Doug Anderson and the Bodrodz Atomic Scalpel top gravity streamliner, the world's fastest gravity car 2017
Doug Anderson and Jason Camp Cheaha Mtn. AL May 2019
Anderson and the Bodrodz Atomic Splinter at the 2013 East Coast Challenge
Doug Anderson bombing Hines Gap Road 1999
Doug Anderson 42, while surfing the new info medium called the internet stumbled onto the sport of street luge. On further searching he located Ed Bryant and his luge in northwest Atlanta. Bryant would inaugurate Anderson into street luge and the rest was history. Anderson would study Bryant's pan style luge design and incorporate it into his first street luge build. Anderson, Bryant and Al Braun who was also intro'ed into street luge with Anderson, would bomb hills on an almost weekly basis, racking up seat time and mileage. Scott Holsenback and Don Karbowski would join the three shortly and the group was off and running.
Late 1998, Anderson, stoked after building his first luge, founded Bodrodz Land Luge Workz and Team Bodrodz was created. Anderson and Bryant would join forces and began designing and building high performance street luges under the Bodrodz Land Luge Workz brand. More that a dozen sleds would be built by the two. Bodrodz would become the most well known street luge team and luge builders east the Mississippi. |
St George, UT Last Chance X-Games Qualifier 2001
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1999 Newspaper Article
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In 1999, for his first race, Anderson would enter NSLA's Hangin' Rock & Roll Race in Madison IN and would Gold Medal in the AM division. Later that year he would race at Sams Gap TN, in the super mass race in the rain, only to crash in the high speed chicane and collect Jeff Schonzeit with him. In 2000, Anderson would win the amateur race on Jester Hill in Bainbridge OH, and later that year would Bronze Medal at EDI's Mammoth CA race. At the end of 2000 Anderson was ranked 5th in the nation in EDI's amateur class.
2001 was proved to be his best. With a 3rd at Donner Downhill Festival, 4th at Maryhill, and a win at Pikes Peak, Anderson was EDI's national amateur champion at the age of 45. Anderson then made the pro ranks. Doug made the list for the Last Chance X-Games pro qualifier but failed to make the cut. In 2002, Anderson conceded he was no match for street luge's young gun pro riders and would retire from racing and focus on building sleds including a new boomless design for Holsenback. At the end of the 2003, the Bodrodz street luge run had come to an end and the team would disband, Anderson would venture off and race high performance catamarans and could be seen on the tracks with his railcar. |
Doug Anderson and the Atomic Splinter 2013
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In 2010, Anderson and Bryant, after 7 years, would run into one another at a
party. Over a cold beer, the two would reminisce about the good old luge days gone by. Anderson expressed his interest in the gravity car scene and thoughts of building one. Again, Bryant was all in. Doug would handle retro fitting the kart chassis to gravity and Ed would take care of the bodywork. The new name for Bodrodz would change to Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity Racing. Little did they know they were about to kick off the great gravity speed race of the 21st century. Anderson was very impressed with California's Steve Weems' 74.2 mph he put up on his GPS running Monitor Pass. Anderson would build the Atomic Splinter to go faster than Weems. The finished Atomic Splinter would not only run faster but would crush Weems speed by more than 10 mph by laying down a 84.4 mph pass on his GPS. The great speed race was on! |
Anderson and Bryant were now finishing up the Bodrodz Bullet and testing would begin soon. 2013, Jason Camp would join Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity Racing and become the latest team member. Camp would be invaluable and play a critical role in the Bodrodz gravity car operations. Without Camp, Bodrodz gravity car ops would be impossible.
