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-   -   What good is handling in corners if you always get passed on the straights? (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-autocross-track-racing/902157-what-good-handling-corners-if-you-always-get-passed-straights.html)

Dave at Pelican Parts 02-24-2016 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9002660)
And that is exactly what happens in the video. Dubious how?

Dubious in that you begged the question of "always getting passed in the straights", presenting a very debatable point as a given. When it isn't. Dubious in that you have cherry-picked one or two videos and assert that evidence applies for all cars everywhere.

Dubious in that you made your mind up, and are unwilling to entertain any thoughts that contradict that view.

Heck, if you look in one of the videos you cite as evidence, you'll see that the small lightweight car beat all but one of the muscle cars! That leaves at least a half-dozen powerful cars that could not pass him on the straights.

You've seen Jack's video, where he passes two high-powered cars. Even though the Vette was passed when it spun, you'll notice that it never even got close to him after that--he was basically running away from it. But frankly, any mistake in the right spot would have been enough for Jack to pass him; that's one way that people often get passed.

Is a high-powered car easier to go fast with? No question. Can a lower-powered car pass a higher-powered car and make it stick? Absolutely!

You could put me in a Viper, and put most of the regular posters from this board in a Yugo, and they'd still wind up blowing my doors off. They are simply better drivers than I am, and the better driver has a huge advantage.

Is power good? Of course it is! Can it help you pass other cars? Yes, if you can use it reasonably.

Is handling good? It sure is. Can it help you pass other cars? Yes, if you can use it.

--DD

J P Stein 02-24-2016 07:24 AM

I'm no race car driver.
It took me a couple laps to figure out how to pass a car that was as fast as me. I couldn't get him in the passing area of the straight (DE rules).....
.
There was a sweeper leading into the straight......I let about 50-70 feet grow between us, then hit teh go pedal.....by the time we hit the straight, I was going 15 mph (or so)faster than he......gulp.

sugarwood 02-24-2016 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts (Post 9010607)
You could put me in a Viper, and put most of the regular posters from this board in a Yugo, and they'd still wind up blowing my doors off.

What if we put you in a Viper, but put them on a unicycle. Would they still blow your doors off?

gliding_serpent 02-24-2016 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9011573)
What if we put you in a Viper, but put them on a unicycle. Would they still blow your doors off?

We need more details to hypothesize on your troll-bait... I mean... thread... I mean... scenario. Does the Viper we give him have doors? How many Hp in the unicycle? What is the contact patch of the unicycle? what kind of rubber does it have? What is the fitness level of the unicycle driver? Does Dave have one or two functioning eyes? Does Dave have feet?

KTL 02-25-2016 10:20 AM

I guess this discussion is over because he's going soon to be struck by lighting for saying even God in a Yugo can't beat Dave in the Viper. You said it. He heard you. You can't take it back even though you edited it.......... :D ;)

Dave at Pelican Parts 02-25-2016 11:15 AM

If you'd ever seen me drive on the track, you might realize that I could just about give the unicycle a run for its money in the Viper.... ;)

Almost.

--DD

gliding_serpent 02-25-2016 01:35 PM

But in all seriousness, a 3600lbs viper making 450hp has 1 hp for every 8 lbs. a unicycle with a 150lbs driver... Making 20hp will have 1hp for ever 7.5lbs!!!

The unicycle will win, hands down. Math does not lie folks. This is the internet. It must therefore be true.

wayner 02-25-2016 01:39 PM

How big is that unicycle's contact patch?

Wait, how big is Dave's butt?

gliding_serpent 02-25-2016 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner (Post 9012643)
How big is that unicycle's contact patch?

Wait, how big is Dave's butt?

It really depends if the unicycle is French or German. The german's are known for unicycles with larger contact patches, but the large skinny wheels of the French versions have better gearing for top speed, which will be key for a track battle with a viper. As we have all learned, why have a large contact patch when you always get passed on the straights?

