The Oldsmobile Aerotechs were a series of
experimental high-speed vehicles created between 1987 and 1992. They
incorporated the latest in performance technology, with the intention
of breaking multiple automobile speed records.
The Aerotech I was driven by three-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt to a
world closed-course speed record of 257.123 mph on August 26, 1987 at
the 7.712-mile test track near Fort Stockton, Texas. Prior to this, on
August 26, 1987, the car had posted a top speed over a "Flying Mile" of
267.88 mph. Foyt hit straightaway speeds of 290+ mph, yet never used
all the available horsepower. The car consisted of a March Indycar
single seat chassis enclosed in an extremely efficient aerodynamic
carbon fiber body shell. It was powered by a turbo-charged version of
the 2-litre Oldsmobile Quad 4 engine. There were two versions of the
Quad Four. The ST "RE" unit, prepared by Batten Heads of Detroit, used
a single turbocharger to make an estimated 900 horsepower. The LT "BE"
powerplant, built by Fuel Engineering of California, used twin turbos
to produce an estimated 1000 horsepower. The Aerotech I body was
designed by GM Design staff and was one of the sleekest vehicles ever
developed for use on a high speed track. The design of the Aerotech I
included the capability of adjusting underbody sections to control the
distribution of downforce, front to rear. Oldsmobile produced three
versions of the original Aerotech to prove the capabilities of the Quad
4 engine. Two were short-tailed (ST) versions and one was long-tailed
(LT).
Subsequently, from December 6-14, 1992, another version of the Aerotech
I, this time powered by a 4.0 litre Oldsmobile Aurora V8 engine and
fitted with lights, broke 47 speed endurance records including the
10,000 and 25,000 kilometre world speed records. Other national and
international speed records ranging from 10 kilometres to 24 hours were
accomplished by a team of drivers working 24 hours a day for 8 days.
These records were also set at the Fort Stockton test track. Larry
Lysons, Oldsmobile’s chief engineer said breaking the 25,000 kilometer
record is similar to running 31 consecutive Indy 500 races at
approximately the same pace.
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