230mph in a Vette with no Aero...

[porsche4life]

Who thought this was a good idea?


Video: 230mph

[LSA]

Ouch that's pretty brutal he's lucky to be alright, reminds me of the Gallardo that did basically the same thing a while ago.

[masraum]

What do you mean, "no aero". They had painter's tape all over the front end to make the thing cut through the air.

Wow, I bet that was a major pucker moment. Actually, it didn't seem nearly as bad as it could have been. I can only guess that either it broke traction and went sideways, or they had a tire/suspension issue that caused it to go sideways. Sideways at 200 can't be a good thing.

At least they walked away from it.

[URY914]

Tire blew I think.

[Flieger]

Or maybe a wheel weight came loose? Tire blow does sound and look most likely. There is a reason Bugatti needed Michelin to give them airplane tires and they are only good for 15 minutes at speed.

[Joe Bob]

Something let go.....you would have thought they would have called it day and did a saftey tear down before doing it again.

Here, hold my beer.....at least no one died.

[porsche4life]

looks like it just broke traction in the back, then the wheel ripped off.... I would think at that speed you would want some sort of wing to provide downforce, you know to prevent the ass end from passing the nose.

[Geronimo '74]

over 1700 horses.... brutal!

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Or maybe a wheel weight came loose? Tire blow does sound and look most likely. There is a reason Bugatti needed Michelin to give them airplane tires and they are only good for 15 minutes at speed.

There is also a reason Bugatti put a big azzed wing on the back of the car, and spent time in a windtunnel testing for those speeds....

[Geronimo '74]

+1 Don't think that the 'Vette has been designed for those speeds, certainly not without some aero mods....

[porsche4life]

I would actually like to see what the car looks like up close... I imagine the GM plastics start deforming somewhere north of 200... Kind of amazing the roof skin stayed on too.....

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

+1 Don't think that the 'Vette has been designed for those speeds, certainly not without some aero mods....

the standard C6 is good to 186 ( I've been 150 on a closed course )

Z06 is good to 198

ZR1 is 204

Wings cost speed. Yes I would want more downforce

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

There is also a reason Bugatti put a big azzed wing on the back of the car, and spent time in a windtunnel testing for those speeds....

The sudden breakaway looked like a small explosive charge went off from under the rear- not like a loss of yaw stability with aerodynamic lift in the rear.
Also that he flipped/rolled, rather than spinning.

[URY914]

I know a tire blew.

[BReif61]

Putting a "big-azz" wing would slow the car down, too. Doesn't the Veyron's spoiler retract when it's in high-speed mode?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by BReif61

Putting a "big-azz" wing would slow the car down, too. Doesn't the Veyron's spoiler retract when it's in high-speed mode?

I believe both the veyron and the Enzo have spoilers that reduce downforce when approaching top speed. But they don't eliminate downforce, they just reduce it to a lower level to reduce drag. They also have more going on than just a spoiler. For cars that top 200, aero is a big deal.

[willtel]

I'm not sure I have the stones to drive a car that deep into the double century mark with such little room for error.

I hate to say it but I don't think it will be long before a driver at one of these standing mile events leaves in a bag.

[techweenie]

Not sure why all the talk about aero and downforce. The problem here was a broken wheel, according to the industry rumor mill. They were running a stock Corvette wheel that broke, from what I've heard.

[911boost]

A well set up 944 could easily go 230 mph I'm sure.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by BSiple

A well set up 944 could easily go 230 mph I'm sure.

Or a black Audi wagon, and definitely a '73 2.4S targa!!!