Recent Comments:
GM shrinks Volt's gas tank, range drops from 600 to 360 miles {Autoblog}
Jul 8th 2008 8:58PM GM has found issues with the fact that since most people do not drive more than 40 miles per day the gas would just sit in the tank for long peoriods of time.
Gas sitting around is not a good thing so why have 12 gallons of old fuel vs 8 gallons. Also the less weight will increase the MPG.
One GM's engineers said a few moths ago old gas was one of the toughest issues they had to deal with.
In my daily drive I could go a whole year on this 8 gallons.
Anyone ever have problems starting their lawn mower after a long winter?
Gauntlet thrown: Corvette ZR1 laps the 'Ring in 7:26.4 {Autoblog}
Jun 27th 2008 5:26PM What so many here fail to understand that the ZR-1 may not be the mostr powerful Vette ever.
Lets take a look at some simple fact. Sorry if facts do get in the way some times.
The ZR-1 engine has been tested over 725 HP while still passing emissions and the durability test runs for production. This is a know fact. Now some have claimed 750 HP is possible with not much more needed if GM wants it.
Also understand GM also does not show all the cards in the first year. The GM offical stated when asked about the 725 HP and he replied we would not do that in the first year.
Finally, GM has some CAFE issue coming and the end of the C6 may be the end of the ZR-1. This being the case the last cars will be special and I am sure they will sport much more than what they have now.
Just as any car out there they on up each other as much as they one up the year previous model of the same car.
It's only good marketing.
The same goes for the GT-R as the V is not the last model improvment we have seen yet.
Folks this is the golden era and you had better enjopy it as you will look back and say 2008-2015 were the golden years.
The Vette, GT-R, and other super cars are both very interesting cars and have performance that will be remembered for years. Enjoy them vs playing the little kids game of mine is better than yours.
If you don't stop I will tell mom!
NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA qualifying {Autoblog}
Jun 24th 2008 5:38PM gary @ Jun 24th 2008 10:14AM
Dude your so misinformed. Nothing is outdated on the F/C. The track maybe but not the car itself.Like a guy said were at the end of technology for speed and E.T. Parts are the best money can buy,along with materials. Look at Earnhart and what looked as a simple wall ding took his life with nothing in his way! It JUST HAPPENED. Dont start giving the sport a black eye just as its
growing to new levels for fans. Ive been racing Super Stock in a 10 second Camaro since Lions Dragstip was in opperation. 40 years has passed with very few casualities. Millions have recently been spent by Force and many others to make this sport the safest it can be.
Gary To think it just happened is so blind.
The engines clutches and mechanical bits in the Funny car are advanced. But to still have just a tbe chassis around a driver is nuts in this day and age in a car travaling 330 MPH.
Force has done what he can do but he needs NHRA to support mandates to upgrade the cars better to protect the drivers.
There is no reason why the NHRA should not have already investigated a carbon fiber tub to protect the drivers. They should mandate this in Top Fuel, Funny Car and the Alc classes. The tubs should be made so they would fit into all the cars to save cost. They could be made to fit into the tube chassis or have the parts made to be bolted directly to them.
Also other areas need to be investigated as rear tire protection. Once you lose tires your along for the ride. TO not see if you can protect them is negligent.
F learned from Senna's death, Indy Car learned from Moores death, Nascar learned from Petty, Irwin and Earnhardt deaths lets hope NHRA will take the time and money to imporve their cars and drivers.
If you want to play as a major motor sport then it is time to act as one and not just say it happened.
I was in the seat of a top prostock car last week and even before Scotts crash though they sould enclose the area around the drivers legs better to protect them.
I gain a Fiend in John Lingenfelter only to lose him a year later from complications from a crash. I get mad about this now and know there is so much more that could be done and is not getting done.
It is not the lesser classes as you run but the big boys that need improvments. Just the energy gain from 300-330 MPH is massive alone not to speak of 200-300 MPH.
If you lose anyone one is too much. IF you can learn and improve it you need to.
Noting is 100% but you need to try for it.
NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA qualifying {Autoblog}
Jun 23rd 2008 6:58AM For what it is worth at this point it was reported Scott hit a concrete post after clearing the sand and net according to someone who was at the event.
I do not know this is fact or even the details of why the post was there or what it was used for.
NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA qualifying {Autoblog}
Jun 22nd 2008 3:41PM Friend I work in the racing industry and know a few of the pro drivers.
