Porsche 356 A Transformed into Lightweight Snow Racer by Valkyrie Racing
Valkyrie Racing’s modified1956 Porsche 356 A will tackle the Antarctic Terrain and might set a new record.
Renee Brinkerhoff has been campaigning against child and human trafficking for a while by tackling difficult terrains. Brinkerhoff has traveled over 200,000 miles across seven continents in her endurance rallies. In December, Brinkerhoff is setting out to Antarctica to fight for the cause, and her rally race team- Valkyrie Racing– is modifying a 1956 Porsche 356 A to assist her in the mission.
For the build, the Denver-based racer and philanthropist has partnered with Kieron Bradley, who is a UK-based senior chassis design engineer. The modified Porsche 356 A will be used to cover 356 miles in Antarctica. The engineer has been working on the car for over 18 months, re-engineering the classic sports car to make it fit for the last leg of ‘Project 356 A World Rally.’
Bradley’s technical abilities and background as a polar explorer make him the perfect man for the job. Bradley has made adjustments to the Porsche by ditching any unnecessary components. This reduces the chances of the car plunging into the ice. The overall mass of the 356 A has been increased because of the ski and track system.
Brinkerhoff will attempt a land speed record in her modified Porsche 356 A on a blue ice track on Union Glacier
Bradley shared his thoughts on the build. “Success for Renee and her car will come from the thoughtful balance of appropriate technology we’ve added, and the mass reduction implemented,” said Bradley. He further added, “The ski we’ve created must do 40 – 50 percent of the work, by compacting and prepping the snow for the track unit to follow over, with the underside blade guiding the direction – this ensures the tracks will not submarine under the light snow,”
The vehicle’s mass per square inch is now down by about 4%, even with the additional weight of the modifications. For safety, the Porsche 356 A also gets a roll cage. The car also gets a crevasse bar with solar panels that can generate up to 150 watts. The vehicle will also haul a wide range of survival gear exit rear and communications equipment.
Brinkerhoff’s also going to try and set a land speed record with her modified Porsche 356 A. Brinkerhoff will make the attempt on a blue ice track on Union Glacier. Brinkerhoff will be joined by her navigator- Jason de Carteret- a world record holder with fifty expeditions under his belt.
Photos: Valkyrie Racing