The one big problem with a turbine autocross car is that gas turbine
engines like steady-state speeds, really. And autocrossing is all about
transients. If I was to do a turbine-powered car, I'd use a
helicopter-style engine with a gas-generator section and a free-power
turbine. Similar engines are used by turboprop fixed-wing aircraft, but
the helicopter engines are typically a little more compact and thus easier
to package. Hook up the power turbine to a suitably-modified automatic
transmission that's had its torque converter removed, and you're ready to
go.
I've actually seen such a beastie. Some guy in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma,
took a perfectly good '88 or '89 Trans Am and replaced the 5.7L Chebbie
with an Allison turbine (I want to say it was a T250, but I don't recall
the exact model number). While it was still street-licensed and he
apparently drove it on occasion, it was rather noisy and not nearly as much
fun as he'd expected -- probably because he'd routed the exhaust ductwork
over the engine and down in front of the front tires, and if he was stopped
at a traffic light, it would melt the asphalt. The local constables were
Not Amused.
Jim Crider
autojim@att.net
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