In the fall of 2013, Anderson and Camp would take the Atomic Splinter to Fran Honeywell's East Coast Challenge in Pennsylvania. The Splinter would end up in the four car finals only to take 3rd because Splinter was not suited for that road's extreme conditions. Anderson would elect to save the car and settle for 3rd. |
Anderson's Bodrodz Bullet in 2015
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The Atomic Splinter, with Anderson piloting, running 84 mph in the Bodrodz Ultimate GPS Speed Challenge for the win. 2014
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In 2014, Anderson would win the Bodrodz Ultimate Speed Challenge, which was a documented GPS speed race for anyone in the world to enter. Anderson would pilot the Atomic Splinter to 84 mph for the 1st place win. Bryant would tip toe the ill handling Bodrodz Bullet to 2nd with a 82.5 mph pass and Donnie Schoettler, of California, would grab 3rd with a 81 mph run. Schoettler who had run faster (88 mph) but documentation errors robbed him of 1st place.
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The Bodrodz gravity cars made a poor showing at the East Coast Challenge in 2014 because of alignment issues causing turtle roll off speeds. Anderson would drive the Bullet at this event. Anderson and Camp would test continuously to work the problems out. Also, in late 2014, European speed junkie, Guy Martin had officially set the gravity car world record at 85.6 mph. Anderson and Camp are now set out on a new mission. In the summer of 2015, Holsenback would rejoin the team and help with the mission, to set a gravity car world record.
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Schoettler Anderson Ash
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In October of 2015, Anderson and Camp would head north to Pennsylvania for the last East Coast Challenge. They would meet up with good friend, Fastdonnie Schoettler, who made the trek from southern California. The trio would make good friends with Andy Ash from the UK, who had his car shipped over just for the race. The three cars would compete in the Supercar class. For the race, Anderson would finish second behind Schoettler and chased by Ash. A great weekend of racing, the ECC will be missed. It was always great racing and great people.
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Anderson chasing Fastdonnie at the 2015 ECC with Ash giving chase in the background. "I just couldn't do anything with him" sez Anderson
In 2016, the greatest gravity speed race in history would take place in Canada, the L'Ultime Descente. Donnie Schoettler, now a Bodrodz teammate, would meet Anderson, Camp and Holsenback on the big hill. Jono Searby and Andy Ash from the UK, would also join the team, Anderson, driving the Atomic Splinter, would run flat out every run, all weekend at the event. The most Anderson could squeeze out of it was 148.94 km/h 92.55 mph. That would also be his personal best. Bodrodz conceded, for the cars shape, size and weight, they were surprised it ran that good. "That was all it had in it" sez Anderson. Not to bad for a big wide gravity road racer. Teammate Schoettler running in the same class, 200 Limited CW, would set a new record and blast thru the 100 mph barrier. Anderson and Camp knew to go faster it would take a completely new car build. Anderson wanted a sleek streamliner and he would began designing immediately.
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Jono and Andy, belting in Anderson for his next run
at the 2016 L'Ultime Descente Speed Challenge. |
Anderson would design and weld up the new chassis for the Atomic Scalpel. The new streamliner would be built specifically for the Canadian road and a WGSA world record attempt. After numerous design changes and mods, the chassis was complete. Now Anderson would design a body around the chassis and driver. Aerodynamics are paramount to get the car to slip thru the air as effortlessly as possible to run a big number. The design now complete, Anderson and Jason Camp would spend countless hours building the one off body. Without the help of Jason Camp, the Scalpel project would not have happened. Thanks Jason!
Doug Anderson and Jason Camp during the Scalpel build Summer 2017
The completed Bodrodz Atomic Scalpel top gravity streamliner
The 2017 L'ultime descente recap
First a big thanks to Charles-antoine Lavoie and Jonathan Galarneau, along with countless volunteers, that made the 2017 L'Ultime Descente the greatest gravity speed race in the world again, second to none. This event is now the icon for gravity speed racing. Thanks to Casino Charleviox for making the event possible.
