509 replies to this topic

[Franklin Ratliff]

Originally posted by desmo


How many languages are you fluent in? How many successful racing programs have you been instrumental in or run? RDV has been among the best, most insightful and most appreciated posters this forum has ever had the honor of having as a participant.

Piss off, troll.

Oh, yeah.

NOT a braindead twit.

"This month, please remember not to feed the trolls.

Especially trolls who
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Rant about this or that "innovation" without ever having tested them himself
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Complains about sanctioning bodies who won't respond to his tantrums/tirades
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Builds a "race car" that doesn't meet any sanctioning body's rules, then reams them in e-mail after e-mail for not allowing him to run his "car"
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Post the same stuff on what few BBS's haven't banned him
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Hasn't been to a drag strip in years
-Post the same stuff over and over"

[Franklin Ratliff]

Originally posted by desmo


How many languages are you fluent in? How many successful racing programs have you been instrumental in or run? RDV has been among the best, most insightful and most appreciated posters this forum has ever had the honor of having as a participant.

Piss off, troll.

I did the design calculations used by Art Arfons in building the centrifuge he constructed as part of his last land speed record project. Wright Patterson wanted $10,000 a day to rent their centrifuge. Arfons was able to build one from scratch for $3,000.

[McGuire]

This month, please remember not to feed the trolls.

Especially trolls who
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Rant about this or that "innovation" without ever having tested them himself
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Complains about sanctioning bodies who won't respond to his tantrums/tirades
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Builds a "race car" that doesn't meet any sanctioning body's rules, then reams them in e-mail after e-mail for not allowing him to run his "car"
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Post the same stuff on what few BBS's haven't banned him
-Post the same stuff over and over
-Hasn't been to a drag strip in years
-Post the same stuff over and over

[turin]

Originally posted by Franklin Ratliff


I did the design calculations used by Art Arfons in building the centrifuge he constructed as part of his last land speed record project. Wright Patterson wanted $10,000 a day to rent their centrifuge. Arfons was able to build one from scratch for $3,000.

I am genuinely interested, did it work?

[Franklin Ratliff]

Originally posted by turin


I am genuinely interested, did it work?

The centrifuge worked great. Arfons had about a 2g car so the centrifuge was designed to generate 3g (using a 30 foot arm turning at 15 rpm). When Arfons came back in 1991 he had none of the problems with blurred vision he encountered in 1990.

The car had afterburner problems in 1990 and handling problems in 1991. Arfons made changes in the car that might have cured the handling problems but for a variety of reasons wasn't able to get back to the salt with it.

[bobdar]

Before this thread gets locked, I'd like to extend Franklin a compliment. While I dislike your pedantry and insults, I have to admire your resolve to keep fighting on. You have at least a dozen people attacking you from all sides (some of whom are being every bit as cruel as you at your worst), and you are still here, standing alone, defending whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. Bravo, I like that. If I ever manage to get into a bar brawl, I hope you're on my side.

[bobdar]

On the other hand, you'd probably cause the brawl.

[McGuire]

Originally posted by Bob Riebe
It is interesting though that Holden GTO, or Pontiac Monaro, pretty much decided the next class up, where tubeys run, is better for them.
Why did the GTO fail?

I'm not sure it is fair to say the GTO.r race car "failed"... after all, it is leading the driver and manufacturer points at the moment.

However, the car has not exactly taken over the category, so it can be considered a failure to hit the intended target. The idea was that after the factory team (Kevin Buckler's The Racer's Group) proved them out, a bunch of these cars (built by Pratt and Miller) would be purchased and campaigned by privateers. The problem is they cost way too much for the class... in the $400,000 neighborhood. That is due to all the high-cost trickery in them, like 100 lbs of tungsten bolted under the differential and other expensive stuff. I think they sold a total of one.

The program did not study or understand the needs of the target customer base -- the racers who run in that category. That is a fatal mistake whether you are selling widgets or race cars. Of course the whole deal is moot now anyway since the production car on which the thing is based has been discontinued and so the program is now a lame duck.

[Fat Boy]

The GTO.R is more of an actual racecar than what it competes against. It is basically a scaled down version of the C6-R sans a few of the special goodies. It costs more than the other cars it races against, but it's also a better car. I'm not sure why they haven't sold more, but my guess is that there are some teams who are just infatuated with Porsche and most drivers/teams don't have enough money to just go and buy the best stuff.

While the GTO.R has been a competitive success, it hasn't been a economic success. This program in general, though, isn't really dead.....more info to follow.

[McGuire]

Originally posted by Fat Boy
I'm not sure why they haven't sold more, but my guess is that there are some teams who are just infatuated with Porsche and most drivers/teams don't have enough money to just go and buy the best stuff.

The GTO is indeed a more technically sophisticated race car...but then it has to be, because it is a tank. So it costs two to three times as much as the Porsche, is not as easy or fun to drive and eats brakes and tires. And if there is a competitive advantage the Grand AM will see to that it is a small one, with a restrictor orifice and/or lead trophy. So if you are a privateer racer, why do you want one?