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Coupes & Convertibles Sports Cars - The Definitive Discussion 
522 messages, Last post on Dec 08, 2007 at 6:07 PM
You are in the Coupes & Convertibles Forum. Your Host is claires
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There's a Porsche ad running in Wall Street Journals lately about why Porsche has their ignition keys on the left of the steering wheel. The ad said, "When we started racing at 24-Hours of Lemans, we knew that every second counted. Our race car was vastly underpowered and did not have the power of the other cars, so realising how iportant time was, we put the ignition switch on the left side of the steering wheel, where it would be more accessible to the driver, freeing up his right hand for steering and engaging first gear. This is the level of attention and detail we give our cars, because in racing, every second counts." Now my question is this: Wouldn't Porsche actually win at LeMans if they stopped wasting their money and time on ignition switches and actually do something unprecidented and unthought of, like add horsepower to their cars?
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Replying to: pmc4 (Nov 27, 2007 9:05 pm) |
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Replying to: pmc4 (Nov 27, 2007 9:05 pm) They did! Read the whole thing. It says their cars were under powered when they started racing. Once they started seriously making purpose built endurance racers in the late 60s and early 70s the HP count went up dramatically and they won at LeMans using the mighty 917 and kept winning for many years afterward. Porsche has more wins at LeMans than any other marque.
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Replying to: andys120 (Nov 28, 2007 7:45 am) Porsche may have more wins at LeMans, but Porsche has also been racing that circuit since like around WWII, so it only stands to reason that they will have the most wins--they've been around the longest. Since the Corvette engaged in this prestigious endurance racing event, it won more podium finishes than anything else, regardless of class! Correct me if I'm wrong, but Audi's LMP car may be the only exception. "Once they started seriously making purpose built endurance racers in the late 60s." You mean to tell me that "every second counts" in a race car that wasn't "purpose built" to begin with?
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Replying to: pmc4 (Nov 28, 2007 9:14 pm) Here is my advise/opinion. If you want to pick nits go check out some little preschoolers neck. You will never go past 100mph in your Corvette nor I in my Porsche. Too many comparisons are made between a rear engined 355 hp Porsche Carrera with a front engine 500hp Corvette. They are 2 different cars made for 2 different reasons. American muscle vs. European grace Subaru is made for off road racing, thus most models are 4 wheel drive. Porsche has raced in so many rally style races and has produced victory after victory. I would love to see a Corvette sliding aound some wet , curvey , pot hole filed , dirt road in the Black Forest. A lot of mud would be slung but no forward movement would be detectable. Different cars for different reasons and seasons. A corvette at the Tagra Floria...come on... by the way don't forget to grab your gold neck chain and the fake chest hair, your silk shirt opened to the navel,a pack of Camels and...oh ya grab Barbie too..because that is the perception of Corvette Chromedome
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Replying to: chrmdome (Dec 03, 2007 8:24 pm) Why would you buy either of them then? I routinely take my 1994 Subaru Legacy with stock drivetrain and 150k miles on it up over 100mph, heck over 120mph at the track, as do other Porsche and Corvette drivers that I race/HPDE with. -mike
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Replying to: paisan (Dec 03, 2007 8:41 pm) Paisan.. the vastly hugh majority of Porsche owners don't track them.. Here in California anyone caught speeding even 1 mph over 100mph are given the" go directly to jail card ". I do not have the skill nor the intention to track my 997 but I do enjoy the hell out of driving the car , detailing it and just sitting in it Chao Chromedome
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Replying to: chrmdome (Dec 03, 2007 9:00 pm) -mike
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Replying to: paisan (Dec 03, 2007 9:05 pm) Thank you sir, you know, I might just do that . I have been fishing and golfing for the last 10 years and have been thinking about another "fun " thing. I might just do that, thanks Chromedome |
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Replying to: chrmdome (Dec 03, 2007 8:24 pm) As Mike noted, it is easy to get on track. I also instruct for several groups and have been on 4 tracks here in CA and two just across the border in NV. At the SCCA Buttonwillow track when we do configuration 25 CCW, even my stock LS1 coupe gets just past 135mph. That's the fastest course I have driven, but at Sears Point I get between 100 and 110 at four places each lap which requires a great amount of continued concentration to keep up the pace for 20 minutes or so. It has helped my street driving since I am much more aware of what is going on around me and less worried about what I'm doing in my own car. I know what gear I'm in and which I would select if I needed to down shift at any given speed. Laguna Seca has two groups out this week and Thursday / Friday is sold out but always fun to watch. Randy BTW, I agree that comparing 355hp 911's to 500hp Vettes isn't to meaningful, but since I have a 350hp C5 coupe and get on track with 911's all the time, the chance to pass something that cost 50% more is worth a smile or two. 
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