Lakester
ALakesteris acarwith a streamlined body but with four exposed wheels. It is most often made out of a modified aircraftdrop tank.The main attraction is the drop tank's excellentaerodynamicsdue to it being streamlined for its original use on aircraft. Building lakesters became popular afterWorld War IIwhen surplus drop tanks were available cheaply.[1]
History
[edit]During the late 1940s Bill Burke of theSo-Cal Speed Shopbuilt the first "Lakester" from a surplus aircraft drop tank. The idea of using a tank as an aerodynamic car body came to Burke when he saw some drop tanks on a barge being taken ashore atGuadalcanal.[1][2] Burke recalls thinking, "My god, what a beautiful piece of streamlining that is!" With atape measure,Burke went aboard and measured one of the tanks.[1]He knew the dimensions of aFordrear end andengine block,and he could see that the automotive components would fit.[1][2]
Production
[edit]AfterWorld War II,surplus tanks were sold for $35 or $40 apiece, and hundreds of them were stockpiled in surplus yards.[1] Burke's first Lakester was created from a 168-gallon tank used on theP-51 Mustang.[1][2] However, with experience it was found that the 315-gallon tank used on theP-38 Lightningwas more practical due to its greater size.[1][2]The tanks consisted of two halves bolted together, however since the top half had fuel openings and all the necessary hardware to fasten it to the aircraft, usually only two bottom halves were used to create a Lakester.[1]
Racing
[edit]The Lakester's first race appearance was atBonneville Salt Flats.Even today, Lakesters can still be seen racing there.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefghiWilkinson, Stephan (2005).Man and Machine: The Best Of Stephan Wilkinson.Globe Pequot. p. 97.ISBN1599216795.
- ^abcdChristensen, Mark (2005).SO-CAL Speed Shop: The Fast Tale of the California Racers Who Made Hot Rod History.MotorBooks International. p. 66.ISBN1610591852.