Thread: Nissan takes land speed record at Bonneville

If the class is the one I *think* it is (G/GT), then 158 is pretty impressive. That record was set back in 1985 by a Dodge Charger (FWD) with a destroked Chrysler 2.2. Single cam, 2 valves per cylinder, twin Weber carbs. And the record has stood until now!

Doing 158 mph by itself is nothing impressive, but doing it on a surface that resembles hard beach sand and at 4000 ft above sea level is another thing! You will lose roughly 15% of your power at that altitude.

That said, 180 mph is really hauling under those conditions.

Bob

It was actually a Ford Escort EXP in 1987,driven by Jack Dolan, using a BDA modified engine, larger bore and stroke and produced about 400hp.
The G/GT class is for engines 1.51-2000cc
A S2000 attempted to break that record not too long ago and thought it was going to be walk in the park and soon discovered with a top speed of 154Mph that a lot more needs to be done to break that record.
Head of engine development for this S2000 was Chuck Jenckes, head of Dale Earnhardt Engine developers.
So looking at all this, Reg Cook's achievement is a milestone and will take something special to beat, however records are there to be beaten

The record has been reset again on the last day,
the VE powered nx coupe set a new record of 174.525mph

GO THE KIWIS !!!!

I thought he went 180mph already?

I think they take the two way average and use that as the record.

The moment you said it was an Escort EXP it hit me. Car and Driver tried to break the record with the S2000 you spoke of and came home empty handed. I loved reading those articles a couple years ago when they attempted it. They cherry-picked that record because they thought it would be cake. They thought the speed looked very low too and the record stood out as one just ready to fall. They figured with 20-years newer technology in the F20C it would just destroy the record. They had no idea what they were in for.

Ahhh forgot about that part.

I guess that I am not that surprised that the stock front body was better than the add-on swopy looking one. Not to minimize anything that was done, the 174.5 is astounding for a n/a 2 liter, but I am sure that Nissan spent a lot of time getting that aero right.

that "special" front bumper is to flat. it probably creates a good amount of down force but drag goes along with that. the stock one is much more round. (think of the front of an air plane) remember the perfect aerodynamic shape is a tear drop.

or an egg