Motorsport

[ddrueding]

I always wondered why the WRC guys didn't do Pikes Peak.

This is what happens when you take the many-times-over world champion and stick him in an amazing car. 0-60 in 1.8, 0-150 in 7.

Great in-car video.

 

[CougTek]

I'm sure that beating the previous record by as much as he did, part of the explanation is the car and another part is the driver. How does the Peugeot 208T he used compares to the one driven during the last record run? Something else that would be interesting would be a split screen showing the previous record with the new one, so that we can see in what part of the race he really pulled from the previous record older.

 

[ddrueding]

Here is the same website covering last year's run.

 

[Stereodude]

I'm sure that beating the previous record by as much as he did, part of the explanation is the car and another part is the driver. How does the Peugeot 208T he used compares to the one driven during the last record run? Something else that would be interesting would be a split screen showing the previous record with the new one, so that we can see in what part of the race he really pulled from the previous record older.

Another factor is that more and more of the "track" gets paved over time.

 

[CougTek]

It obvious after watching both videos at the same time that the car made, by far, the biggest difference. It seems the guy from last year is driving an average sedan (and not even a new one) compared to a 6-figure sport car from the current record holder. Even the original acceleration from the start make it clear those two vehicles aren't in the same league. The Peugeot gets out of every corner much faster than the 2012 car. Millen had no chance against Loeb.

 

[ddrueding]

It obvious after watching both videos at the same time that the car made, by far, the biggest difference. It seems the guy from last year is driving an average sedan (and not even a new one) compared to a 6-figure sport car from the current record holder. Even the original acceleration from the start make it clear those two vehicles aren't in the same league. The Peugeot gets out of every corner much faster than the 2012 car. Millen had no chance against Loeb.

Indeed. But I think that is always the case at the top end of motorsport. The difference between a $100,000/year driver and a $20,000,000/year driver is a few percent.

 

[LunarMist]

Puegot still makes cars? I thought they went under decades ago. :scratch: I certainly don't see them on the roads anymore.

 

[ddrueding]

Haven't been sold in the states in a very long time, but yes they are still a decently sized brand.

 

[Chewy509]

They seem to be making a come back here in Australia. I see lots of 207's, 208's and 508's on the road.

Also Fiat seems to be advertising heavily as well recently.

 

[fb]

Peugeot are specialists in small and medium sized, efficient, cars so there's probably no market for them in USA.

But they make great diesel engines. Volvo got their diesel engines from PSA (Citroën+Peugeot), at least a few years ago.

 

[LunarMist]

Peugeot are specialists in small and medium sized, efficient, cars so there's probably no market for them in USA.

There is a market that is filled mainly by Japanese and Korean cards.

 

[Howell]

I watched a couple documentaries last week on this race and la mans.

In 2011 about 1/3 of the course was still dirt and gravel. In 2012 the course was fully paved and the only winner since 2005, and the only racer to ever break 10 min, changed divisions.

With all the weather, rogue spectators, and mechanical failures its a wonder anyone makes it to the top.

http://m.autoblog.com/2013/07/01/race-recap-the-lion-roars-at-2013-pikes-peak-international-hill/

 

[LunarMist]

After watching some of the video it seems like crazy guy driving all over the road, and crossing into the incoming traffic lane many times.
Football, basketball, track and field, etc. are sports. That driving is just silliness.

 

[ddrueding]

After watching some of the video it seems like crazy guy driving all over the road, and crossing into the incoming traffic lane many times.
Football, basketball, track and field, etc. are sports. That driving is just silliness.

Yeah, the road is closed. It is a timed racing event. Not entirely safe, but completely legal.

 

[ddrueding]

Anyone else looking forward to the start of the 2014 F1 season this weekend? I'm excited to see how these new power plants perform.

1.6L DI Turbo V6 revving to 15k RPM, two electric motor/generators (one on the crank and one on the turbo shaft itself - which spins to some crazy 6-figure RPM)

770hp and some absurd amount of torque available at very low RPM thanks to the electric motor. They are also limiting the total fuel for a race to 100kg.

Should be fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi56XMbXQyQ

 

[fb]

Yes. I hope that Williams has a successful season and Ferrari too of course with Alonso and Räikkönen.

 

[ddrueding]

Alonso and Räikkönen are going to turn Ferrari into a drama/therapy session. I do like Red Bull, but McLaren has to be up there as well.

 

[Handruin]

In preparation for the upcoming motorsport events, I got together with a group of buddies this past weekend and we watched 1 (Documentary) and then Rush. They were both pretty good. I learned a lot about the sport.

 

[LunarMist]

Anyone else looking forward to the start of the 2014 F1 season this weekend? I'm excited to see how these new power plants perform.

1.6L DI Turbo V6 revving to 15k RPM, two electric motor/generators (one on the crank and one on the turbo shaft itself - which spins to some crazy 6-figure RPM)

770hp and some absurd amount of torque available at very low RPM thanks to the electric motor. They are also limiting the total fuel for a race to 100kg.

Should be fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi56XMbXQyQ

I suppose the unnecessary complexity may produce interesting results in the first few races, but after a while it may settle down to the same boring 3-4 lead changes in a race. F1 is one of my least faviute forms of racing though.

 

[LunarMist]

Anyone else looking forward to the start of the 2014 F1 season this weekend? I'm excited to see how these new power plants perform.

