In article ,
says...


AIUI the BSCC homolgation rules did not allow the sort of
modifications allowed on BTCC cars. BSCC cars had to be basically
production cars. Hence the the requirement to produce at least
500? for sale to the public.

And that small number made it very easy for some manufacturers to make a
special serie. So the buyer of an AR155 Silverstone found lying in his
boot some pieces of plastic and about 70 rivets...

On track however these pieces made a very effectif spoiler and giving
the AR155 an advantage of 0.5 sec a lap.

"Basically production cars" is rather amusing when a TWR BTCC Volvo
(Rydell) is now (mai 2008) available for the modest sum of 300.000 Eur.
For this price you may use it on trackdays but you are prohibited by
contract to race it.

The bodyshell alone of this car is worth around 100.000 Eur and it is 25
kg lighter than any other S40 ever build (a part from the batch of 10
TWR cars).

I won't go into detail about engine and gearbox but just know that the
Belgian raceteam that tried to race a 1997 TWR S40 stopped racing
alltogether after 3 of the 15 races: they raced with the sprintgearbox
(build for 20 min sprints) in races lasting 2 hours. It broke after half
an hour on the 3 races when they were leading.

Hence the suspension on the Vitesse, as sold to the public, was
basically the same as that used on the race cars.

IMHO you need to redefine "basically the same": the "basically the
same" suspension components and unsprung weight of each wheel of a TWR
race car is about 4 times lighter than OEM, 20 to 50 times more expensif
and most items (trackrods, triangles, dampers, springs, uniballs) have
as lifetime 1 raceweekend.



AIUI homolgation is the only reason why twin plenum versions were
made. It was a modification made to improve the power output of
the race engines, making little difference on the roadgoing
version.

Apart from being lower with stiffer springs, shocks etc, the
suspension also had less compliant polyurathane bushings.

:-)

The "etc" you mention so causally needs a budget of about 10.000 UKP
*per* raceweekend *per* wheel.

TWR was known never to let anything unused of its budget. Sadly for TW
he did the same with Arrows and Cosworth and it boomerranged on his
head.

Not
forgetting the rear spoiler and front air dam which actually do
add to the package, as compared to many of those on cars today
which are often aded for cosmetic purposes only.

I doubt that the TWR Vitesses the aerodynamics were that advanced.

Windtunnels were not yett as avaiable as they are now but nobody had/has
to teach TW a lesson when it comes to touring cars racing and team
leading. TW is known in Belgium as a ruthless individual often kicking
out pilots when they had an own mind or when it was in his advantage to
do so. A certain Ph. Verellen at Spa springs to mind: the chap was
leading in a TWR-car and faster than TW himselves. Ego's being what they
a Philippe found he was out of a drive at sunday.

Stating that a TWR racecar is basically the same as the roadgoing
version of it remains either not knowing TW(R) either insulting TW(R).


Tom De Moor

"Tom De Moor" wrote in message
.be...

AIUI the BSCC homolgation rules did not allow the sort of
modifications allowed on BTCC cars. BSCC cars had to be basically
production cars. Hence the the requirement to produce at least
500? for sale to the public.

"Basically production cars" is rather amusing when a TWR BTCC Volvo
(Rydell) is now (mai 2008) available for the modest sum of 300.000 Eur.

Mike did say BSCC didn't he? Which I'm guessing is different to BTCC.

cheers,
clive

You're wrong. They do corner quite well, and the Vitesse with it's
modified suspension is excellent. Better than many later cars I've driven,
including the 528i E39 I'm driving at present.
In the early 80's the TWR developed Vitesse was dominant in the BSCC
championships. Pretty good for a car, that according to you "didn't do
cornering very well"
Mike.

SD1? 528i E39? Has anyone ever seen you and Dave Plowman in the same room
at the same time?

--
"For want of the price of tea and a slice, the old man died."

"Tom De Moor" wrote in message
.be...
In article ,
says...


AIUI the BSCC homolgation rules did not allow the sort of
modifications allowed on BTCC cars. BSCC cars had to be
basically
production cars. Hence the the requirement to produce at least
500? for sale to the public.

And that small number made it very easy for some manufacturers
to make a
special serie. So the buyer of an AR155 Silverstone found lying
in his
boot some pieces of plastic and about 70 rivets...

You appear to be making no distinction between cars that must
conform to British Saloon Car race regulations, and those
applying to British Touring cars.

I'm not as familiar with the subject as you appear to be, but I'm
pretty sure that the 'Saloon' car series doesn't permit things
like suspension materials to be changed from the homolgation std,
to reduce unsprung weight.

BTCC cars may start off as road cars, but by the time they've
been stripped and rebuilt, about all that's left of the original
car is the outer shell.

In any case you seem to be forgetting that my opinion of the SD1
Vitesse is based on personal experience.
Compared to other cars I've driven, and contrary to Conors
belief, they corner very well.
The std version is not as good, but still better than a standard
Capri.
My brother had one of those, and it was certainly more tail happy
than an SD1.
Mike.

"AstraVanMan" wrote in message
...
You're wrong. They do corner quite well, and the Vitesse with
it's modified suspension is excellent. Better than many later
cars I've driven, including the 528i E39 I'm driving at
present.
In the early 80's the TWR developed Vitesse was dominant in
the BSCC championships. Pretty good for a car, that according
to you "didn't do cornering very well"
Mike.

SD1? 528i E39? Has anyone ever seen you and Dave Plowman in
the same room at the same time?

I doubt it
We both have a 528i, and an SD1, but Daves is an EFI, mine's a
Vitesse. I live in Sussex. Dave lives in London.
Mike.