Daves butt, by concensus, is estimated to be three blue sparrows long with two degrees of accuracy.

wayner 02-25-2016 05:18 PM

Some light reading:

The Racing Driver: The Theory and Practice of Fast Driving: Denis Jenkinson: 9780837602011: Amazon.com: Books


Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving: Carl Lopez, Danny Sullivan: 9780837602264: Amazon.com: Books

Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving: Ross Bentley: 9780760340509: Amazon.com: Books


Driving to Win: Al Holbert, Bob Holbert, Albert R. Bochroch: 9780894040245: Amazon.com: Books

http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Win-Essential-Guide-Driving/dp/0615592570/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456453262&sr=1-2&keywords=driving+to+win

http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Enough-Autobiography-Jackie-Stewart/dp/0755315391/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456453215&sr=1-1&keywords=winning+is+not+enough

Dave at Pelican Parts 02-26-2016 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner (Post 9012643)
Wait, how big is Dave's butt?

Let's just say that there is a reason that the test for 914 sag has been called the "Dave's Big Butt Test"... :(

--DD

Damon in STL 02-26-2016 09:01 AM

Here's a short outake vid from about 8 years ago (sorry for poor vid quality!) of me racing at Autobahn South (same track from KTL's earlier post of my buddy Julian's vid showing Chris in his 911).

https://vimeo.com/156869706

I'm driving my e30 M3 with 168 HP and similar torque at the wheels. The car with driver weighted 2715 lbs, running Hankook Slicks (215 width), and running no aero. The race started with a wet track and slowly dried. The car I'm racing with is out of class and has substantially more HP/TQ and runs quicker lap times.

HP/TQ is not everything! Being good on the brakes will let you make up a lot of time. The other thing that happens during a race is conditions change and tire characteristics change. The heavier cars on Hoosiers would lose time towards the end of the race because of overheating. The slick compound I was running would start slow and then come on later in the race and then be more consistent. Using the draft is also critical. The one long back straight let me take advantage of this to make the pass. I was able to hound him in the corners just enough to stay right on his tail coming out of the corner before the long straight.

Damon in STL

cstreit 02-26-2016 02:59 PM

I used to run my 911 against those muscle cars at RA all the time.

The temptation is to charge right up on their azz in the braking zone. The only issue with that is the muscle car will slow you up on the corner exit. Repeat ad nauseum.

The key is to leave a little room so you can accelerate out of the corner and catch them the next time. It often takes 3-4 corners to set this up and make it work. Btdt

Damon in STL 02-27-2016 03:33 AM

Here's another video outtake from Putnam Park from about 5 years ago. I'm now driving a spec e30 with an inline 6 vs. an ill handling poorly driven V8 Mustang. All of my comments on the vid were from the original video....LOL!

He's probably making at least twice....if not more HP!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5P3oMXcY0U&feature=youtu.be

wayner 02-27-2016 05:42 AM

I like this video

It says so much about old light nimble simple and fun
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_qrhu8GgEE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Plavan 02-27-2016 06:52 AM

Enough of this thread.... I'm hoping to go fast on both straights and corners with my new car. :P . My NP01 Prototype will arrive 1st week of March hopefully.



The wrap is almost done sans the numbers and sponsors.
http://i.imgur.com/xdyXXZXh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/86Jgewnh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SFaL92Qh.jpg

Dave at Pelican Parts 02-27-2016 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon in STL (Post 9014511)
Here's another video outtake from Putnam Park from about 5 years ago.

"This video is private. Sorry about that."

--DD

wayner 02-27-2016 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plavan (Post 9014745)
Enough of this thread.... I'm hoping to go fast on both straights and corners with my new car. :P . My NP01 Prototype will arrive 1st week of March hopefully.



The wrap is almost done sans the numbers and sponsors.
...

WOW! Cool!

Is that basically an enclosed version of an IMSA lite car?

Plavan 02-27-2016 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner (Post 9015058)
WOW! Cool!

Is that basically an enclosed version of an IMSA lite car?

