Project Gallery: Making the Bodies for KBS Racecars
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Racecar bodies, from initial renderings through serial production
Dave Craddock's pen and ink rendering on an alternate body for KBS racecars.
KBS racecars won a bunch of championships in their day, but frankly their
original bodies were never up to the same standard as the rest of the car.
After carefully sculpting and detailing a model, fiberglass is layed over
it. This fiberglass will be gently removed and made into the new molds.
Birth of a racecar.
Handsome new fiberglass body for F500 and F600 racing cars.
Excellent surface finish, high strength, crack resistance, and light weight.
Spring-clip fasteners are recessed into the bodywork.
Left and right sides of the body come together and wrap completely around the cockpit.
Tail section.
KBS diffuser (upside down, of course).
KBS diffuser (as it actually installs onto the car).
The new Preform Resources body installed on a KBS Mk5 chassis.
Left and right cowl sides are molded into the respective side pod panels.
In these racing classes, diffuser performance is very important.
The nosecone comes on and off very neatly.
And with nosecone removed, there's excellent access to mechanical components.
The livery of Brian Brothers's re-bodied KBS recalls the Marlboro McLarens of his youth.
Christina Libecco at Watkins Glen.
Jim Libecco at Heartland Park in Topeka Kansas for the 2009 SCCA Runoffs.
Same Body, Different Chassis: Preform KBS Body Kit on Ted Johnston's TR1
Ted Johnston built his own chassis by scratch,
and bought a Preform Resources body to cover it.
Ted Johnston's F500 racecar frame.
Ted Johnston working on his one-of-a-kind "TR1".
The TR1 F500 racecar: cooling system and front suspension details.
Here's Ted racing the newly completed TR1 racecar.
Joe Dunn at Waterford Hills in the ex-Ted Johnston TR1.
Nova/KBS conversion: Jay Novak puts a motorcycle engine in Chris Ross' KBS
Jay Novak taking the first drive in Chris Ross' newly rebuilt racecar. (Chris is at right in the jumpsuit.)
Why rebuilt? F500 racers are shifting from 500cc two-stroke engines to 600cc four-stroke engines. The
600cc engines are less expensive, yet provide superior performance. A new class will be needed...
Chris Ross wanted to have a truly top flight car for the inaugural season under new F600 rules, so
he commissioned Jay Novak of NovaRace, LLC to complete the conversion. (That's Jay in the car.)
A first class new body was required, so they brought Preform Resources into the project too.
This particular KBS was rather tired, so the project scope included many chassis updates.
Much of the frame was modified. Redesigned front suspension. All new brakes. Etc. Etc.
2009 Suzuki GSXR 600cc motorcycle engine.
From conception to test drive took six months, culminating in November 2009.
(These photos are from the ARRC race at Road Atlanta.)
The motorcycle carburetors draw air from above, so no holes were cut in the usual
spots on either side of the engine compartment.
Assuming 195 pound driver plus a full load of fuel: 892 pounds. Driver but no fuel: 855 pounds.
Minumum weight per class rules: 850 pounds. 45% / 55% front-to-rear weight distribution.
The sound this car makes is awesome. It revs to 15000rpm, and sounds great the whole way.
Now with a coat of shiny new paint!
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