Prodrive helps with power-to-weight in 1-horsepower racers
Prodrive boss David Richards led the consortium that bought Aston Martin last year. His company also fields race teams that have a habit of winning (including Aston Martin's). Now, in the interest of the winning part of the equation, Prodrive's efforts aren't necessarily confined to four-wheeled racers. Some trade wheels for legs and have just one horsepower. That's because they're, you know, horses. Prodrive has developed ultralight, super-strong carbon fiber stirrups for Alan Webb Racing saddles used by steeplechasers. (Steeplechase is also known as jump racing or national hunt racing.) They help bring the weight of the company's latest saddle down to 1.3 pounds (600 grams), the idea being that every gram of weight saved can manifest itself as fractions of a second gained on the race course. In that sense it's no different than motorsport, so is it any surprise then that a saddle manufacturer would want the Aston Martin of stirrups for its equipment?
[Source: Prodrive]
PRESS RELEASE:
Carbon fibre stirrups win by a nose
British motorsport specialist, Prodrive, has designed lightweight horse racing stirrups made from carbon fibre to help make the world's lightest jump racing saddle.
The stirrups weigh just 40 grams, less than the weight of a packet of crisps, and are half the weight of standard aluminium racing stirrups, helping the whole racing saddle to weigh in at just 600 grams. Developed for Alan Webb Racing saddles, they are currently being use by top jump jockeys including Tony McCoy, Richard Johnson, Ruby Walsh and Mick Fitzgerald, helping them to shave off the fractions of a second needed to win.
As well as being lighter, the carbon fibre stirrups are also stronger. The stirrups have a safe working load of 600 kg, nearly 10 times the weight of an average jockey, and in tests have withstood a load of 1.8 tonnes before complete failure.
"Today's horse racing is like motor racing: weight is critical," said Prodrive senior composites engineer, Roger Walker. "Every ounce the jockeys can save represents thousandths of a second off the finishing time, which can be the difference between winning and losing by a nose. Jockeys even wear lightweight tights to save weight."
Prodrive manufactures the stirrups alongside the carbon composite components it makes for its own Aston Martin racing cars and Subaru rally cars. It also manufactures components for the aerospace and marine industries.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Red 12:46PM (7/30/2008)
These will go well with my Alcantara chaps with optional carbon fiber crotch to cut down on weight and make my thighs look slimmer.
Of course, my fat a** could've just layed off that extra piece of cake...
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xpolarx 1:04PM (7/30/2008)
Wow...it's been a while since I've cared so little about something. Thanks autoblog.
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Go5Go 1:34PM (7/30/2008)
You cared enough to finish the article AND write a comment.
xpolarx 1:39PM (7/30/2008)
Touché.
FotoGenetix 1:07PM (7/30/2008)
every sticker on your horse is equivalent of having another horse
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antwerp09 1:19PM (7/30/2008)
The article is inaccurate. Prodrive as a company does not own Aston Martin, and had no financial involvement in the Ford deal. Prodrive's owner, David Richards, led the bet to buy AM, but AM as of now is owned by two Kuwaiti investment companies.
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Alex Nunez 1:34PM (7/30/2008)
Corrected above
Franz 1:18PM (7/30/2008)
How about some carbon fiber horseshoes? That would help reduce unsprung mass. ;)
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Bruxell 1:57PM (7/30/2008)
Don't horses actually generate about 3-5 hp?
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Farris 3:02PM (7/30/2008)
At the crank, yeah, but there are drivetrain losses.
Stainless 3:46PM (7/30/2008)
Horses are capable of producing somewhere in the 10-13 hp range for a few seconds, but over time it averages out to less than 1 HP.
Richard 1:57PM (7/30/2008)
Wow!
Aerospace/ automotive/ cycling technology meets the equine world.
4 years ago, this could have saved my marriage.
Enjoy mucking those stalls alone, honey!
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