Thanks to Larry Jones Motorsports for giving me the tires to provide the best performance during our speed quest. Thanks Larry. Special thanks to Zero Gravity helmets for providing the team with state of the art helmets to keep us safe. Thanks to Roberts Kart Shop, MCP brake components, HardKnox Graphics, Deist Safety, and Nick Welmaker. Thanks for your support. And a big thanks to the Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity racing team. To Jason Camp, who without his help and support we would not have made it to the hill. Scott Holsenback, for providing his machinist talents, making the one off stuff. Thanks Scott. To Chris “Gobi” Schafer, the chute guy, for making sure the chutes were right and taking care of the heavy stuff during recovery at the bottom. To John Nichols, for capturing the weekend on photos. Killer shots John, thanks. To Jono Searby and Graham Thompson for helping Andy Ash to a WGSA world record and to keep everything running smooth at the top and bottom end. To good friend Andy Ash for jumping into an unknown cockpit and driving the Bodrodz Atomic Sliver to a WGSA world record. And last but not least, my good friend “Fastdonnie” Schoettler. He has become a Bodrodz icon. A true gravity speed merchant and the best gravity car pilot in the business. Thanks for everything you do. The L’Ultime Descente is the weekend that all gravity speed racers wait for. So true for Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity Racing. The whole team from all over the world gets together for a good hang and an awesome weekend of racing. And it was great meeting Paul Janson and Iain Rooney from Scotland, great guys. Congrats to them on their world records! It was a great race weekend. Here’s my 2017 L'Ultime Descente recap………………… Two weeks out before the L’Ultime Descente race, both cars were far from complete, not even painted yet. Jason and I were concerned if we would make the deadline. We’d already been putting in long hours on the cars, now they were going to require more. Still miffed why the cars took so long. We knew now the cars would go to the big hill untested. We had wind tunnel time available to us but just couldn’t finish the cars in time to take advantage of it. Fast Donnie was also going thru the same situation and fighting to get his car finished also. The last week was 12-14 hour days finishing up. Ended up painting the cars in the backyard 3 days before we left. The day before we were to leave, hurricane Erma came thru with tons of rain and shut the lights out on us. We finished up and loaded with the light from an old Coleman camping lantern and flashlights. With everything loaded including Matt Bartlett’s street luge we headed out at 3 am Tuesday in the heavy rain and never drove out of it until late that evening. Fast Donnie had already left southern California two days earlier for the event. Wednesday just south of Montreal, a trailer spring failed and now we were dead in the water on the side of the road. We got lucky, and didn’t lose the rig. After a 4 hour delay, including a large towing fee, we were back on the road. Can’t say enough about the Canadian people who helped us out. They bent over backwards to get us back on the road. Thanks. We arrived late Wednesday night. Thursday was spent prepping and going over the cars. Jono Searby and Graham Thompson, from the UK were busy getting their countryman Andy Ash fitted into the Atomic Sliver. This would be Andy’s first time in a gravity car of this configuration. Jason Camp, Chris Schafer, John Nichols, and I prepped the Scalpel for tommorrow’s running. With the cars ready late afternoon, we headed out to scope out the hill and sign in for the event at a local pub. Still no Fastdonnie. Upon arriving back at the house, Donnie had shown up. He had decided to take the scenic route….again. lol Friday, Sept 15 Arrive at the track, great weather. Fast Donnie bowed out of the morning sessions to go over his car. With all three cars new and zero road time, Everyone tip toed on their first pass. I made the first pass, in the Scalpel using tons of brake, posting 137.57 km/h 85.48 mph. The road had degraded some over the year from the winter and motor traffic. I used the left wheel track and got bounced around quite a bit at the bottom. Next pass, still using lots of brake to the half, I let the Scalpel run some. I was amazed at the acceleration of this car. Out the backdoor of the trap, at 99.56 mph,I found myself sideways and anything but straight and nothing but hay bales in front of the windscreen. Now waiting on the chute to inflate or impact, I was in full wheel lock to lock fight to regain control of the car. The chute finally