It's basic design yes, but less expensive materials (tube frame vs carbon etc) It's being called Cup Car performance, with Spec Miata maintenance.

sugarwood 02-27-2016 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon in STL (Post 9013607)

I LOL'ed when the 'Stang blew right back past you in the straight, and you said "Umm, ok then...."

sugarwood 02-27-2016 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon in STL (Post 9013607)

The "legendary" E30 M3 was trailing a piece of junk $1500 1980s Firebird, a car that would instantly be dismissed as "bloated, plowing, nose heavy pig that handles like a garbage truck".
But, the fact is the E30 M3 was trailing this Firebird for most of this video, even if you finally passed at the 4 min mark.

For me, it's just more evidence that the outright dismissal of big HP cars as crappy track cars is woefully ignorant and borderline brainwashing.
This "inferior, not worthy of consideration joke" of an 80s Firebird held it's own with "the ultimate driving machine" for many many laps, and given more laps, it may have taken the lead again.

I am not saying the Firebird is a better car.
I am saying the difference in track performance is not nearly dramatic as one would believe, if one believes everything he reads.

gliding_serpent 02-27-2016 01:20 PM

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1456611615.png

Stop badmouthing the firebird Sugarwood!

sugarwood 02-27-2016 07:14 PM

I find the troll face disingenuous and intellectually lazy. I have commented on nothing but facts and reality based on what my own two eyeballs have shown me in the videos. At this point, there is ample evidence in over a half dozen videos, not just one or two exceptions. To go fast around a track, in absolute terms, horsepower damn well matters, and matters a lot.

In fact, the only trolling I see are preposterous claims that a pro driver in a Yugo will actually beat a novice in a Viper. My intentionally absurd unicycle quip was making a very significant point that no one seemed to grasp. At some point, claiming a slower car will be faster due to *only* driver skill is an patently false statement, since there is zero debate about the unicycle losing to musclecar, regardless of the unicycle rider's skill. So, that is proof that at some point between a lower powered unicycle or a Yugo or a 911, you will lose to HP no matter how well you can drive, period. Claiming driver skill is everything is patently false, proven by this Unicycle Postulate. Schumacher on a unicycle will lose to a V8 Camaro. Will he lose in a Yugo? In an Elise? In a 911?

...

I appreciate the trade-offs b/w weight and power, but one thing I can conclude with absolute certainty is that anyone who mindlessly parrots the car media rhetoric that "Muscle cars are utterly useless bloated, plowing, nose heavy pigs that handle like a garbage truck and perform like crap on a track" has absolutely no idea what he's talking about. Just another brainwashed internet forum & car magazine parrot. I have been guilty of this myself. But now it's obvious that it's not even remotely that facile and one-sided; the numerous videos here of 911's perpetually staring up a muscle car's ass for laps on end is undeniable proof of that.

winders 02-27-2016 08:56 PM

sugarwood,

Do you have any track experience? If you had, you would have seen or heard about low horsepower cars driven by quality drivers smoking slow drivers in much faster cars. It happens ALL THE TIME!! It happens on motorcycles too! I ran faster laps on a 36 HP Kawasaki EX250 than guys on 140HP liter bikes.

Old Detroit muscle cars, stock, were "utterly useless bloated, plowing, nose heavy pigs that handle like a garbage truck and perform like crap on a track". The muscle cars from this century are much better. That '80's Firebird in the video above was gone over. So it doesn't count.

The bottom line is that handling is more important than horsepower. On a stock or near stock car, money spent on making the car handle better is almost always better spent that spending money on horsepower.

It sure seems like you have been trolling here......

gliding_serpent 02-28-2016 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9015648)
I find the troll face disingenuous and intellectually lazy. I have commented on nothing but facts and reality based on what my own two eyeballs have shown me in the videos. At this point, there is ample evidence in over a half dozen videos, not just one or two exceptions. To go fast around a track, in absolute terms, horsepower damn well matters, and matters a lot.

In fact, the only trolling I see are preposterous claims that a pro driver in a Yugo will actually beat a novice in a Viper. My intentionally absurd unicycle quip was making a very significant point that no one seemed to grasp. At some point, claiming a slower car will be faster due to driver skill is an patently false statement, since there is zero debate about the unicycle losing to musclecar, regardless of the unicycle rider's skill. So, that is proof that at some point between a lower powered unicycle or a Yugo or a 911, you will lose to HP no matter how well you can drive, period. Claiming driver skill is everything is patently false, proven by this Unicycle Postulate. Schumacher on a unicycle will lose to a V8 Camaro. Will he lose in a Yugo? In an Elise? In a 911?

