Chico's Report: El Mirage
"It's a feeling I can't explain with words. Speed has got me hooked"

MOON NOOZ - Friday, May 23, 2008
A special treat for MOON NOOZ Readers, Chico gives us a little background and talks about his latest project.

The car I've been working on for last year and a half is finally finished.

Modified Roadster for Land Speed Record

Ever since I met Fred Larsen, and started to go to Bonneville, I fell in love with land speed racing, but never had chance to do anything other than being part of Fred's streamliner crew.

The last 2 years, I was fortunate enough to get a ride in Tim Cunha's '32 Deuce Coupe. What a feeling. I was hooked. As soon as I came back from Bonneville in 2006, I decided to build a modified roadster. Reason for building a modified roadster is because it's fairly inexpensive to build and if I can use Fred's motor out of his streamliner, there's very good chance of setting record in class and maybe even get me into 200mph club.

In September 2006, I called up Dick at Poli Form and picked up a
'27 T body and track nose.

As soon as I came back, I started laying the chassis out of 2x4" steel tubing. I knew exactly how I wanted to build this car, so things went quite well. Ordered some rectangular tubing bent by Art Morrison, 1-5/8" Chromoly tubing bent by Horsepower Engineering. Mocked up chassis and roll cage. With help of good friends, things came together pretty well, but working on it after hours made progress slower than I wanted. I had set my goal for the car to be completed and ready for May El Mirage in 2008. I had Shige's blessing to use Fred's motor. As time passed, people that came by the shop didn't think we would get it ready for May meet. At some point I had doubt myself, but I wanted it to get it done so bad, I kept on working on it whenever I had the chance to work on it. Without the help from good friends, this would never have been completed.

When it finally came together, I was pleasantly surprised of the outcome. The car looked good. The motor sounded even better. 183cubic inch small block Chevy sleeved and destroked to get in F class which is 3liter limit with help of 471 blower mounted in front of engine running on Alky. This front mount blower is another reason why I wanted to build this car. We still make a front mount blower kit for small block Chevy engines.

On Friday, May 16th 2008, we loaded the roadster up on trailer and headed for El Mirage.

Once we got there we went straight to inspection.

Being a new car, several inspectors had to go over the car with fine tooth comb front to back. Fuel vent, shifter boot, arm restraints are things I needed to change. Any new car or new driver must perform "Bail Out". This is a test that shows you can calmly shut the system off and bring the car to stop safely and quickly in case of fire. That went OK. After a vigorous inspection, it was signed off by 2 inspectors. I was good to go! Went back to the pit and set up and got ready for the next day. Saturday morning, we warmed up motor and went to line up for run. All new cars must go between 125 to 150mph and pull chute for the first run.

It was time. I suited up and got in car. It's tight. By the time all the seat belts were in place, you'll not be able to make any moves it's so tight. Starter gave me the go. I fired up the motor. Waved Doug to push off. Most of the cars are set up for high speed, so they need help getting up to speed.

I slowly let the clutch out and took off from the push truck. First gear, second gear and third gear, car went straight as an arrow. 153mph at the trap in third gear. Just what I'm supposed to do for the very first run. I was so excited and pleased. A car I designed and built drove so good! Very happy. Doug came to pull me back and congratulated me. Marilou (Fred's Wife) was in the pit waiting. She was so happy to hear and see Fred's motor run again. Fred's motor had been out of commission for over 7 years. Thanks Fred! (by the way, I decided to paint this roadster blue just like Fred's streamliner in memory of Fred.)

On Sunday, I went for another run. This time I had Doug push me longer. I took off and pulled to 7000 rpm. First, second gear went good. Third gear, the motor started to lay down. Wouldn't pull.

Car started to wander around a little. Maybe not enough fuel, maybe need more timing. We'll do more tests. When we got back to the Mooneyes USA shop on Sunday after the meet, we found out that a tie rod adjusting nut was loosened. This explains why car was doing what it did at high speed.

It's a feeling I can't explain with words. Speed has got me hooked.

We'll make few changes on the car and go back in June for another test.

Chico Kodama

Mooneyes USA, Inc.
10820 S. Norwalk Blvd.,
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670