The unofficial auto thread

[Vindekarr]

According to the FIA official website(my news source) they're essentially an upgraded version of the 2012 tyre. Specs slightly different in line with this year's rules, all the main stuff is in the actually construction-which is identical to that used last year. Theoretically we should have no issues given they're just last year's(tried and true) tyres done in a slightly softer compound.

 

In other F1 news, Lotus FINALLY got their Passive DRS working at Silverstone. Naturally they didn't comment on how it went, but judging by Kimi being near the front all race I'd say, it did pretty good. Sure looks interesting-their rear wing essentially has a third vertical support rising up in the center, that looks at a distance to connect the Beam Wing(the bit across the top of the gearbox between the back wheels) to the bottom of the rear wing mainplain(the big main bit) although it actually doesn't quite touch the mainplain.

 

How it works is simple but clever; as the car goes along there's a little duct, Air normally doesn't enter the duct, but above a certain speed what I assume would be a fluid pressure valve opens, allowing the duct to suck air through. The duct is the big stick that looks like the third wing support strut-it pumps air from either side of the main air intake(above Kimi's head) up onto the bottom of the rear wing main plain, "stalling" it and creating a slightly enhanced DRS effect-and more delicious top speed, while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption, allowing Lotus to carry less fuel. Small bit of tech, could help a lot next year with the fuel tank being so much smaller. The FIA has already ruled the "PDRS" as being absolutely legal and within the spirit of the rules. Props to Lotus for being clever IMO.

[Lisnpuppy]

Woot!! Go Lotus!

I love those guys. I want a Mini-Kimi

 

https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/3570864764/3243824d7d05664959e7a4e05216a6b7.jpeg

[Vindekarr]

Hopefully, if my tyres get delivered on time(and the one thing that REALLY works in Australia is the postal service) I'll be able to put my new bike together over the weekend. I did buy a completed bike, but I've pulled it apart for two reasons, 1, to install a couple of reliability and handling mods to make it more suitable for trackdays, 2, to pull out some excess luxuries, and 3, to learn how it all goes together so when inevitably something does go wrong, I can do my own maintenance. It's going to be purely a trackday machine, so it'll help a lot if I know how all the various bits go together, so I can then do my own repairs when something inevitably needs fixing. And in trackdays, something always needs fixing.

 

Good old Australia. The government's shot, the trains are never on time, the weather sucks, the animals all want to kill you, and the beer is truly dreadful-but atleast the post, ALWAYS, arrives on time. I've only ever had one parcel arrive late, and that's impressive because I normally order a lot of books and machine bits online, so it's nice knowing I can rely on it.

Edited July 3, 2013 by Vindekarr

[Vindekarr]

Today the Formula One team's association announced that even a single tyre blowout would be met with most drivers immediately boycotting the rest of the event. Seems fair TBH, the drivers aren't the only ones who could get badly hurt, and this might just be the kind of asskicking Pirelli deserves.

[Lisnpuppy]

I read that also. I am glad they did that. The FIA likes to always speak on their behalf but they aren't the drivers. Did they do practice before the statement? I wonder what they know (if anything) that isn't being said.

 

It is supremely dangerous and if they had simple said, "OK there is an issue. We will fix it asap" then that would have been ok. They decided instead to blame every driver on the track and dance around the subject.

 

I hate to think what would happen in some of the flag corners if a tire blew and a car lost control or launched in the air. I mentioned the drivers/teams refused to race before due to tires. Should be an interesting weekend.

[Vindekarr]

All's well after the first practice session-and I'm very pleased to see Lewis Hamilton again showing imperious form behind the wheel of a very noticeably different looking Mercedes FW4. The big ticket change with the Merc is new side pods, a new engine cover(now with a slightly bigger fin) and a totally new nose and front wing. The new nose is flatter, and while it's safe to assume it's an aero improvement, the sassy goth in me just wants to say it's a decent aesthetic upgrade to an already pretty car. The cleverest thing is, they've now got the ability to view their tyre temperatures, in REAL TIME, mid race. This is down to the clever nose, which contains a pair of dinky-di temperature sensing infra-red instruments. Typical clever Mercedes.

