MG Rover Group has applied to the Guinness World
Records for the World’s Fastest Estate car / Station Wagon record. The MG ZT-T,
codenamed X-15, reached a top speed of 225.609 mph (360.9 km/h) at the August
2003, 55th annual Bonneville Speed Week Nationals, on the Salt Flats in Utah,
USA.
In 2002 Nick Stephenson, deputy chairman of Phoenix Venture Holdings, himself an
accomplished drag racer in the UK, together with MG Rover design director Peter
Stevens, of McLaren F1 fame, decided to build a 200 mph estate derived from the
forthcoming MG ZT-T V8.
Their reasoning was four-fold: to leverage MG’s illustrious Bonneville history
which dates back to 1951 and a string of records; to demonstrate the fundamental
qualities of strength and safety inherent in the MG ZT range; to halo the
introduction of some exciting new V8-powered MG models and to support engine
development work for the planned ultra high performance versions of MG’s XPower
SV sports car.
"This is not just about setting world records, this is about testing MG’s
vehicles to their limits, in some of the most extreme conditions you can find in
the world. The added challenges of meeting strict technical and safety
regulations which are set by the Southern California Timing Association make our
achievement of 225.609 mph with a virtually stock MG ZT-T all the more
satisfying," says Peter Stevens.
MG can trace its land speed racing roots back to the early 1930s and its
Bonneville roots back to 1951 when Lt. Col AT ‘Goldie’ Gardner ran a streamliner
powered by a crank-driven supercharged production 1250 cc 4-cylinder MG TD
engine. Goldie planned an assault on numerous records, both in a straight line
and around a specially surfaced 10-mile circular course. Despite rain cutting
short the attempts, at the end of the week he had accumulated a total of 16
records with a fastest run slightly over 145 mph.
Famous names such as Stirling Moss and Phil Hill have set records driving for MG
in the harsh and challenging environment of the Utah salt desert. Daily
temperatures of more than 100 degF/38 deg C, the high altitude and the low grip
surface of the smooth salt have always meant that high-speed record breaking at
Bonneville is never easy.
So in 2002, MG Rover approached the legendary, California-based, So-Cal Speed
Shop to build and run the car. Custom car specialists So-Cal are professional
land speed racers, well known for their Bonneville achievements in the
late-forties and early-fifties.
Roush Performance was chosen for the powertrain development and they delivered
an awesome 6.0-litre V8 with electronic fuel injection that develops 765
horsepower without the aid of an intercooler, let alone a blower or turbo. More
than enough, it was felt, to propel the ZT-T to its goal of 200 mph.
Initial testing of the car in May and June of this year at El Mirage Dry Lake
indicated that the goal was, in fact, achievable. On its very first official
"shakedown" pass the ZT-T ran 164 mph. The following month, now with sponsorship
from Mobil 1, the car made a licensing pass at 181.521 mph.
New vehicles which are running for the first time at Bonneville are required to
run on the short course at a speed of more than 175 mph, before being allowed to
run on the long course where speeds are measured at three, four and five mile
markers as well as the terminal speed.
A further two miles are available for slowing the cars. Cars running at over 185
mph are required to fit speed reducing parachutes. These ‘chutes safely slow the
cars in a stable manner to around 100 mph after which the brakes are used to
stop at the seven mile marker.
In August, the So-Cal Racing Team accompanied by Nick, Peter, and the Roush crew
made the 700-plus mile trek to Bonneville where the car was so "on target" it
was almost an anticlimax as driver, Bonneville veteran Pat Kinne clicked off a
licensing pass of 207 mph on the Bonneville ‘short course’, backed up with a
blistering 223 mph pass on the long course. Some minor pitch-attitude tweaking
saw the ZT-T make a final run at 225.609 mph (306.9 km/h).
"Bonneville and record breaking is a very important part of MG history," says
Nick Stephenson. "225 mph with our ZT-T is part of our future, because it
signals the direction for further high performance models."
"Having the ratification for a world record would be the icing on the cake,"
said So-Cal President Pete Chapouris, "However, regardless of that record, we
are totally ecstatic with the performance of the MG ZT-T which exceeded our goal
of a 200 mph estate by a comfortable margin."
"We were completely thrilled," said Peter Stevens. "We had high hopes that the
X-15 would perform as predicted, but in a competitive situation, exaggerated by
the extremely harsh environment of Bonneville, you can never be certain. Not
only are we tremendously pleased with the outright achievement, but that this
form of extreme performance testing has demonstrated the capability of future
powertrain and chassis developments."