Who was the last Formula 1 Champion who won with a slower car? How often does that happen? Fernando Alonso came close in 2012. I’ve been watching the sport for eight years now and haven’t seen it happen. Ferrari finished second last year. The Mercedes laid down something like a full 60 horsepower more while both had excellent chassis. Vettel was a 4 time Champion. Hamilton was a 2 time champion and won.

I appreciate the trade-offs b/w weight and power, but one thing I can conclude with absolute certainty is that anyone who mindlessly parrots the car media rhetoric that "Muscle cars are utterly useless bloated, plowing, nose heavy pigs that handle like a garbage truck and perform like crap on a track" has absolutely no idea what he's talking about. Just another brainwashed internet forum & car magazine parrot. I have been guilty of this myself. But now it's obvious that it's not even remotely that facile and one-sided; the numerous videos here of 911's perpetually staring up a muscle car's ass for laps on end is undeniable proof of that.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

gliding_serpent 02-28-2016 04:57 AM

I just want to apologize Sugarwood. Now that I have seen the facts on video, I have come around. For years I thought that a properly prepared low hp car with a good driver *could* be faster than a car with more horsepower. For a while i had been fooled by seeing it with my own eyes, many times over. But I am wrong. I was wrong. For example, lmp2 porsche rs spyders beating audi lmp1's never happened. And for that I am sorry.

What I have learned is that is that faster cars are faster. Read that again. Let it sink in. Now read it two more times, the second time in falsetto. The folks here with so called "experience" need to learn a thing or two from us "armchair experts."

sugarwood 02-28-2016 05:23 AM

Sorry, it's not confirmation bias at all. I did not say muscle cars are *always* faster.
Nor did I deny that that light and nimble can *sometimes* be faster.
The videos in this thread have both outcomes, and I clearly acknowledged that.

The point I am making is that most people say that "Muscle cars are only good for straight lines."
That is flat out wrong. What did I say? I said it's just not that simple.

The videos in this thread have both outcomes.
The reality is that sometimes muscle cars are faster around a track, sometimes light and nimble is faster around a track.
What I *am* saying is...that anyone talking in absolutes on this subject ("dump truck understeering pig handling 60s muscle cars always get blown away on the track because handling") clearly has absolutely no idea what he's talking about.
What I am saying is that, to some extent, the "disastrous handling" of muscle cars sure is made up for by big HP b/c they sure do hold their own on the track against light and nimble.

For example, go ask any typical car forum nerd you know what he thinks the outcome of a Porsche 911 vs. a '65 Mustang on the track will be.
The common answer will be "The 911 will run circles around the dump truck handling Mustang. American cars are only good for straight lines".
I *am* saying statements like this are utterly nonsensical and grossly ignorant.
And no, that doesn't mean I am saying Mustangs always beat 911's, either.
I'm saying it's not nearly as simple and 1-sided as the car blog magazine nerd makes it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by winders (Post 9015705)
The muscle cars from this century are much better. That '80's Firebird in the video above was gone over. So it doesn't count.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k4u1VlAVMpg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

gliding_serpent 02-28-2016 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winders (Post 9015705)
sugarwood,

Do you have any track experience? If you had, you would have seen or heard about low horsepower cars driven by quality drivers smoking slow drivers in much faster cars. It happens ALL THE TIME!! It happens on motorcycles too! I ran faster laps on a 36 HP Kawasaki EX250 than guys on 140HP liter bikes..

track experience? Why would someone corrupt their armchair education with real world experiences? If it is not on video in this thread, it does not happen. And if it does, yet does not support my views of facts (like a lower class m3 passing a higher classed firebird... And me calling the firebird faster because it stayed ahead for three laps of a 30 lap race) i will ignore it, and twist it to support my preconcieved views.

