>1) These cars are, by design, not able to be licensed for use on public
>roads. This means all stages of this event would have to take place on
>closed sections of road. The Police/Fire/Safety logistics would be
>nightmarish. Other T/D rallies (California Millia, Copper State 1000,
>One Lap of America) have the advantage of running licensed cars. Even
>if they do use the road less travelled, they don't HAVE to exclude all
>other traffic from the same road. Formula cars would.
Wouldnt have it any other way.
>2) These cars are also not designed with lots of ground clearance or
>suspension travel. Running them on public roads would be downright
>dangerous to the participants. You could choose roads that were
>smoother and more capable of supporting these cars, but it would not be
>very interesting to conduct this event down the length of I-5. *Yawn*
Clearance is easy to solve. My FA with high profile treaded tires could
have ground clearance of 4" without even tampering with the suspension.
>3) Let's calculate. At an average of, say 50 MPH for 1000 miles more or
>less, you're talking about 20 hours of operation on machines that have
>trouble finishing a 2-3 hour enduro. Don't most builders recommend at
>least a minor teardown every 4 hours or so? I think you're really
>pushing the MTBF of the components.
The reccomend teardown is for engines opperated at full throttle in 12 to 16
lap races. The worst conditions an engine could possible endure.
>4) Formula cars are not the most comfortable steeds. Even at reduced
>speeds, it would be nuts to run this in anything but full Nomex. This
>would tend to require driver rest stops and/or driver changes every 2-3
>hours at most. The CSRG Enduro, which mixes cars of all types, requires
>driver changes every 30 minutes and a mandatory 5 minute "fuel" stop.
I would say 150 miles a day. Maybe in two 75 mile stages. As with ballon
races all cars would have a chase car with fuel and a trailer.
>5) How are you supposed to do a T/D rally that depends on accuracy
>without a navigator? There's no room in a formula car for either the
>navigator OR a rally computer. There isn't even a speedometer in most
>of these cars. You'd have to put in an ultra high-tech digital dash
>with RPM, MPH, MPG, and a GPS. Where's the fun in that? ;=)
Adding a speedo to my car would not be too bad (could be mounted above the
cowling)and a watch in the center of the wheel would complete the
instrumentation.
>Admittedly, you said we could run this in stages, but is that what these
>cars were really designed for? I drive a Formula car, and I really
>don't think this is such a good idea.
I didn't say it would be easy. I am an endurance racer by nature (airplanes
and yachts) My wife doesnt understand when I say I would rather drive from
Austin to San Diego (1400 miles) than fly in an airliner. I can make the
first 1000 miles in the first day and I finish it off the second day into
San Diego by 2 PM. I love it and I am not tired. Admitedly 1000 miles in
one day in Nomex would be suicide and the suspension would probably kill you
before the heat did.
But, its my nature, however, I take it not yours.
>Unfortunately, the days of the mad dash across unrestricted roads may be
>long gone.
I agree. There may be insanity at taking your life into your own hands, but
it is your life and you have that right.
>The last one in Australia produced fatalities, and may not
>happen again. I believe there was such a run in Nevada recently, but I
>don't know if it is to be a recurring event.
With the new "no speed limit" in Wyoming I think it goes on every day now.
>A speed dash could be done
>with formula cars on a suitably prepared road, but otherwise I just
>don't think this is a good idea.
Again I dont think it would be an easy race, but then nothing worth while is
ever easy.
--
Jim
"Better an outlaw than not free."
Nance O'Neil
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