is running with ice cold intercooler and is using air cooler in series with buffer water tank for the engine cooling system and tipped us about a good supplier. He has a scientific approach with data logger, he is careful with the chassis, tuning and adjust. Measures a lot combined with careful tuning. Uses good components. 

He told us about tires, and how to make them work….

He explained how much power you need to make some serious speed…..

He talked about what can go wrong with the power …. as he said You can run it rich all the time but only lean ones…

A + 200 mph run takes 80 - 90 sec…..

We talked for quite a while around a lot of basic questions (to him)…. noted down what I picked up…..

We had to digest it and most of all we've started to understand that his will be a challenge and we have a lot to learn.

THX so far Erik.  

Call in the Expert!

It slowly reached our minds.

Reaching +200mph with Amazon Station Wagon on The Salt will take some effort….and some major modifications.
Engineering will be needed. Angle grinders will be worn out.

We asked The Aerodynamic Expert for advice.

We asked him:

-What is your advice to some guys who are intending to run over 200mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in A Volvo Amazon Kombi?

He answered:

-Don’t do it!

Then he came over for a cup of coffee.

Hard reality 

What in the beginning was easy and fast, changed. 

It starts to become serious !

To the left on the picture the latest edition of rulebook from SCTA

More on the picture book regarding vehicle dynamics, coffe, fikabröd, Wasabinuts, etc

Started computer with at least a heading.

We need to set up a plan !!!

  

But how did it all start?  I bet you want to know… here’s the true story…

As mentioned, autumn was approaching and the barbecue season was over. But a couple of resistant dreamers had another opinion. Therefore, we had gathered for the last smell of barbecue smoke, cold beer and the associated useless discussion.

As beer was consumed, creative ideas became more and more reasonable.  

All of a sudden Anders concluded:

- I think it would be really nice with a strong team doing something together… 
I nodded as I lit up a cigarette.

We took a short stroll and soon we found ourselves leaning over a California White Volvo Amazon, a beautiful piece of machinery.

As in a dream, without any warning, a vision flashed through my mind...

I heard the magic sound of +800hp boosted horsepower blasting through a white salt desert, faster than any other Volvo Amazon has ever gone.  I saw a smiling sun tanned team with 200mph shirts in the blistering sun. It was beautiful.

To capture it all, I typed in a short cut version of the vision in a mail, turned around to Anders and said:

Are you really serious about “doing something together kind - a bullshit-statement”?

He replied:
-Yes, definitely!

I said:
- That good...because this mail will have consequences…your wishes will come through…

- That’ really good, Anders replayed with a serious look in his face.

With that statement in mind, my beer soaked mind became clear and my thumb stopped trembling… I pressed SEND this last warm Saturday night, twenty-two minutes past ten.

I impatiently waited 3 minutes.  Then I checked my Mailbox.  A short cut reply from Ekman had arrived 22.24 saying:

- Good idea. Count me in. Let’s keep in touch tomorrow morning…

Salt Slush Racing

Bits , pieces and rust from an Amazon Estate in Ucklum

We will later on tell you how this idea got started and what it has developed to !!!

But here in this post we show you when and how we got our hands on an Amazon estate.

We found it on blocket: 

Amazon estate restoration started all rust perfectly repaired ready for paint 10000 kr

It sounded to good to be true but who could resist that.

We had to go and see !

Like all big adventures the journey is of importance.

Arrived !!!!!

A Sunday morning we looked at the remains of what once was about  to become…who knows what….. but faded away…..Now it takes a strong and creative mind to see what you can take it to.

It is 2013 October, rain is almost on it's way you can sense the autumn. 

We are in Ucklum, the owner of the Amazon suffer from a severe hangover.

The tractor is pulling the surprise  out from the garage / shed !

It took 30 min to start the tractor.

The "perfect for paint" body

Below you see one of the NOS sheet metal parts that was a part of the deal.

You should be aware that the owner explained over phone that almost all rust was fixed and it was perfect for a first class restoration.

Some discussion and negotiation took us rather quickly down to what maybe can be seen as the value of the homemade rotisserie.

We managed to make up our minds since we all had a bigger aim. 

Later on this is to become our mission. 

Håkan is reflecting on what do we pay for ? the rotisserie ? the rust or what is between the nothing ?

We got it loaded !! one trailer and one Pick Up with sheet metal and rusty parts to bring home to what is to become Salt Slush Racing World Head Quarter.
We will tell you more about that later on.

Now we are on our way to go here  !