If you understand the madness in this no more than a boat with 8,000-horsepower engine from the Top Fuel dregster or car on the jet thrust. Today we tell about the most prominent representatives of the snowmobile, created exclusively for speed records. And unlike conventional all events, in terms of the discipline pilots fighting usually not against each other but with a stopwatch.
Founder Rupp Manufacturing Inc., which specializes in the manufacture of snowmobiles, Mickey Rapp reasonably decided that a new speed record is not simply force consumers to pay attention to his company's products, but also will be really working as a marketing tool in the fight for market share. Established in 1969, Super Sno-Sport in fact became the first in the history of dregster designed for racing on snow and ice. The basis of the car went to space frame made of chrome-molybdenum tubing, similar in design to the chassis classic asphalt-dregster the slingshot, and the time five-liter (308 cu. Inch) Ford engine whose output has been increased to 525 hp, is transmitted by means of two rubber caterpillar tracks. For better aerodynamics was paneled frame made of aluminum and fiberglass, the front wheels have been replaced by runners, and most of the suspension components were taken from serial production techniques Rupp Manufacturing Inc. Ambitious goal was to exceed the 150-mile barrier on kvotere, but in reality, despite the impressive technical innovation potential snowmobile, Mickey Rapp managed to develop only 95.5 mph. After that, the project was abandoned, but the very fact of its creation, however, without mentioning the results demonstrated repeatedly used in the company's brochures.
Kai «Rocketman» Michelson in 1971, when he was already very well-known character at the event the NHRA, accidentally learned that the USSA (United States Snowmobile Association) is planning to organize the event in which anyone can try their hand, storming record association. Technical Director USSA Michaelson gave carte blanche, saying that absolutely no restrictions on the design of the car is not registered in the regulations. The only problem was that in the preparation of its unit Kai was exactly two weeks, which significantly narrowed the scope for engineering and flight range of possibilities for finishing the record unit. Therefore, with the support of the mechanics of Bill Bissonette, Michelson decided to make maximum use of well-proven in drag Reisig developments with some amendments to cover. Exactly born Green Machine, which was a classic slingshot-dregster whose front wheels were replaced with steel skis on a snowmobile, rear slicks were Navara tape snegozatsepami developed and pilot cockpit for obvious reasons, it has become closed. With a choice of powerplant issues also arose, the bet was made on the Hemi 392 supercharged, pretending to be about six hundred «horses». The main difficulty lay in finding the optimal settings dual-clutch to get rid of excess traction in the beginning of the race and at the same time to reveal the full potential of the engine, when the possibility of failure of the drive wheels from slipping to a minimum. Michaelson was planning to leave the 150 mph at a distance of half a mile. The result is official recorded speed of 107 mph, but the bleachers exploded with indignation, because Check most witnesses agreed that the actual speed, according to the Cotton opened the parachute, was at least at the level of 150 mph, the pilot and he did a fantastic job, being able to keep the car on course insane. Anyway, Kai record has been set, and soon the regulations were rewritten in favor of the tracks, and any variations on the theme perednemotornyh dregster were banned.
Perhaps, Boss Cat II, created the company's Arctic Enterprises forces, is the most stunning and high-tech machine that has ever rolled out into the snow in order to push the speed bar. At the heart of the car habitual lying tubular frame on which is placed behind the cockpit was thoroughly revised Small block Chevrolet 375 cubic meters in volume. inch (6.1 L) equipped with a supercharger drive whose capacity according to various estimates ranged from 500 to 700 horsepower. Squat, incredibly rapid fiberglass body is a single element and provides a truly impressive aerodynamics. In 1972, Charles Lofton driving Boss Cat II set a new «winter» speed record, having developed kvotere at 127 mph, and later improved his achievement, surpassing the 130-mile barrier. Later Arctic Enterprises switched solely on the two-stroke engines for snowmobiles. Thus was born the Boss Cat III (photo on the cover), equipped with four motors in volume of 650 cubic meters. cm, with a total impact on the level of 400 hp.. The best result of third generation have become the same 130 mph, but because of the design features of it with only one goal lost on handling bolide with a serial number II. And here we are describing the machine in 1983 fell into the hands of Paul Groth, who stuck to his 2000-strong vosmilitrovy supercharged big-block (468 cu. In), feeding a mixture of alcohol and nitromethane. Four years later, Groth was able to overclock the most powerful snowmobile his time received by the time the name «Bud Sno King», to a staggering 168 mph, chalked up a new national speed record on ice in the Unlimited class.
As usual, after the fall of the joy of the record very quickly replaced by a desire to new heights. And the subsequent years of his life Paul has devoted a new dream. The figure of 200 mph was too round to remain unconquered. In the early nineties, the pilot has created something entirely beyond. Bud Sno King II was more like a rear-Top Fuel dregster put to the crawler. At its core car and come from the world glued strips, adapted for winter realities: the six-liter (. 368 cubic inches) supercharged V8 with nitrous oxide injection system, to generate at the peak of 1800 hp Caterpillars, the runners, the pair of impressive size and splashes recognizable to any fan of drag racing silhouette. The scheme was very simple and incredibly effective.
In 1992, during a demonstration races on his brainchild Grotto of the first in history it exceeded the 200-mile barrier.
The record was not officially registered because this did not mean he format of the event, and a year later mnogolitrovye car engines were banned on all of Event NSSR (National Straightline Snowmobile Racing). However, Paul changes in the regulations are not troubled, and the next year he created a four-Bud Sno King III and regained the title. By the way, in the same 1992 wife Anne rider with a score of 145 mph was the fastest woman on ice.
We have deliberately stopped only by snowmobile, equipped nizhnevalnymi classic eight-cylinder engines, because the cover once all devices notable in the context of racing on ice and snow is simply not possible in the format of the material. Most likely, somehow dank winter evening we will return to this topic, but for now plans to talk to a «summer» theme.
Photo: open source
We have deliberately stopped only by snowmobile, equipped nizhnevalnymi classic eight-cylinder engines, because the cover once all devices notable in the context of racing on ice and snow is simply not possible in the format of the material. Most likely, somehow dank winter evening we will return to this topic, but for now plans to talk to a «summer» theme.
Photo: open source
