470 replies to this topic

[john aston]

I like the Ford Indy V8. The thrashing of about 35 timing gears and the sudden change in tone as all four cams finally work in unison at about 6,000 rpm is memorable. It was well loved because it was a relief from the predominant Offy which, in a large field of similar engines, had become rather dull sounding. Unmuffled it has the effect of shredding something in the inner ear which, when coupled with the impending nausea from breathing methanol fumes, leaves a lasting impression. Even with some exhaust silencing it is the only rear engined car I have driven where it is essential to wear ear plugs. To add to the theatre the sight of a flash mask wearing mechanic inserting the external starter while the rest of the crew hurriedly don industrial strength ear muffs is usually enough to have the assembling throng edge away ever so slightly just prior to the engine bursting into life. Then they leap back and commence a ridiculous pannicked laughter followed by some sort of billious attack. Not sure why. Aaron.

Was this the engine fitted to the Lotus 38 I s saw at Goodwood a few years ago-2000 I think? If so I agree with you- I stood next to the car - which apart from the lopsidedness -'stagger 'is it ?- looked gorgeous and sent a shiver up my spine as it was revved up in the paddock

[aaron]

Same engine different car. It is also in the beautiful Lola T90 Indy car that Jackie Stewart has run at Goodwood a few times in recent years. A1

[Nigel Beresford]

Was this the engine fitted to the Lotus 38 I s saw at Goodwood a few years ago-2000 I think? If so I agree with you- I stood next to the car - which apart from the lopsidedness -'stagger 'is it ?- looked gorgeous and sent a shiver up my spine as it was revved up in the paddock

Hi John,

slightly off thread, but FYI "stagger" is the difference in diameter of the rear tyres (LR is smaller).

The lopsidedness was probably "offset", i.e. the chassis was offset towards the left.

Oh, and don't forget "tilt", which is where the car is statically rolled towards the left a little, so that it rolls flat in the corners. Not sure if they would have done that on the sixties cars.

Anyway, I thought you weren't in to Indy cars! (tongue in cheek....)

Thanks

Nigel

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 11 June 2009 - 09:16.

[Charles E Taylor]

Not Racing but evocative nontheless

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related












Charlie

[john aston]

Hi John,

slightly off thread, but FYI "stagger" is the difference in diameter of the rear tyres (LR is smaller).

The lopsidedness was probably "offset", i.e. the chassis was offset towards the left.

Oh, and don't forget "tilt", which is where the car is statically rolled towards the left a little, so that it rolls flat in the corners. Not sure if they would have done that on the sixties cars.

Anyway, I thought you weren't in to Indy cars! (tongue in cheek....)

Thanks

Nigel

Yes.... hmm..of course I do still adhere to the Eurocentric left left left theory but that Lotus sounded just exquisite and I was very taken with the fact that every time the throttle was blipped the wooden paling fence behind the car shook.If not quite as much as I did.
This does not put me in the right mindset for watching tedious little 2 litre 4s being thrashed around Croft in our annual BTCC crashfest damn it.

[David M. Woodhouse]

I like the Ford Indy V8. The thrashing of about 35 timing gears and the sudden change in tone as all four cams finally work in unison at about 6,000 rpm is memorable. It was well loved because it was a relief from the predominant Offy which, in a large field of similar engines, had become rather dull sounding. Unmuffled it has the effect of shredding something in the inner ear which, when coupled with the impending nausea from breathing methanol fumes, leaves a lasting impression. Even with some exhaust silencing it is the only rear engined car I have driven where it is essential to wear ear plugs. To add to the theatre the sight of a flash mask wearing mechanic inserting the external starter while the rest of the crew hurriedly don industrial strength ear muffs is usually enough to have the assembling throng edge away ever so slightly just prior to the engine bursting into life. Then they leap back and commence a ridiculous pannicked laughter followed by some sort of billious attack. Not sure why. Aaron.

Alfa GTZs do that to me. Not the volume, but a certain resonance that makes my eardrums vibrate - it's quite painful.

Woody

[RA Historian]

The sound of screeching tyres as Nelson Piquet Jr misses his braking/ spins off/loses the back end. Just shows that having a boorish and overrated Dad does'nt guarantee F1 success.

Granted Nelson Sr had (has) an unusual sense of humor, mostly used to good effect to completely wind up Nigel Mansell (speaking of boorish....) but he seems to have used it playfully. Except for Nigel, when it was used for a purpose! Overrated? 20+ Grands Eprueve wins, three World Championships? Hmmmm...

Tom

[kiwi a110]

One car at a time; the BRM or the ERA or a "pukka" Type 35 Bugatti on full howl, just delicious.
But for the most earthmoving exotic, a grid full of F5000 coming towrds the start line on a rolling start at Pukekohe, absolute tears to the eyes!

