Le Mans win for diesel

[PTKay]

This year Le Mans 24 hours race was won by a diesel car !!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/5085664.stm

The audi diesel proved diesel is no more lame, smoking duck...
The power to weight ratio is stunning.

Maybe the belivers will get a new boost for aero-diesel applications.

;)

[Victor Duarte]

Yes !
this team is just great. Probably the best with Mazda.
I have been at LE MANS, i was assessor for the Mazda Team.
A lot of companies came at Le Mans and won at first time but Audi and Mazda are the only that won with a new technology.
Winning with a diesel is really a great success....hats off.

[Fl90]

The CGI (compressed graphite iron) technology for making engine parts, enables thin and strong cylinder walls, deck plates, etc.. The diesel market has capitolized on the idea recently. The technology has been around as long as any other, but as of late they have found a way to make it economical. Hence, the renewed interest in aviation diesel.

[david holmes]

FIFTY years ago a Cummings diesel would have won the Indianapolis 500 except they had the airscoop on the bottom of the car and it got stopped up -- as best I remember.

[Cobra Doc]

I've been watching that car since the begining of the season (along with the Corvettes in GT1 and GTOs in GT2). The acceleration is just incredible. The sound is just wrong for a P-1, otherwise it's a great car. Over all, it was a good Le Mans this year. I doubt Ferrari sees it that way.

[Vance]

Wow, a ten minuet transmission change and a fourth place Corvette! That is remarkable!

Thank you, Vance

[mceagle]

With all the high tech engines around, several years ago the Indy 500 was being led comfortably by a pushrod V6 Buick engine. Mechanical failure put an end to its chances. The fuel injection and turbocharger from an aircraft engine were the parts that failed.

[PTKay]

The fuel injection and turbocharger from an aircraft engine were the parts that failed.

McEagle: :eek: :D

[lanichol]

How about running your diesel gyro on SVO, WVO or biodiesel with propane injection for a boost and fuel economy.

Since this is a creative, hands-on type group, the diesel links below should keep people intertained for a few nights.



http://www.fourwheeler.com/brandpages/129_0406_gas_for_diesels/
http://www.dieselperformanceproducts.com/home.html
http://www.usdieselparts.com/pages.cfm?ID=117
http://www.greasel.com/Dodge.html
http://www.greasecar.com/forum.cfm
http://www.frybrid.com/forum/index.php
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=447609751
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_mike.html
http://www.homebiodieselkits.com/
http://pathtofreedom.com/pathproject/offthegrid/biodiesel.shtml
http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com/biodieselkits.php#washtankkit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-DIY-Biodiesel-Processor-Kit-Bio-Diesel-NR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6755QQihZ002QQitemZ4 651859708QQrdZ1

[Cobra Doc]

Vance,
At Dover the Vettes and Goats had to carry an extra 75 pounds "to level the field" due to all the complaints from Ferrari and Porsche. Both models ran even faster. The rest of the racing world is ticked at Ferrari and Porsche. Had they shut up and just raced, the other teams were figuring out how to catch GM. Lets not forget Pontiacs dominance of the DP class. Audi owns P-1, the rest is GM. We don' need no stinkin' soccer team!

[PW_Plack]

The sanctioning bodies for auto racing are gradually removing all incentives for manufacturers to come up with superior technology. NASCAR is exciting to watch and has millions of fans, but it's hardly "stock car racing" any more. If any manufacturer actually does come up with faster technology, they're handicapped for it, whether using restrictor plates or aerodynamic penalties. The result is less competition in the technology we're sold for the street.

There was a time when Porsche and Ferrari were winning fair and square. So, now that the tables are turned, they want competitors handicapped?

In terms of bang-for-buck, the Chevrolet Corvette remains a remarkable value.

[Cobra Doc]

Paul, the first real round of Porsche vs Ferrari was put to an end by Corvette. Corvette was seriously pounded by Shelby. Then the GT 40 made the show. After lots of years of European dominance of the GT world, the trophies are making their way back to this side of the pond. Except for GT1. That Audi with the Caterpillar derived engine is just plain fast out of the turns. It looks like a fighter jet during a carrier launch.

