Roar of engines under the totalitarian hood - 45 years since the premiere of Metalex 1-04

In 1979, a new car, made by the specialized Czechoslovak company Metalex, was launched at the track races for the Peace and Friendship Cup, which attracted great attention from specialists, although its design was not entirely new. The car, designated 1-04, was to some extent based on the previous track model Metalex 1-03, whose limited production began in 1976. After participating in several races that year and the following year, however, it became clear that it could hardly compete with the East German Melkus and especially the precise Czechoslovak Avia, designed and manufactured by a professional team in factory conditions.

Roar of engines under the totalitarian hood - 45 years since the premiere of Metalex 1-04

The idea for the creation of the Metalex 1-04 came from the famous Czechoslovak pilot Karel Ilek, a two-time winner of the Peace and Friendship Cup. After preliminary research by him and his technical team, it was decided to use the main mechanical components from the Metalex 1-02, but to replace the old body with a completely new, much more aerodynamic superstructure. The famous Czechoslovak designer Vaclav Kral was engaged in this task, who proposed that the entire body play the role of a wing.

The first completed prototype was tested in a wind tunnel, where another aerodynamic effect was used - when the wheels rotate, a directed movement of air is caused around the car, which also increases aerodynamics.

The frame used from the 1-02 speeder has been partially adjusted to improve safety, and the profile of the protective arch above the pilot's head has been modified.

The brake calipers used on the old model (from Škoda on the front wheels and from Polski-Fiat 125P on the rear wheels) were replaced with four from VAZ, which, despite their higher weight, significantly improved braking power.

Initially, a VAZ 21011 engine was used, boosted to 90 hp, but later it was replaced with a Zastava 1300 engine, homologated in Group 1 with a head from a Zastava 1100 engine, which brought its power to 100 hp. The gearbox is from Škoda.

Of particular interest in the design is the special ejector chamber.

Back in 1978, in the Swedish Grand Prix, Niki Lauda's car was equipped with a similar axial fan, which sucked air from under the car and sharply increased its grip on the track, but this design was later banned for safety reasons. In Ilek's new formula, the same effect was achieved without taking away engine power, using the energy of the exhaust gases for this purpose. The chamber also includes an oil radiator, which, in addition to cooling the oil, heats the air passing under the car to a temperature consistent with the design parameters of the chamber.

The first start of the Metalex 1-04, piloted by Ilek, was at the Most track in 1979, where it placed second, but in the next few races its performance was not up to par due to some problems with the chassis, transmission and cooling.

A year later, after the technological adjustments were made, Ilek came out on top in the Czechoslovakian championship with the same car, and soon after he placed second in the Brno Grand Prix.

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

The idea for the creation of the Metalex 1-04 came from the famous Czechoslovak pilot Karel Ilek, a two-time winner of the Peace and Friendship Cup

The first completed prototype was tested in a wind tunnel, where another aerodynamic effect was used - when the wheels rotate, a directed movement of air is caused around the car, which also increases aerodynamics