LIKE, nigh of the sport-minded motoring "bods" of Sydney Village, I had long admired both the enthusiastic driving skill together with mechanical wizardry of Jack Myers, Kingsford garage proprietor and racing driver, inwards making usually fleet Holdens become even "fleeter."
However, one must describe the job somewhere, together with when Jack casually mentioned in passing (a twosome of weeks earlier the Feb Orange race meeting) that he would extract 115 b.h.p. from his Holden sedan together with confidently expected to meander downwardly the straight at, or over, 105 1000.p.h., I firmly drew the job —raised eyebrow, disbelieving leer, withering glance too all.
A Fine Fiacre
After all, everyone will say y'all that, although a Holden makes a fine fiacre, non to order a bonny piddling family barouche, it'sec merely non in the issue when it comes to racing —particularly against actually fast voiturettes from overseas.
Too low-cal inwards the tail—needs bags of sand in the boot—also much trunk flex—rolls over on corners—inferior road-belongings 'n' all that . . . Any-fashion, you lot but tin't make over the ton inwards an H—it isn't done, y'know.
Feeling that possibly it would be best to sense of humour Jack until reinforcements arrived, I allow him ramble on almost extra hot camshafts, high compression ratios, pots bored out so far yous can encounter bulges going upwards too downward the block exterior, carburettors festooned all over the noisy section, in addition to double downdraught twin overhead plug leads.
Guesswork Is Out
At least, that'second what it sounded like for a while until I caught the general drift, after which it slowly dawned that hither was no mechanical experimenter who blindly performs or so haphazard engine change in the hope that it volition stimulate more revs, but an efficient mechanical engineer who carefully plans a alteration or development to the last infinitesimal item on paper, checks in addition to double-checks all the factors, together with knows the exact issue of the modification before lifting a tool to commence the actual go.
Proof of the Pudding
Orange Race Day duly arrived, as well as every bit an assistant inwards the ¼ mile electrical timing outfit I was in an ideal place to cheque on certain claims made nearly certain mechanism. Well, fellers, to lay it briefly —he dunnit! 105 one thousand.p.h. — won the race against formidable opposition —confounded all together with sundry—in addition to made me consume my best straw boater. In fact, J.chiliad. claims the Holden actually improved on this speed by another 5 1000.p.h. some later it had passed through the timing traps, on the downhill function to Windsock Corner. He bases this claim on the fact that his speedo, which registered a fraction over 105 on the timed quarter, rose to 110 a few seconds afterward. To observe out what gives Myers' Holden such astonishing functioning, the Editor asked me to route-exam the "atomic bomb" in addition to obtain the expert (technical) crude oil from its owner, and so that you, also, may convert your footling former Holden into a low-flying supersonic rocket-send in ane tardily lesson.
Just an Ordinary Holden
Taking activity station behind the tiller, I mentally compared the vehicle amongst my ain touchstone model in addition to noted a not-criterion vi-inch speedometer graduated to 100 k.p.h. above the radio dial infinite, a modest gauge combining rock oil-pressure level in addition to water-temperature indicators beside the steering column, a manual ignition command knob tinder the dash, a burn down Extinguisher, together with a rubber belt. Otherwise it looked a real ordinary cream taxi—er, distressing—Holden. The motor star easily at commencement impact of the push as well as ticked over at a fast idle alongside alone slight tin-steadiness. From this signal on whatever similarity betwixt this as well as whatever other Holden existing or wrecked is purely coincidental.
It Hit Me
Pressing the loud pedal downwardly the normal sum for take-off in a criterion model and engaging the clutch produced a racket like a Ferrari at total chat—as well an exceedingly smart blow inward the back together with broad-eyed astonishment from those fortunate enough to be inward the vicinity and witnessing this extraordinary phenomenon. It took a few minutes to become the experience of the motorcar, during which menstruum I institute that bound force per unit area somewhat jerky due to ane of the carburettor butterflies sticking slightly; merely past the time nosotros had reached the centre of the metropolis, where we picked up the lensman, this footling foible had ceased to live a worry. Low rock oil pressure level, downward to nigh nine p.second.1. at a fast idle, was viewed alongside just about apprehension until Jack reminded me that this was due to the unloosen hearing check of racing tolerances.
Traffic Tractability
Several times superlative-gear speed was deliberately dropped to every bit low as 10 m.p.h. inwards metropolis traffic, just the power available is such that it is possible to choice upwards from this speed without undue strain on the motor. In fact, it is difficult to believe that the motorcar is non powered past a 5-litre "Dynaflash Fireball Eight" — the feeling of sheer ability is so sharp. First-gear engagement caused a slight grating at times because of the fast idle, but otherwise the machine'second manners were so practiced it could have been handled inwards city traffic by the proverbial old lady. Braking was proficient, merely tyres (with 211b. pressure all circular) squealed on corners fifty-fifty at relatively tedious speeds.
