Kai, I wasn't trying to stir up any trouble here with my post and I
think it's safe to say that everyone on this list loves LBC's and is not
enamored of those pocket rice rockets.
I also realize that movies of all types glorify whatever the subject may
be and that they aren't exactly factually accurate. While not 100%
certain, I'm certain that this movie falls in that category as well.
Whereas the guys we all see on the street are more show (if you want to
call it that) than go and really don't understand the engineering
aspects of what is best to go fast or handle better.
But I do think that you are being a little too hard on some (maybe a
very small percentage) of these tuner guys. You speak of catalog
bolt-on performance parts and how easy it is which is certainly true,
and while we can't hook any type of computer up to our TR's to do the
same I think that a lot of the performance add-ons that we own or lust
after are in the same category.
I don't and can't engineer a camshaft that will give me the proper
performance that I would like so I rely on aftermarket suppliers who
have hopefully done the engineering work for me. The examples are
endless, but the Weber carb add-ons spring to mind as one of the
modifications that most people instantly speak of when they want to
increase performance.
If I sound defensive or protective of these rice racketeers then I don't
really mean to be. I will admit that the technology that allows engines
like the one in Honda's S2000 to develop the kind of horsepower it does
out of such a small displacement engine does impress me somewhat.
Also what this and other topics have done is to spur me on the learn
more about how our engines actually work and what I can do to improve
performance without resorting to trickery or mods that will result in a
very short engine life.
I feel that at the ripe old age of 39 I'm just starting to learn what
many of you have know for quite some time, but I figure that it's better
late than never. I'll even go so far as to say that by the time my
eldest son, who is 3 1/2, gets old enough to drive that I might have
accumulated a fair amount of knowledge about engines and suspensions.
As for modern sports sedans, I was all but ready to spend some big bucks
on the "ultimate driving machine" a few years ago until I drove one.
Yes, they are nice and handle well, but it didn't put a huge sh*t eating
grin on my face like I expected it to so I held off. I still am holding
off, but in the meantime I've owned two Triumphs. And now instead of
acquiring a rather costly new ultimate driving whatever, I might buy an
older one of it's type. You know, when they still possessed some zing.
I will also admit to thinking that the new MINI is pretty cool.
But in addition to the MINI, I also want a early TR3, Italia, TR4/250,
GT350, 68 Cougar, mid-fifties Alfa Guilietta, 289 Cobra, 1959 250 GT,
1972 365GT4, and .....
R. Ashford Little II
www.geocities.com/ralittle2
-----Original Message-----
From: Kai M. Radicke [mailto:kmr@pil.net]
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 10:25 PM
To: Rick Barnard; ralittle2@mindspring.com
Cc: Triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Is this sacrilege?
> Come on, you old goats! I thought the movie was a lot of fun!
It was a fun movie, but that is where it stopped.
> These "rice rockets" are what the kids are hot rodding these days,
> and I think it's great. I've been to cruise nights where these cars
> are on display, and some of them are really slick! Lowered
> suspension, killer audio, neons, racing seats, and how about a
> Nintendo hidden in the passenger side floor! It's not my kind of
> ride, but I admire the work and ingenuity.
That isn't ingenuity, 99.9% of the stuff you see on the cars they
ordered
out of a catalogue and bolted right on their car. The same level of
understanding of the engineering behind suspension design, for instance,
isn't as necessary as it was if you were 20 in 1973 and trying to be
competitive in your TR6. Now you order a set of matched Eibach springs
and
anti-roll bars that you want, Eibach does the engineering work... you
just
bolt it on. In a way the LBC aftermarket has gone a similar route, you
can
order matched sets of suspension components... but there is still
hardcore
engineering and trial work going on for those that are serious about
their
LBCs being competitive.
I've got a European sports sedan (haha that is what they call them now!)
and
there are so many aftermarket providers of high performance parts for it
that I don't understand how they all stay in business. Look at
Neuspeed,
whoever heads that company is a wonderfully rich man, because he hasn't
just
created lots of goodies for rice rockets but because he created a highly
marketable name brand. When was it ever cool in 1965 to block out 50%
of
your windshield with a big sticker that said TRIUMPH? And even if they
can't afford the parts to make their cars go faster, they'll gladly by
the
stickers!
> Can you reprogram your fuel injection with a laptop? I have had
> some great conversations with these kids - they're just modern
> day motorheads! Their cars are fast and sexy, just like
If you had a programable EFI ECU in your Triumph, I'm sure you would be
more
than capable of sticking an exhaust analyzer on the tailpipe and
manipulating the tables for the ECU to achieve the correct fuel levels.
I'm
telling you, it isn't that difficult... time consuming, but not
difficult.
But you've hit on the other problem with the rice rockets, aesthetics.
Do
you really think that 5" exhaust tip does anything? Or that
ridiculously
large aerofoil on the rear of their car? How about the 20 pounds of
neon
lights?
> I liked the monster Dodge Charger in the film, but also the Mazda
> RX-7 and the Supra. They are beautifully styled, technologically
> advanced and FAST automobiles.
They're catalogue cars. Even that Supra. Kind of sad when you can
effortlessly purchase a 400 horsepower upgrade for $4000 and bolt it
onto
your Supra. That Supra (the one from the movie) supposedly is closer to
850hp... and it was all catalogue parts. The body styling, all
catalogue
parts. You name it, it came from some catalogue where the work was
already
done for you... you just picked what you liked to achieve the
performance
levels you desired.
This creates problems though, and it is incredibly evident when these
kids
get to college. When I switched colleges a few years ago I decided to
check
out my current school's Formula SAE team. I was extremely disappointed
in
the dynamics and knowledge of the group. The proposed solution to every
performance problem was to bolt on a turbo or a bigger turbo. There was
no
creativitity involved, no engineering going on... they just wanted a
bigger
turbo.
The understanding of the concepts behind the performance has disappeared
from modern day performance tuning of late model imports. And it will
be a
problem in years to come. As I've said before, and as I continue to
believe, I prefer these kids to stay with their glorified economy cars
rather than be introduced to our British cars.
Cheers,
Kai
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