 

I don't know about you folks, but I really like Mercedes' team-I have a great deal of respect for Ross Brawn, I think Hamilton and Rosberg are both exceptional drivers that have perhaps not had the chance to show their true form, and I also really started going for them this year, ever since their car started showing glimpses of brilliance that, right now, it seems able to convert into racing performance. Over a single lap, the Mercedes is ridiculously, stupidly fast-it's only weakness being that something in it's set-up(probably camber + tyre pressure) is causing it to shred it's tyres into tiny bits and eat them. If Mercedes can keep abrest of the impending tyre changes, the more resilient compounds should make the rather pretty silver arrow into a force to be reckoned with on a regular basis.

Edited July 5, 2013 by Vindekarr

[Lisnpuppy]

I am sorry to say that I don't have a great deal of love for Hamilton. Though it is mostly from his off the track actions and commentary more than his driving skills. I do have respect for Brawn as he has done some amazing stuff for sure.

 

I am sure we will watch qualifying though I am not sure if NBC Sports will be showing it live or delayed. They have been showing Tour de France stuff and I have no idea if that is over. If they show it live they usually repeat it for those who can't get out of bed. Not sure how many hours ahead Germany is at present. I will probably watch it live as I don't sleep much anyway.

 

Looking forward to it. Nuremberg is always fun. Pretty track with lots of history :thumbsup: .

[Vindekarr]

Formula One's German GP is set to be a blinder, with Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG trading fastest laps in practice, while the newly reinforced Pirelli tyres were able to soak up everything the drivers could throw at them. Also of note was Mark Webber's excellent form. Webber has already made it plain he's retiring at the end of the season, so 2013 will be his fairwell tour. This, curiously, seems to have greatly helped his form; he's seemed a lot more relaxed(he gets interviewed on Australian TV at every race) and a lot calmer, so I'd keep an eye on him. Despite his advancing age and tendancy towards abysmal starts, he is a hugely experienced driver, and could be a wildcard throughout the season.

 

In the wider world of motorsport today's significant for the German Formula One Grand Prix from Nurburgring-Mullenbach. But on a more local level, Australia saw one of the funniest racing incidents in my living memory, when Will Davison, celebrating having come back from a 22 second deficit to a 7 second lead and win(with his team mate Mark Winterbottom second), slammed into the wall on his parade lap while trying to do donuts. Davison's radio call was a classic "uhhrm, mate I think I hit the bloody concrete... couldn't see" before labeling it the "clumsiest thing I've ever done" It's partially forgivable though-Australian V-8 racers are hard cars to drive as-is, with immense horsepower, limited grip and no electronic aids, but it sure was funny-thankfully the car only suffered bodywork damage and will be on for tommorrow's 200 Km race.

 

The race was also marked by perhaps the single STUPIDEST driving maneuver I have literally ever seen, when Toni D'Alberto, frustrated with his inability to get past Rick Kelly, rammed Kelly twice going down main straight. This had immediate consequences; Kelly's NISMO Altima was unharmed and he went on to a good finish, but D'Alberto's front right tyre exploded as a result of bodywork damage, forcing him to retire with a ruined car. Had he simply kept his cool, he would have scored an excellent points finish, now however, the team will be hard pressed to even get the car fixed and ready to race tommorrow.

 

Lisnpuppy; I don't know how it is in the US, but in Australia the only race we don't get is the one in Texas-everything else is live in prime-time. Our media laws require "sporting events of great public interest" to be broadcast for free, and in a country with such a massive car culture, motorsport is HUGE. Formula One and the local V-8 Supercars series (think NASCAR crossed with Le Mans GT) being the two most popular. V8SC events often seen turnouts of over 150-250,000 people-astonishing given our entire national population is smaller than that of LA-and Formula One attracts immense tv popularity. I get to watch all the races live(except Texas, which is on at 4 AM), it's just one of the cool perks of living here.

