50 Years the Return to Bonneville
Many of you here followed my journey to Bonneville the last two years. For those who didn't I have been entrusted with the care of this World Famous Land Speed record holder:
The owner of the car lent it to me to help me in my fight with cancer and to check off an item on my Bucket List hence the current name on the car. So now my bucket list has been checked I find myself on a new mission. In researching the history of the car I discovered that this year will mark a significant milestone in the cars history. If a way can be found to get the car to Speed Week in August, the car will have been raced for 50 years. If you know anything about Bonneville and the effects of salt you know that the mere fact the car exists is amazing. That it's still in race condition is even more amazing.
A brief overview. The car was ordered from Studebaker in the summer of 1962 by Bill Burke. It was delivered to the offices of Hot Rod Magazine where Bill worked on November 8, 1962. Nine months later in August 1963 Bill drove the car to the first of over 30 records this car has set. He went 147 MPH with a 229 CID Supercharged Studebaker V8. The car set records over the next eight years and in 1972 the car set the first record over 200 MPH at 221.812 using a a destroked 331 Hemi. The car still has three records on the books. Bonneville in C/CBFA of 239.208 set in 1979 with Steve Burke at the wheel. El Mirage in E/CBFA in 1977 at 202.383 and E/FCC at 210.770 in 1981 with Mike Cook at the wheel. Drag racing fans will recognize that name, as Mike's dad was none other than Doug "Cookie" Cook of Stone, Woods and Cook fame. Doug and Mike campaigned this car for about 12 years and set over 25 records. The car has recorded speeds of 250 MPH. That is just a condensed version of the history of this car.
So here is the deal! The car is and will be officially "For Sale" at the end of race season this year. I have the car and it is 95% race ready minus engine. It will accept any engine but a Hemi would be nice since that is what it was raced with from 1972. As fellow Mopar guys and gals I know you share my desire to see this car race with a Hemi to fulfill the legend this car is. I am looking for an individual, group or car club (a For A bodies group project?) to finance the trip to Bonneville. Do you have an engine or access to one? The ability to finance the trip? PM me and let's talk. I am open to all ideas, suggestions or questions. Would you like to share driving duties? That's available too. I'm not greedy just looking to complete this quest. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Dan
Many of you here followed my journey to Bonneville the last two years. For those who didn't I have been entrusted with the care of this World Famous Land Speed record holder:
The owner of the car lent it to me to help me in my fight with cancer and to check off an item on my Bucket List hence the current name on the car. So now my bucket list has been checked I find myself on a new mission. In researching the history of the car I discovered that this year will mark a significant milestone in the cars history. If a way can be found to get the car to Speed Week in August, the car will have been raced for 50 years. If you know anything about Bonneville and the effects of salt you know that the mere fact the car exists is amazing. That it's still in race condition is even more amazing.
A brief overview. The car was ordered from Studebaker in the summer of 1962 by Bill Burke. It was delivered to the offices of Hot Rod Magazine where Bill worked on November 8, 1962. Nine months later in August 1963 Bill drove the car to the first of over 30 records this car has set. He went 147 MPH with a 229 CID Supercharged Studebaker V8. The car set records over the next eight years and in 1972 the car set the first record over 200 MPH at 221.812 using a a destroked 331 Hemi. The car still has three records on the books. Bonneville in C/CBFA of 239.208 set in 1979 with Steve Burke at the wheel. El Mirage in E/CBFA in 1977 at 202.383 and E/FCC at 210.770 in 1981 with Mike Cook at the wheel. Drag racing fans will recognize that name, as Mike's dad was none other than Doug "Cookie" Cook of Stone, Woods and Cook fame. Doug and Mike campaigned this car for about 12 years and set over 25 records. The car has recorded speeds of 250 MPH. That is just a condensed version of the history of this car.
So here is the deal! The car is and will be officially "For Sale" at the end of race season this year. I have the car and it is 95% race ready minus engine. It will accept any engine but a Hemi would be nice since that is what it was raced with from 1972. As fellow Mopar guys and gals I know you share my desire to see this car race with a Hemi to fulfill the legend this car is. I am looking for an individual, group or car club (a For A bodies group project?) to finance the trip to Bonneville. Do you have an engine or access to one? The ability to finance the trip? PM me and let's talk. I am open to all ideas, suggestions or questions. Would you like to share driving duties? That's available too. I'm not greedy just looking to complete this quest. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Dan