2 replies to this topic

[bigears]

Today, I have finally found some free time on my own to read my Autosport magazine and I sat down and noted one interesting fact in the magazine. (page 59 in the December 30th magazine) It said:

The Big Number: The top speed recorded by Jean Alesi behind the wheel of a Schuppan Porsche 962 on the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans in 1989. This car will be on display in the Historic Hall. 242mph

It was referring to the car that will be displayed at the forthcoming Autosport International Show next month.

But regarding in an older thread I dug up in here:

http://forums.atlasf...ht=Roger Dorchy

The various posts in the thread above mentioned of speeds much faster than the Autosport's fact? Should I correct them?

I have always been fanaticised about the top speeds at the Hunaudieres Straight and I recall seeing video footage (I think) in my Le Mans 1988 video of people applausing to the car when it arrived in the pitlane after a particular stint (maybe the very stint that broke the record of clocking 405 kph along the Hunaudieres Straight.)

[gdecarli]

For all (like me) who have problem in converting quickly miles and km...

242 mph = 389 km/h

405 km/h = 252 mph (it should be 251.7 without rounding)

Ciao,
Guido

[bill moffat]

Project 400 is thoroughly discussed in many threads and remains one of my favourite chapters in motor sport history. It seems likely that Roger Dorchy will retain his Le Mans crown for many years to come..

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that we've discussed the slowest speed recorded by a healthy competing car on the Mulsanne. If we are talking about the post war period I would take a guess at the marvellous Renault 4CV 1063 which was so popular in the early 50's. I guess these little cars must have topped out at 110mph or thereabouts. I did think about the diminutive Mini Marcos only to find that Jem Marsh was clocked at 146mph on the Mulsanne..brave man