Renault seeks speed record at Bonneville with classic Fourgonnette

With all the speedy machines headed to the Bonneville Salt Flats in August, a classic Renault 4 van is due to stick out. But one will be there Aug. 13-19 for some record breaking fun.

The project, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Renault 4, is headed by Les Triplettes de Bonneville with help from Renault Classic. The record-breaking Triplettes consist of Jean Caillou, Gilles Pujol and Frank Figuls. They will be joined by Bernard Canonne.

The group will race a 1983 Renault 4 Fourgonnette van, dubbed Saline4Fun. The goal will be to beat a speed record.

Now don't laugh, the team has done this before. They brought a 49.9-cc motorcycle several years ago and won. And by winning we mean beat other classic motorcycles with between one and two horsepower. Now the Triplettes own 13 records in total.

For the Fourgonnette, the team will use a Renault 5 Turbo engine producing 290 hp. In addition, they'll add a custom gearbox, and new steering, suspension and braking components. The team's goal is to hit an average of 173 mph in two runs in the desert.

Outside, the van will remain largely unchanged. The only clues will be the exhaust exiting out the front right-hand wing and the parachute roof hatch.

The Fourgonnette weighs in at a feather-like 1,587 pounds.

By Jake Lingeman