Hay Duke>Corvettes Sweep Front Row In Qualifying@Road America

[Larry E.]

Hay Duke: Racing today at our old stomping grounds>Road America>Elkhart Lake, WI.(CNBC@5PM Central)
Just to show how far technology has come the CanAm Cars Qualified at 2:06 with Denny Hulme in 1970 in
a McLaren-Chevrolet M8A.

[Duke W.]

Re: Hay Duke>Corvettes Sweep Front Row In Qualifying@Road America

It's amazing that a GT3 spec car, which is closer to the production car than the GT2 and GT1 spec cars were can be as fast as a 5O year old Can Am car, but then modern high end sports cars are unbelievably fast.

Of course, I was at that 1970 Road America Can-Am race, situated on the hill next to the Corvette bridge. Coming out of the 90 degree left hand turn off the back straight the cars practically lifted their front ends off the ground as they accelerated up the hill in second gear to the Corvette bridge. The 1970 team cars were actually the M8D, the car that took Bruce's life at Goodwood in pre-season testing when the rear bodywork dislodged. The loss of downforce caused the car to go out of control and crash.

I recall dry weight of the M8 series was no more than about 2000 pounds, but on the grid with 65 gallons of fuel (close to 400 pounds) and "The Bear" in the cockpit, weight was probably close to 2600 pounds, which is similar to the C8.R, but I don't think that includes fuel and driver.

Claimed power from the 465 CID "ZL-1" engine with Lucas individual runner mechanical fuel injection and a big cam was 670 (gross) at 6000. Interestingly, LT6 advertised power in production trim with emission controls and mufflers is also 670, but that's NET, and the racing version may actually be less depending on air restrictors.

Tire grip has improved, but the biggest improvement is probably downforce since those early days of wings.

It's interesting to compare what the fastest race car was 50+ years before 1970 to the fastest 1970 race car (McLaren M8D) compared to a modern supercar. That early 1920s race car would probably be the Fronty Ford - a souped up Model T with the Frontenac OHV cylinder head that was designed by the Chevrolet brothers!

Duke

[Larry E.]

Re: Hay Duke>Corvettes Sweep Front Row In Qualifying@Road America

Tough luck for the Corvettes. The Corvette that qualified 2nd could not make on lap with out
being crashed into. Other Corvette got screwed up in the pits. Oh well;that's racing.

Duke: Thanks so much for your input/insight; you bring back so many nice memories!! Larry