There are many reasons why someone is committed to breaking a Bonneville record. For some, it’s the recognition, camaraderie, or thrill of . But others, like Britt Palmer, do it to draw attention to worthy causes. And the way he chose to do that is to pick a class from Bonneville competition that you wouldn’t even expect a class for. .
Why was the GMC camper built for Bonneville?
They say you can bring almost anything to Bonneville as long as it has at least two wheels. But a Bonneville record is beyond all bounds. Still, that’s a record to beat, at 102.7 mph. So the class to compete in and the goal drove Palmer’s plan.
from 1973 to 1978. A front-wheel drive Oldsmobile Toronado engine enclosed in the rear powers these futuristic-looking campers.
Which engine powers the motorhome?
With the interior gone, aluminum sheets, a 20-gallon fuel cell, a sprinkler system, and a 360-degree camera system replaced it. A RacePak IQ3 racing cage and dash were also installed, along with a Kirkey racing seat. This contains readouts of different engine functions, but also stores ride information to be reviewed on a computer later.
Power comes from a 700-hp 502ci Chevy big block spinning a TH425 automatic racing transmission. A nitro injection system with a wet 125 hit helps the horsepower. This means that when you dispense the giggle juice, you get an instant added hit of 125hp.
Did the GMC camper win its class?
Additional changes included the addition of six-wheel disc brakes, the Ridetech Air Ride System for the suspension, and some aerodynamic aids added to the front and rear corners. This is to handle some of the airflow moving around a whale’s body. So, it went to salt.
For , take your first pass. The time is set, so you have one hour to back up the record with a second run. The two times are averaged, and this is your speed. In the case of the GMC camper, he averaged 122 mph, beating the previous record by 20 mph.
All this to give a basic idea of whether you like the motorhome enough to own, as it is for sale. You can see it with a price tag of $95,000. While that sounds like a lot, we doubt it comes close to what this crazy project originally cost, and it’s street legal. So it should give you some pleasure as you fly towards the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone at over 100 mph.