deployed, which seemed forever, and yanked the car around straight. Thanks Deist Safety! Not only had I just missed the Century Club, I just got the living hell scared out of me. In hindsight, I had caused the problem. In a hurry to get the Scalpel slowed, I grabbed too much rear brake while being bounced around at the bottom end, causing the upset. That line was not working. Next pass I tried the center of the lane and this line showed promise. The Scalpel recorded a speed of 92.81 mph and didn’t loosen any fillings. Saturday, Sept 16 This was record day for everyone at the event. The kind of day gravity speed racers pray for, the day came with a tailwind right down the tracks fastest section. This first two runs down the center were conservative, posting speeds of 94.64 and 93.46 mph respectively still using handfuls of brake. The next pass I decided to approach the “cliff” with a little more speed. Still using brakes, I was hoping to just squeak into the WGSA Century Club. I knew the pass was fast but no idea it ran that big of a number. 164.13 km/h 101.98 mph for the WGSA top gravity streamliner record and the top speed of the 2017 L’Utime Descente Speed Challenge. It was the highest recorded speed for a wheeled gravity vehicle. The Scalpel had made that pass effortlessly. Sunday Sept 17 The air was thick with the front that had come thru and producing plenty of crosswinds on the coarse. Decided to make one more pass with the Scalpel. Using caution, just after the "cliff" I got blown off center to the right. I knew there was a bump coming and was trying to fineness the car left to avoid it when the Scalpel got lofted in the air and struck the nose on landing, a hard strike but no damage. Still managed a 97.53 mph pass after all that and a lose filling. Will the Bodrodz Atomic Scalpel go faster? Absolutely. How fast, I don’t even want to speculate. I never turned the car lose from the top. In fact, I always used plenty of brake to the half because I just didn’t have the seat time to feel comfortable pushing the car to it's limit. After my second pass incident, I decided to play it safe and will live to race another day. Still, I’m more than happy with the machine's performance and it's first outing. Just an incredible weekend for Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity Racing. What’s next? A few aero issues on the Scalpel need addressed and new paint and a new streamliner for the next event. Looking forward to seeing everyone at another L’Ultime Descente Speed Challenge. Doug Anderson |
Anderson pre-flighting the Atomic Scalpel on race day
Anderson and Camp finishing up the chute pack
Jono Searby about to launch Anderson and the Scalpel
The roll -up starts
And the acceleration begins
Breaking the first timing beam
In the speed trap! 164.13 km/h 101.98 mph
Out of the trap and time to slow down the Scalpel
Thanks to the Bodrodz team for making it an incredible weekend.
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Cannot thank this Bodrodz team enough. These guys are the best in the bizz. It was a total team effort which made this Bodrodz world record possible.
Andy Ash Jason Camp Doug Anderson Fast Donnie Schoettler Jono Searby Graham Thompson Chris "Gobi" Schafer John Nichols
Andy Ash Jason Camp Doug Anderson Fast Donnie Schoettler Jono Searby Graham Thompson Chris "Gobi" Schafer John Nichols
Pics from the 2017 L'Ultime Descente Speed Challenge
Anderson at Bainbridge OH for the NSLA Jester Hill race. He would win the AM race. 2000
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Ed Bryant, Doug Anderson, And Matt Bartlett on Fort Mtn. 2012
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Anderson, piloting his luge, would run 82.9 mph on his GPS and become a Bodrodz 80 club member in the fall of 2000.
Anderson with the chute out slowing the Bodrodz Bullet 2014
Anderson would get into the BXGR 90 Club at the 2016 L'Ultime Descente
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Anderson and the Atomic Splinter would win the 2014 Bodrodz GPS Ultimate Speed Challenge with an 84 mph pass.
Bodrodz Doug Anderson piloting the Atomic Splinter at the 2016 L'Ultime Descente with teammates Jono Searby, Andy Ash, and Steve Thomas. Anderson would make it into the Bodrodz 90 MPH Club clocking a 92.55 mph run. This would be all the Atomic Splinter would have in it for its size and aero package. This was the cars last outing and has since been retired.
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The Tin Man and the Bodrodz Atomic Splinter at Fire House 2015
Doug Anderson and the Bodrodz Atomic Scalpel 2017
Doug Anderson and the Bodrodz Scalpel at the 2020 Birmingham World of Wheels Feb. 2020