The Healey endurance car completed a final set of speed tests during Oct 2008 with great success. The car achieved its target speed of 147.2 mph very close the theoretical maximum calculated by the original wind tunnel analysis calculated in the days when the car was designed.
The first of these recent tests was at Bruntingthorpe was aimed at determining the straight-line capability of the car. It was only just long enough to attempt the run, so the brakes were also given a good testing at the end of each run.
The second test was at Millbrook in Northamptonshire, where the maximum speed was achieved. This is a great improvement for the team after the summer tests at Millbrook, achieved a credible138mph, but the Millbrook track is noted for scrubbing off speed some reckon by as much as 7mph. So there might be a little more to come on a wider radius circuit.
Following the August Millbrook test, minor aerodynamic work was put into smoothing airflow across all major features including the fitting of a works under tray plus a revised exhaust with fewer restrictions. It is estimated that 90% of the improved speed came from this work.
This project has been developed by Classic car Expert Jeremy Welch from his business Denis Welch Motorsport in Yoxall, Near Burton on Trent, and has been recreated in memory of a previous record-breaking car that took the 24-hour record in 1954. This research and development work is typical of the type of classic car race consultancy that the company specialises in.
"We had some reservations about the speed recorded at Millbrook in August 2008 and felt aerodynamics were a part of the solution. We thought that the track was robbing the car of some outright speed and the flat road test confirmed our opinions that the car is capable of the speed necessary to make a challenge on the 50-year-old record. The second Millbrook test enabled us to evaluate the aerodynamic modifications against previous tests. There is still more preparatory work to undertake and we are at present looking again at the suspension. The higher speeds achieved at Millbrook were bordering on the scary, as the original configuration is too harsh leading to some skittishness, which you do not need at nearly 150 mph, so that problem will be solved soon and then we can test it at Millbrook before planning a full record attempt. It looks as if we will make an attempt on the 1000 km endurance record next year but really need a bigger radius track to attempt a longer distance. We remain committed to this effort, so those who are interested can keep up to date from our website" commented Jeremy Welch after the test day
