Grenade?

[DaveK]

I was reading in Heart of the Beast about the 'grenade exercises' performed by Jim Inglis. It says

"Inglis would lightly depress the brakes to lock the front wheels, rev up the LT5 and release the clutch. Thick, acrid clouds of smoke soon enveloped the ZR-1, hiding it completely. He would then release the brakes, and the car would shoot out of the billowing clouds of smoke, leaving two smouldering piles of rubber."

Did Inglis have linelocks fitted and the writer didnt know about them? I would have thought that if the brakes were locked at the front they'd be locked at the back too. Has anyone ever tried this?

I guess you'd need deep pockets to pay for the tires

[RedSled]

I recently read the book and wondered the same thing???? Anyone know the answer???

[Hammer]

Probably did like in the old days (power brake). The power of the engine is more than the rear brakes can stop but the fronts have no problem keeping the car stopped. Line locks would be nice though.

[DaveK]

So you'd be burning out your rear brakes as well as tires?

Good job he had GM picking up the bill then!

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by DaveK

So you'd be burning out your rear brakes as well as tires?

Good job he had GM picking up the bill then!

Yep, something has to give with treatment like that, although it's not that bad unless you do it all the time. Which I can't imagine happening with us guys. It of course would make a difference if GM was paying for the brakes and tires.

[Kevin]

same thing as doing a standing burn out.......

[tccrab]

I wondered the same thing, it sounded exactly like line locks.
The technology has been around for quite a while, so it's entirely possible that he had them installed for the "Grenade Test".
For those of you who don't know what Line Locks are, it's a solenoid that's installed between the the brake master cylinder and the front brakes. You push the brake pedal down hard and hit the button. This switches the solenoid closed which keeps the front brakes locked. You then take your foot off of the brake pedal and start your burnout. When you're ready to launch you press the button, the solenoid opens and the front brakes release.
Zoom...Zoom...Zoom...

TomC
'90ZR1 #792

[tomtom72]

I got a chuckle outta that story in HOTB also.

I was thinking Line-Loc also....we had that stuff back in the dark ages I was thinking, back in the late '60's. I remember a few guys that had it on their hot rods in high school.