[Fot] Why is the TR250K so fast?

[Kas Kastner]

You are wrong in a couple places.  The frame is indeed a stock Triumph frame.  The suspension parts also so we could try a get the factory to build the car. The body is aluminum not plastic. The track is stock TR-250 / TR-4A. 
---- Shane Ingate <hottr6 at hotmail.com> wrote: 

=============
Henry Frye wrote:
> During Kas' presentation of the cup, he said he has not
> seen the car go as fast since he ran it at Sebring in '68. He then
> issued a manufacturers recall notice, but I think Tony is going to take
> his chances!

Having read all'y'all fun stories about the Glen, the 6-cylindered TR250K
and Sam Halkias' car were phenomenally fast, even faster than
Bill Warner's and Tom Kreger's cars (which are phenomenal in their own 
right).  I'm going to make the assumption that all the drivers were of 
god-like ability, and so any differences come down to the cars.

>From top-secret spy photos, I think I understand why Sam's car is so fast.
I suspect that Sam's motor is producing way more HP than anyone else,
and I think I have heard that Sam is running a TVR rear tube sub-frame
as does Dave Wingett.

I don't have as much access to spy photo's of Kas's car, but what I have seen
does not explain the success of this car.  Yes, I understand that the aerodynamics
of the plastic body and weight is a significant advantage over the steel/plastic of 
the racing TR6s.  I assume that the TR250K shares the same wheelbase and track
as its production cousin.  I am also assuming the TR250K is tube-framed, and thus 
more rigid. I am presuming that the engine is the same as Kas ran in the Kastner-Brophy 
TR250/6, so is not offering a HP advantage.  Photos show that the front suspension of 
the TR250K is "stock" TR, except that I cannot find any bracing at the top of
the coil tower.  I have no idea what sort of voodoo is going on at the rear end,
but I suspect that it has unequal-length A-arms.  Anything has to be better
than the Triumph semi-trailing arms.

In summary, I'd say the reasons why the TR250K is so fast is due to:
1) Lightweight aerodynamic body, rigid tube frame;
2) Some unseen voodoo of the "stock" front suspension;
3) Rear suspension voodoo, including rear disk brakes.

Of course, what I really need is more spy photos so that I can attempt
to copy some of the more esoteric top secret engineering.

Shane Ingate

_________________________________________________________________
Want to do more with Windows Live? Learn “10 hidden secrets” from Jamie.
http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008
--
Never be beaten by equipment