11 replies to this topic

[Megatron]

Where was the Pratt & Whitney turbine that was fitted to the Lotus in 1971 built and who built it? Did it have any relationship to the STP car that nearly won Indy in 1967 with Parnelli Jones. I think it was called a Pratt & Whitney.

[david_martin]

Ummm, I guess Pratt and Whitney, one of the world's biggest manufacturers of marine and aerospace turbine engines:

http://www.pratt-whitney.com

[Don Capps]

The Granatelli "whooshmobile" (or 'Silent Sam') used a Pratt & Whitney ST6B-62 turbine in 1967.

The Lotus 56 entries at Indy in 1968 used the Pratt & Whitney ST6B-70 turbine.

The PT6B series is familar to anyone who has spent time with the UH-1 series of Slicks & Cobras.

The Lotus 56B of 1971 used the Pratt & Whitney STN76 turbine.

And, just for good measure, the Howmet used a General Electric GS325 turbine.

[Rainer Nyberg]

The HOWMET used an engine that was adapted from a proposed helicopter turboshaft made by Continental.


Model : CONTINENTAL TS325-1 (T65-T-1)
Manufacturer : Continental Aviation and Engineering Corporation, 12700 Kercheval Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48215
Type certificate : E6CE issued April 30, 1964
Type : Turboshaft Engine free turbine type with single-stage axial compressor plus a
single-stage radial flow compressor, Single annular combustion chamber, Two-
stage gas generator turbine, Single-stage power turbine.
Max Power : 330 HP @ 57,500 rpm (gas generator) 6,017 rpm (output shaft)
Max Torque : 270 ft.-lb.(366Nm) @ 57,500 rpm (gas generator) 6,017 rpm (output shaft)
Approx 500 ft.-lb.(678Nm) is created at standstill
Fuel control : Bendix DP-G1 (Gas generator)
Bendix AL-P1 (Power turbine governor)
Fuel pump and filter Adel 709712
Fuel : JP-4 or JP-5 aviation kerosene (MIL-J-5624 spec)
Oil : ESSO Turbo 15 (MIL-L-7808 spec)
Ignition System : Dual ignition coil Bendix TGLN 10-358125-1, (2) Champion FHE-157-4 igniters
EGT Measurement : Thermocouple harness with 6 thermocouples locates at the power turbine inlet
Dimensions : Length : 39.17" - 995 mm
Width : 17.90" - 455 mm
Height : 19.85" - 504 mm
Weight : 136 lbs - 61.7 kg (including accessories)

Btw this engine lost the competition against the Allison 250 for the US government contract.

Don, I think your information about the GE is from an error in Gérard Crombac´s book TURBINE GRAND PRIX.

[Gerr]

The turbines used by STP were designed,built and supplied by Pratt & Whitney CANADA Ltd.(P&WC) of Montreal.
http://www.pwc.ca/ww..._pwc/index2.asp
The PT6,PT7,PW100,PW200,PW205B,PW300,PW400 and PW901A(and the variations)are all P&WC designs,all CANADIAN!

[Don Capps]

Don, I think your information about the GE is from an error in Gérard Crombac´s book TURBINE GRAND PRIX.

Mea culpa. I happened to have a look at some info & it said "GE" although I had second thoughts after I posted it. I knew it was a Continental turbine since I just saw the Howmet info, but still goofed. I remembered that the turbine used lost to Allison, but somehow got "GE" on the mind.

Sigh......

[Falcadore]

The Lotus had the same engine engine as the SeaCobras???

I wonder of Graham Chapman ever contemplated mounting a M197 to the 56B's broad flat nose, or maybe 2 3/4 rocket pods to the side pods to deal with those pesky red things from Maranello...

[FLB]

The Lotus Pratt & Whitney engines were built at their Longueuil, Québec facility. It's the only occurrence of a Canadian engine in F1 history

[Ray Bell]

If it helps at all, I can cite an example of a Canadian-built chassis not only placing in a Grand Prix, but also setting an outright lap record.

Forty years after it was built.

[Gary C]

oh come on Ray, don't tease us! Tell us!

[Ray Bell]

The story's not new, but a couple of minor details on this angle you might like...'

If you go to the thread on Australasian Specials you find the Regal Cadillac of Rex Law... now I know the pics aren't working at this time, we've got to do something about that...

The car was built on a Regal Underslung chassis in about 1933, used for inter-city bet-winning for a number of years, then purchased by Law in Brisbane. He rid it of the Regal front axle so it could be fitted with 4-wheel brakes for competition purposes, and continued to run it with the Austin 20 mechs that Herb Avery had fitted in Longreach.

When the 1949 Australian Grand Prix came up, he had Allan Larsen fit a Cadillac SV V8 to help boost the field, Larsen driving it to fifth place ten minutes behind the winning Delahaye. On its artillery rear wheels (21") it looked a real sight.

In 1950 Law drove it to such effect at Lowood that he set the outright lap record, which was still extant the following year, the chassis 40th birthday.

There were perhaps 50 or so Regal Underslungs came to Australia. They would have come from the Canadian plant, as tariff benefits would have applied to vehicles coming from an other Commonwealth country.

[FLB]

Well, I guess the Stebro wasn't the only Canadian GP car afterall!

What a fascinating story. Thank you Ray!