OK, sure, 2500 pounds is pretty light for a production street car, but it's pretty heavy for a race car.
I'm wondering how light one could build an SL-C?
Horse-power can't make up for weight. I think Colin Chapman had the right idea back in the 60's with the Lotus 23--1,000 pounds and 150 horse-power, or 6.7 lbs/hp. Jim Clark absolute killed those Porsches and Ferraris at Nürburgring in 1962. Then they banned them from Le Mans!
Most of us can't come close to effectively using 500 hp around a race track. I know I can't. I've got a Formula Ford that I race with the SCCA. 1100 lbs with driver, and 110 HP--10 lbs/hp. And I'm still trying to learn how to use that. I couldn't use even a fraction of, say, 500 hp in a 2500 lb car. I'd probably just kill myself!
Maybe I could eventually learn to use 8 lbs/hp. That'd be 312 hp for a 2500 lb car, or 250 hp in a 2000 lb car. Something like a Lotus Exige, for example (2,060 lbs, 260 hp).
Could an SL-C track-day car get down to 2000 lbs? How little would the engine and transaxle have to weigh?
What light-weight engine could be used to produce 250 to 300 HP?
I think I wouldn't even mind the noise of a racing gearbox, but I probably can't afford it. Sequential paddle-shifters on the steering wheel sure would be nice though. What gearbox can do that?
Besides the engine and gearbox, where else can one remove weight from an SL-C?
Of course, I would want full safety equipment for the track. A cage, racing seats, 6-point harnesses, fire system, fuel cell.
Cost matters too. Could I do this for $65,000?
I appreciate any thoughts on this.
Thanks,
Greg
I'm wondering how light one could build an SL-C?
Horse-power can't make up for weight. I think Colin Chapman had the right idea back in the 60's with the Lotus 23--1,000 pounds and 150 horse-power, or 6.7 lbs/hp. Jim Clark absolute killed those Porsches and Ferraris at Nürburgring in 1962. Then they banned them from Le Mans!
Most of us can't come close to effectively using 500 hp around a race track. I know I can't. I've got a Formula Ford that I race with the SCCA. 1100 lbs with driver, and 110 HP--10 lbs/hp. And I'm still trying to learn how to use that. I couldn't use even a fraction of, say, 500 hp in a 2500 lb car. I'd probably just kill myself!
Maybe I could eventually learn to use 8 lbs/hp. That'd be 312 hp for a 2500 lb car, or 250 hp in a 2000 lb car. Something like a Lotus Exige, for example (2,060 lbs, 260 hp).
Could an SL-C track-day car get down to 2000 lbs? How little would the engine and transaxle have to weigh?
What light-weight engine could be used to produce 250 to 300 HP?
- Flat-6 from a Porsche Cayman?
- Something from VW/Audi, like in the Nemesis? V4 turbo or V6?
- Subaru flat-4?
- Other lightweight V6's?
- Super-charged V4's?
I think I wouldn't even mind the noise of a racing gearbox, but I probably can't afford it. Sequential paddle-shifters on the steering wheel sure would be nice though. What gearbox can do that?
Besides the engine and gearbox, where else can one remove weight from an SL-C?
- Wheels and tires. What size?
- No sound-insulation.
- Unfinished interior.
- No AC. No audio.
- Gel-coat only--no paint.
Of course, I would want full safety equipment for the track. A cage, racing seats, 6-point harnesses, fire system, fuel cell.
Cost matters too. Could I do this for $65,000?
I appreciate any thoughts on this.
Thanks,
Greg
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