24 hrs LeMans this weekend

[LGAFF]

I just wish someone knew how to put a damn tire on....

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

I just wish someone knew how to put a damn tire on....

The guy lost his concentration moving the tire.

[John Boothby]

Both the Audi's and the Toyota's were Hybrids, meaning a combination internal combustion and electric. The Nissan was hybrid also, I believe, with a completely new chassy/body design. The delta wing was forced off the track and into a barrier by one of the Toyotas, not a mechanical failure.

I remember the Andy Granitelli turbine car at Indy. The car completely dominated the other cars until the trans gave out. Then they banned turbines from the race. Indy then turned into a farce as far as I was concerned. Honda only engines? Come on. At least now they have a couple of different engine/chassi combos. But speed is still limited due to safety. So when you limit the speed, do you still call it racing? Or maybe just driver compition. Nascar has turned into a crock also with compition yellow flags and speed limiting rules. Anything to keep it "close". I wouldn't be surprised if they draw straws at the begining of each race to see who will win! It has become the pro wrestling of motor sports.

So, maybe drone cars driven by "geeks" from the pits, with unlimited speeds, will be a reality. I might be able to get into that!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

I just wish someone knew how to put a damn tire on....

he got the tire on....what he forgot was how to secure it

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by mgg

The entire point! Are you joking!!!!! The point of Lemans is endurance and WINNING it. Production based classes and Prototypes have competed for years as well as lesser classes. The goverening body is doing its best to screw it all up by restricting gas powered prototypes in favor of giving huge advantages to diesel prototypes. This makes for great marketing for those who don't know better who now think diesels are the way to go for the next genreration of performance cars. Yes diesel technology has come a long way but I do not see it in the Porshe 911, Corvette etc. I am fairly ceertain the Toyota was an electric /gas hybryd as it left the pits it did not make a sound. The commentators made the remarks how dangerous it was because no one could hear it. Dorsey Schrader was also mentioning the close calls to it being completely quiet when it left. I would then assume it was a fossil fuel based engine. Like formula one, they had better be careful as to what they allow to creep into racing as a sport. If not well be subject to remote controlled drones that are driven from the pits by geeks who will call themselves drivers. Maybe an exageration but maybe not.

the point of lemans since its inception in the early 1920's was to make the automobile move forward technologically. Research the history of the race before you go on another tirade

[mgg]

Not a tirade, you said the entire point . No that is not the entire point. Just as I said the toyota electric cars. Sure they are hybrids. They still have batteries and use electric generated power. I have followed Lemans for over 50 years and what is most important to most is what wins. This is the ultimate in testing endurance of drivers and cars. Not to turn this into a debate but my personal opnion is that it is great to see technological advances that this race and formula 1 bring to real world performance. Thank God for guys like Jim Hall who completely changed the face of racing with his pioneering of aerodynamics. I am not a fan of hybrid technology in racing. I am fearful that rules will be altered to allow these types of car to be competitive and to then change the scope of the sport. I have raced with SCCA,NASA,COMSCC and instructed for many years. My opinions are mine, I understand but might not agree with others. The one thing about racing that makes it great is that it is not subjective. There are winners and losers. I just hope we protect the purity of the sport and not let technolgy like traction control reduce the skill levels and the participation of the drivers. As for your fondness for the deltawing, that is ok with me. Not my cup of tea.

[XfireZ51]

"...I just hope we protect the purity of the sport". Forgive me but I wonder who the judge of that "purity" really is. I applaud LeMans and look forward to the next iteration of experimental class using hydrogen and electric propulsion. In fact, I applaud them for taking a "free market" approach for next year. No formulas, just run what you brung. But you can only use so much fuel.

[mgg]

Great! Looking forward to the battle between a toyota prius and a honda fit , should make for some interesting racing. Just kidding!. Want I do not want to see is a race based on fuel economy. A race with the most technically advanced traction control. The traction control issue is a big issue for me. After instructing a student with a new ss camaro with traction control the student came away with ( in my opinion) no new skills in driving a car near its limits. The traction control saved us from several issues on track but I do not believe it is a good way to teach car control. As far as fuel economy is concerned I guess we will have to disagree. Let the manufactures who develope commuter cars bear that burden. Seeing "smart cars" on the race track just doesn't float my boat. With the four vehicles you have listed that you own I find it somewhat surprising your interest in green racing. As I have stated in the past though: to each his own.

[John Boothby]

Driving technique has changed alot since I learned to drive. Just an example is the antiskid braking systems now on most all cars. We were tought to "fan" the brakes to keep from sliding. Now we are tought to "apply firm constant pressure". My first experience with this was in 1989. I had just purchased a 1988 GMC 3/4 4x4. I was on the 90 freeway in South Cal in the rain and a VW swerved in front of me. I hit the brakes and the antiskid took over. It was amazing! That pickmeup stayed straight as an arrow! No swapping ends like PU's like to do. I was sold!!

[mgg]

John, you just brought up a great point and it makes me feel a little bit o a hipocrit. Using ABS especially in racing has made threshold braking MUCH LESS DRAMATIC. It is great on the street and I am sure most of us have experienced the advantage of having abs. On the track, I have been spoiled by just standing on the brakes at the last second especially when trying to outbrake and gain a position and I never worry about lock up. I did not think about that and it is a great point. Don't get me wrong, I love all of this technology and I understand what traction control can in preventing mishaps on the street but I just don't want to see it in racing and take the driver out of the equation. It is really interesting to see how driving techniques have changed with advances in tires brakes etc. Remeber how guys like Stirling Moss would just throw a sports car in the corner with those skinny little tires and just drift through the corner to carry momentum. Today if yu do that you are overdriving the car and scrubbing speed , but it sure looks cool. Heck, the sport of drifting was created. I hope they don't think they invented it. Anyway good point you bring up and fun discussion.