Snoopy 49 a tribute....

[Tomster]

Go Get em Tom....Damn part failure !!
We're all proud of what you have achieved.
Are there more days tomorrow?

The CV is shot. I doubt there will be a replacement part in the near future. The car won't move on its own now, period. I am going to prepare one of the R models tomorrow. It will take me a day to align the car and get it ready for the track. The weekend is ruined, all over a part that wasn't engineered properly.

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[Tomster]

181 MPH is pretty impressive when you think about the amount of air you were pushing and the added weight. I wonder what it is capable of without the governor.

definitely more, but the issue always is real estate. When I hit 181, it was time to get on the brakes, or else.

 

[Snoopy49]

definitely more, but the issue always is real estate. When I hit 181, it was time to get on the brakes, or else.

But at least you proved 180 mph top speed wasn't aero limited.

 

[Warpath]

Maybe the limit isn't aero induced. Maybe its something as simple as an engineered limitation.

Today the CV on my right rear let go. The boot burst and all the lube contained within was spewed all over everything.

I had whittled my lap times to 2:00 and it kept getting better, until the CV let go.

I must say that this car was impressive, right up to the point of failure. Maybe ill post a video, but i was running with group 1. This car stood out. Its a shame that the failure of (probably) a $0.50 part had to bring to a conclusion what promosed to be sub 2:00 lap times.

As for the consumables? I had lots of brakes left after a full day. I would say the wear would be right in line with an R. The gas? Running full out, foot on the floor, finishing a 30 min session would be close. Sometimes I made it, other times I cut it a lap short.

All in all, a lot of people were embarrassed today. What they saw on the car blowing by them all was "snoopy 49".....

I assumed it was just what they limited the ecm before it cut power.

 

[Tomster]

I assumed it was just what they limited the ecm before it cut power.

Yes, but the reason for 180 was never disclosed by Ford.

 

[Tomster]

But at least you proved 180 mph top speed wasn't aero limited.

Aero limited in terms of speed? No, its not. The car would go faster if you had the room. It certainly had the power. Initially, my thoughts were aero in terms of the wing. The faster you go, the more downforce. Eventually, you would reach a point where something would have to give.

And then there is the notion that the car wasn't engineered to be driven that fast for sustained periods. Things (like a CV joint) may fail. This was discussed with a prominent member of this forum. That CV joint is a common problem under track conditions. It gets hot, gasses expand, and the (plastic) boot fails. It literally pops like a balloon and then there is no more lube in the joint. It then proceeds to disintegrate.

So why the car is limited to 180 is still not known for sure, but i think it is based upon many factors. If it did go faster than 180, I dont know if that would be useful. I think the design revolved around necessity. Off the top of my head, where (in the US) could the car go faster on a track?

 

[kilobravo]

That is SO cool, Tom and I'll bet that she was as stable at one eighty one as she is at sixty, yes? Absolutely AMAZING vehicle, no question about it. Imagine doing the Bahn, Bahn, Bahn...the Autobahn, huh?

Be careful out there, brother.

KB

 

[Tomster]

Here she is before the flat bed came to get her.

Edited to add:
I was unable to get a hold of the insurance company to switch my policy over to another car. The weekend is kaput.

 

[kilobravo]

Damn sorry all the way around, Tom. But, she'll get fixed post haste and you'll be back soon enough.

 

[Tomster]

Damn sorry all the way around, Tom. But, she'll get fixed post haste and you'll be back soon enough.

The solution is not as easy as it seems. I'm working the problem.

 

[obspsd]

Glad to see you pushing the car Tom.
To bad about the part failure.
Stay safe.

 

[Mulletdaddee72]

This is badass and I approve

 

[Tomster]

More

 

[2morrow]

Incredible thread, The Snoopy Graphic, the performance, unfortunate about the part failure though. Good luck getting her back on track

 

[Tomster]

The solution is in the works. The part was not engineered properly. Daytona is one of those tracks where this flaw is exposed if you run the car like it was advertised to be capable of.

Billy confirmed the problem and another expert on this issue is looking at the solution.

When I learn what is available for public consumption, I will pass it along.

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