Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I know, and possibly also being pedantic about the difference between lb-ft and ft-lb.
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2014 Formula 1 Rule Changes
- Thread starter metalhead398
- Start date
I know, and possibly also being pedantic about the difference between lb-ft and ft-lb.
Pedantic? Me?
I know, and possibly also being pedantic about the difference between lb-ft and ft-lb.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,054
- 45,945
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Long enough to expect you to know when I'm goofing back at you.
... but ... but ... you sounded so serious.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,054
- 45,945
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I understood what you meant with your earlier comment - on TV the high revving engines sound godawful. And I went to my first meeting back in the 1960s so I do know what the older engines sounded like up close.
But I can guarantee you that if you're into the sound of power, you'd love how the newer engines sound in real life. I went to Spa for the Belgian GP in 2011. As I drove through the Ardennes towards the circuit on practice day the sound of the cars coming through the forest was just out of this world, even from a good distance away. Up close, they are so powerful it's almost unbelievable. I tried to make a recording of the start of the actual race with my phone, but it was just too loud and the sound broke up completely.
There were other classes of racing on over the weekend, but nothing sounded anything like the F1 cars. Not even close.
Were you wearing ear protection? Of course, I won't reprimand you for not, but if you were, did you at least listen to them without muffs/plugs? It's amazing how loud they are. I went to Hockenheim last year. Sounded awesome, and I sat at the hairpin.
Whatever the rule changes are, I just hope Ferrari pull their heads from their collective asses and give Alonso a car that he can win in consistently. But that's the fun of F1 I guess. I just hope Red Bull didn't snatch him up to replace Webber.
those phone recordings dont do them justice, I've done this at the drag races with the same results. You can sure hear those insane revs though. I would like to get to europe someday and one thing I would make a point of doing is to visit some of the Iconic race tracks there like Spa and Silverstone, would be fun to drive the Nurbergring on "run whatcha brung" days.
I can see that the modern F1 cars are incredibly fast and nimble machines, but I still submit that while all this technology is pretty dazzling and sexy its not what makes sport car racing thrilling for me, as I said earlier...fast is fast, and as these teams strive for every bit of performance advantage it drives the costs of the thing to dizzing new heights. Cars that top out at 180-190 mph are just as exciting as those going 220 mph.
You see the same thing going on in professional drag racing here, they shortened the race course to 1000' ft. because they were to fast and powerful for the quarter mile anymore. The modern Top Fuel dragster produces in the neiborhood of 10,000 Hp. The sanctioning body could step up and require a 65 gpm pump instead of a 100gpm pump, single mag and single plug per cylinder.... but they dont, instead they let these guys go crazy and when something bad or tragic happens then they have some ridiculous knee jerk solution. I realize inovation is the nature of the sport of auto racing but new computer technologies are making the costs out of this world and making it cost prohibitive except for the very well heeled. Look at photos of race cars from the 60's and early 70's, you'll find very little if any big logo sponsor signage. Its getting to be like politics, its all about the money, sigh, OK thats it.
I can see that the modern F1 cars are incredibly fast and nimble machines, but I still submit that while all this technology is pretty dazzling and sexy its not what makes sport car racing thrilling for me, as I said earlier...fast is fast, and as these teams strive for every bit of performance advantage it drives the costs of the thing to dizzing new heights. Cars that top out at 180-190 mph are just as exciting as those going 220 mph.
You see the same thing going on in professional drag racing here, they shortened the race course to 1000' ft. because they were to fast and powerful for the quarter mile anymore. The modern Top Fuel dragster produces in the neiborhood of 10,000 Hp. The sanctioning body could step up and require a 65 gpm pump instead of a 100gpm pump, single mag and single plug per cylinder.... but they dont, instead they let these guys go crazy and when something bad or tragic happens then they have some ridiculous knee jerk solution. I realize inovation is the nature of the sport of auto racing but new computer technologies are making the costs out of this world and making it cost prohibitive except for the very well heeled. Look at photos of race cars from the 60's and early 70's, you'll find very little if any big logo sponsor signage. Its getting to be like politics, its all about the money, sigh, OK thats it.
Well, back again to engine sound - stand 50 feet away from a couple funny cars launching. You have to wear ear plugs and ear muffs, and you feel the sound deep in your chest. It's so powerful it blurs your vision.
We dont where no stinkin ear muffs, never have, never will. Its part of the whole viscreal experience. This should be in the "you havent lived till you" thread. Stand behind two nitro belching race cars when they launch, Its quite the experience.
I had a partime job at a drag strip in florida many years ago, every winter they had a big show they booked in Nitro cars for a match race, my job was water box guy so I got to stand in between these guys when they dropped the hammer, and thats back when you could run 100% nitro which I think most did, the cackle was definitly more badass back then. I had some wrap around type sunglasses so I wouldnt get any raw fuel in my eyes, but I still closed 'em a few seconds just in case. Raw nitro in the eyes is not a pleasant experience.
I had a partime job at a drag strip in florida many years ago, every winter they had a big show they booked in Nitro cars for a match race, my job was water box guy so I got to stand in between these guys when they dropped the hammer, and thats back when you could run 100% nitro which I think most did, the cackle was definitly more badass back then. I had some wrap around type sunglasses so I wouldnt get any raw fuel in my eyes, but I still closed 'em a few seconds just in case. Raw nitro in the eyes is not a pleasant experience.
Let's agree that these engines sound awesome in any of these categories.
bluesblaster, if you love your motorsports and are planning a trip to Europe, then I'd get it to coincide with Spa if you can. It's a sublime track and the best event of the F1 calendar. My sis is over there right now - she's a much bigger fan than I am and never misses.
bluesblaster, if you love your motorsports and are planning a trip to Europe, then I'd get it to coincide with Spa if you can. It's a sublime track and the best event of the F1 calendar. My sis is over there right now - she's a much bigger fan than I am and never misses.
I always thought Spa was one of the neatest circuits in the series, Do the roads that use to be the old "long course" still exist ?
I always loved this stuff, this is from a vintage race at road america but I was around when these cars were brand new.
Yep! Still around. Parts of the current and old Spa Francorchamps circuits form a section of a Tour de France stage.
Bill, I still want to know - was it you who offered the $9.3M for the "F1" license plate?
