The Burke Avanti Project

[Dave Bloomberg]

Hi Dan, I heard a rumor about your trip taking Karl's engine back to him, I heard the California Highway Patrol followed you for 100 miles, just waiting for you to start up the rear engine, they were hoping to give you a nice ticket!!
In regards to how we race on the long course, we use a math caculator that will tell us what size tires, what RPM, what rear end ratio so that when we get to the end of the 4th mile we are at world record speed, then we hold that speed for the last mile by watching the tach very closely. For example we are going after the D/CBGC record of 209.3mph, so we are setting our rev. limiter to 6300rpm which with our 28.1" dia rear tires, and 2:50 ratio rear end will give us 211mph.

I sure hope you find your finances OK before the race. Take care, Dave

[SilverHawkDan]

Hello Everyone,
Well the news story is out there. Now we just need some results. Here is a link to the story:
http://www.kcoy.com/global/category.asp ... nerclipid=
If that link does not work you can go to:
kcoy tv santa maria.com
Click on Sports
Click on Local Sports Stories
Click on the story with the car and my picture.

Enjoy.
Dan

[Dave Bloomberg]

Hi Dan, I looked at that TV News site as you indicated, WOW that was great!!!!, I need your autograph!! It was done in a very professional manner, congratulations, I sent it to a couple of my wealthy friends to see if they can help with the funds. I know you are a inspiration to other cancers patients. We all pray for your success in fighting cancer and completing your dream at Bonneville.

Take care, Dave

[Reverborama]

That's a great! It's nice when you see something like that and they don't play up the "look what this nutjob is doing" angle. I'll be really interested to hear how many people find you after seeing that spot!

[mbstude]

Love the news video Dan, congratulations.

I added you to the main page of my SDC Chapter's website.

http://georgiastudebaker.com/

[SilverHawkDan]

Hello Everyone,
Things are moving fast and furious here in California. Tonights edition includes the following warning:
If you are offended by nudity and have never seen a "Naked" Avanti before do not scroll down to the following picture!!

Yes, the car has no paint on the back half. We tried sanding it down but gave up. The front had one coat of paint, no problem. The back had nine (Yes 9) coats of paint. Coat six or seven was a bright yellow that was laquer and it didn't like a high speed DA. So we tried the old razor balde trick. Too hard with a fiberglass body. So we called in the big gun. Jim Kelly and SA Media Blasting. He donated a mix of sand and soda to make the work go easy. No damage done and a great job. There is very little body work to do. The body is very straight and other than the repairs that were done previously it will go quickly. Here are some more pics from today.




So tomorrow they apply the sealer/primer to see what body work needs to be done. Then the body repairs and finally on Friday the paint goes on. Then the custom paint on Monday and the lettering after that. I cannot wait to see the magic work of Ed Whippie and his crew as they transform the car into the imagine that I have in mind. So stay tuned.
Dan

[sbca96]

I stripped a couple coffee cans of paint off my dads '69 Avanti years ago.
I used a chemical stripper that is used for boats, turns paint into goo in
just a few seconds, but doesnt harm the gel-coat. Worked nicely. One of
the nice things of a fiberglass car is being able to strip the paint off and
take your time doing the primer/body work without rust concerns.

Tom

[Reverborama]

I kinda like the "Starsky & Hutch on Acid" look...

[Studebaker Jake]

X2! That s*** it trippy!

[commander eddie]

Dan,
Brother Ed here.
It is really good to see this project coming to fruition. The photos of the bare naked Avanti were especially interesting. I always pictured bare fiberglass as being an amber color. Is there a primer on the car in these photos?
Ed

[SilverHawkDan]

Ed,
Welcome to Racing Studebakers. The pictures I posted are of the car with absolutely "no paint" on the body from the doors back. The fiberglass used on an Avanti is very unique. The guys at the body shop are amazed at the quality and the strength. They also like to finish even after numerous paint jobs with several types of paint and years of use. I too have found the fiberglass to be amazing. Keep in mind this is not hand laid (kitty hair style) fiberglass. This is blown glass which is very different. You have to work with it to truly appreciate how good and easy to work with it is. And it is much stronger than the other types of glass. After working on 60's and ealry 70's Corvettes it is clear that Chevy had nothing on Studebaker when it came to a quality body. A vet being put through what this car has undergone would in all likelyhood be junk.

Today I spent the better part of four hours just fixing the damage to the front air dam. It is all fixed and I also worked on the fit of the aluminum panels that were added to direct air at the front of the car. I added some screws to make it fit tighter and be stronger. They were finishing up the glazing and blocking and were planning to shoot another and hopefully the final coat of primer on the car tomorrow. If all goes well the car will go in the booth for the primary color and clear coat on Monday. Then the special surprise will be added and cleared. Then we turn it over to Jamie for stripes and letters and shading. If there are no surprises it should be ready to go back to High Gear on Friday. I will spend the weekend making the changes needed for Bonneville. Then it will come down to two things. The engine being finished and money.

I was able to secure to a new sponsor and get another addition from an existing sponsor. I will be picking up two wheels and tires to use for towing, storage and for street testing the car. My good friend at Figeroes Tires is donating them. I also will be picking up a Griffin all aluminum radiator from Industrial Radiator. He was glad to hear that we will not be using the Willys radiator for Bonneville. He is switching the nipples to 1" so that the entire cooling system will be the same size. I also got a Jabsco electric water pump loaned to the cause. I will mount it under the hood to carry water through the whole system with or without the trunk mounted tank. So each day a little progress. So that is the update for today. Sorry no pictures I forgot the camera. I will take some when I see the car next time.
Dan
P.S. The video of the TV station story is the #4 most viewed video right now. It is getting tons of hits every day. Now if a person of means clicks on it or it gets forwarded to someone who will want to see it through, we will be set to go. Only 15 days until racing begins at Bonneville.

[PackardV8]

After working on 60's and ealry 70's Corvettes it is clear that Chevy had nothing on Studebaker when it came to a quality body. A vet being put through what this car has undergone would in all likelyhood be junk.

FWIW, The same company, Molded Fiber Glass Body Company, of Ashtabula, OH, made the bodies for both the Corvette and the Avanti.

jack vines

[SilverHawkDan]

Jack,
I knew that to be fact but it is clear that the bodies were made using to differnet methods. The Corvetts hair out and delaminate and there is no hair or signs of delaminating on Avantis. So the company made the bodies to the specs of the manufacturer. Could be the aircraft influence of the engineers at Studebaker that influenced the process.

Can't wait to see the car on Tuesday. Still waiting to hear if an engine will be available for Speed Week. Still short on money but that won't matter if I don't have an engine.
Dan

[sbca96]

Still short on money but that won't matter if I don't have an engine.

Perhaps a new class at Bonneville? Pedal power Avanti? New class = new record.
Sounds like its coming along. Another name came to mind, though not sure how
to contact him - Tim Allen is a car nut too.

Tom

[PackardV8]

The Corvetts hair out and delaminate

Your results may vary. None of the Corvettes on which I've worked "hair out and delaminate (sic) when in original condition.

Could be the aircraft influence of the engineers at Studebaker that influenced the process.

What aircraft influence?

jack vines