Gil, you're talking purpose built compared to production street car, apples and oranges.... CR
Gil Osenburg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: When regular F5 participants at the regional MARRS races held at Summit Point we used to compare our qualification times with the big bore guys in the GT 1/2/3 classes and marvel that - most of the time - we'd either be on their front or second row ! For the cost of 3 or 4 sets of tires for these big bore cars you could buy a used 500 and go almost as fast as they could ! Reminds me of that old saying - " A Rolls Royce or a Pinto will both get you there - it depends on how good you want to look getting there " ! ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 7:00 PM Subject: Re: [F500] RE: Beyond powerplants/trannys > > In a message dated 8/5/2006 11:20:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > <<> look > carefully at more than that.>>> > > > Agreed - there are several issues that drive our poor general perception. > However, it is interesting to note that each gear ratio set for a Hewland > is > $150+. It's pretty easy to talk about the comparatively low price of our > springs, weights, and ramps, as well as the price of a belt. > > <<> lack > of > coils springs and lack of true shocks just shake their heads and walk > away.>>> > > I have a simple answer to that discussion: > > Shocks for a national-level formula car are ~$5K /set (Penske 8760, et > al). > Springs are $150/set, and you'll need several different rates at each end > for tuning. It takes days of track time (read $$$) to select your > springs and > learn to set your shocks; the shocks must also be revalved on a regular > basis. Rear end? A ring & pinion set for a Hewland is close to $2K; and > the > whole thing? Even if you wanted to retain the chain drive and go to the > DSR-style diff, you're adding $2K or so, right? You would also be adding > the > additional complexity of the independent rear suspension. > > Rubber pucks are less than $10 each, and a complete new axle is not much > more than the cost of a single prepped CV joint. Granted, it still takes > test > time to figure out your suspension settings, but the variable count is > significantly decreased with the F500 suspension. > > <<>> > > Hmmmm....... Those who think this either don't know much about the > effective wheel rates used in modern open-wheel cars, or they are > comparing to > production-based options (Miata, et al). Again, it's an easy conversation > to have. > > > <<> a > bit to them if you are quick with rubber pucks > > It is a perception thing too.>>> > > > OK, so here's the magic question: > > F500 is FAR less expensive than FF for the same relative performance. We > all tend to feel that this is a major part of what makes F500 great. > However, > is it possible that many of the potential entrants feel that this is a > detractor - that somehow it can't be a 'real' open-wheel car if it didn't > cost as > much as a new BMW? How do we sell around this? > > > > > ________________________________ > FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 > The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing > Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 > _________________________________ > > > > _______________________________________________ > F500 mailing list - [email protected] > To unsubscribe or change options please visit: > http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 > *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! *** > ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! *** --------------------------------- Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs.Try it free. ________________________________ FormulaCar Magazine - A Proud Supporter of Formula 500 The Official Publication of Junior Formula Car Racing Subscribe Today! www.formulacarmag.com or 519-624-2003 _________________________________ _______________________________________________ F500 mailing list - [email protected] To unsubscribe or change options please visit: http://f500.org/mailman/listinfo/f500 *** Please, DO NOT send unsubscribe requests to the mailing list! ***
