147 mph in a corvair? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 08-29-2018, 07:13 PM

My favorite Metal maestro Michael LeVeque...Michael did the build on my CE..... is the worlds formost expert on racing Corvairs. About a year ago a fellow came up to him and said he wanted to build a corvair to run at Bonneville in a class where the body has to be stock but the engine can be modified. He wanted to run 140 at Bonneville for this record. Michael said "I've run 146 on the back straight at Road America so that shouldn't be a problem".

So they built this car up in 8 months. They took it a week or so before Bonneville to a track in Maine where they set times of 136 for a standing mile and 140 something for a standing 2 mile.

It has a stock body including lights and front bumper, a corvair engine, much modified running one Holley 600, and the stock chin spoiler from a 66 corvair. It makes at least 300 hp.

Since you have a few miles to speed up and stop down for a flying mile at Bonneville everything looked rosey.

So they went to Bonneville. Did I mention the first time the car was driven was to load onto the trailer to go to Maine...?

At bonneville some guy with loads of experience said to Michael "You cannot come here and get a record on your first trip."! Michael said "I think we are well prepared".

So they went out and ran 130 plus on their first run. Then ran 141 and seemed to be hitting a bit of a wall. Did I mention that the salt is 7000 feet above sea level? So they were pushing a bit of a headwind and they discovered through the magic of telemetry that on their fast run they had 6 mph of slippage?

So they ran over the record but darned if I can remember if they backed up the run for the record or if something went astray.

Cool stuff!

catmandoo62 · #2 08-29-2018, 09:33 PM

buddy of mine who is a big corvair nut was telling me about this the other day.he actually just got back from hastings nebraska road course this last weekend,it's an all corvair track day.he got the best time overall.his dad worked for the local chevy dealer and i remember clear back in the 60's there was always at least 1 corvair in their yard.

t walgamuth · #3 08-29-2018, 10:28 PM

Michael's dad, Warren, began racing corvairs back when they were new. Michael has been around these little jewels since he was in diapers!

t walgamuth · #4 08-30-2018, 11:00 AM

So they set a new record at 138.7. I am trying to get pics to post.

P.C. · #5 08-30-2018, 12:25 PM

The first car that I ever drove, at the tender age of 7, was a 1962 Corvair. Always had a soft spot in my heart for those cars...

t walgamuth · #6 08-30-2018, 02:16 PM

Great basic design, just not enough development by GM to make them really reliable in service.

Idle · #7 08-30-2018, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

buddy of mine who is a big corvair nut was telling me about this the other day.he actually just got back from hastings nebraska road course this last weekend,it's an all corvair track day.he got the best time overall.his dad worked for the local chevy dealer and i remember clear back in the 60's there was always at least 1 corvair in their yard.

There is a Yenko Corvair in the Classic Car Museum in Kearney, NE. I was told it was owned by a guy from Hastings.

There must be more than a few Corvair nuts living there.

catmandoo62 · #8 08-30-2018, 10:09 PM

could be,my buddy lives in iowa though

t walgamuth · #9 08-31-2018, 07:02 AM

Michael just sold his yenko and used the money to build his new shop in Tennessee.

t walgamuth · #10 08-31-2018, 07:04 AM

He bought it a long time ago for not too much money, did a full restoration on it over the years because he loved it and finally the value in money came up to where it is now, a six figure car I think....not sure exactly.

t walgamuth · #11 08-31-2018, 09:17 AM

pics...It just looks like a mild street corvair....Hah hah!

P.C. · #12 08-31-2018, 12:04 PM

I wonder about the aero qualities of the stock body. That forward-leaning nose can't be very downforce-friendly at triple-digit speeds...

t walgamuth · #13 08-31-2018, 02:34 PM

Yes, that is a mistake we know now. The lift was countered in 66 by the chin spolier which can be observed in the last pic. It looks to be about 3". Apparently it did not fly on these runs. I also know that michael uses a lead weight about where the license plate goes on front. So that may help.

I know my Miata felt light in front if I took it up to 110 mph. A chin spoiler would help I am sure.

The rest of the body is pretty sleek, one of the smoothest at the time. I believe it beat the avanti and corvette.

cmac2012 · #14 09-01-2018, 03:54 AM

This is the Corvair powered car I want:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfaJ-Nbbww4

It looks a lot like a Meyer's Manx but it isn't, it's a copy but slightly different. I like it better, has more of a side panel. It's subtle but this one looks a bit better.

These days the hot engine for the Manx's is a Subaru.

After the vid, it goes to Jay Leno with Bruce Meyers on his show with a Suby powered unit.

t walgamuth · #15 09-01-2018, 06:06 AM

Mcqueen and Dunaway in their prime....cool. Cool dune buggy too.