Well Done JB.. 2009 F1 Champion

[Hot_Charlie]

Was an exciting race, what with a couple of crashes and "woman driver" moment at the petrol stattion

Time to start suspending pit lane offenders IMO. A race or two's (unreplaced) suspension would encourage the teams and their drivers to be a bit more diligent when leaving the pit box, and be far more effective than a peanut sized fine or 25 second penalty.

[cstorey]

Well done Jenson - it takes guts to step up when everyone is saying you are not up to it. As for being overpaid, I would not travel inches from the back of another, blinded by spray, at 200 ish mph, for any amount of money. Doubtless those who are so critical are much braver than me!

[basys]

Hi Folks

In April I attended an engineering lecture
given by Professor Gary Savage, Operations Director, Brawn GP team,
(previously with Williams, McLaren, Arrow, Prost, BAR).

Some memorable comments, (IIRC) -

- There are no bad cars.
Year on year,
every team's car has consistently beaten
the previous years pole-position times.

- Talking about production car's 0-60 mph performance being approx 5 seconds.
In the same time
an F1 car goes from 0-120 mph,
and back to zero.

- Honda to Mercedes engine mods
Mercedes engine is 25mm longer,
they had to cut off & rebuild entire rear end
to fit within the required footprint.

- Modifications
Between first 3 races of 2009 season
there were 730 changes to the car.

- Downforce
Produces sufficient downforce to run on the ceiling.


ATB
Paul

[basys]

Hi Folks

A little followup -
On tuesday I attended a lecture on Bloodhound SSC,
the UK attempt to extend the world land speed record to over 1,000 mph.
Coincidentally will also break the record for low flying aircraft.

The Bloodhound car is powered by 3 engines.
1) Classic - Name based on designers first missile project, though now a hybrid fuelled rocket.
2) British - Uses an RR EJ2000, (Eurofighter), for initial phase propulsion.
3) F1 related - Uses a 12 cylinder 800 BHP, from F1 Super League series, just to drive the rocket's fuel pump.

ATB
Paul

[Garry Russell]

Hi Paul

Just out of interest.what is the sea level speed record for an aircraft.......well near sea level, not too near I hope at those speeds

Garry

[cstorey]

IIRC Peter Twiss's record in the Fairey delta still stands at 1132 mph

[Garry Russell]

Thanks Chris

That's impressive .....The Brits could really do it.....once

Garry

[basys]

Hi Folks

I've not been able to find who/what holds the speed record for sea-level flight.

From what I can find -
Twiss's record is for level flight, (non-diving),
but was set at altitude, (38,000ft),
and not at sea-level.

Youtube - Pathe News


EDIT -
Possibly record is 755 mph by an F-100 Super Sabre at Salton Sea, USA, (-226ft AMSL)

HTH
ATB
Paul

[gordon-in-aberdeen]

BloodhoundSSC does look interesting in a technical sense, I think Andy Green's driving again as well.
Anyone else read the Thrust SSc book? I thought it was a very good read. I'll see if I can find the full title and ISBN for anyone interested in sourcing it, not got it at the moment, loaned it to a mate.