In addition to the prone drivers position and periscope vision, the front steer design (914 steering) using the two trailing rear wheels similar to that system later used by Andy Green and the sound barrier jet car.
On it's first runs Phil noted the steering was 'extremely quick' and difficult to control. When it finally made a long course run it flipped upside down between the two and three mile.
The car was repaired and made one more pass but without suspension, the ride was determined to be too rigid to control and withdrawn from competition. The car then disappeared from sight to never be seen again.
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,5202.1695.html
http://wheelerdealer-blog.blogspot.com/2017/01/volksliner.html
update, May 2022
I just got an email from Phil that says:
Actually, it had front-wheel steer. (Porsche 914 steering rack.)
It was initially too quick, but we slowed it down by remounting the links to the 'tiller'.
As a 'liner' it had to run on the long course. By the time we got it sorted well enough to make a pass, the salt had been pretty badly broken up by heavier cars. No excuses... while a little suspension travel might have helped, it simply got too much air under the nose.
It bounced, blew straight up, stood on its tail and did a nice little pirouette, then laid down and slid. Scooped in a lot of salt, which made a mess. By the time we got back it was just too rough to run...
- Phil
More from the landracing.com source:
the liner was the SCAT Volksliner and powered by a front wheel drive air cooled VW engine. The driver, Phil, laid on his stomach in a prone position and looked out of a 'periscope' to steer.
Handling problems resulted in a flip and rebuild but ultimately was not successful.
Burly, the unofficial historian for all things VW and land speed racing, has been looking for the car or it's remains for over two decades, and never found a trace.
see wheelerdealer-blog.blogspot.com/2017/01
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