New Nissan to Race LeMans

[26th-Z]

Just got my copy of the July issue (#157) of Classic Motorsports magazine. Peter Brock wrote a very intersting editorial in his BROCKON column; "Deltawing: Racing's New Era". I recommend it as it addresses the difference of opinions we have been discussing. You'll recognize the issue immediately. The cover article is; "Rising Suns - Japanese Cars: Is It Time To Call Them Classics?" Great article, but for another thread...

[TomoHawk]

It's easy to think the car was from Nissan. It's got a big NISSAN all over the sides of it, and not much else. If you do an Internet search, all you get is "NISSAN Deltawing" so how would you think it was built by another entity?

[26th-Z]

I suppose you would read the articles found with the internet search?

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I will check that out, I have that issue sitting on my desk at home. I have not read that part yet. Curious to know Brocks take on it.

[26th-Z]

I think you'll like it. Brock makes some of the very same points you made - especially about the commercialism (sales pitch) involved in racing, how that relates to the construction rules, and the tendancy within the sport to resist change. A very well described position on the topic.

[TomoHawk]

There's no need for me to read any articles. You guys seem to know enough for everybody.

[Grim]

I have been following this delta wing as best I could since the aco envited them to lemans. It is really interesting. The car was built in less than a hundred days and testing was very limited. The aco set a speed limit on the car and made high croft racing put a smaller fuel cell in it than was in the original design. So basically the car never hit its full potential. I have heard that the delta wing guys and the audi guys spent a lot of time talking after the race. Love to have been a fly on the wall. I also heard that garage 56 will have a hydrogen fuel cell car next year. Garage 56 is set aside for new technologies by the aco every year. As far as the engine Nissan and gm use this engine. I can't remember who designed it right now. maybe I shouldn't drink after a double shift at work. I have a link to the high croft racing web sight some where.. but lemans is a great place to test new technologies.

[26th-Z]

Deltawing crash at Road Atlanta - Petit LeMans http://www.alms.com/articles/and-he-walked-away

[Zedyone_kenobi]

It would seem the deltawing has some serious issues with even the slightest incidental contact. That could be a problem in a race.

Yes that was the Porsches fault, clearly. But that should not cause a car to go Topsy Turvy like that. The shape of the car is not really an asset in this case.

time will tell... but things like this are not good for publicity.

[jmortensen]

Yep. I think this is a pretty serious flaw. Now, to make light of it, here's Clarkson in the Reliant Robin.

[26th-Z]

You DO realize that the DeltaWing is a four-wheeled vehicle, don't you? I find it amazing how many people think it is a three-wheeled tricycle. Yes, a spin like that in the soft Georgia clay WOULD make a car go topsy-turvy. Especially at that point on the track. The light vehicle weight and low mass is the problem, evidently. Just wasn't built for the NA$CAR mentality? That Porsche clearly turned into the car. Grounds for disqualification IMO. I must be "old school" in my belief that racing is NOT about hitting another car.

[TomoHawk]

It looked to me as it it caught some air under the bottom, because at first it lifted & rolled to the right, then tumbled to the left.