Edition #THIRTEEN
Last Checks & First Looks
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Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 is off to a great start. We’re enjoying it so far, and getting closer to the bottom of our to-do list before our first drive in Laguna Prototype 1! Since our last update, Kyle surprised me with his knowledge of electrical circuits, we found a new use for an army surplus ammo box, and I sat in about $10m worth of vintage race cars to see how Laguna’s interior compares to its predecessors. And while we’re on the subject of Laguna’s interior… would you like to see it? Keep reading for an exclusive reveal below! You can even send this to a friend you deem worthy 😉
Also, for those who may have missed last month’s newsletter, we finally got to fire up the car. Thanks to a friend who happens to be a great photographer, our reactions to hearing Laguna’s engine for the first time were caught on camera - check it out below!
We have three main tasks left before our first drive, starting with wiring Laguna’s electrical system. The most daunting part of this was figuring out how to get the engine computer to accept a new throttle signal from our gas pedal instead of the twist-style throttle from the donor bike. Kyle was miraculously able to recall some electronics knowledge from college and realized we (he) could design an integrated circuit that gave the ECU the exact signal it was looking for. After a week of online electronic components orders, a lot of math, and some soldering, he was able to build a system that output two different throttle signals simultaneously (a main signal and a backup) - exactly what the engine computer was looking for. We are now working with the company that produces the sensors to create a bespoke version for our production vehicles, which would remove the need for the separate circuit altogether.
Next on the electronics to-do list: find a home for the battery, relays, and kill switch. We needed a durable, water-tight box that was small enough to fit under Laguna’s side sill while providing easily access to the electronics, and an old army ammo box turned out to be perfect for the task. How about that for some prototype-style problem solving?We also fitted an oil pressure sender to keep an eye on oil pressure while testing. Low oil pressure can destroy an engine in seconds, so we’re modifying the engine’s lubrication system to handle the types of g-forces that Laguna will be capable of.
Wrenching on our prototype is good fun nine times out of ten, but every once in a while the need for benchmarking arises and that is always a good time. In this instance, we needed to verify our claim that Laguna’s interior is significantly roomier than the 1960’s race cars that inspired it. When the top of a car’s roof is at eye level for the average five-year-old, it helps to maintain some open mindedness while discussing the spaciousness of its cabin. The Petersen Museum very generously offered us access to their world-famous vehicle collection to take some measurements, and I had the honor of climbing into six historic race cars accompanied by a tape measure and a level of excitement that I was struggling to contain. I also thought my 5’8” frame would have no trouble getting in and out of these cars… I was wrong.
That’s me inside a 1967 Porsche 907K - a Le Mans Prototype that closely resembles Laguna in both design and overall size. It took me literally two minutes just to climb in. Sure, I was trying not to touch any more of the $4 million dollar museum piece than necessary, but most of my battle to enter the Porsche was consumed by contorting my legs into a shape that even a pretzel would struggle to obtain. Meanwhile, the door was pressing against my shoulder and the see-through-because-it’s-so-thin roof was brushing my hair. The passenger seat butts directly up against the driver seat and looks like it might fit a toddler, but there is no center console to speak of and these cars were never designed to fit two adults in the first place. In fact, the only reason they have passenger seats is to satisfy an ancient rule in the race regulations!
Once seated, I started calling out measurements to Kyle so he could write everything down. “Steering wheel bottom to thighs… half an inch. Knuckles to glass… two inches.” We recorded measurements for every interior, and then we compared the numbers to our prototype. Laguna has virtually the same exterior footprint as these cars, but way more interior space. Thanks to incredibly efficient packaging, it can comfortably fit two large adults and two carry-on bags. It has a center console that gives the driver and passenger extra breathing room. Most importantly, it is incredibly easy to get in and out of thanks to its large butterfly doors. Our only point of concern was that the A-pillars feel a little too close to your head in the prototype chassis. I solved this with a slew of exterior modifications that moved the windshield 3.5” forward and widened the roof by another three inches. To help you visually compare our interior to that of a vintage prototype like the Porsche above, let me share a rendering of Laguna’s cockpit for a little context. Enjoy this exclusive preview!
Laguna’s interior confirms what the exterior suggests: it is as exciting to drive as a 1960’s LeMans prototype and as usable as a modern sports car. These two requirements drove every design decision. Laguna’s ergonomic excellence combined with modern features such as power-steering, wireless charging, and air-conditioning are just some of the many features that set Laguna apart from its finely aged predecessors.
My last task for December was to completely revamp our website, and Laguna’s exterior quietly went on full display for the first time. Now that we are nearing the design freeze stage, it is finally time to share with the world. I present, Laguna:
We are so close to our first drive now - just a little more wiring, plumbing, and some final component installs to do. After that, Kyle and I can finally begin driving the car that we have spent the last two and a half years building from the ground up. In the meantime, you can visit our website to learn more about our vision for Shoreline Bespoke, reach out, and shop for apparel. By subscribing to this newsletter, you’ll be the first to know about vehicle updates, future reveals, apparel releases and more… stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Spencer Beckman
Founder & CEO, Shoreline Bespoke Vehicles