Steering felt nicely balanced, alongside no excess cause or drag. A hands-off braking exam failed to act the steering wheel from its centralised place. An indication of how meek as well as mild this racing sedan can he inwards urban center traffic is given past Mrs. Myers, who oftentimes uses the machine every bit a shop-ping vehicle.. However, there are times when she cannot resist the temptation to take a taxi-driver past .surprise at the traffic lights.
Action Photography - the Hard Way
Our photographic interlude star-ted alongside tranquility trivial shots of the clandestine "power bulges" of the mechanism as well as progressed to frightening situations where, alongside Jack Myers directly at the wheel, the auto rocketed about a right-angle corner in a mighty power slide, plainly aimed directly at the happen-less photographer. Things were non equally they seemed, nonetheless, for Jack had the motorcar well tinder control as well as the photographer was inward no danger (although we never quite convinced him of this).
On the Road
With Mount Druitt as well as acceleration tests inwards heed, nosotros threaded our style through the Sabbatum afternoon traffic, along Parramatta Road and upwardly the Great Western Highway. Water temperature on this run remained below 180 degrees—downwards to 160 at times---due to the absence of a fan, which Myers regards every bit a coolant retarder rather than a aid inwards this particular Holden. The machine handled good on corners as well as seemed much firmer than a standard model, although this could be due to a sway bar under the forepart terminate and daze absorbers that are e'er kept correct up to the score.
An unfortunate circumstance that persisted throughout the residuum of this run was the heavy traffic, which prevented anything interesting inwards the way of really high speeds. However, on reaching Mt. Druitt the auto was given a couple of warming-up runs, during which 91 one thousand.p.h. was recorded before it was necessary to cut out together with brake hard for the bottom plow. It. later became evident that the comparatively curt straights were not long plenty to acquire a "full head of steam" for a maximum speed work. But more than of this anon. I should betoken out at this juncture that the machine was being tested on measure ticker fuel instead of its common racing forage of 85 to 100 octane, in addition to was fully road-equipped alongside spare bicycle, exhaust muffler, box of tools, divers bags and bods, etc., all of which arc unhelpful factors in obtaining the absolute maxi-mum inward speed.
Performance Tests
On the acceleration tests alongside driver in addition to 1 passenger, we felt the total thrust of Myers' modified motor. Full figures are given in the information panel, and so in that location's no betoken inwards repeating them all hither. Suffice it to order that, working through the gear-box, we went from 0 to xxx m.p.h. in three.8 seconds, 0 to threescore inwards 12 in addition to 0 to 80 inward 24—on heart fuel. There wasn't enough airstrip length available to log higher figures safely, merely it'sec interesting to bank note that the hot Holden's fourth dimension for 0 to threescore was .two of a moment faster than that of the highly regarded Triumph TR2 (as established inward a recent route exam by the American magazine "Road and Track"). And she took entirely ane.7 seconds longer than the one'R2 to achieve 80. Maximum speeds inwards gears, amongst the ability-pack revving at 6000, were twoscore m.p.h. inwards commencement, 73 in second. At twenty k.p.h. per chiliad revs., maxi-mum tiptop-gear speed could live 120 one thousand.p.h. Could be, I said. It seldom plant out that manner. Jack tells me his usual shift-points when racing are start — thirty one thousand.p.h., instant — 65 k.p.h.
Owing to the aforementioned reasons, it was non possible to flatten the machine like a Sao biscuit during the afternoon. On the return journey it was constitute that fourscore m.p.h. could be easily and chop-chop attained, 92-iii showed up a pair of times, in addition to on 1 occasion 96 thousand.p.h. was reached earlier the anchors were hastily applied to avoid heavy force per unit area on the dorsum of a bun truck. On this occasion the needle was nonetheless climbing—if a footling easy. Bearing inwards listen that this was ticker fuel, etc., ane was not disappointed inwards the performance. We gave those anchors a good potent exam, also, on dry bitumen. Taking the best of ii runs inwards each instance, they stopped us inward 31 feet from xxx thousand.p.h., and inwards 159 feet from threescore. The handbrake held her efficiently on a one-inwards-five slope. Two items inwards this examination were pleasantly surprising—the unusually practiced stopping distance from xxx m.p.h. too the property power of the hand, brake. This, I felt, was due to the possessor'second attention rather than any inherent qualities of the machine. No especial checks of fuel consumption were taken at set up speeds; the. figure of 22 1000.p.g. was obtained inwards the overall road-test and includes tromping hard in various cogs, high-speed runs, strange idling, together with such. Amazingly skillful, all things considered—together with Jack swears he gets 25 m.p.g. out of her on normal running, despite all the souping. The engine did non work on when switched off, although the water boiled at ane stage at once afterwards the rather exhausting acceleration tests—simply shortly cooled downwards one time nosotros returned to a steady route speed.
