I found this thread in my e-mail, forwarded by someone on the list. After I
stopped laughing, I decided it was time to squish some of the myths on this
list.
>>> "Jay Mitchell" <jemitchell@compuserve.com> 08/17/00 05:44PM >>>
Mike said:
>> Hard to believe a SP legal X1/9 can do 135 HP,
>Can't. Try 100, maybe 110 tops. You're talkin 1500cc
>non-crossflow motor here.
All (repeat: All) of the horsepower numbers I have seen quoted in this
thread are way over the horsepower my car makes. I have spent a lot of time
and money on the dyno looking for an additional pony or two and they are
hard to come by. No, I won't quote any numbers for my car here, but the
factory quoted horsepower rating for a stock 1500cc FI X1/9 was 75 HP. If
anyone out there is actually making 100 crankshaft horsepower with their DSP
X1/9, it won't survive impound.
As for weight; at Topeka last fall most of the trophy winning SP cars were
weighed by the Solo Board in impound. My car weighed 1925 pounds. It was
the lightest of the X1/9s weighed.
If you look at the numbers, stock horsepower for an X1/9 is 75, stock
horsepower for a Neon is 150. You do the math. Yes the X1/9 has a lower
center of gravity, but not A LOT lower. Yes, the X1/9 is lighter, but no A
LOT lighter. However, the Neon has A LOT more horsepower (assuming you
consider double, a lot).
I have not yet seen a well prepared, well driven DSP Neon. When I do, I
expect it will be a threat to win.
Steve Hoelscher
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