5 replies to this topic

[IrishMariner]

I already posted this in the Nostalgia forum, but does anyone have a picture of the front suspension (shocks, ARB area) of the 1988 Lola F3000 car they could post? Reason I ask is I was utterly fascinated by its packaging back in the day and, shortly after, one of the first projects I set myself in CAD class at Uni was to re-create it. 20+yrs later, I haven't been able to find a picture of it.

I'm fairly sure I still have the AutoCAD model I did of it, but the 'genius' at the Apple Store can't supply a 5-1/4" floppy disk drive for my iPad. 

It was - to my uneducated eyes - a work of art, but I imagine it was tough to work on, had too short a damper travel and possibly quite friction-y. The spring/shock units were short, fat Konis arranged transversely in a moulded nook atop the monococoque. The fixed end was attached to a bolt that was co-axial with the opposing spring/shock unit's rocker pivot. In amongst all this was packaged an adjustable ARB actuated by rocker arms extending towards the middle of the tub. 

Like I said, a packaging marvel but I would love to see a pic to bring back old memories. Overshadowed by the Reynard debutante's success, the 88 Lola was still pretty useful (let's not talk about 88's March.... Lovely though it looked) 

[funformula]

I already posted this in the Nostalgia forum, but does anyone have a picture of the front suspension (shocks, ARB area) of the 1988 Lola F3000 car they could post? Reason I ask is I was utterly fascinated by its packaging back in the day and, shortly after, one of the first projects I set myself in CAD class at Uni was to re-create it. 20+yrs later, I haven't been able to find a picture of it.

I'm fairly sure I still have the AutoCAD model I did of it, but the 'genius' at the Apple Store can't supply a 5-1/4" floppy disk drive for my iPad. 

It was - to my uneducated eyes - a work of art, but I imagine it was tough to work on, had too short a damper travel and possibly quite friction-y. The spring/shock units were short, fat Konis arranged transversely in a moulded nook atop the monococoque. The fixed end was attached to a bolt that was co-axial with the opposing spring/shock unit's rocker pivot. In amongst all this was packaged an adjustable ARB actuated by rocker arms extending towards the middle of the tub. 

Like I said, a packaging marvel but I would love to see a pic to bring back old memories. Overshadowed by the Reynard debutante's success, the 88 Lola was still pretty useful (let's not talk about 88's March.... Lovely though it looked) 

 

Enjoy

http://www.race-cars...259698817ld.htm

[Lee Nicolle]

Is it me or does that seem very finicky and unesecary? With all those cranks, levers and heim joints it must lose a lot of effort

[rms]

and just how would you have done it Lee ????

[IrishMariner]

Is it me or does that seem very finicky and unesecary? With all those cranks, levers and heim joints it must lose a lot of effort

At the time this was introduced (88), this packaging seemed very clever (I'm still quite impressed). It presented the suspension to the mechanic in a convenient location and did not require tubs to be made with large holes, an important consideration when dozens of tubs could be built to satisfy demand around the world. Friction losses in suspension might not have been as high on designers' list of things to worry about in '88 as it would be thereafter. If memory serves, it wasn't until ~'94 - when John Barnard introduced his innovative 'flexures' on the 412T1 - that minimizing suspension friction loss appeared on designers' radars.

I'm far from expert, but I think Mark Williams (or whoever at Lola was responsible) deserves some kudos for that design.

[Hamish Robson]

That is a very neat compact design. It is certainly not unusual in that a push-rod acts through a rocker/bellcrank directly on to the spring/damper assembly. Also a direct connection to the anti-roll bar and easy access for service. Nice.