> From: "George Ryan" <quad4fiero@webzone.net>
> ...
> build a Lotus Elan to LEGAL specs, one could probably get about
> 170 - 180hp in that superb chassis. My car, for example, can get
> about 250 - 260hp max in a good chassis, but is 500lbs heavier.
> To match the HP to weight ratio of the Lotii, I would have to get in
> the 400-450hp range, and there is no way in hell a GM 4 or 6
Let's try that math again: 1470 lbs / 170HP = 8.6471 lbs/HP for Lotus.
1900 lbs / 8.6471 = 219.7 HP for what the Fiero theoretically needs.
Yes, overall weight is a factor too. But let's try to be accurate when
throwing out numbers for lbs/HP.
> In EM, sure Tamandli is winning. A tube frame Formula Atlantic
> ...
> ratio is similar. But to call it a Fiero - - that's quite a stretch.
About as much as calling the Milligan car a Europa. So, it looks
like EM is a "funny car" class, body marque optional, mid-engine
layout recommended. Hence it's pretty irrelevant to the marque-
based topic.
> merged AP and FP due to falling numbers in AP - - the Lotii class.
> And look who is dominant since. Advantage - - Lotii.
If you looked at historical times of top-flight FP contenders
(Nagler, Ferguson, York, McKamey, Craig to name a few), their
Nationals performances indicated that they could match or beat
the best of AP. What appears to have happened is that the best
driver/car combinations in FP either went road racing, or
changed cars, or whatever, and the second tier didn't want to
pull itself up to the performance standards of the ex-leaders.
> From: Dglong@aol.com
> ...
> The object being, you have to understand the rules in the class you choose to
> run, and then choose the correct weapon. D/E Mod minimum weights are
At the National level, a hearty Yes.
Scotty-Bob says, in his usual erudite fashion:
> Doooohhhhh, hope I am not gonna regret this but you are full of it on the
> driver part, IMNSHO of course ;-) Try takin a look at a few of those Lotus
> Champions when they drive somethin other than Lotus'. Look at Charlie Cave
> or Rex Carle, then lemmy no how they did when they drove somethin other than
Rex had a pretty but not Mitchell-caliber red 911, and was fast enough
to trophy as I recall. Charlie never had a decent car before the Elan,
unless you're a Rabbit GTI fan. Craig Carr, another Elan pilot, was
one of the few to trophy high in ASP in a Z-car, so his later success
was predictable. And that other Elan guy was fast enough to trophy
quite well in CS long ago at his very first Nationals in an Rx-7.
KCB
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