The stopping abity on rear brakes of a funny car are marginal undert the best conditions. Given enough run out area, terminal speed and no oil under the tires if you still have tires.
From what I saw he had a large explotion not the biggest I have ever seen but late in the run. The car did slow a little due to the loss of power.
The driver is fairly well protected by shields but the tires are not. I would say he lost the rear tires at the finish line and at thatr point hoped he still had the chutes. The car was still going straight a sign he drove it all the way in and hoped the sand would do it's job.
Sand as most of us know is limited in its help as a fast car will skip over it like a stone on water.
It is plain and simple. We have cars that engine wise have advanced greatly over the years. We have Chassies that 's and track that have seen little imporvments since the 60's.
The NHRA was building suites when they should have been either building new tracks or improving safety.
The Top Alc. driver who had a blow over a few years ago and had the car return to the start line under a stuck throttle only to hit the support truck killing her son and her. This was under testing conditions. What if that had happen with all the people on a race day?
What if a top fueler blows over ahd breaks appart mid track and the 250 MPH engine bounces into the stands?
I know there will always be risk in racing. but some of these no brainer simple fixes need to be done. I know it cost money but they always find enough to build more stands and ligher bodys for the cars.
The fall out of a loss like John or Ashley force would be something that would damage the NHRA heavily. They can not afford to risk that.
It took the loss of Earnhardt before NASCAR woke up. The sad part is they ignored Irwin, Bonnet, Petty and Roper. It took Earnhardt to let them know they had to do something.
NHRA need someone like John Force to stand up to the NHRA and demand improvments on all aread. He needs to be the Jacklie Stewart of the NHRA.
As it stands the NHRA is starting to become like F1 of the 60's. Every year back you knew you would lose a few drivers and no one did anything about it till Stewart spoke up. I guess you get a little tired of seeing your friends and team mates dying.
If the NHRA does not move to make improvments now they will be doomed to more losses that could be prevented. Let see them get insurance coverage after some fans get killed.
NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA qualifying {Autoblog}
Jun 22nd 2008 8:38AM Who is next?
The NHRA has had several wake up calls and not paid attention.
There were several crashes there the cars and parts nearly went into the stand or like when the Top Fuel Tire. Wheel and Hub went over the stands at Memphis into the camper lot.
We almost lost John Force last year and he should not be with us today. All they did was put a few extra bars in the car when top fuel and Funny Car both should have Carbon Fiber tubs to protect the drive.
Most tracks including some of the best have little to no no run off areas, catch fences. protective barriers with openings in them.
It is time for the drivers to ban together and go to the NHRA to demand track improvments. Also all of the big teams need to work with car builders to build a stronger more modern car to protect the drivers. The tube chassies they have today are so outdated it is crazy. The NHRA is running the car of yesterday. They have moretechnology in their fuel systems than they have has in 40 years of safety improvment
I know it will cost money and effect the racing to a point.
I know it well never be 100% safe as in any racing. But just how much is a life worth to try to protect it.
It is time for the NHRA to realize if they want to run speed over 330 MPH then start improving the tracks and equipment form their 150 MPH origins.
To have put a run off area with just a little sand and concreate berrier is just ludicrist!
As I see if Tub the cars with Indy car like tubs, Lengthen the tracks or slow the cars down if you don't want to improve the tracks. Also Fan safety needs to be address. How long till a car or a part of a car goes into the stands. Even the MLB has a fence behind home plate.
God take care of Scotts Family and God have mercy on the next driver we lose.
NHRA wake up you have made this mess now do something to try to fix it. NAscar pais the price with several drivers a few years ago now it is your turn.
I am Sorry for my rant but I have been mad for a long time on this and am tired of seeing driver lost that might have had at least a chance to go home at the end of the weekend.
NHRA at least give them a chance as Scotty never has a chance after half track.
More TF2: Bumblebee gets modified {Autoblog}
Jun 12th 2008 5:31PM Sorry this is not the SS. The SS is what is running the Green Hell with the sloted intake in the nose.
This car is the Bumble Bee show car one of two used in the first movie updated.
This car while NOT a Z/28 does have some things we will find on the Z/28 when it arrives. THe hood is to cover the supercharged engine and the front splitter is to give the nose some downforse for the 500 HP pluse engine.
The should Camaro is not late and still set to be seen by the press in Detroit in August. The public will see it at Woodward and at the Indy show in Sept.
Cars should be rolling down the line in late Nov or Dec with them reaching dealers in Feb.