[Lisnpuppy]

They are showing it live thank goodness. However they are throwing it to CNBC so they can show the bicycles. Last weekend they actually didn't show Silverstone qualifying live because of it. I mean really? REALLY?

 

We get all the races just not always at the actual time. Which is fine to me really as we are so far behind most of the time. I mean the Asian country races are at like 1am for us...so I can wait. The issue is that the Speed Network did the races before. However that channel was purchased a few years ago by Fox and they have made it the NASCAR channel. NBC bought the rights and have done decent except for last week. They also brought over the commentators whom I love. Well except for Bob Varsha...They have Steve Matchett, Dave Hobbs and Bill Buxton whom I think are great. I was really worried they would just throw some NASCAR dumbarse in there and we would all roll in the floor in pain.

 

So the guy was doing donuts. ha ha ha That sounds hilarious. Is it on YouTube anywhere? My husband would love to see it. He is also jealous of your bike. He really wants a motorcycle. He has a scooter he rides to work when it is nice...one day he went in and jokingly said "Yeah, I rode the hog to work" A co-worker laughed and said, "Hog? More like piglet!" So now that is its name. Piglet. Ha

 

On a tire note. I read an interview with Kimi who said he was driving no matter what. He made reference to the Indy incident in 2006 and I guess the drivers had said they all would not race..even the non-Michelin drivers (which the bridgestone raced) and said he isn't in the GPDA. He said he hasn't had any tire issues all year. Kimi is his own man. He just wants to be in the car and left alone. Which is good as his drama is less but bad as he doesn't like having to so publicity stuff I suppose.

[Vindekarr]

Unfortunately, it'll probably be a few days/weeks until it's about. Just to put it in context-Will Davison(the guy) drives for a local team called FPR. FPR is Ford Racing's local arm. FPR is currently dying out. Ford Aus will shut down in 2016, sacking 15,000 staff and in the lead up years they'll be slashing funding to their local racing efforts. Davison is a smart guy-he's all too aware that this is Ford's last chance to bow out of racing with honour, and given they've been struggling for a few years now, that win is kind of special. It also had the added benefit of Davison's main rival bombing out of the points, slingshotting him well up the standings.

 

Ford raced in Australia, in the precursor series of the modern V8 series since the very early 1960s, and they've always been near the front ever since. When the factory closes in 2016, that's really going to be a loss for Australia's motoring heritage. Ford for decades made cars unique to Australia, the flagship was the Falcon-which was loosely Mustang derived. The Falcon's been in production since '62(?) here, so it's the other big thing we'll lose. And it is a loss. For all it's outdatedness now, the Falcon nameplate is one of the oldest around. It predates the Mustang by 4 years-getting rid of it's no small thing. Not even mentioning the 15,000 lost jobs. My uncle and cousin are both part of that figure.

 

I think our local racing series would do well in America. It got redesigned this year and it's partially based on NASCAR's ideas; like NASCAR all the teams start from an identicle tube-frame roll cage(which comes with all the gearbox, brakes, suspension pre-installed), and then build outwards(adding their own engine, body, aero, floor-pan, wheels). Unlike NASCAR however they race on closed public roads for the most part, and the cars as a result have to be a lot more durable. The cars can soak up immense punishment and keep going, so the racing can get pretty rough and violent. Beyond your initial chassis, you can use ANY configuration of V-8 you want as long as it's under 5.5 litres(351 CUI) displacement and naturally aspirated. Power sits around 650 horsepower, and there's currently five brands(Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo)

 

Since I can't find any videos of the burnout gone wrong, this is what happened at their last race-and probably the biggest pile-up I've seen in local racing. V8s are cheap to build-a race-winning Triple-Eight racing Chevy SS costs around 500,000 USD. This makes for a completely packed grid-sometimes that's a bad thing 'cause when someone spins out in a choke-point, you can get this; a 22-car pileup.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZbm3kok8tc

 

Yes. This was as expensive as it looked. No injuries. Six cars destroyed outright(beyond repair) and another 9 wrecked but able to continue.

Edited July 6, 2013 by Vindekarr