SPEADS RS08
Overview
The SPEADS RS08 is an advanced single seat, motor cycle engined sportscar with full body aerodynamics. The new RS08 design preserves the strength of chassis and mechanical grip present in the earlier models and adds a substantially revised aero package, designed by noted aerodynamicist Paul Haas, consisting of revised floor, twin tunnel diffusers and revised bodywork. Mechanical upgrades include revised suspension geometry, adjustable pushrods, larger foot box, and fully floating brake rotors with radial mount calipers.
Description
Chassis - The chassis is an outstanding feature of the SPEADS. It is a lightweight space frame continuously developed over the last eight years from rig testing and racing; all with a view to ever increasing stiffness and reliability. Chassis members are mild steel tubing of mainly 32mm diameter x 0.9mm wall thickness. Main and dash roll bars are 38mm diameter x 2.1mm wall thickness. The frame is fully TIG welded ensuring consistency and quality with a minimum of distortion. There is an insulated double cockpit bulkhead which contains an FIA bladder fuel cell. Chassis stiffness translates to outstanding mechanical grip and reduced tire wear, enabling the SPEADS to use softer tire compounds compared to its competition. The RS08's cockpit is roomy and designed it to accommodate larger drivers of up to 1.9m and 110Kg.
Suspension and Running Gear – The quality of the SPEADS clearly shows in the design and fabrication of major suspension components including uprights, steering rack, rockers and even the universal joints for the steering column, all of which are all beautifully CNC machined. Pushrod suspension is used at all four corners. Left hand threads are utilized where quick adjustment is needed such as for ride height alteration. Approximately 50 rod ends are used per car, ranging from 7/16” to ½” diameter. Not only can toe and camber be adjusted easily, but caster can be altered in a matter of seconds. Camber adjustment is via shims allowing rapid and known camber changes at the track. Uprights are machined from billet and can be installed on any one of four corners to reduce need for corner specific spares. Control arms are fabricated from aero tubing of 1.6mm wall thickness, and include anti-intrusion beams for added safety. The car uses very long wishbones for minimal camber change in bump and droop, with consistent roll centre positioning. Adjustable roll bars are used for tuning front and rear weight transfer allowing use of softer springs, thus increasing mechanical grip even further.
Brakes - Calipers are radial mount 4 spot Powerlite for additional installed stiffness, and rotors are fully floating for improved pedal feel and longer life. Vented rotors are fitted at the front with a scalloped, lightweight solid rotor being used at the rear. The bias adjustable pedal box is sculpted in aluminium with separate front and rear circuits.
Bodywork -The 3 piece fiberglass body comes in self-colored Gel-coat of very high quality. The bodywork consists of front, center and rear sections. It attaches with simple catch-latches, and is manageable by one person. The cockpit has a form fitting seat and a foot well moulding is also provided to keep the driver’s feet in position under high G loadings. A nose mounted brake cooling duct feeds air to the front brakes with two individual rear mounted ducts feeding air to the rear brakes. Two air ducts either side of the roll hoop feed cold “ram” air to the mid mounted engine. The twin tunnel diffuser floor is complemented by an adjustable front splitter and rear wing leading to high levels of down force, and cornering capabilities in excess of 3g.
Engine & Drivetrain - The RS08 can accept almost any motorcycle engine. A Quaife differential is used at the rear. Unique to the Speads is an angled engine installation, allowing for equal length halfshafts. This is not only reduces the number of spares you may want to carry, it also eliminates torsional moments caused by unequal length half-shafts.
Safety - The RM08 features a CAMS approved roll hoop assembly constructed and analysed to meet the FIA structural requirements of Formula 3. Anti intrusion plates and beams are provided for all wishbone attachments at the front of the vehicle. A 25 litre FIA approved bladder tank is incorporated ahead of the insulated bulkhead in front of the engine.
