Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/12

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Subject: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT
From: rclark01 at comcast.net (Robert Clark)
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:58:01 -0400
References: <739292.84582.qm@web86707.mail.ird.yahoo.com>

I just remember the dual over-head belt driven camshafts and how much I 
loved driving it but the car faced a quick demise due to alot of 
factors...not too sure how it is seen in the history of British sportscars 
but I loved it. Intersting how it was slated to possibly be the basis for an 
F1 engine. Some people here in the states removed the Lotus and installed a 
Ford four or six cylinder engine but I don't know too much about 
that...seems to me it would have extracted the soul of a potent ride...

Robert Clark
Lancaster, PA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "FRANK DERNIE" <frank.dernie at btinternet.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:00 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT



It probably was the Vauxhaul gearbox since that particular Lotus engine was 
based on a particularly strong Vauxhall block so the 'box would bolt 
straight on. A great series of engines!
As an aside the same block was the basis for what would have been the first 
F1 turbo engine in 1975 if Prof. Neil Watson, a turbo pioneer now sadly 
deceased, had been able to convince the then heads of F1 teams that a 1.5 
turbo was more powerful than a 3 lt. NA.
We all know now...
Frank

--- On Sat, 11/7/09, Robert Clark <rclark01 at comcast.net> wrote:

> From: Robert Clark <rclark01 at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
> Date: Saturday, 11 July, 2009, 4:01 PM
> I used to drive my uncle's 1974
> Jensen Healey...with the Lotus engine, a Vauxhaul gearbox (I
> believe), along with two Stromberg carbs...like a little
> rocket and I always loved it. Was my intro to what a sports
> car was and I've never gotten over it! Being 17, driving
> that with the cute girl down the road, and feeling the
> acceleration of the car was magical!
>
> Robert Clark
> Lancaster, PA
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Dernie" 
> <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com>
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 1:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT
>
>
> > Try an Elise.
> > Frank
> >
> > On 11 Jul, 2009, at 06:06, Adam Bridge wrote:
> >
> >> I had a Lotus S2 - two 2-barrel Webers. It was a
> RIP to drive but needed
> >> lots of TLC as cars of that era did.
> >> I loved the close-ratio gearbox and how it would
> leap ahead with the
> >> slightest urging. Stopped darn well too!
> >>
> >> Of course it would never pass today's crash tests
> but I'd love a modern
> >> Lotus roadster to be a retake on the Elan. The top
> can leak, that's okay!
> >>
> >> Adam
> >>
> >> On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 9:33 PM, Frank Dernie
> >> <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com>wrote:
> >>
> >>> The Elan S4 was a favourite of mine. It had
> Stromberg carbs which gave more
> >>> power and broader torque band than the more
> fashionable Webers, and better
> >>> fuel consumption. It was surprisingly roomy
> for such a tiny light car.
> >>> Frank
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On 11 Jul, 2009, at 00:42, Jerry Lehrer
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Dennis und Frank
> >>>>
> >>>> The original Europa mit Renault engine was
> a dog! But the original
> >>>> Elite, if it had modern brakes would
> really be
> >>>> a windy road car. The Elan S2 when
> de-bugged is a superb handling car.
> >>>>
> >>>> Yes, I've used them all
> >>>>
> >>>> Jerry Lehrer
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Dennis wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Hi Frank,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I wondered your thoughts on Lotus'
> road cars. I had a Europa Special and
> >>>>> it is a marvel. Very light, incredible
> suspension, and so responsive. I
> >>>>> thought Colin Chapman brilliant and
> was stunned at his premature passing.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I could never afford one of todays
> 'supercars' but if I could I would
> >>>>> likely own a Lotus and use some of
> that "leftover" money for a worthy cause.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I agree the Veyron is an ugly piece
> ;-)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> But, Lotus aside, what do you
> make of the Ariel Atom?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Dennis
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Frank Dernie wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> Pagani Zonda.
> >>>>>> For "frequent" use Ferrari 599.
> >>>>>> For daily use Porsche 911 turbo.
> >>>>>> For pure driving Lotus anything.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> There are lots of cars about which
> have fancy styling and are "2 seat
> >>>>>> limos" with loads of kit, weight
> and electronic driving aids to make them
> >>>>>> easy to drive for less good
> drivers.
> >>>>>> These are great pose-mobiles and
> practical for a rich person of limited
> >>>>>> talent to show-off in.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I may have left some out, I am
> neither wealthy enough nor interested
> >>>>>> enough to study in detail. Weight
> is the most important chassis parameter
> >>>>>> for performance. Road cars are to
> a great extent a fashion item and image
> >>>>>> statement. Published stuff tends
> to be acceleration and top speed. It is
> >>>>>> possible to get impressive figures
> for these without much chassis
> >>>>>> sophistication at all. Since
> weight is currently not something fashionable
> >>>>>> to minimise "supercars" are now as
> heavy as trucks, hence no longer
> >>>>>> supercars IMO. This Bugatti thing
> weighs the same as 2 Ford GT40s!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> To put perspective on this, +10kg
> on a F1 car loses over 0.3 secs per
> >>>>>> lap.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Frank
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> _______________________________________________
> >>>> Leica Users Group.
> >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> information
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> _______________________________________________
> >>> Leica Users Group.
> >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> information
> >>>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Leica Users Group.
> >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> information
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> information
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

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In reply to: Message from frank.dernie at btinternet.com (FRANK DERNIE) ([Leica] speaking of cars violently OT)