The quarter-mile has lost some relevance, especially among modern ultra-high horsepower cars. The 60-130mph measurement is easier to obtain and consistently more representative of the car's capability. The quarter-mile will always exist and rightfully so because of the all-around nature of measuring a cars straight line performance. Of course, it's a lot of fun and its always great to see a large variety of different cars race. But many times its simply easier to get a 60-130mph measurement. I don't condone speeding on public roads but this is the reality.
Instead, a VBOX http://www.racelogic.co.uk/result result of a 60 to 130mph run gives a very accurate depiction of the performance of the car. Traction and surface preparation issues are minimal and heat soak is no longer a factor. The 130mph speed separates the big boys from those that perform better at lower speeds due to gearing or AWD. It also represents what happens in racing on road circuits - a rolling drag race when exiting a turn. And it's much easier to find a stretch of road with no traffic that fits the bill. Again, obey your traffic laws...
Check out these links to see how its structured and the results. All most likely done in Mexico or on private roads: http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/996-turbo-gt2/55163-6speedonline-1-4-mile-60-130-mph-standings.html and http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=911116&highlight=130
In this day of 600hp+ cars, low profile tires and intrusive emission controls, an optimal quarter-mile result is becoming more and more elusive. We all want to know how cars are capable of performing. But how many of us can go to a dragstrip with a well-prepped surface for excellent adhesion, a negative density altitude (cold dense air) for highest potential horsepower output, no long waits while idling to approach the staging lights, and time to practice launch techniques with various tire pressure in order to achieve the quickest elapse time and highest trap speed possible?
If you have a modern high performance car, especially in the 500+hp range, it has stiff, low-profile tires and is very difficult to launch. Is your track even open when the temperatures drop into the 40s or below? How is the surface preparation? How many runs do you get in? At 600+hp, it becomes an even greater exercise in power and wheelspin management, especially on stock (low profile) tires that are designed for handling and braking vs. drag radials or slicks.
Magazines must continue to use the quarter-mile as the benchmark for a car's straight-line performance potential. But the magazines have certain benefits racers at many tracks do not. First and foremost, they have easy and open access to the tracks. That is not the case for tens of thousands, especially during the work week. They do not sit in a line of 10, 100 or even 300+ cars while engine temps climb beyond normal operating temperatures, robbing precious horsepower. They are able to practice various launch techniques because they can get multiple runs. Finally, many tracks are closed to the public during the colder seasons. The track should always be our preference, but the alternative is quite frankly, easier.
What about the magazines? They must keep testing, and always test to 130mph, preferably 150mph. That way comparison data can be easily extrapolated.
Drag racing at the tracks is still a blast. The competition, sights, sounds and camaraderie can make a great time even if getting only three poor runs. More tracks should open to address the public demand and street racing should be discouraged.. However, brief a 60-130mph blast in a high performance car on a clear multi-lane road is far safer than the daily 60-70mph commute millions have every day. So now, the 60-130mph is becoming a new standard of measuring acceleration
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Viper sale signals the end of the horsepower race
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090205/CARNEWS/902059976
As much as we like it, the trend of ever-increasing horsepower is going to end. What is the ceiling for horsepower on the street? This sale of the Viper division is foreshadowing the beginning of the end of the horsepower race. Instead of Chrysler shutting the plant down in a few years due to lagging sales, I'm sad to say its a smart move to sell it now.
Development for ever faster cars is going to slow as demand slows and mileage and emission requirements increase. The state of the economy just kick started it. The division is doomed to fail in just a few years.
The Viper, especially the ACR, is a spectacular performance bargain in the big picture. But it just doesn't make sense to keep adding power in light of future requirements. Sure they might tweak it for another 50 or 75hp, but it is already traction limited . There are very, very few cars making more horsepower and their market is not the racetrack but exclusivity and exotic appeal.
On the street, rear-drive only 600hp cars are already traction limited. In fact, this is deep into the range of horsepower for race cars and even with racing slicks, traction is an issue that must be managed as well. And they don't have the hazards on the street that we do!
The notable domestic contributions are the Corvette ZR1 and Shelby Super Snake. But neither will compete in a race series without major changes and both have "heritage appeal" sales. The normally aspirated Corvette Z-06 is already the established track day or race car and the Shelby, with 725hp, doesn't have a warranty and still needs to lose 500lbs. Not only that, it already has the economy of scale with the Mustang, and has a huge mark-up.
Making the Viper lighter from a competitive standpoint (ala the Corvette Z-06) will cost far too much in R&D. Making the interior equal to any of the competition will also cost too much.
Remember how Audi bought Lamborghini and turned it around? I think a similar move would be the Viper's best chance. Otherwise it becomes a boutique vehicle with unprofitable sales numbers.
As much as the ACR would be my dream car for track days, I'm not optimistic about the future of the brand. And significant horsepower increases from the manufacturers has come to an end.
As much as we like it, the trend of ever-increasing horsepower is going to end. What is the ceiling for horsepower on the street? This sale of the Viper division is foreshadowing the beginning of the end of the horsepower race. Instead of Chrysler shutting the plant down in a few years due to lagging sales, I'm sad to say its a smart move to sell it now.
