September 7, 2016
Stephen Cox Blog Presented by McGunegill Engine Performance
(Read Part 1 by clicking here) Ken Wallis was running out of time. Both of Carrol Shelby's turbine-powered cars were now at Indianapolis but they were nowhere near race-ready condition. His drivers, McLaren and Hulme, had only a six-day window before they returned to Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix.
In a desperate bid to make the cars competitive, Wallis used a liberal interpretation of USAC's rules to design a new annulus (the engine opening that fed air to the turbine). When measured by technical inspectors, the annulus was under the legal 16-inch limit. But at full throttle on the race track, a variable valve system opened to permit greater air flow into the turbine. At best, this was a careful translation of the rules. If they were caught there was no guarantee that USAC wouldn't immediately disqualify the Shelby/Wallis Turbines. Such a move would be an unmitigated disaster not only for the team principals, but also for Goodyear, their drivers and their sponsors.
RACING SAFETY: F1 Believes It Can Defy the Law of Unintended Consequences
May 11, 2016
The safety cult storm troopers continue their assault on auto racing and this time, even Formula One cannot escape their regulatory clutches.
In reference to the current effort to mandate either the Halo or Aeroscreen head protection safety gadgets for the 2017 racing season, F1 race director Charlie Whiting said, “If we eventually need to add a couple of seconds to the time required to get out (of the race car), I think that would be a small price to pay.”
Six Questions About the US Formula One Grand Prix
November 3, 2014
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When is the last time we saw a race with only one meaningful pass for the lead that was this enjoyable? Watching eventual winner Lewis Hamilton stalk Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg for the lead was a sight to behold and well worth the price of admission. Everyone knew it was going to be a Mercedes race, but few expected such a classic dogfight between their drivers.
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Babies Whine. Girls Scream. Engines Growl.
October 28, 2013So the big news from Formula 1 last week was the audio release demonstrating the sound of the new Honda engine. You can listen to it here.