THE CAR
Construction
As a means of getting another nitro-burner onto the strips, in the winter of 2005 Lawrie and Ollie agreed that Lawrie should purchase the part-built Phil Cornish stretched Topolino and get it completed in time to compete in the 2006 season.
A 14 week re-build and modification programme was set and largely achieved for the Easter Season opener, thanks to much hard work and many hundreds of hours expended by the whole of ‘The Mob’ team and Frank Griffin at his workshop near Stratford-on-Avon.
The motive power was to be the original, used, cast aluminium 417 CI Donovan block with Littlefield 8-71 blower. This was fitted with billet Alan Johnson Performance Engineering heads, Brooks rods, Venolia pistons, Clevite bearings, etc.
The chassis needed considerable up-rating to conform to the newly established rules, which mandated the SFI 10.1D standard and the provision of an SFI 17.1 fire system. In addition, dual parachutes, new Weld Racing wheels and many other components were necessary. This work involved re-routing many of the lines and the addition of many brackets to the frame, prior to it going out for powder coating.
The stretched Topolino body had previously had a chequered career, having cloaked many other cars over the years and needing considerable work. This included modifications to fit the chassis as well as tinwork and preparation of the external and internal surfaces to make it suitable to receive a quality paint scheme.
The photographs indicate just a few of the many and varied stages of the hectic build programme.
Ex-T/F owner John Wright agreed to pilot the AA/FA and on his mandatory licensing runs, laid down a 7.06/164.2 pass at the 900 ft shut-off point – indicating the potential to come.
2006 was a baptism of fire for ‘Chaos’, as it had then been named, with many minor snags preventing repeatable performances. Whilst disappointing for the Team, those of you familiar with brand new combinations for nitro cars, will know that the first season would be a torrid time. The lack of track time due to snags, allowed only slow progress to the goals that the Team had set for itself.
In the winter of 2006, Lawrie , Ollie and John took the decision to up-rate many parts to higher quality components, to enable more track-time to be gained. These included billet Rodeck blocks, an AJPE modified manifold to suit the AJPE heads, Bryant cranks, the change from a wet sump to a Plueger dry sump system, many billet RCD components, a new DB Industries fuel pump and system and to mount the blower 2.25” rearward.
For the 2007 Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod we commissioned long–time fuel altered and funny car racer, Dave ‘Nasty’ Benjamin to come over from Seattle to advise and set-up the fuel system. Dave has extensively re-worked the fuel systems, injectors and manifolds on both 'Chaos' and 'The Mob', including the manufacture of billet barrel valves with separate, adjustable idle circuits. Also fitted will be his own design nitro fuel pumps. All these components have been flow-bench tested by Dave, in order that we have a base-line to work from. It is expected that this expertise will enable the loadings on the engines, particularly the nos. 1 & 2 cylinders, to be more even, leading to less damage and better performances on the strip.
A keen supporter of the NFAA since shortly after its inception, Dave is extensively experienced. In the early 70s, he worked alongside Gerry Verheul, Crew Chief on the flopper campaigned by ‘240’ Gordy Bonin. Dave has a personal best run of 6.14 @ 232.4 in his ’27 ‘T’ AA/FA and the experience that he passed on was of great assistance to ‘Chaos’ and ‘The Mob’, which runs a similar set-up. As well as manufacturing his own fuel pumps, DB Industries makes barrel valves, Top Fuel Harley clutches, billet flywheels and many other custom parts for fuel racers. His site www.dbindustries.com has more details.
The combination now is pretty final and the ‘Chaos’ Team expect and look forward to performing regular passes in the mid-sixes at around 220-230 MPH, once the final ‘glitches’ have been worked out of the system.
Special thanks go to our product sponsors – Lucas Oil UK Ltd; Goodridge (UK) Ltd and Autoglym.
Sponsorship opportunities exist for the Car, an Event or the whole of the NFAA Class for the season – for details please contact www.nfaa.info.
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