Development for ever faster cars is going to slow as demand slows and mileage and emission requirements increase. The state of the economy just kick started it. The division is doomed to fail in just a few years.
The Viper, especially the ACR, is a spectacular performance bargain in the big picture. But it just doesn't make sense to keep adding power in light of future requirements. Sure they might tweak it for another 50 or 75hp, but it is already traction limited . There are very, very few cars making more horsepower and their market is not the racetrack but exclusivity and exotic appeal.
On the street, rear-drive only 600hp cars are already traction limited. In fact, this is deep into the range of horsepower for race cars and even with racing slicks, traction is an issue that must be managed as well. And they don't have the hazards on the street that we do!
The notable domestic contributions are the Corvette ZR1 and Shelby Super Snake. But neither will compete in a race series without major changes and both have "heritage appeal" sales. The normally aspirated Corvette Z-06 is already the established track day or race car and the Shelby, with 725hp, doesn't have a warranty and still needs to lose 500lbs. Not only that, it already has the economy of scale with the Mustang, and has a huge mark-up.
Making the Viper lighter from a competitive standpoint (ala the Corvette Z-06) will cost far too much in R&D. Making the interior equal to any of the competition will also cost too much.
Remember how Audi bought Lamborghini and turned it around? I think a similar move would be the Viper's best chance. Otherwise it becomes a boutique vehicle with unprofitable sales numbers.
As much as the ACR would be my dream car for track days, I'm not optimistic about the future of the brand. And significant horsepower increases from the manufacturers has come to an end.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona key element missing
Edit: The series is long gone but the coverage of the vehicles is still terrible. Watching one race on a 75" HD TV and they list the driver's names but the make of the car isn't even legible.
The Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona was recently televised. Speed TV did a good job covering the race itself. Where they lacked is typical in racing coverage - the cars! Getting to know the drivers is good, the race teams can be obscure, but the common element that everyone wants to watch is the cars. But no details!
http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/teams/
This website needs to expand. We want car details, not just driver and team bios.
Did you know there were two Corvettes entered in the GT class? How about two Ferrari F430s? What about the lone Mustang? And of course, the Mazda RX-8. How much power are they making? How do they compare to the other cars? Why wasn't it closer between the Ferraris and Porsche like in the ALMS? What are the performance differences between the GTO.R and GXP.R? We want data, performance metrics, comparisons, explanations. Even to a hardcore enthusiast, they remain rather mysterious. And that doesn't even consider the powertrain and chassis differences of the DP (Daytona Prototype) class.
There is a link for teams, a link for drivers, but what about the cars? THE CARS?!
http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/
The Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona was recently televised. Speed TV did a good job covering the race itself. Where they lacked is typical in racing coverage - the cars! Getting to know the drivers is good, the race teams can be obscure, but the common element that everyone wants to watch is the cars. But no details!
http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/teams/
This website needs to expand. We want car details, not just driver and team bios.
Did you know there were two Corvettes entered in the GT class? How about two Ferrari F430s? What about the lone Mustang? And of course, the Mazda RX-8. How much power are they making? How do they compare to the other cars? Why wasn't it closer between the Ferraris and Porsche like in the ALMS? What are the performance differences between the GTO.R and GXP.R? We want data, performance metrics, comparisons, explanations. Even to a hardcore enthusiast, they remain rather mysterious. And that doesn't even consider the powertrain and chassis differences of the DP (Daytona Prototype) class.
There is a link for teams, a link for drivers, but what about the cars? THE CARS?!
http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/
PINKS lacks results!
Pinks and Pinks All Out on Speed TV is a fantastic show. From a letter sent to them:
But there is a key element that is lacking in the television coverage. Every time a complete 1/4 mile run is shown, its rare for the ET and trap speed to be listed.
What I propose, and quite frankly this shouldn't be too hard to do, is for every pair of cars, show the year, make and model, the 60ft and at the end, the ET and trap speed. IF possible, the engine size and power adder. This way viewers are getting the complete story and results.
The way it is right now, its like watching Olympic diving without the scores. Or, NHRA races without the data! Nice to see, but what were the results? There are tens of thousands of viewers who greatly desire this information.
Since it is only 2 objects on the screen that are the focus, one line of text for each car would not take up much space. Or even a column on each side. This would greatly improve the coverage and interest level in the show.
But there is a key element that is lacking in the television coverage. Every time a complete 1/4 mile run is shown, its rare for the ET and trap speed to be listed.
What I propose, and quite frankly this shouldn't be too hard to do, is for every pair of cars, show the year, make and model, the 60ft and at the end, the ET and trap speed. IF possible, the engine size and power adder. This way viewers are getting the complete story and results.
The way it is right now, its like watching Olympic diving without the scores. Or, NHRA races without the data! Nice to see, but what were the results? There are tens of thousands of viewers who greatly desire this information.
Since it is only 2 objects on the screen that are the focus, one line of text for each car would not take up much space. Or even a column on each side. This would greatly improve the coverage and interest level in the show.
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