Spa May 9th/10th

[Old Bill]

Great footage guys, juices being stirred in anticipation.

[Northnoble]

145mph......that's some going!

How accurate do you think the video speedo is? I have been independently clocked at 135mph and that certainly felt REALLY quick in the Atom (although there was more to give....just not enough track!)

[wasp]

[quote="Northnoble"]
145mph......that's some going!

How accurate do you think the video speedo is?
[/quote]

I'd say it's very accurate. Depending on the speed you can get through Eau Rouge/Raidillon, 145mph is realistic.
Barry is an excellent driver though

Cheers,
Stu

[TrackDayBore]

[quote="wasp"]
[quote="Northnoble"]
145mph......that's some going!

How accurate do you think the video speedo is?
[/quote]

I'd say it's very accurate. Depending on the speed you can get through Eau Rouge/Raidillon, 145mph is realistic.
Barry is an excellent driver though

Cheers,
Stu
[/quote]

Stu is of course right...  "excellent" driving on my part

But seriously, to me the Atom always feels planted... even when it's running into its own "self-generated wall of aerodynamic drag". (Athough at the time I had a front wheel bearing on its way out, so the car was wandering around a little.)

The data recorder/video I use is a VBox Lite so I think the GPS speed is fairly accurate.

Spa is the only "foreign track" I've done... but what a track...!

However don't take my word for it... find out what speed your Atom will do on the back straight at Spa..?

BTW.. my maths indicate I'm 7 MPH quicker than Monza 

Cheers,

[Peter255]

As you say the "self-generated wall of aerodynamic drag" at around 130+ is amazing really. Its like a speed limiter.

Its the only issue with the Atom on track (in the dry) in my experience. The top end drops off fairly early (even when s/c).

I understand the physics of it (relating to the speed squared - I used to be a physicist myself), but its really noticeable compared to the rabid acceleration at lower speeds.

I wonder what difference a simple fully enclosing set of panels covering the frame would make. I heard the side panels and windscreen help but a bespoke fully enclosed set would (I reckon) add 20mph+ to the speed on long straights. Shame they'd look pants tho! 

[TrackDayBore]

I do have the factory side panels (for wimps), so that must give an extra few ”knots"... as the Atom is surprisingly 'boat shaped' and broad-in-the-beam in plan-view... so the "smoother sides" probably help achieve a higher top end speed and I know they make the car warmer, as I hardly ever have the heater on 

[Peter255]

[quote="TrackDayBore"]

I do have the factory side panels (for wimps), so that must give an extra few ”knots"... as the Atom is surprisingly 'boat shaped' and broad-in-the-beam in plan-view... so the "smoother sides" probably help achieve a higher top end speed and I know they make the car warmer, as I hardly ever have the heater on 
[/quote]

I reckon my heater is broken! Or maybe I just left the a/c on again! ;-)

[Monza]

hey Trackdaybore, that's my brother video, not me  and the speedo on the video is coming from the gps data system, so accurate.
most important is the laptime than the max speed in straight 

[TrackDayBore]

[quote="Monza"]
hey Trackdaybore, that's my brother video, not me  and the speedo on the video is coming from the gps data system, so accurate.
most important is the laptime than the max speed in straight 
[/quote]


It's a well know fact... for some reason, Right Hand drive Atoms do slightly slower laps times on "continental" circuits 

[Monza]

oh yes, this reason is technicaly wellkown as english fair-play ! 

[TrackDayBore]

Tres vrai...!

[Old Bill]

Come on guys Spa becoming booked up apparently, though this could be down to Graham's selling technique.
3 cars definitely booked. Paul now joining us with his 3.5R, I am so looking forward to seeing his car there.

[Blue]

do you guys all run baffled sumps on the Atom to drive at spa?
and also different fuel cells?

[John Scherrer]

Almost all cars have the baffled sump option - I'm not aware of any cars having special fuel systems other than stock.

[Blue]

Mine doesnt according to ariel.