Re: alfa-digest V9 #265

["Paul Misencik" <paul@domain.elided>]

> Why did it take the thoroughly modern pushrod engines of both the Corvette
> and the Viper to kick euro booty IN THEIR CLASS at LeMans for the last
couple
> of years?

Racing is a totally different thing, because rules packages vary, and are
often designed - rightly or wrongly - to try to erradicate any inherent
advantages of one design over another.  Someone brought up the fact that a
pushrod "Mercedes-Benz" engine won the Indy 500 not long ago, but this
happened because the designers discovered a fluke loophole in the rules that
provided for significantly higher boost pressure to be run in that format
and designed a brand new engine accordingly.  It wasn't that the pushrod was
so technologically superior in its own right.

Anyone with Speed channel probably catches the Japanese touring car races
from time to time.  It's interesting seeing a 2.0L 4-cyl Toyota "kicking the
euro booty" of a 6.0L V12-powered McLaren.  But would you then argue that
the 2.0L Toyota four is fundamentally a superior engine to the McLaren's
V12?

Paul Misencik
P. Roman Media
Huntersville, NC  28078
email: paul@domain.elided
www.paoloroman.com

----- Original Message -----
From: <GLewis4457@domain.elided>
To: <alfa@domain.elided>
Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: alfa-digest V9 #265


> In a message dated 2/15/2003 12:49:30 PM Central Standard Time,
> owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:
>
> > If we assume that GM and Ford and Mercedes-Benz and Porsche and VW and
other
> > major automakers have relatively good, forward-thinking engineering
> > departments comprised of intelligent, gifted engineers, why is it pretty
> > much only GM and Ford that still build pushrod engines?
>
> Why did it take the thoroughly modern pushrod engines of both the Corvette
> and the Viper to kick euro booty IN THEIR CLASS at LeMans for the last
couple
> of years?
>
> Jerry in Houston
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