Quote:

Originally Posted by winders (Post 9015705)
Old Detroit muscle cars, stock, were "utterly useless bloated, plowing, nose heavy pigs that handle like a garbage truck and perform like crap on a track". The muscle cars from this century are much better. That '80's Firebird in the video above was gone over. So it doesn't count..

the m3 was gone over also. And the m3 was in a lower performance class... And the firebird still could not beat it in the end. Firebird wins. Higher hp is better than handling. Checkmate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by winders (Post 9015705)
The bottom line is that handling is more important than horsepower. On a stock or near stock car, money spent on making the car handle better is almost always better spent that spending money on horsepower..

It sure seems like you have been trolling here......[/QUOTE]

If horsepower is more important than handling is what you mean, than we agree.

Is this thread over yet? Or is the fun just starting? SmileWavy

gliding_serpent 02-28-2016 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9015884)
Straw man argument. I did not say muscle cars are always faster. I said it's just not that simple.

I agree that light and nimble can *sometimes* be faster. But, pure HP is *sometimes* faster. The videos in this thread have both outcomes.

The point I am making is that most people say that "Muscle cars are only good for straight lines." That is flat out wrong.
The reality is that sometimes muscle cars are faster around a track, sometimes light and nimble is faster around a track.

Anyone who isn't brainwashed by internet forums and car magazines can watch the videos and plainly see that sometimes light and nimble is ahead, and other times, pure HP is ahead.
But, anyone talking in absolutes on this subject clearly has no idea what he's talking about. If you want to disagree with that, and claim that light and nimble always wins, be my guest.

What a minute... A balanced view of both sides of an argument? /thread.

You have come a long way baby!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 8996171)
But, that clip only reinforced my observation. You can talk all you want about handing, but it seems like a moot point. Big HP is what appears to actually win races.


sugarwood 02-28-2016 05:58 AM

Please do not miss the forest for the trees.
Yes, big HP does appear to actually win races.
Maybe not every race, but the point still holds: HP matters.
It's just not as 1-sided as people make it.

I just looked up the results of the last AX event I did at Limerock.
The AX track at LRP is basically all turns. So, it's all handling.

A 2015 WRX came in 1st.
A Z8 BMW came in 2nd.
A 2007 Corvette came in 3rd.

The 3rd place Corvette beat out BMW M3s, Evos, Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayman, Porsche 911, Miata, etc.
Yes, obviously we're not holding driver skill constant, but remember, you've claimed God in a Yugo can beat anyone in a Viper.
So much for Corvette being a heavy bloated pig that can’t handle on an autocross track. Total myth.

gliding_serpent 02-28-2016 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9015913)
I just looked up the results of the last AX event I did at Limerock.
The AX track at LRP is basically all turns. So, it's all handling.

A 2015 WRX came in 1st.
A Z8 BMW came in 2nd.
A 2007 Corvette came in 3rd.

Yes, obviously we're not holding driver skill constant, but remember, God in a Yugo can beat anyone in a Viper.
The 3rd place Corvette beat out M3s, Evos, Boxster, Cayman, Miata, 911, etc.
So much for Corvette being a heavy bloated pig that can’t handle on an autocross track. Total myth.

Who said a corvette is a heavy bloated pig? Have you driven in one reciently? Best bang for buck I have seen. Just not my thing. also, remind me who won daytona and lemans in gt most reciently?

And sugarwood, if god can do what is claimed, i will put my money on god in a Yugo over anyone else in the fastest car ever imagined. Water into wine. Imagine what god could do to a Yugo!!!

wayner 02-28-2016 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9015884)
...The point I am making is that most people say that "Muscle cars are only good for straight lines."

If we focus on just that one single point for a moment, it is a good point.

Its an ancient and out dated belief
A lot of what makes up that belief is that for the late 1960s and 1970s, that was absolutely true.

Which leads to two other important points:

1) Old muscle cars that go fast around a race track do not have stock suspension. In fact , many have completely redesigned suspension with altered suspension pickup pints, and revised geometry, not jut racing shocks and sway bars.

