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Vintage Machines
Fabricator Alex Prosser
by Ken Handman
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How about a series of stories on a group of the most creative men in the world of motorsports? Not the drivers or big bucks owners who get all the press coverage, but designers and fabricators who put these toys together.
How about a story on the crew chief of Craig Breedlove's Spirit of America, 700 mph, LSR (Land Speed Record) car? Or what about the guy who built three of the Miss Budweiser, unlimited hydroplane hulls?
Let us say another story about a British metal fabricator who recreated the body work of the Shelby Daytona Coupe(the only American car ever to win the FIA GT world's championship). This guy HAND FORMED the body panels of one of the most breathtaking vintage reproductions this humble sports car nut has ever seen. Or how about a story of a builder on the 1985 Formula One, McClaren team that won what is arguably, one of the most significant racing seasons (12 win out of 14 races) of modern time? What if I said that all of these stories, and a lot more, are about only one man, Alex Prosser?
Prosser is another of the mega talented individuals based at Torrance Airport. The most difficult part of writing about Prosser is to choose a starting point. He is one of the guys helping Kent Lentz with the P-40 Tomahawk Restoration Project at Torrance Airport.
As a teenager Prosser began an apprenticeship at Rolls Royce Motor Cars Ltd., which eventually led to a mechanical engineering degree. During the seven years he worked at Rolls Royce in the limousine building department he built only four cars. However, they were quite significant vehicles. The four new owners were Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and the Queen Mother. These limousines were fabricated COMPLETELY BY HAND.
It is hard to choose a starting point, when writing about Prosser, so I will start with the first thing I saw when I walked into his hangar.
The Boeing F4B-3 was the last military fixed-gear plane. They were in service between the wars. This one was built in 1932.
According to Alex, the F4B-3 held many world records. One was the "climb to altitude" record at six thousand feet per minute, about the same as modern private jets. Another was the "maximum altitude" record, held at 27,000 feet. Think about flying an open cockpit, naturally aspirated biplane, with "only" 450 hp, to 27,000 ft, using a primitive oxygen system and experiencing temperatures of 30 degrees below zero. Next, picture yourself diving at the rate of 300 mph, than leveling off to 267 mph top speed -- IN A BIPLANE. These feats were unheard of in the '30s, prior to the F4B-3.
Prosser is reconstructing (not a restoration) the plane, hand forming the aluminum panels and simply recreating other parts. The original Pratt and Whitney nine cylinder radial, 985 cubic inch, 450 hp engine has been installed. The craft is owned by a four-man partnership -- three investors and Alex. He does the work and the others pay the bills. It is scheduled to fly in the summer of 2001. It will be one of the most significant planes of the period in flying condition.
Another of Prosser's mind-boggling list of achievements includes his position on the "Miss Budweiser" team as fabricator and crew chief of the unlimited hydroplane during the 1996 racing season. He was hired to help sort-out the gearbox problems that had been plaguing the boat. The "detuned" 3,000 hp turbine engine turned a tiny 10 inch surface drive propeller at 22,000 rpm. The shock loading on the transmission, when the craft slammed down after becoming airborne, wrecked havoc with the gears. Alex brought in the top transmission builder in the field and together they solved the problem., Sadly, they did not win the championship, that year, due to the drive-line problems. The boat's record then was six world championships in seven years.
Next week, I will attempt to convey some of the dramatic events in the building and LSR attempts of the Spirit of America, as told by the crew chief, Alex Prosser.
Plans for the Project Touch Car Show to be held Oct. 22 at Clark Field in Hermosa are coming together. However, since I am the only "car guy" on the committee, I need some help with the technical side of the event. The show benefits a very good local (non-profit) organization that helps teenagers. Call me, if you are a car person (m/f) who can volunteer a few hours leading up to the show, plus most of the day on the 21st and 22nd of Oct.
If you have an interesting car, boat,motorcycle or airplane, call me with some details. (310) 379-6319 or e-mail me at khandman@gte.net ER