The Cunning Coupe

[cunningplan]

Erm, question from the idiot time.....Whats tagged? what are the different numbers for? what does checking for tagging involve?

Ok 3 questions!!  

Tagging is just that, they fix a sticker (Tag) onto the chassis with the date of inspection (Has to be done every 5 years) and the time its safe to.

Andy's right, the 8.50, 7.50 & 6.00 is the times they think the chassis is safe for (The speeds don't come into it even though two cars can cover the 1/4 mile in the same time, one might be going 20 mph faster through the finish line)

They have a big bag of tricks that not only measure the size of each tube, but also the thickness and another tester which can tell you what its made of (CDS (Steel)/chrome moly) it also depends where the tubes are fitted (Cross brace's and uprights and the sizes. its a bit of a minefield, With the MSA they only go to 8.50, so all the quicker cars have to be to FIA spec and theres about 10 or so diffrent type off chassis.(Front engine dragster, rear engine dragster, comp altered and all their variants)
Hope that helps

[BikerGran]

Yup that really helps!   

[cunningplan]

Glad that cleared it up Bobbi  

Had to get up early this morning, had a phone call that the ramps for the trailer had come in. I got down there just after 7 to give them the fittings and fit the braking system (4 threaded bars with special joiners) I got it adjusted the best I could and I had them make up a couple of guides to stop the bars from dragging on the ground. Its going to be sprayed on Monday and I have to pick it up first thing Tuesday morning. I have extended a trailer board lead at the moment, but will be fitting the lights and number plates to the backs of the ramps, I will also be fitting side marker lights and mudguards when its back up the garage.

The Cunning Coupe

The Cunning Coupe

Also if you notice, they cut out the rear cross member (Which was not meant to be there anyway) They were worried it would spring when it was cut out, but they had put cross members under both the rear beds, plus the top plate had been welded on, when they cut it, it did not move. There is no load on these rear parts as the rear tyres fit eather side of the cross member behind the axle. They are there to help loading and unloading and so the rear of the body and wheelie bars wont stick out.

[cunningplan]

This weekend was spent on doing the body. The first thing we did was set the chassis on the floor jig and put the axle and tyres on, we found there was about ¾ inch between the tyres and chassis, we set up the wheel tubs by Steve making some blocks to go between the tyres and the tubs, then marked and cut them so they would clear everything around the axle and brakes.

The Cunning Coupe

We fitted the body up on some stands and Steve cut some wood to hold the whole lot together. When all screwed down we cut out for the tubs leaving the bottom strip.

The Cunning Coupe

This is where I was very grateful to Steve & Lesley, when I extended and put a new roof on the Mini body, I put resin down and then put the glass on dry and keep on putting more resin on, this took ages to get all the air out. The way Steve and Lesley have found best to do it is to cut the glass into small manageable strips, then one of them soaks these in resin and when soaked, the other lays it on.

The Cunning Coupe

By the time we had finished the last coats (About 6 layers in all) and laid up under the hole, it was time to square things away and head off home.

The Cunning Coupe

Before I did, I wanted to trim off the excess on one side to see what it’s going to look like, but Steve stopped me as the glass was still wet, so I will have to wait until the next time (Weekend after next) then the frame for the body will be made and fitted.
more news as it comes in
Now on page 5
http://www.cunningplan.net/thebuild5.html

[Manky Monkey]

Saw your body -the car, not you, when we visited a few days ago Tony. Looked huge propped in the corner of the workshop. The finished car's gonna be about 100 yards long isn't it?!
Are those right angled metal tabs I can see holding the arches into the body & fibreglassed over?

[cunningplan]

Saw your body -the car, not you, when we visited a few days ago Tony. Looked huge propped in the corner of the workshop. The finished car's gonna be about 100 yards long isn't it?!
Are those right angled metal tabs I can see holding the arches into the body & fibreglassed over?