2) New muscle cars actually do handle. The manufacturers have seen the light.
If one was to pick a specific point in time, it would be the 1984 corvette. (Cameros that handled came much later with the latest generation , while mustangs only very recently came with an independent suspension option, rather than the primitive live rear axle (look up why they were called live).

So, by today's track standards, you have a good chance in either a new muscle car, or a earlier muscle car with re-engineered suspension.

(...but now this opens the modern version of the Ford/Chevy debate)
Start at 9:00 in to this video

The listen to his comments at 10:00 to 10:35

Then by the end of the video, come back here and lets discuss which one wins and why.

(That is a friendly debate that I would like to have.)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IrhW6W7eZDI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

sugarwood 02-28-2016 07:06 AM

^^ I haven't watched, but auto journalists are the very source root of perpetuating this ignorant anti-muscle car mythology, so you can pretty much ignore anything that comes out of his mouth.
These bobbling heads all say the exact same thing, including the meme at the heart of this discussion
"USA muscle cars handle like dog****, and can only go in a straight line, and are total garbage on a track", said every cut and paste auto journalist ever.

Everything about "driving feel" is subjective, subject to massive personal bias, and therefore utterly useless without empirical quantitative measurement.
A Euro guy, operating under a lifetime of social conditioning and brainwashing, reviewing an American car?
LOL, that is the paragon of junk science and flawed experiment design (can we double blind the test drive?)
At best, they will reluctantly admit to the car being "not as atrocious as I thought it would be"
We might as well watch Chris Harris review a bottle of 1982 Chateau Margaux against a bottle of 3 buck chuck. Care to guess the outcome of that tasting?
Seriously, the 2nd best thing to do while watching a car reviewer is to hit the mute button, and just wait for the numbers.
(The best thing obviously is to simply ignore the entire auto blog/magazine industrial complex)

And who said Corvette is a bloated heavy pig that handles like crap? You're seriously asking this?
Do a search for "Corvette handles amazingly" vs. "Corvette handles like crap" and let me know how many respective hits you get.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Pr oduction.2C_street-legal_vehicles
Back to actual data and evidence. Despite there being a glaring issue of "voluntary response bias" and a lack of "random assignment" (How would a stock '72 454 Chevelle fare? We will never know, since their owners aren't aware their cars can even turn), the top 10 best times on the ultimate track, Nürburgring include a Viper and Corvette. Two cars that internet car snobs instantly dismiss as "Heavy bloated American dumptrucks that are absolutely useless on a track, b/c they are only fast until you want to turn, only good for going in straight lines, and handling and cornering and wearing gold chains and hairy chest medallion" If you believe everything you read about American cars, Nürburgring is obviously some sort of German drag strip.

wayner 02-28-2016 08:06 AM

You really should watch the video before you comment. It goes in an entirely different direction.

Please be open minded.
It compares one muscle car against another (mustang versus Camero) and has good things to say

It would be a positive and useful datapoint as part of this discussion

wayner 02-28-2016 08:22 AM

...also, you should drive a 69 Camaro and a modern Camero back to back. You would be horrified and likely even terrified by the 69 Camaro.

sugarwood 02-28-2016 08:31 AM

The '69 Firebird seemed to kick ass just fine on the track videos, as evidenced by all the viewing time of its tail lights. And your argument that the 60s muscle is not stock so it doesn't count was a bit flawed. Almost none of the Euro cars in the videos are stock, either. It's a wash. One can at least conclude that the modified 60s muscle is clocking just fine on the track against modified Euro nimble. But, no one ever says, "USA muscle can only drive in a straight line, but with mods, they can hold their own against a nimble Euro car" (said no internet car geek ever...) As you know, they simply unilaterally state, "USA muscle handles like crap, and gets left in the dust on a track with turns". This is incorrect.

wayner 02-28-2016 08:33 AM

Are you just trying to cause a fight?

Why don't you watch the video so that we can have a useful conversation?

