| Engine |
Morris Minor 1000, 995cc, BMC 731
Camshaft, 9.3:1 Hepolite Pistons running on methanol & occasionally
nitro-methane. |
| Cylinder
Heads |
Austin A30, widened ports. Gas flowed.
Cooper S & Sprite valve springs. Autolite AG 701 spark plugs. 8.5:1
compression ratio. Triple 1.1/4" bore stub exhausts, 6.1/2" long. |
| Carburettors/
injectors |
2" S.U. carb or twin 1.1/4" Wal Phillips
injectors. Later Harold built his own injector. |
| Blower |
Ian Godfrey (Rootes type) ex-Air
Ministry cabin blower, overdriven by 1:1.1/2 |
| Fuel
Pump |
100 p.s.i. rotary pump designed and
built by Harold Bull, run from front of blower with a gear reduction to turn
it at crankshaft speed. |
| Fuel
Tank |
Longitudinally mounted, cylindrical
lawn mower petrol tank. |
| Transmission |
Three speed Morris 8 (circa 1936)
with first and reverse removed. |
| Clutch |
7" Borg & Beck with uprated springs
and competition linings. |
| Rear
Axle |
Solid mounted Morris Minor 1000 4.55:1
ratio. Narrowed to give 30" track. |
| Front
Axle |
Dropped tube type, chromed and mounted
on leading links from a Morris Minor torsion bar. 41" track. Austin Seven
stub axles |
| Chassis |
Made from 1" dia. 16 s.w.g. mild
steel tube, designed & constructed by Harold Bull. 104"
Wheelbase. |
| Brakes |
Morris Minor 1000 |
| Front
Wheels/tyres |
12" R.S.W. cycle rims, spoked to
hubs made by Harold Bull. 2" section white rubber tyres painted
black! |
| Rear
Wheels/tyres |
Reversed Ford 105E 13" steel wheels
with 5.20" treaded tyres. |
| Body |
Aluminuim with spats each side of
the engine and upswept tail to house parachute |
| Paint |
Deep blue Metalflake with orange
lettering. |
Constructor/driver Harold Bull , an ex-Fleet Air Arm engine
artificer from Ascot, Berkshire, built the first incarnation of this dragster
in 1965. It originally had an 84" wheelbase but this was later lengthened
to 104", after a supercharger had been fitted, to combat wheelstanding problems.
The machine was built in his spare time whilst working as a toolmaker, a
skill which Harold utilised to its full potential in making many of the
components for the car himself. In 1967 Harold started his own buisness with
fellow racer Derek Metcalfe making drag racing items such as fuel pumps,
injectors and fuel tanks, under the name B & M Equipment. The car was
a consitent record holder in the International Class G for 751-1100cc machines
over the standing quarter mile and 500 metres as well as many e.t. and speed
records in the UK. In 1971 Harold crashed the car into the barriers at Santa
pod during a race with John Whitmores Drag 'N' Fly but escaped unhurt. He
was back out in the rebuilt car a month later. In 1974 Harold purchased the
Houndog 5 slingshot and drove it at the Drag Racing News Trophy meeting in
July. Unfortunately he hit the crash barrier again and wrote the car off.
Although not badly hurt he never raced again.