[Ga6riel]

if you are talking about le mans
its been a long time between drinks for ford i think
i think its unfair to place a mass market manufacturer on a podium with supercars of that nature. if you never enjoyed flooring even an old 911 carera and pressing on down some long and winding road there has to be something wrong with you

that said, diesel technology has come a long long way, and we can look forward to better and better engines in the near future.....it will be too little to late for some tho

my favourite combination for aero engines is the supercharged 2 stroke diesel, air cooled and injected and of radial configuration. the output is really astounding for the weight, and parts minimisation makes them lightweight and more reliable

[Rehan K.Janjua]

Hello All.

Interesting info. Thank you.

Larry N. Great sites, its certainly a break through.

Regards.
Rehan

[PW_Plack]

Ga6riel,

...its unfair to place a mass market manufacturer on a podium with supercars...

On the contrary - it is a much bigger achivement for a car manufactured in volume to compete with more specialized, much more expensive hardware.

What seems unfair to me is when any manufacturer demands a handicap. The way to win is to build a better car. It used to be the way racing benefitted everyday drivers.

[Ga6riel]

i really doubt teams like porsche factory, audi or mercedes seek a handicap
i know le mans doesnt run one for the 24 hr

http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/le_mans.htm

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_hours_of_Le_Mans

not too many corvettes there

racing is alive and well, but as in life does require rules
either to keep costs down or to make it more competitive by fielding more cars and closing up on the expensive high technology aspects
handicaps are for the more amatuer and club run events

[Vance]

Hello Rob,

In my experience everyone who races is looking for an advantage. It is the culture of racing to win. Part of how they justify racing is the positive press they get from winning.

All the teams will use every tool they have to get a visible advantage over their competitor.

The more non safety related rules they have the harder all racers will lean on rules for an advantage. It is not reasonable to believe that only some of the teams will try to use the rules to their advantage. That is why we see racing engines with so many cylinders. It is a way to defeat the displacement rules.

Racing cars are not anything like street cars and they would universally make lousy street cars because they are trying to use the rules to their advantage.

Racing cars are supposed to be recognizable as cars so people can relate to them, not because of some noble purpose.

All the teams try to use the rules to their advantage.

In my opinion, the Corvette and the Ford GT40 are too fast to be even sort of useful on the street. I think they would be fun to have anyway.

Thank you, Vance

[Ga6riel]

Vance
I can live with that
Id be hapier if some more safety interventions were introduced into production cars
maybe some manufacturers should re-evaluate their positions

[Vance]

You can always put five point belts, a roll cage and a fuel cell in your street car. Then there are helmets, fire suits and fire systems. All these are easy to use on the street. You don't have to wait for the factory to do it.

Thank you, vance

[Cobra Doc]

A long time family friend sold his GM dealership a few years ago. We were talking about the price of cars in general. According to Dave fully 50% of the price of a new car is safety devices and emissions controls. Since I ride a bike that cost me $1656.93 when it was new and I wear $400 worth of safety gear when I ride and my wife's $400 in gear, I suppose that's about right. No, you'll never see me going bare headed in shorts and flip-flops. The original point that a diesel can win a major race is an incredible verification of the technology.

[Ga6riel]

Ah Doc
that has to be crap
unless you consider things like a roof, doors, floor and whatever else there is, and the labour it takes to bring it all together part of safety.
Off the top of my head the actual raw materials are around 9% of costs, and labour would vary between 8 and 12%, but that was labour from some years ago. And now with the greater use of robots for painting and welding that wouldnt hold true. You can be certain that almost nothing in a car, including ALL of the materials makes up 50%.

[Cobra Doc]

Sorry, that should have been 50% of the construction costs. Enough of us have or had our own businesses to know that materials and labor are only a small part of the MSRP. Taxes, a dozen different kinds of insurance for liability and employees and transportation costs add significantly to the final price. I'd drive a Corvette with that engine in it. Heck, I'l like to have it in my Chevy 1/2 ton so I could tell Ford and Dodge "Lightning Ram this!!" Not that I have any complaints about my 305.