The movie should be seen in the summer of 09 and the Z/28 sometime after that.
FYI the wheels are most likely show wheels. We may see them in a smaller size of just not at all.
Also the mirrors are also show items only.
This and the other car are just the GTO based cars from the first movie dressed up.
Camaro still on track, V6s to make up two-thirds of sales {Autoblog}
Jun 3rd 2008 6:18PM The Camaro from the start was going to be pushed as a V6 model. GM needed the volume long before gas went up so nothing has changed here.
70%+ of Mustangs sold have for years been V6 but all we see and read about are the V8 car.
Even back in 1967-69 many were small low power V8 or Inline six powered. Not every or even a majority were SS or Z28 cars. In fact today there are more Z28 and SS Camaro than were ever built as the Clones are adding up.
The Turbo 4 is a work in progress and is not even near ready. Also a Hybrid is still something that could happen as thinking on this has just started since it was never in the plans.
GM will explore all options to give the Camaro a leg up on the Mustang and Challanger.
The V6 Camaro picks up where the 4th Gen SS left off. So while this is a entry level car it also is not a plain jane by any means. Have known someone who has driven one we all will be very impressed with it. Mileage and perfromance both exceed expectations.
Next we will see Ford offer their Ecoboost Tubo V6 in the Mustang. There is even talk of replacing the V8 in the GT with it. More mileage and more power is what they will deliver.
The first thing we need to get out of our minds is these are not Muscle Cars or Pony Cars as they died long ago. These are Performance coupe and are modern in all ways. We will see them get powertrains that fit their new performance image and they will grow smaller in the next gens.
Either way with the Camaro being sold world wide it sould keep volume up and with all GM is doing to maket this car development will not stop at the intro.
You may claim to be tired of seeing the Camaro but you have not seen all that can or will be done yet. There is a lot more yet to come.
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Chevy HHR SS {Autoblog}
Jun 2nd 2008 5:53PM Ok now lets deal with real facts from someone who has really driven a HHR SS.
Styling: It is subjective and lets face it vs a Mini Van. The Styling is for people who would not get caught dead in a Caravan.
Interior: In the up scale trim and performance seat it is very nice for a vehicle you will be able to get out the door for nearly $20K if not less in January. It is as good or bad as most cars in this price range.
Drive: This thing is a blast to drive. The turbo is progressive and very managable. The torque steer is not perfect but as good as your going to find in as FWD. Handeling is very tossable but the ride is not brutal. The Brakes were very good but they were not the Brembo option. The Brembo's should only improve perfromance.
Usefullness: in a day and age where many cars can't haul much due to size this think can haul a 9 foot ladder and still do 155 MPH. Nuf said.
SS factor from the view point of a past owner of some BBC SS Chevelles and El Camino's. This thing is a SS.
The reality is this thing is as fast or faster than a stock 1968-69 325 HP 396 and can out handel by a large margin. This was not just some sticker and badge option here. It is night and day from the standard HHR.
Chevy turned this standard HHR into a real performer with very little cost. They did what was needed to make it really perform and it will share the parts with the Cobalt.
The SS does not have to have 92 octaine. They recomend it but it is not required. It will run on regular gas but will be down about 20 HP.
The auto contrary to what many have said is only down 10 HP from the 5 speed. The Auto is 250 HP according to Chevy.
IF your upset about Automatics then convince the public to buy more of standards. Sales are at 8% and dropping each year. I feel traffic in most cities has more to do with it than anything. If people drove on more open roads and had less traffic they would enjopy them more.
Over all the HHR is not perfect but it fits a hole where people need a fun to drive daily driver that carries more than 2 people and can haul a load. The few distractions like the visibility and blind spots are no worse than mnay other cars or trucks. Once you have a few mile in they are not an issue.
With the HHR selling over 100,000 units a year someone must like these and GM is making money. That is what it is all about isn't it?
My first pull with the engine was in second geat and I just shifted into 3rd as I just past 95 MPH.It came up failry quick. No lift shift is fun but not required. Launch control is the same.
I give GM a thumbs up opn this and just hope they update this better than Chrysler did with the PT as this is something that needs to evolve to live. With gas prices up it should do well.
Camaro nut reports from inside second focus group {Autoblog}
May 21st 2008 9:26PM With a Hybrid system and a turbo 4 I would expect under the right conditions the city mileage will improve over the V6 and the highway would be 30 MPG or a little over.
Otherwise GM would not be working on it now. Note I said the V6 would be near 30 MPG not over.
