24 Hours of Lemans dominated by... diesels...

[angib]

One of the Peugeots went a bit too fast in practice...

The correct response to that is: "No problem, mate, that scratch will polish right out".....

As I was growing up, my parents had an old farmhouse in France and our route there went right down the Mulsanne Straight of the Le Mans circuit, about half of which is on regular roads shut for the race. You can bet I used to floor the car there......

And right now there are other races taking place on closed roads, the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races. I've probably told you all about them before but they are one of the wonders of the motoring world. A third of the 37 mile track goes over a (very small) mountain, the island has no overall speed limit and for one day between race days, they make the mountain section one way - in effect a race track on an open public road. It's known as Mad Sunday and this on-bike video of part of the mountain section shows why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_CovlSAAOM The bike's digital speedo is bottom right and while it flashes over 180mph, the thing for car drivers to watch is the 2-3 seconds it takes to accelerate from say, 80 to 120mph.

On more mundane matters the price differential between diesel and petrol/gas varies from one Euro country to another, but diesel is at a 5-10% premium in most countries.

Andrew

[Lesbest]

The price for diesel today was $5.15 and 87 unleaded $4.14. On the NY Thruway at the Angola service center. WHEW!

Les

[Nitetimes]

Another cool video -- one lap of Lemans in a Pescarolo-Judd. Listen to all the shifting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjWnIDvCCiE

CD

That's not shifting...that's Nintendo!!!! Real race cars have a gearshift an a clutch!!!!

[del]

Another cool video -- one lap of Lemans in a Pescarolo-Judd. Listen to all the shifting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjWnIDvCCiE

CD

That's not shifting...that's Nintendo!!!! Real race cars have a gearshift an a clutch!!!!

Real race cars have not had a shifter in years, real race cars also race in the rain.
del

[caseydog]

Another cool video -- one lap of Lemans in a Pescarolo-Judd. Listen to all the shifting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjWnIDvCCiE

CD

That's not shifting...that's Nintendo!!!! Real race cars have a gearshift an a clutch!!!!

Real race cars have not had a shifter in years, real race cars also race in the rain.
del

And turn in both directions -- often.

CD

[caseydog]

One of the Peugeots went a bit too fast in practice...

The correct response to that is: "No problem, mate, that scratch will polish right out".....

As I was growing up, my parents had an old farmhouse in France and our route there went right down the Mulsanne Straight of the Le Mans circuit, about half of which is on regular roads shut for the race. You can bet I used to floor the car there......

And right now there are other races taking place on closed roads, the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races. I've probably told you all about them before but they are one of the wonders of the motoring world. A third of the 37 mile track goes over a (very small) mountain, the island has no overall speed limit and for one day between race days, they make the mountain section one way - in effect a race track on an open public road. It's known as Mad Sunday and this on-bike video of part of the mountain section shows why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_CovlSAAOM The bike's digital speedo is bottom right and while it flashes over 180mph, the thing for car drivers to watch is the 2-3 seconds it takes to accelerate from say, 80 to 120mph.

On more mundane matters the price differential between diesel and petrol/gas varies from one Euro country to another, but diesel is at a 5-10% premium in most countries.

Andrew

I have seen a TV show about the Isle of Man open road bike day. Cool event.

CD

[Ivar the Red]

Another cool video -- one lap of Lemans in a Pescarolo-Judd. Listen to all the shifting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjWnIDvCCiE

CD

That's not shifting...that's Nintendo!!!! Real race cars have a gearshift an a clutch!!!!

Real race cars have not had a shifter in years, real race cars also race in the rain.
del

And turn in both directions -- often.

CD

Nope...they have gear shifters but go really, REALLY fast for about 4 seconds.....in a straight line.

[caseydog]

Another cool video -- one lap of Lemans in a Pescarolo-Judd. Listen to all the shifting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjWnIDvCCiE

CD

That's not shifting...that's Nintendo!!!! Real race cars have a gearshift an a clutch!!!!

Some of the GT1 class cars have manual clutches, and on a road course, you need some pretty good heel and toe skills. It's not like on an oval where you run 95 percent of the race in one gear.

Here is a lap of Road Atlanta in a GT3RS where you can see the shifter and the drivers legs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoJoqGD5NLo

I saw an awesome in-car camera shot of a GT1 class driver at Lemans a few years ago, where the camera was aimed at the drivers feet. It was amazing how busy his feet were. I tried to find that video, but no luck.

[del]

Another cool video -- one lap of Lemans in a Pescarolo-Judd. Listen to all the shifting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjWnIDvCCiE

CD

That's not shifting...that's Nintendo!!!! Real race cars have a gearshift an a clutch!!!!

Real race cars have not had a shifter in years, real race cars also race in the rain.
del

And turn in both directions -- often.

CD

True indeed. Do Lamans cars have internal starters, and therefore burdened with a heavy battery?

del

[SkipperSue]

Someone say Diesel??
I love my Volkswagon Jetta TDI. I love my old Mercedes Benz also, nothing like a diesel.



I love this VW add.

[chorizon]

And turn in both directions -- often.

Yes, REAL racing. Cars, bikes, making left turns and even right turns is indeed very exciting. And yes, when they go straight very quickly for a short distance can be entertaining as well.
I've wanted to go see the Isle of Man TT for many moon. Andrew, have you ever been? Where do people hang out to watch the race? I'm sure all over the course, but is there a really cool place?


BTW, diesels are twice as efficient as gas engines. My next vehicle won't be another Cummins Dodge P/U however, but most likely a VW diesel for me wife.
To anyone who hasn't test-driven a turbo-diesel anything, I think you should give it a try.
My Seat O' The Pants Dyno clearly indicated that the Cummins blows the doors off my Hemi in acceleration from anyspeed to anyspeed.
Ever been pressed back into the seat while the engine roared from 1500-3250 RPM?
Not if you're in a gasser you haven't.

[caseydog]

Do Lamans cars have internal starters, and therefore burdened with a heavy battery?

del

Yes. If a driver spins and stalls in Endurance racing, he has to get the car started without help. If the car is broken or damaged, he has to get it rolling and back to the pits without help. No other team member or anyone other than an official or safety worker can touch the car until it is in it's pit area.

If the driver can't start the car, or get it back to the pits, he's done.

CD

[angib]

For those like me who don't speak German:

unglaubliche beschleunigung = unbelievable acceleration

I occasionally drive a 150hp Golf TDI (now available here up to 170hp) and they do go very nicely - big torque just at the revs you normally drive at - nice! And 50mpg (OK, only 42mpg in US gallons) when clogging it is quite clever.

Andrew

[mikeschn]

I love it. That's exactly the way I felt driving my Jetta... the Passat not as much so, but still way better than a gasser.

I am so looking forward to getting back into a diesel...

It doesn't look like the oil bubble burst today... up $11+ in one day...

Mike...

[Ivar the Red]

Here ya go CD...a compromise about diesel power and drag racing.

FAST CORN