No sloshing on wet salt

Phillip Weicker and Duncan Forster sloshing around.

IRONICALLY, the attempt to set a world speed record for the fastest mobile hot tub at the Bonnievale Salt Flats in Utah was rained out this weekend.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that Speed Week 2014 is cancelled. Weather wouldn’t co-operate. But what a ride,” tweeted engineers Phillip Weicker and Duncan Forster after three inches of rain had turned the salt flats into a shimmering lake.

Three inches of rain even turned the Bonnievale Salt Flats into a lake,
even with wavelets. That's this year's Speed Week washed out.
(Photo: @carpooldeville)   

Proving it is never too late to continue being happy students, the two friends bought the 1969 Cadillac De Ville in 2008 to re-make the world fastest hot tub. They based their design on a the first “fully functioning, fully mobile hot tub” they had designed as students at McMaster University in Canada in 1996.

For their second attempt, the pair stripped out the Cadillac, added wooden supports and their own fibre glass hot tub — the only one in the world fashioned to have a roll cage and racing seat bolted on. .

Under the hood, the original V8 engine drives the car and heats the water in the tub to a tepid 38 degrees Celsius.

nr 1903 Carpool De Ville readies for its speed record attempt,
but hark, the rain clouds were already cumulonimbusing.
(Photo: @carpooldeville) 

The boot contains an overflow tank, jet pumps and the pair’s custom air-ride system, which enables the De Ville to drive smoothly despite having 2,3 ton water weight sloshing around between the axles. Marine throttles controls the car’s gears and brakes from the driver seat, the steering system is water tight and all the controls are hermetically sealed.
The pair raised R118 000 on Kickstarter and used the funds to get the tub to Utah.
Along the way, the Carpool DeVille did what Carpools do best: make friends and inspire people.
“It’s been great to see the smiles again, the recognition that no challenge is insurmountable, and great things are possible when you have tools, and talent, and a goal to shoot for,” they posted.