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| [GMCnet] gmc land speed record and fund raising request [message #222155] |
Thu, 12 September 2013 16:47  |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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Hi,
I had a bit of a problem getting the article into plain text format for the
GMCnet and had to enlist some help from a source who wishes to remain
anonymous.
Below you will find an article by Britt Palmer who mounted a challenge to
the existing Land Speed Record for Motorhomes using a GMC.
While he beat the speed set by "Moe" the GMC that held the LSR before the
current holder his speed was 7.8 mph short of the current record.
As you can see Britt is soliciting donations to combat Charcot Marie Tooth
disease; toward that end Applied / GMC is pleased to announce that we will
be sponsoring a raffle with three prizes to be drawn at the GMCMI
Montgomery, Texas convention in 2014.
First Place – Final Drive 3.70 with Limited Slip Differential (valued at
$2300) Second Place – Doug’s Header with ceramic coating with oxygen sensor
(valued at $800) Third Place – Gift Certificate (valued at $400) to Applied
GMC – Non-transferrable
Our goal is to raise $5,000.
Thank you,
Jim Kanomata
Applied / GMC, Fremont, CA
1-800-752-7502
jimk@appliedgmc.com
www.appliedgmc.com
THE WORLD’S FASTEST GMC MOTORHOME BY PALMER DESIGNS
Many people have asked me how this project began and why. It really began
in June 2010 when I was first diagnosed with Charcot Marie
Tooth disease. When I first heard about the disease I was completely numb
to what lies ahead. I knew nothing about this disease….
absolutely nothing. The disease had a strange name, sounds like a dental
condition but it’s not. It’s actually named after the three French doctors
who discovered this neurological disease back in the 1800’s. It took some
time for me to accept that this disease was serious. CMT is a chronic,
progressive, and unfortunately incurable neurological disorder that slowly
deteriorates peripheral nerve function in your arms and legs. CMT patients
can slowly lose normal use of their extremities (hands/arms &
feet/legs) as the nerves no longer stimulate the muscles. Many patients
have numbness, tingling and a burning pain in their arms and legs while
others may just experience some loss of sensory nerve functions or develop
“foot drop” and gait problems. CMT currently affects over 2.6 million
people. It was also unfortunate to realize that many people do not know
about CMT even though it’s the 2nd most common neurological disorder in the
country and the number #1 most commonly “inherited” neuropathy in the
world. Many sufferers of CMT are in constant pain caused by continuous
nerve decay. Many wear foot and leg braces to support balance.
Unfortunately, some patients may be bound to a wheel chair for life. The
symptoms vary widely from mild to severe. Brain function and cognitive
abilities are not affected and CMT is not expected to reduce life
expectancy. As my CMT has progressed, the disease has physically slowed me
down.
I wasn't about to let this disease slow me down anymore so one evening
while I was having a "pity party" for myself, I started thumbing through
craigslist and came across a 1977 Kingsley GMC motorhome for sale up in
Fort Collins, Colorado. Immediately I had flashbacks of the movie
“Stripes” starring Bill Murray where they used a GMC Motorhome as the
iconic “EM-50”. I loved camping and exploring so my thought at the time
was that I could use the motorhome to make it easier when I go camping with
my family. After searching the Internet and doing a lot of investigative
work on the history of the GMC Motorhome, I came across an article about
the GMC Motorhome holding the World Land Speed Record of 104 mph at the
Bonneville Salt Flats. Now you have to understand that I’m a motor-head and
all my friends are motor-heads and my friends-friends are motor-heads so it
didn’t take long before we had a plan to build the World’s Fastest
Motorhome (that I can still camp in after the race). It’s time to let the
world know what CMT is all
about. Instead of letting CMT slow me down anymore, my team and I intend
to build awareness for CMT by "GOING FAST".
And thus, the GMC LSR Motorhome a.k.a. “MoHo” Project was born.
Long story, short, we took a perfectly stock GMC Motorhome and gave it to
world renowned car builder, Dennis McCarty of Vehicle Effects to give it a
complete “Go Fast” makeover. Dennis is the exclusive car builder for the
Fast & Furious movie franchise with
Universal Studios and a good friend of my close friend, Steve Woodard. Well,
Dennis and an associate of his, Luke Richards of
Lucra Cars, removed everything flammable, including the floors, wheel
wells, cabinets, old wiring and appliances and replaced everything with
aluminum and fiberglass. We then installed a full-length chromoly roll
cage from front to back. The entire suspension system was replaced with
new and more modern parts like QuadraBag air-suspension, Suspension Maxx
Pork Chop, Air Ride suspension, 6 wheel disc brakes, stabilizer bars and
Fox shocks, A-Arms, new steering components and more. Applied GMC was a
huge help in supplying all of our parts to rebuild the entire suspension
system. We installed military grade wiring, HD camera backup system, a
fuse less Smartwire System, a Racepak IQ3 dash with data logger, fire
suppression system and a full blown SCTA certified race cockpit with full
containment kirkey seat. We redesigned the aerodynamics on the front and
rear. Gave her a new “MoHo” grill and added new-style frameless curved
tinted windows. Streamlined and smoothed the outside body before painting
her black and adding sponsor logos. Oh yea, I forgot to mention that she
was fitted with a new 600HP Chevy big block 502 Ram Jet fuel injected motor
and an upgraded TH425 Transmission, Applied Limited Slip Differentials and
Gears.
At Speed Week on the Bonneville Salt Flats, the MoHo stole the show. We
had more people stopping by to confirm that we were actually racing this
vehicle and that it wasn’t just there as a support vehicle. On August 12,
2013, we successfully drove the GMC LSR “MoHo” 120.8 mph. We were only 7.8
mph short of the overall Guinness World Record for “World’s Fastest
Motorhome” but we were
very pleased with the results considering we were rookies. It’s a cool
feeling to know you have the fastest GMC Motorhome on the
planet. In 2014, we are installing a supercharger and perhaps we’ll make
another final drive gear ratio change. Then we are headed back to
Bonneville to finish what we started.
If you want to support the GMC LSR “MoHo” project, go to www.gmclsr.com to
see more pictures and video. If you’d like to make a
donation directly to the CMT Association. Just click on the CMTA Logo on
the home page and it will redirect you to the official CMTA donations page.
Thanks for your support
Britt
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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