Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 20:00:58 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject: Re: 101 MPH Vanagon!
In-Reply-To: <000201c4b0b6$0f966ef0$c3045f44@nonek29x6exon9>
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I recently read a review of current Formula 1 technology that stated
that the cars carried so much downforce that the negative g force of
the driver taking his foot off the accelerator at 200 mph was
equivalent to a NASCAR driver slamming on the brakes at the same speed.
They sure let a good analogy go to waste when they didn't mention
turning on the vanagon AC at 70, Stan. Or like when my diesel westy
hits an overpass.
Jim
On Oct 12, 2004, at 6:49 PM, Stan Wilder wrote:
> It has been a well known fact that in an emergency situation you can
> just
> turn on your A/C in a Vanagon of any year and it works just like the
> reverse
> thrust of jet engines on airliners.
> It can nearly throw you through the windshield.
>
> Stan Wilder
> High Performance Ceramic Coatings
> www.engineceramics.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> Bruce Nadig
> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 6:16 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: 101 MPH Vanagon!
>
> Howdy All,
>
> As of last Wednesday, I successfully completed my first 1,000 miles in
> Project Vanagon (Vincent) since I installed the '87 Porsche 3.2 liter
> Carrera engine and G50 transmission. Over the weekend my buddy, and
> Porsche
> Master Technician, Steve came over, and we (mostly Steve) adjusted the
> valves. I still need to do an oil and filter change, but that should
> happen
> in the next couple of days.
>
> Anyhow, today I had to drive down to San Antonio to take care of some
> business. That gave me my first extended trip in the van, and it was on
> fairly straight, although frequently congested, Interstate 35. On the
> way to
> San Antonio I was able to achieve 101 MPH in 4th gear (the G50 'box is
> a
> 5-speed). I would have kept going, but I had to slow for traffic. For a
> brick, 101 isn't too bad.
>
> On the way home, I had a couple more opportunities to let Vincent
> stretch
> his legs. Once again I got him up to 101 mph in 4th but had to slow for
> traffic. The greatest achievement of this second top speed run is that
> it
> was uphill, into the wind. Vincent was still pulling hard and
> accelerating
> in 4th as I went uphill. Once again, I ultimately had to slow for
> traffic.
>
> I have a set of South African Big Brakes, but I haven't installed them
> yet.
> I did, however, realize one additional braking characteristic of the
> Vanagon: if you lift off the throttle at 101, the van itself acts as
> its own
> aerodynamic brake. Man, once you are off the gas things things slow
> down
> FAST.
>
> I wish that traffic had been a little bit lighter so that I could have
> gotten up a bit more steam and seen what Vincent would do in 5th. All
> in
> all, I can't complain. 101mph in 4th, uphill, into the wind makes me
> happy
> for now.
>
> By the way, I feel very confident that the indicated speed was
> accurate. I
> have had my speedometer calibrated. In addition, I went through a
> construction zone that has one of those portable radar trailers that
> displays your speed. At that time it displayed 73mph, exactly what was
> showing on my speedo.
>
> Once I got closer to Austin I did have one of my first stealth
> encounters. A
> silver Honda with all sorts of decals and a huge can hanging off the
> back
> passed me. Traffic was light enough at that point that I was able to
> thread
> my way up to him and take him by surprise. I don't know what was going
> through his mind, but I'd like to know what he was thinking.
>
> Now I need to make arrangements to get some dyno time.
>
> Cheers,
> motorbruce@hotmail.com
>
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