Charles Freeborn 02-28-2016 08:35 AM

I'm going to repeat Scott's question. Sugarwoo what is the extent of your track time? Not AX, but on a hot track?
Second question - who cares what's faster? Nobody's racing vintage musclecars or vintage sports cars for money - at least not big money. We do it for fun. If you think a Firebird is fun - get one. If you think a Porsche, or Bmw, or Yugo is fun - get one.
The problem with these discussions is anyone can prove pretty much any point they choose to defend. That is if finding a youtube is considered definitive proof. My PERSONAL experience on track (I can't afford to race, but I've driven in approx 20 DE track days and run in intermediate, advanced or HPDE group), is that at anything below club racing level, driver experience wins out on our track (Portland International Raceway). PIR is a deceptively technical course. It favors good braking and driving skill with it's off camber turns and undulating back straight (we have rain here in OR, so the track has to drain). I have PERSONALLY watched one of our local racing legends ( IMSA, CART, INDY) get waved by huge horesepower modern cars (V8 Audi's etc) in his 1.3 liter STOCK vintage Sprite race car. It's got 85 hp. His SCCA Midget which has more like 75 horsepower, with him in it, turns lap times that are more than 10 seconds faster than me in my 2.7 911, which is stock, but has somewhere around 175 hp. Figure in power to weight (my car has very little interior) and I still beat him in the hp/lbs category, but it's not even a fight on the track.
BTW, God could beat anything he or she chose whilst on foot. He/she's got those lightning bolt things so it's game over... wait that's Zeus... sorry I'm not a religulous person, I mix 'em up...

Charles Freeborn 02-28-2016 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner (Post 9016112)
...also, you should drive a 69 Camaro and a modern Camero back to back. You would be horrified and likely even terrified by the 69 Camaro.

Amen brother. I had a '67 Firebird in my youth that I transplanted a 327 into. Headers, 4 barrel, drum brakes. It's a miracle I didn't die in that car... Looking back, the biggest mistake I made was not keeping it original and restoring it. Today it would be quite valuable. Was a red/red 'bird with the overhead cam 6 and 3 on the tree. I'd kill to have that car today...I'd get me some of those fuzzy dice and an 8 track...

Dave at Pelican Parts 02-28-2016 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9015884)
... I did not say muscle cars are *always* faster.
Nor did I deny that that light and nimble can *sometimes* be faster.

Funny, because it seemed like you'd been saying from the beginning that power is all that matters, and handing is irrelevant. Heck, even the thread title says "What good is handling"...


Quote:

What I *am* saying is...that anyone talking in absolutes on this subject ("dump truck understeering pig handling 60s muscle cars always get blown away on the track because handling") clearly has absolutely no idea what he's talking about.
As a general rule, talking absolutes about anything related to racing is misguided. Even such near-universal truths as "Racing is expensive" and "Racing is highly addictive" do not apply 100% to everything.

However, old muscle cars with stock suspension are in fact usually understeering pigs. They were made to go very fast in a straight line, and little if any consideration was given to corners. In general, the ones that go well around corners are either not old, or not stock.


Quote:

What I am saying is that, to some extent, the "disastrous handling" of muscle cars sure is made up for by big HP b/c they sure do hold their own on the track against light and nimble.
That can happen, given a long enough straight, and specific drivers, and setups.

It can also happen that the nimble car can make enough time through the twisty parts of the track (if there are any!) that the higher-powered car cannot catch it even on the long straight.


Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood (Post 9015913)
...remember, you've claimed God in a Yugo can beat anyone in a Viper.

No, the claim was that an excellent driver in a Yugo could beat an idiot in a Viper. Specifically, me. (Seriously, I'm the only one I know of who has ever STARTED an autocross run backwards!!)

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So much for Corvette being a heavy bloated pig that can’t handle on an autocross track.
Anyone who has attended an SCCA event would laugh at anyone who said that a Vette cannot be fast on a tight and twisty track. Many of the Vettes that come out and run are staggeringly fast around the cones! They have power, and they handle! That's a heck of a good combo. Combine that with a good driver, and you get astonishingly good times.



I love this discussion--it's almost like a check-list of fallacious argument techniques! You've most recently trotted out the ad-hominem one, what's next?

--DD


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