[edtheshred]

in no particular order; driving under the tunnel for the first time at indy just as bobby unser was passing by in a novi , standing at the apex of turn 1 at riverside as dan gurney came by in a f1 eagle v12 westlake flat out during testing, v12 matra accelerating up the hill in-between the buildings at long beach, the roar of 35 can am cars coming up the esses at riverside at the start of the LA times grand prix, being awoken to the smell of hot coffee and sausage and the sound of a ferrari being warmed up for morning practice at indy
as ever ed

[Tony Matthews]

in no particular order; driving under the tunnel for the first time at indy just as bobby unser was passing by in a novi , standing at the apex of turn 1 at riverside as dan gurney came by in a f1 eagle v12 westlake flat out during testing, v12 matra accelerating up the hill in-between the buildings at long beach, the roar of 35 can am cars coming up the esses at riverside at the start of the LA times grand prix, being awoken to the smell of hot coffee and sausage and the sound of a ferrari being warmed up for morning practice at indy
as ever ed

Poetry, ed..!

[macoran]

Are car sounds allowed here ?

Maserati Quattroporte in second gear, 3000 revs through the Tingstadtunneln in Gothenburg.
Sounds like a choir of growling Dobermans on steroids amplified through 500 watt speakers.
Mind you I think the Tinstadtunneln has special reverberation qualities, probably because it isn't very long,but wider than most.
20 yards before exiting the tunnel, floor the Maser !
You'll wonder what hit ya.

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Direct Drive]

Have to add the Budweiser Rocket Car at Bonneville while trying to break the speed of sound. I was so goddamn far away I needed a 12000 mm lens and it took a good 10 minutes to find the rocket after its first run which drenched the driver Barrett in some kind of jet fuel.

[simonlewisbooks]

Have to add the Budweiser Rocket Car at Bonneville while trying to break the speed of sound. I was so goddamn far away I needed a 12000 mm lens and it took a good 10 minutes to find the rocket after its first run which drenched the driver Barrett in some kind of jet fuel.

I'm intrigued, Direct Drive. You were a rare eye witness to one of THE most contentious motor sport episodes of all time. Many of us who've followed Land Speed Record history have pretty firm views on this endeavor, but of course few of us were actually there. It's OT but I (and no doubt Steve and many others) would welcome your recollections (maybe on a thread of it's own?).

[fnqvmuch]

one of the great threads, but the links seem to be too old for the most part - so if anyone could share this Matra experience with me they would probably have my eternal gratitude - for my part the best thing i had the privilege of hearing was a seven inch spool of some effects recorded (for empire of the sun i suppose, speilberg anyway) just a p51 mustang performing in a quiet location for the benefit of a good sound recordist - whether allison or merlin i don't know - but i'd kill to hear that again ... and if someone can help me find the lancia D50 - there is a lovely moment or two in that clip of fangio in monaco, which motor is that?
thanks, steven
ps - http://www.milleroff.....d Gallery.htm

Edited by fnqvmuch, 12 July 2009 - 22:16.

[Rob Ryder]

one of the great threads, but the links seem to be too old for the most part - so if anyone could share this Matra experience with me they would probably have my eternal gratitude

I've uploaded my original Matra V12 files (May 12th 2003).

To save searching back through 6 years of posts here are the links again

Matra 1
Matra 2
Matra 3

Rob

[fnqvmuch]

thanks a lot, - found this in the meantime;
http://www.artcurial...09_02_matra.asp
like the miller offy nova above its not the best recording and not enough, but ...

[fbarrett]

Friends:

For me, the Mercedes-Benz W25 takes the top prize. On the 100th anniversary of Mercedes, John Surtees thrashed one around the Monaco course. I'd heard a lot of engines, but this one absolutely shrieked! Close-in, you had to wear ear protection. Next in line is the normally-aspirated 917; much intake noise, and unforgettable coming out of a slow corner at Watkins Glen with headlights flashing. Any high-compression Porsche or Ferrari is also notable. Compression ratio seems to have a lot to do with sound. Sometimes I load the turntable with the 33-1/3 LP Porsche Sounds of History (I think it is), crank up the volume, and frighten the neighbors.

Frank

[RogerFrench]

Been thinking about this...the question was about the most evocative racing sounds.
That means bringing to mind, not necessarily the greatest, or anything but racing.
So I revise my opinion - it's a DFV at full chat.

[Charles E Taylor]

These have all probably been on this BB before, but are all worth seeing again.









Why did Shell not make more use of this?


Enjoy


Charlie

[fnqvmuch]

don't know what it is - the Matra reminds me of it - but there is a rather evocative use of a sample/ effect of something like a V10 F1 car echoing around a very quiet wide open space up through the gears etc., reverbed and faded in and out a couple of times at beginning and towards end of a song called Plastic Stress by Terranova on Close the Door, 1999 (first album)

[wolf sun]

Boy, do those Matras sound great...pure heaven!!!

Very high on my list would be not a certain car or engine, but the sound of any pack of racing cars, audible through the forests long before they came into view, at the old Ring. If you stood at Schwalbenschwanz you could hear the engine noise coming closer as the field entered the Karussel, but then moving away again as they went on to Hohe Acht etc., all long before you actually got to see the cars. The feeling of anticipation was incomparable! Hach...