How Fast is your Kirkham

[soulman]

In the great land Of Aus, Ive regulary hit 200!!!.
No big deal!!!
like everyone else, were talking Kilometers right?
Soul.

[Dominik]

Bob Johnson said at the dinner table in Atlanta ('95?) that "dropping" the original windhshield on the 289 gave an extra of 500 to 800 rpm.

The single seater version as seen on some 427s reduces frontal area from about 16.5 sqft to 12 sqft. Kirkham could confirm that using their digital data.

That reduction in frontal area is like "free" hp at speed. About 25hp at 100mph to 115hp at 180mph. We did a coast down test a while back.

I find the car much more stable with the small windshield. The wind appears to grab the car by the backrest of the seat trying to lift it up, as well as the front. At 160mph I ran out of rpm (and balls). My buddy does 175mph frequently, with hardtop and closed windows in Germany.

Dom

[8litercobra]

Got ERA #163 north of 150 some years ago....lost the ability to effect path with steering. Realized mortality that day. After that, I wondered if the radiator orientation makes what difference on front end lift. Also, had the front grill splitter. Some kits have vertical radiators, some are well laid back.....the latter my preference for aesthetics.

#163 had a built 488 cuin aluminum FE, so power enough to go. 60's aerodynamics doesn't make it too smart, though.