Over the Ton—too How .
Since testing this buggy without getting it over the 100 would have been like visiting Buckingham Palace as well as non seeing the Queen, nosotros had to give it another become the next weekend. This fourth dimension nosotros took off the exhaust muffler too fed the sometime girl more or less 85-octane petrol instead of measure ticker fuel; simply she still carried all the paraphernalia we had brought on the get-go outing. Casting most for a more than suitable stretch of ground on which to pass the ear an fifty-fifty run a risk of reaching acme speed, nosotros remembered a certain wartime airstrip together with headed straight for it. A warm-upward go showed that this strip, although a vast improvement on Mt. Druitt, was exclusively just long plenty together with no more—only nosotros had no fourth dimension to quibble near it. Wheelspin was troublesome in all 3 gears, and braking—at the rattling ends of the strip—called for careful manipulation, simply on all 4 runs (ii each style) the "ton" was exceeded. Speeds were 101 one thousand.p.h., 104, 102, 104. In each example 93-95 1000.p.h. was attained amongst relative ease, afterward which the revs built upward tardily for the residual of the manner. It was felt that the motor however had more "steam" inwards manus, too, had nosotros not operate out of road, meridian speed figures would accept been fifty-fifty higher. She took 36.v seconds to go from 0 to 100 thousand.p.h., together with did her best standing quarter inwards eighteen.four seconds. No hateful endeavor, considering that few high-priced sports jobs tin make ameliorate.
High-speed Handling
Although the auto felt safely steady at, in addition to over, 100 mp.h., it must live remembered that the airstrip surface was comparatively smooth too flat, as well as not cambered, potholed or bumpy, every bit are and so many of our primary roads. Driving a Holden amongst the tremendous ability-speed potential of this one on our highways at, or fifty-fifty nigh, the 100 grade (if it were legally possible to do so) is definitely non recommended for any just experienced racing drivers. There are cars on the road today that volition grip ameliorate at such speeds —merely they are non all family unit sedans, not all and so economical to go, non all and then freely available—in addition to they all cost yous a heck of a lot more than to buy in addition to keep. Any farther comment on operation seems unnecessary: those examination figures inward the information panel on page 41 utter louder than whatever guff I could spout. Compare them amongst the functioning figures of a measure Holden, and you volition realise but how potent Myers' "atomic bomb" really .is.
The Hot Bits
Starting from the front of the auto, non-measure specifications include a sway bar which is available as an extra for all in addition to sundry, too a total-catamenia filter and bypass filter fitted on the offside of the motor. Liquid dynamite is blended in three sidedraught due south.U. carburettors together with fed into pots bored out to three three-I6in. by three i-8in. stroke via enlarged valves which are prevented from bouncing nether 6000 revs by heavier valve springs. Engine cap-achy is 2440 c.c., compression ratio 8.v to i. To function Jack'second ain pocket-sized description, the camshaft is ''modified." The bottom finish of the motor is standard (except for racing tolerances inwards the bearings), merely has been carefully balanced. An interesting two-gallon capacity sump tin live seen nether the auto, with cooling tubes passing through it fore-too-aft. The tubes are welded to the sump tray at the finish; and air rushing through them helps to cool the petroleum. The engine is capped by a foursquare-edged, finned aluminium rocker encompass, alongside two fossil oil-filler air-scoops instead of the usual ane. The electric department is well cared for by a sports ringlet, twin-points distributor, in addition to colder plugs. Transmission is criterion, simply the gearbox occasionally requires attention later a especially exhausting session of high-speed use—a not uncommon phenomenon inwards boxes that are pushed beyond the margins for which they were designed together with constructed.
My Neck'second Out
Having seen what I've seen, I would vote this motorcar the Holden virtually probable to succeed inward 1955, too —provided the engine doesn't dis-integrate inwards the procedure — I feel it has every take a chance of clocking an off-cial 110 k.p.h. downward the directly at Bathurst adjacent Easter. What am I maxim? Jack Myers' confidence must be contagious!
Article by Bill Daly Modern Motor April 1955
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