Quote:
Originally Posted by herr_oberst
The better question is really "Is performance dead" and the answer is a resounding no.
Corvette ZR1X is rumored to have 1300 hp at the flywheel, which is more than Chevy is advertising. (Doing that thing that Porsche has traditionally done; underreporting hp.)
The ZR1 supposedly has 1200 FWHP, also more than advertised.
That's one example of today's performance.
Personally, I think it's criminal; this car and many like it, as sold, is not equipped to save the occupants in the event of high speed catastrophe any more than the 1960 Chrysler 300 was going to do much to save it's occupants in the event of loss of control at speed.
But that's just me. I get a little edgy thinking about that kind of stuff.
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I look at it as Darwin at work. I had an argument with my Aunt’s old boyfriend, who was talking about how great back up cameras are and how every car should have them.
I explained that, in my opinion, people rely too much on technology and become lazy and too reliant on it. They no longer pay attention and look behind them, just watching the screen,, he was also ranting about how great the side view cameras, I pointed out that people are already too lazy to use them mirrors this just dumbs people down even more.
When I’m instructing at the track, I hammer on “Situational Awareness” , use your mirrors, pay attention to cars coming behind you, etc.
When I instruct corporate events, I would hammer into the students (these were corporate team building events, so driving a sedan, and rotating 3 students per car , driving, all of us in the car together). For these events, I would pick out objects, on the side of the track and ask them where f they saw them. Pointing out that the importance of this exercise is if driving through a neighborhood, you have to be extremely aware, kids, pets, etc can appear out of nowhere.
We generally did these events for E.Paul, he only used his graduate instructors for the Corporate events, and the ones I instructed were at Roebling Road outside of Savannah, Georgia. If more people did those type of events (Brumos use to include a school with every new Porsche sold with Hurly Haywood as chief instructor.
PCA events, vary depending on the region, but it’s typically the guys, you are thinking about, the clowns who buy way more car than they can drive, and think they are Hans Stuck, right up until they max out spins for the day or weekend have to sit out the day or weekend. The more technologically advanced cars become, the worse the drivers are.
I mentioned my old C4 before, and the fact that it took the fun out because it would save your ass, during a new instructor mentors program that I instructed at, I was told n an extremely raw 911SC, with a friend of mine who was becoming a instructor. Driving and riding in that 911 (he had it in the paint shop for a full repaint) with no glass was a exhilarating experience, and reminded me of how much fun it is to literally have to work to drive a car..
Back on topic, someone mentioned a old Hemi, a friend of mine had a 69 Hemi 500 Charger, and he pickled the original engine and had another one built into insane HP, on the 1st test drive, when the car was jumped on, but t twisted the drive shaft (this same friend at on time owned a rear Shelby Cobra, that is another story for another day, raced a 935, and raced a old 911 (not when he raced it) among several very cool cars)
Ash was a true car guy, and I learned a lot from him, yet, especially considering the family he came from, was an extremely humble. Again, stories for another day. I will say this, I really miss him. Again, I am fortunate to have had him as a friend and mentor.