I AM BLESSED
OK, now I can finally talk about it publicly.
Ford came to me thru Roush Ind. to help build a safe, legal race car using
Hydrogen power for a large array of fuel cells. Safe for LSR that is, and
safe for me....
I am also under contract to drive the car at Speed Week this year. We have
done some testing with battery power, and will test tomorrow on a chassis
dyno with full functioning fuel cells and this weekend at the test track.
The fuel cell tray is on line making power, and is ready to go.
The car is, as the articles say, a highly modified Fusion with lots of aero
work, and will run for Time Only. There actually is no class for production
based electric cars, but that is achedemic. The group of Ford Research
scientists and engineers are demonstrating their level of expertise with
Hydrogen powered fuel cells, and It is considerable. I won't try to
describe the technical detail the car because it will speak for itself, I'm
just the driver. I'm certain though that the LSR community will like the
car and the presence of Ford at Speed Week. We have been attempting to be
really low key with this deal, but as you might imagine it is becomming
harder. The logistics of such a complex program sort of demands lots of
people and support. The Ford engineering community has been working with
SCTA so there will NOT be any surprises.
As for the car itself, it is rear wheel drive, quite conventional using a
Ford GT gear box, and custom built suspension. The chassis if full boogie
race car with a funny car/pro stock "Halo" type cage and a full containment
NASCAR type seat, but lay down of 30 degrees. The driver compartment is
really small and basically built around me, an average height guy of 5'4"
tall and 200 lbs :=d (actually less than that when I can finally zip up my
fire suit.
We have built a VERY safe car, with and I am quite excited about the
opportunity given me. As I said earlier, I am blessed.
Rick Byrnes
I'm sure there will be more info coming
_______________________________________________
Land-speed mailing list
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/land-speed
|