Note: The Speed limit 1000 mph
There are few places left on earth where the unabashed pursuit of speed is
tolerated. But at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, such behaviour is
actively encouraged. The speed limit here is 1000 mph. Although cars have been
driven at their limit for more than 80 years on the salt, for the last 40 years
or so, hot rodders, speed enthusiasts and professional teams, intent on pushing
the limits of their equipment, have met for the Southern California Timing
Association’s Bonneville Speed Week. Here, attempts on the World Land Speed
Record are made, as well as on many other speed records, by both individuals and
major automotive manufacturers. Land speed records of all kinds have been made,
and smashed, year after year, in the single minded pursuit of speed.
Sponsorship thanks go to MG Sport and Racing and Exxon
Mobil.
SPECIFICATION
The 225.609 mph Bonneville MG
ZT-T V8
Design: MG Sport and Racing and
the So-Cal Speed Shop
Build: So-Cal Speed Shop
Modifications:
Standard MG ZT-T estate body shell
Full SCTA/BNI spec roll cage
Gas tank relocated to the safety of
the rear of the vehicle
Custom transmission tunnel
3 x Flame Out fire systems
Custom subframe incorporating
Morrison cross-member, struts, A-arms and modified Flaming River rack and
pinion steering
Morrison ladder bars
Wilwood discs and hubs
Aldan Eagle coil-over shocks
Powertrain:
6.0-litre electronic fuel injected,
Ford SVO motor by Roush Racing
Approximately 765 horsepower
Headers by John West Fabrications
Dry sump oil system
Carbon fibre intake manifold
K&N air filter
Fuel management by EFI
Data acquisition by PI Systems
Roush water pump
Meziere electric water pump
Weldon fuel pump
Lakewood scattershield modified by
Roush
Quarter Master starter
8-inch Quarter Master clutch
Jerico 5-speed manual transmission
Winters heavy duty Champ quick
change
11-inch Currie drums
Taylor Made wheels: 15×4.5 front,
15×5.0 rear
Goodyear Eagle land speed tyres:
25×4.5×15 front, 28×4.5×15 rear
Pomona, CA — Almost 50
years since SO-CAL’s glory days in the sunshine of dry lakes and Bonneville
racing, the SO-CAL Speed Shop has returned to the lakes." The SO-CAL Speed Shop
hasn’t raced seriously since the early 1950s," said president Pete Chapouris
(except for a 175 mph run by founder Alex Xydias in in John Wolf’s modified
roadster back in the 1990s), "But on the 50th anniversary of Alex’ record
breaking runs in the Belly Tank Lakester in 1952, I’m excited to announce that
the SO-CAL crew will once again participate in lakes racing at El Mirage and
possibly Bonneville Salt Flats."
The first effort is a
low-key, flat-black A-V8 roadster sponsored by SO-CAL and campaigned by SO-CAL
employees Tony Thacker, who handles marketing and fabricator Jimmy "Shine"
Falschlehner, both members of Gear Grinders. The car was originally built by
"Kiwi Steve" Davies who is now part of the SO-CAL crew working on a semi-secret
Bonneville project for European car maker MG Rover. "But that’s another story,"
said Chapouris. Powered by a small-block Chevy mounted in a Deuce frame, the
roadster was built to drive to events, race and be driven home. In 1998, Steve
drove the car to Bonneville ran 160 mph all day long and drove it home-13 hours
each way!. In 2001, 12 people were licensed to race in the car including Steve’s
father who is in his early sixties."
We don’t expect to break
any records," said Thacker. "We’re just going out for some inexpensive fun.
However, we only managed one run at the first El Mirage meet in May-an 138 mph
"rookie" pass for Jimmy-but we already feel the need to go faster and if nothing
else break Steve’s best of 165 mph-a record he still holds in B/STR at Muroc.""
We’re planning a few
simple mods, the addition of a 750 Holley and some Hooker Headers," commented
Shine, "and perhaps a bigger small-block for Bonneville when we hope to reforge
the historic association between SO-CAL and HOT ROD Magazine. But Tony’s right,
the primary goal is to play in the dirt and have some fun."
Incidentally, the ’58 Ford
push truck is owned by another SO-CAL employee, artist Colby Martin.