1.6L DI Turbo V6 revving to 15k RPM, two electric motor/generators (one on the crank and one on the turbo shaft itself - which spins to some crazy 6-figure RPM)

770hp and some absurd amount of torque available at very low RPM thanks to the electric motor. They are also limiting the total fuel for a race to 100kg.

Should be fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi56XMbXQyQ

I suppose the unnecessary complexity may produce interesting results in the first few races, but after a while it may settle down to the same boring 3-4 lead changes in a race. F1 is one of my least faviute forms of racing though.

 

[ddrueding]

I suppose the unnecessary complexity may produce interesting results in the first few races, but after a while it may settle down to the same boring 3-4 lead changes in a race. F1 is one of my least faviute forms of racing though.

Something tells me you haven't watched at all in the last several years?

There were 66 overtakes during the last race of last season in Brazil, and that was with very established technology.

Edit: And some of them were pretty impressive.

 

[ddrueding]

1.5l V16 with twin superchargers (72PSI of boost) reving to 14k RPM and producing 600HP. In 1952. Yes, there is great audio.

http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2014/...eatest-sounding-worst-performing-engine-ever/

 

[Handruin]

1.5l V16 with twin superchargers (72PSI of boost) reving to 14k RPM and producing 600HP. In 1952. Yes, there is great audio.

http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2014/...eatest-sounding-worst-performing-engine-ever/

That is some wonderful audio indeed.

Check out this monster.

 

[Bozo]

Waaaaay back when, I used to go the Indianapolis 500 with my father and later took my son. The most awesome motor sound I've ever heard were the Novi's. During time trials, you needed to hold your ears as they went down the front straight. ( The track is not really all that wide and there are grand stands on both sides of the track. It was like being in a tunnel. ) During the race the Novi's drowned out the other cars when they went by. Just plain awesome.
Now they all sound like bumble bees with their nuts in a vice.

 

[Bozo]

That is some wonderful audio indeed.

Check out this monster.

Sounds similar to the Allison V12 used in the P51 Mustang and later in Hydroplane racing boats. I was fortunate enough to witness these boat races too.

 

[ddrueding]

I really like the new F1 car sounds. They are much quieter than the old ones because of the turbo, and have a more complex character as well. During coverage of the race you can hear the crowd cheering and tires squealing along with the engine, turbo, etc.

 

[Stereodude]

That is some wonderful audio indeed.

Check out this monster.

This engine may sound good, but you'd never know it from the audio in this video. It's terrible.

 

[ddrueding]

Nice piece on my favorite corner of my local track (about 15 miles away). This thing was terrifying the first time I drove it at speed, and still thrills every time I do it on my road bike @ ~40mph.

 

[mubs]

Nice. But missing a critical element: the driver's point of view going through that curve. Detailed descriptions are no match for actually seeing what the driver sees (or rather, doesn't see).

 

[ddrueding]

Nice. But missing a critical element: the driver's point of view going through that curve. Detailed descriptions are no match for actually seeing what the driver sees (or rather, doesn't see).

Here is an F1 car doing a lap in 1:05 (my bicycle record is 12 minutes dead).

This one has a couple in-car shots from ALMS races.

What do you see? Nothing. Normally in blind corners you pick a tree as a reference, but here you only see treetops.

 

[Howell]

The left edge is visible the whole time. I find the st straighaway just before more unnerving because you can't see anything and then there's a turn. I'd like to drive it one day.

 

[mubs]

Cool! This was good, thanks. I have a much better idea now. Surprised you haven't already tried it out in a tricked out car, or at least your Audi, DD.

 

[ddrueding]

When I was a teenager I did track days with the Porsche Club of America there (my first boss was their president). Later he and I did the Skip Barber 3-day program there; Dodge Neons to open-wheeled.

'Course, that was 15 years ago. There is a company that runs track days out there semi-monthly for about $500 with no racing/passing/timing allowed, not sure how excited I am about that. And I race my bike around the track most months.

 

[ddrueding]

The left edge is visible the whole time. I find the st straighaway just before more unnerving because you can't see anything and then there's a turn. I'd like to drive it one day.

The most critical moment is when you decide to leave the left edge and head for the second apex. You develop a feel for it, but references are few and far between. It becomes more of a timing thing. The reason most make mistakes is actually the bump just at the start of the breaking zone while still climbing up the back straight. It is so tempting to stay on the throttle over it and get your breaking done after the car settles, but that is a guaranteed trip to the barrier.

 

[time]

Mark Higgins' record run around the Isle of Man. (with driver commentary, runs for more than 20 minutes)

Top Gear's take

I linked this because frankly, while watching it, I had a stark realization that I could never have been a professional racing driver. I thought F1 was tough enough, but this guy driving for real makes my old Need for Speed efforts (which weren't bad) look like kiddie play (which of course it was). Also made me realize that doing a hot lap around the Nürburgring is a long, long way from the pinnacle of driving skill.

Just wow.

 

[time]

P.S. Check out his heart rate and breathing rate as the drive progresses.

And BTW, that's supposedly a stock STI with beefier suspension and bigger tires.

 

[Bozo]

I watched the video in full screen mode and found myself leaning into the corners. COOL!

 

[ddrueding]

Great video.

 

[Stereodude]

And BTW, that's supposedly a stock STI with beefier suspension and bigger tires.

Not the factory brakes or exhaust either. The exhaust was changed so the crowds could hear it coming.

 

[P5-133XL]

Not the factory brakes or exhaust either. The exhaust was changed so the crowds could hear it coming.

Not to mention, the less muffling, the more power ...