Actually, I have During one of our magazine test sessions, a Pur Sang Bugatti showed up to get some exercise at the track. It was great fun watching him pound around in big four wheel drifts. The most surprising thing to me was the sound. I thought it would sound...old. Doop doop doop. Instead, it sounded like a tuned F1 car, which is what it is.
A glorious thing. Thanks for the vid.
There are a couple that show up at Lime Rock fairly regularly and are tossed around with what looks like wild abandon, at least to someone who doesn't own one. Given their age, they are nothing short of remarkable.
In reply to Keith Tanner:
You're welcome!
I remember you posting some pictures of that car you mentioned and discussed it as well.
That got me to watch a video about how they're made. Amazing!
Cycle-karts would be so much cooler if they sounded and went like those, instead of just looking like them.
Here's the full video of the shootout at Goodwood, it's a little over 50 minutes long. They start out with the vintage cars and work up to modern (mostly, they aren't in perfect order.) It's amazing how quick that Bugatti was when compared to cars 50 or more years newer. The Bug is at around 16 minutes into the video.
Anyone else notice the starter crank flopping around?
Either way, I've never heard one of those at full song. It sounds shockingly modern.
Suspension question: It looks like the front has about +4° of camber.. Do they really have +- 8° of negative camber gain through the suspension travel? Why would they start there?
WonkoTheSane wrote: Suspension question: It looks like the front has about +4° of camber.. Do they really have +- 8° of negative camber gain through the suspension travel? Why would they start there?
Same reason a lot of old tractors have positive camber up front. Lower steering effort. Plus, with the narrow tires on those things, camber has much less effect on grip than we're used to anyway.
In reply to rslifkin:
Plus, it has a solid front axle. There isn't really much geometry change as the suspension moves - which isn't much.
Saw two at the Mt. Equinox Hill Climb. God it sounds wonderful!
If you're not busy August 12 & 13 ....
What? no one has recommended an LS swap yet? Pardon me while I go put some ice cubes in my glass of wine.
In reply to 914Driver: I have been there twice. First was in the early days and a friend and I were able to get a viewing spot on the inside of one of the hairpins. I think this was an SCCA event. A few years ago I, with a group of friends watched from the toll house. There also was a huge car show near by.
Drive to the summit of Mt. Equinox if you have the chance. Go on a weekday when it's not crowded, preferably a few days after installing new brake pads. Just be aware that you may encounter a monk or two walking on the side of the road when you round those hairpins.
I remember watching Goodwood last year and the Type 35 that ran up the hill surprised both my son and I at how fast it was and the sound, glorious. If I remember right the Type 35 has won more F1 races than any other car, they were competitive for a long time.
Aaron_King wrote: I remember watching Goodwood last year and the Type 35 that ran up the hill surprised both my son and I at how fast it was and the sound, glorious. If I remember right the Type 35 has won more F1 races than any other car, they were competitive for a long time.
Lots of people think that, but it's not true.
The Alfa Tipo B won more Grand Prix's than the Type 35- The 35 won 16 over 5 years, the Tipo B won 35 over 3 seasons. Assuming Wiki is right. And I'm not sure how the dominant Mercedes and Audis did at the end of the 30's.
Perhaps in a lot of other races, they won more than anyone else. But not Grand Prix.
(a side note- back then, they were Grand Prix races, F1 didn't start until the 50's, but I know what you meant)
In reply to alfadriver:
You are correct, not enough coffee and fuzzy memory about the F1 Grand Prix stuff, besides as an ex Alfa owner I should have known better. It seems that the Type 35 won most of its races out side of Grand Prix racing.
That car never ceases to be mindberkeley for me, you see this old timey all original race car with a hand crank flopping around, but it sounds like something 30+ years newer.
BrokenYugo wrote: That car never ceases to be mindberkeley for me, you see this old timey all original race car with a hand crank flopping around, but it sounds like something 30+ years newer.
First time I heard an Alfa 8C fire up, I swear I NACAR was starting up. They are shocking.
When you look at the advancements from 1920 to 1930, it's stunning.
It would be interesting to hear, clearly, a '30's era Grand Prix race.
Aaron_King wrote: In reply to alfadriver: You are correct, not enough coffee and fuzzy memory about the F1 Grand Prix stuff, besides as an ex Alfa owner I should have known better. It seems that the Type 35 won most of its races out side of Grand Prix racing.
BTW, not to take the greatness of a Type 35 away- they are one of the greatest cars of all time, no question.
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