Bell & Ross
Bell & Ross’ New BR V2-94 “Bellytanker”
Bell & Ross
Bell & Ross’ New BR V2-94 “Bellytanker”
While they have a plump profile, the name has nothing to do with girth around the midriff: born in the 1940s, the “belly” refers to the emergency drop tanks being fitted to the bellies of fighter planes. They were used to extend the range of aircraft, and were detached and discarded when emptied, hence “drop tanks.”
So did the car fanatics on the other side of the USA. In the late 1940s, hot-rodding legend Bill Burke of the So-Cal Speed Shop built what is generally regarded as the first “Lakester” from a surplus aircraft drop tank, in recognition of racing on perfectly flat, dry lakes. According to the lore, the idea of using a fuel tank as an car body came to Burke when he saw some at Guadalcanal. Noting the beautiful streamlining, he measured one and did the maths: knowing the dimensions of a Ford engine block and rear end, he worked out the concept of a streamlined body with four exposed wheels. The aerodynamics had already been addressed.
Burke’s first Lakester was created from a 168-gallon tank used on the P-51 Mustang, of which there were ample supplies of surplus belly tanks from assorted aircraft selling for under $50 each. Eventually, the design evolved to use the larger 315-gallon tank used on the P-38 Lightning, the builders preferring to use just two bottom halves, as the upper halves of the tanks had openings for the fuel and hardware for fixing to the aircraft.
Belly racers survive to this day, the speeds have gone from just over 100mph to today’s top contenders exceeding 360mph. They have their own class in Southern California Timing Association competition, and their devotees will probably snap up Bell& Ross’ gorgeous horological tribute.
Now, the bad news: there will only be 500 examples of this limited edition. Once the belly racers learn of it, they’ll probably disappear as quickly as the cars after which they’re named.
More on bellross.com