To answer to last part, yes, we used them to hold the tubs in place so we could remove the wooden frame, when the excess is trimmed off the outside, they will have a couple of layers covering them on the outside as well. I think they will help to stop it cracking with all the power 

100 yards, it seams that way 

[thebigdogsix]

Im sure there is a really good reason but whats the point of the body

[cunningplan]

Im sure there is a really good reason but whats the point of the body

This is my old car (Still have it)

I do like dragsters, but prefer something which looks like a real car, so this is a bit of both, (And will be used as both) with the body off, its a "slingshot dragster" and with it on its a "Comp Coupe"
So its a personal thing really.

[thebigdogsix]

Ah i see
So a comp coup is a bit like a show dragster then?

[cunningplan]

Ah i see
So a comp coup is a bit like a show dragster then?

I thought you said "slow dragster" then , (might be right though) not realy, it's getting a bigger following these days that in the past, with about 6 that have just been built and (like mine) being built

[phunkie hiboy]

Ah i see
So a comp coup is a bit like a show dragster then?

In the early days Competition coupes were built so that, at the drags you could run in two classes...... Dragster and competition coupe just by fitting or removing the body, twice the fun with one car!!

[gnasher 6]

Hi there cunningplan, Sorry to butt in on your thread, I was wondering as you seem to have been around the pod quite a lot, If you know of  an old friend of mine called frank griffin, He used to race a lot at the pod. And work at stateside auto's. Last i heard his son is racing there know. Be interested to hear from you if you know of him. Many thanks gnasher 6

[cunningplan]

Hi there cunningplan, Sorry to butt in on your thread, I was wondering as you seem to have been around the pod quite a lot, If you know of  an old friend of mine called frank griffin, He used to race a lot at the pod. And work at stateside auto's. Last i heard his son is racing there know. Be interested to hear from you if you know of him. Many thanks gnasher 6

Frank and his BROTHER Cliff run at Shakespeare (Long Marston/Avon Park) quite a few times a year, Frank managed to roll his at the 2008 Bulldog Bash and does not run anymore  (Now runs his own workshop building cars.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL2JKSPdJ6I
He now crews for Cliff's Pop.

[gnasher 6]

Hi there again cunning plan, Thanks for getting back to me Much appreciated. It's been about fifteen years since i last saw frank, We used to be good buddies years ago, Prior to that i had not seen him for quite a number of years, And just by chance one night i was reading my local evening paper and it mentioned frank and said he worked at stateside auto's' Which is not to far away from where i live, A couple of weeks or so later as i was passing there in my job at the time, As a hgv driver I thought i would call in and see him as i had not seen him in a number of years.
when i walked into the yard somebody asked me if they could help me, I said yes is frank about please, And they went and got him for me.
When he came out i hardly recognised him , The frank i remembered had hair right down his back ( okay it was quite a few years ago, And we all age) But what surprised me most of all was that he had hearing aids in both ears, When we got talking, I said frank, I hope you do not mind me asking, But what's happened to your hearing, To which he said he had been racing drag cars for years, And at the time he had one of the fastest pop's on the strip, And all this had put paid to his hearing, But he said he absolutely loved it, He said nothing made him feel like it, Will you be racing at the pod this year cunningplan, I don't know when your build will be finished, But i will follow it with great interest, If you are down there this year i will try and get down there and watch you, with my two son's who really enjoy  it there, And give you some moral support. If your car is going to look like that number 32, It will sure look like some beast, And longer to. Thanks again for getting back to me, And keep up the good work Gnasher 6.

[cunningplan]

Drag racing and hearing don't really go together, I use ear plugs while driving the cars but I had my hearing checked last year and its on its way out. I try to use ear plugs/defenders as much as I can, but sometimes your in the wrong place at the wrong time and someone starts their engine when your not prepaired.
My main track is Long Marston/Avon Park and now Shakespeare County Raceway and as Mankey said in another posting am a official up there (As well as being a MSA/ACU scrutineer I am also a ACU C of C and run the bike side of the big events held there) as well as a racer. I have raced up the Pod loads of times but have only been going up there about once a year lately to help up Race control.
From this weekend (Training) I'm up there nearly every other week until the end of October, I don't know when the new car will be finished, but when it does it will be debuted at Shackey. now the body is nearly sorted, once mounted we can finish the rest of the chassis.
I cant thank Steve & Lesley enough for what they are doing and have done to the car, not only that, they look after me while I am down for the weekends I can get down there, Cheers both.