13 replies to this topic

[brett_sequeira]

i have not seen this posted here before so i decided to put it up.

willis says that the walrus nose is not a new idea. i shall paste bits and pieces of his comments.

"We had that idea a few years ago,” he said at Jerez where he is overseeing BAR's test programme. “But we didn't think it was worthwhile pursuing it because the merits of such a design were so small. Earlier last year I heard that Williams were looking at it and maybe they have found something because obviously they have state of the art facilities over there.”

Willis believes that because of the smaller nose structure more carbon fibre has to be used to make it strong enough to pass stringent FIA crash tests, which increases the overall weight of the component. This in turn compromises the overall weight distribution of the chassis. “It's a trade off between increased airflow and extra weight,” he said.

comments invited please

[BuzzingHornet]

Well, Willis has just told us that he doesnt understand WHY Williams are doing it... therefore if we see a Walrus-front end on a BAR this year they will be doing it for fashion reasons only

[logic]

Does the walrus nose really need more carbon-fiber and thus more weight? Isn't same amount enouugh, if it is used in smaller volume, it leads to higher density and stronger nose.

[tifosi]

Hasn't someone ALREADY posted pictures showing a Brabham from 1972 with the same configuratoin up front, they almost look like twins side by side. So what's so radical?

[eoin]

Does the walrus nose really need more carbon-fiber and thus more weight? Isn't same amount enouugh, if it is used in smaller volume, it leads to higher density and stronger nose.

Well Ferrari were rumored to need more weight in the front of their car last year, with an increase in the weight of engines this year maybe the extra weight in the front would'nt matter-if it is needed.

[BuzzingHornet]

Dont worry, Williams are running Montoya. Thats got to count for a bit of extra weight up front

[eoin]

Dont worry, Williams are running Montoya. Thats got to count for a bit of extra weight up front

He is too short to help with weight distrubtion

[FlatFoot]

I suspect the front wing is the type of innovative things that Williams was interested in running but when Willis was on-board these ideas were squelched.

P. Head has said as much in interviews after Willis' departure.

[Daniel Lester]

Odd then that Willis has said that this years BAR will be sexy and contain the sort of lines and curves he's always wanted to include but never got away with as they were deemed unneccessary. No wonder they split....couldn't agree on anything

[xflow7]

What struck me about these comments was that his comments appear to imply that he heard Williams was looking into this after he'd already left for BAR. If so, he is basically admitting that there is some kind of a leak at Williams that he is able to exploit.

When did he leave Williams, anyway? Wasn't he put on gardening leave at the end of '01 or something? Am I naive in finding it alarming that he evidently foudn out about one of the key concepts Williams was going to be testing after he had left?

[ratmac]

maybe Willis wil change his opinion when the williams lap the bars.

[brett_sequeira]

hehehe the williams will overtake the bar hondas but that has got nothing to do with the nose.
anyway walrus nose aside, its funny that willis can make a comment like this cause williams will not watse money and time on something which they feel will not give em an advantage on track.
unless ofcourse williams is taking a page from mclaren's book chapter mp4/18.
secondly willis is an ox i feel if the williams is fast an winning races, we may soon have a pack of walrus on the track sunday after sunday no curvy sexy lines just blubbring walruses
coo coo ca choo.
btw what is the collective noun for a group of walrus

[RJL]

I don't see why he would need to change his opinion when this is what he said,"Earlier last year I heard that Williams were looking at it and maybe they have found something because obviously they have state of the art facilities over there.”

[Garagiste]

Originally posted by brett_sequeira
.............
btw what is the collective noun for a group of walrus

Concensus seems to be "a herd", but I've also seen a "pod", a "huddle" and best of all "an Ugly" !