View Full Version : Open-Wheel Racecar Top Speed Record … 250+ mph
Alan van der Merwe sets a new unofficial Formula 1 speed record while revving up for Bonneville.
B.A.R Honda has unofficially broken the 400kph barrier during its preparations for a Formula One record attempt now scheduled for Bonneville early next year.
After rains at the famous Salt Flats in Utah washed out the team's plans to set a new standard in 2005, a final skakedown was organised at the Mojave airbase in California. During this test, Alan van der Merwe, smashed the 400kph mark no fewer three times.
"The car ran perfectly," reported Gary Savage. "It was an encouraging day and we are confident that we can achieve this speed and more at Bonneville."
http://www.bonneville400.com
cwsqbm
11-09-2005, 07:46 PM
Alan van der Merwe sets a new unofficial Formula 1 speed record while revving up for Bonneville.
B.A.R Honda has unofficially broken the 400kph barrier during its preparations for a Formula One record attempt now scheduled for Bonneville early next year.
After rains at the famous Salt Flats in Utah washed out the team's plans to set a new standard in 2005, a final skakedown was organised at the Mojave airbase in California. During this test, Alan van der Merwe, smashed the 400kph mark no fewer three times.
"The car ran perfectly," reported Gary Savage. "It was an encouraging day and we are confident that we can achieve this speed and more at Bonneville."
http://www.bonneville400.com
Big deal, a NASCAR could probably do 400 kph with little effort. Year ago, one car rag (don't remember, probably Road and Track) took a Porsche 962 and compared it to a Chevy Monte Carlo stock car (mid 80's boxy style, not the later aero ones). The 962 did 230 when equipped with the special Lemans tail section. The Monte Carlo did 240mph. Considering that modern engines put out a lot more power, and the cars a lot more aero, it'd be interesting to see what one is capable of.
The problem trying to run top speed with an F1 car is the body is designed for downforce, and therefore makes too much drag. It'd be easily to make a Corvette run 300mph than an F1 car.
Big deal, a NASCAR could probably do 400 kph with little effort. Year ago, one car rag (don't remember, probably Road and Track) took a Porsche 962 and compared it to a Chevy Monte Carlo stock car (mid 80's boxy style, not the later aero ones). The 962 did 230 when equipped with the special Lemans tail section. The Monte Carlo did 240mph. Considering that modern engines put out a lot more power, and the cars a lot more aero, it'd be interesting to see what one is capable of.
The problem trying to run top speed with an F1 car is the body is designed for downforce, and therefore makes too much drag. It'd be easily to make a Corvette run 300mph than an F1 car.
seems like no mean feat, :dunno: top speed is a cube-root function of hp no? a vette w/ a top speed of 190mph and putting out 400hp (i guess this measured at the flywheel???) would need about 900hp to do 250mph. the bugati veyron, it's got 1001hp and does 250mph.
Pinecone
11-10-2005, 04:47 AM
But easier to do drag reduction on a Corvette. Enclosed tires, no big wings, etc.
racerdave
11-10-2005, 05:12 AM
Yep, the F1 car (and 962 for that matter) were designed with downforce in mind, not slippery drag.
And as Pinecone says, the exposed wheels of the open-wheel cars are hugely important factors in their terminal velocity.
LmtdSlip
11-10-2005, 06:16 AM
Big deal, a NASCAR could probably do 400 kph with little effort. Year ago, one car rag (don't remember, probably Road and Track) took a Porsche 962 and compared it to a Chevy Monte Carlo stock car (mid 80's boxy style, not the later aero ones). The 962 did 230 when equipped with the special Lemans tail section. The Monte Carlo did 240mph. Considering that modern engines put out a lot more power, and the cars a lot more aero, it'd be interesting to see what one is capable of.
The problem trying to run top speed with an F1 car is the body is designed for downforce, and therefore makes too much drag. It'd be easily to make a Corvette run 300mph than an F1 car.
The stock car did that speed with wheel covers and the least possible downforce setting as I recall.
Of couse those were the days of top stock cars breaking 200 at Daytona, Taledaga and Michigan.
Artslinger
11-10-2005, 06:19 AM
I would bet that B.A.R Honda...
had some very small wings that will never be run on any F1 race track.
cwsqbm
11-10-2005, 05:02 PM
seems like no mean feat, :dunno: top speed is a cube-root function of hp no? a vette w/ a top speed of 190mph and putting out 400hp (i guess this measured at the flywheel???) would need about 900hp to do 250mph. the bugati veyron, it's got 1001hp and does 250mph.
That's about right - Callaway got 255mph with a little under 900hp out of a turbo Vette. Lower drag is possible, and much more power is possible if streetability is not a concern. A stock body Firebird ran almost 300mph with a turbo'd 1200 hp small block (and later ran over 300 with a turbo'd big block IIRC) and nowadays they can get past 1500 hp with a turbo'd small block race motor.
Stock cars don't break 200mph on the big tracks because of restrictor plate motors develop less than 400hp. Without the plate, this year Rusty Wallace ran around 225mph at Talladega, and says 235mph was possible with a little tuning. That's average speed, including the turns, not just on the straights. I don't think that '86 Chevy stock car had wheel covers, but I could be wrong. It definitely did not have side windows in place, and the lower downforce setting was sort of the point: its hard to get low downforce out of an F1 car. Even the cooling vents create downforce.
racerdave
11-10-2005, 06:19 PM
I would bet that B.A.R Honda...
had some very small wings that will never be run on any F1 race track.
I saw a pic, which I now cannot find, that showed it without *any* rear wing at all... sort of how I'd like to see F1 cars again. :) Yeah, forget the CDG wing, just rip the wings off and give them slicks and 5-liter V12s! :D
I saw a pic, which I now cannot find, that showed it without *any* rear wing at all... sort of how I'd like to see F1 cars again. :) Yeah, forget the CDG wing, just rip the wings off and give them slicks and 5-liter V12s! :D
but w/o downforce, would they float off the corners? :dunno:
Pinecone
11-11-2005, 04:23 AM
NO more so than a street car on the track. Of course cornering speeds will be much lower. :)
racerdave
11-11-2005, 04:48 AM
NO more so than a street car on the track. Of course cornering speeds will be much lower. :)
And not only that, with WAY more HP than grip, they would be a big challenge to drive. They certainly wouldn't be on rails, and without wings, they could also be driven slightly sideways without major penalty. 1000+ HP, 1100 lbs... they'd be a handful.
:thumbup:
Of course, it will never happen. :)
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