Powerband Pissing Contest!
09-19-2002 | 02:25 PM
#1
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Massachusetts
Powerband Pissing Contest!
Well, I guess it's not about power steering anymore. 
A good driver MAY be able to keep the honda motor in its sweet spot, but that depends entirely on the gearing and the course.
Like I said before - some teams with budgets in the expensive classes will have the money and time to swap in specific gears and final drives for specific courses. Without this luxury, it is hard to keep a car in a rev range that tight.
Keeping it in the power band also involves a lot of shifting - which loses you time, unsettles the car, and gives you more potential for trouble by missing a shift or improperly matching revs and sliding into the dirt.
Showroom Stock Neons hand Showroom Stock Civic SI's their own asses on road courses - with a lower HP figure but more useable torque. Unfortunately, I've never seen a 240 running in SS (I think they're too old for the class).
-Justin
http://www.saltgod.org
A good driver MAY be able to keep the honda motor in its sweet spot, but that depends entirely on the gearing and the course.
Like I said before - some teams with budgets in the expensive classes will have the money and time to swap in specific gears and final drives for specific courses. Without this luxury, it is hard to keep a car in a rev range that tight.
Keeping it in the power band also involves a lot of shifting - which loses you time, unsettles the car, and gives you more potential for trouble by missing a shift or improperly matching revs and sliding into the dirt.
Showroom Stock Neons hand Showroom Stock Civic SI's their own asses on road courses - with a lower HP figure but more useable torque. Unfortunately, I've never seen a 240 running in SS (I think they're too old for the class).
-Justin
http://www.saltgod.org
09-23-2002 | 01:40 PM
#3
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Massachusetts
http://club240.com/forums/showthread...6&pagenumber=3
Someone was horrified that we may be drifting off topic, so I moved the reply to here.
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
Someone was horrified that we may be drifting off topic, so I moved the reply to here.
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
Anyway it's interesting they just had an article in SCC about hp vs. tq and the very last line that summed it up was. "Torque is for burnouts and Horsepower is for racing."
09-23-2002 | 01:55 PM
#5
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From: Massachusetts
It's an argument that's been going on since the first hotrods were roaming the strip.
I don't think SCC can solve it in a one-liner!
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
I don't think SCC can solve it in a one-liner!
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
09-23-2002 | 02:24 PM
#6
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 352
From: Fredericksburg, VA
here is a little statement for you to think about
"HP makes your car go fast, torque is what pushes that HP"
Auto Cross is becoming more and more popular, to be honest, i would find auto cross a HELL of alot more fun than drag racing. Whats so fun about running down a straight track and doing it over and over again?
Autocross test not only the speed of your car but how well you can drive it. there are little 120hp AE86's out there that can outdrive 400hp monsters. The great thing about autoxing is its not how fast your car is, its how well you drive your car..
"HP makes your car go fast, torque is what pushes that HP"
Auto Cross is becoming more and more popular, to be honest, i would find auto cross a HELL of alot more fun than drag racing. Whats so fun about running down a straight track and doing it over and over again?
Autocross test not only the speed of your car but how well you can drive it. there are little 120hp AE86's out there that can outdrive 400hp monsters. The great thing about autoxing is its not how fast your car is, its how well you drive your car..
09-24-2002 | 05:47 AM
#8
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,115
From: NYC
well autox is where a more constant powerband really shows up. when u down shift for that turn you are back on some hp, instead of downshifting and finding no power. Thus the reason the S2000 is no great autox, but a decent car to do it in. The 240sx on the other hand can be a monster if suspension is tuned properly and thats IMHO.
09-24-2002 | 06:52 AM
#9
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 248
Originally posted by Import Fanatix
well autox is where a more constant powerband really shows up. when u down shift for that turn you are back on some hp, instead of downshifting and finding no power. Thus the reason the S2000 is no great autox, but a decent car to do it in. The 240sx on the other hand can be a monster if suspension is tuned properly and thats IMHO.
well autox is where a more constant powerband really shows up. when u down shift for that turn you are back on some hp, instead of downshifting and finding no power. Thus the reason the S2000 is no great autox, but a decent car to do it in. The 240sx on the other hand can be a monster if suspension is tuned properly and thats IMHO.
if so ill shutup..
but just out of curiousity..
when was the last time u actually shifted out of second gear?
even if it is a low speed corner most would stay in 2nd so not to waste time shifting down then back up...
also..
the s2000 is a very competitive car..
09-24-2002 | 08:53 AM
#11
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From: Massachusetts
The one thing that really helps in an autox is a lightweight car.
Autox involves so many quick transitions that the car spends most of its time transferring weight. The sooner weight transfer is complete, the sooner you will be at full traction.
With a lighter car, less weight almost automatically means quicker transfer.
Sure there are exceptions, but it takes a lot of traction or power (or both) to make up for a heavier car.
The 240, from what I've seen, is generally more competitive at a road course than an autocross. I seriously applaud anyone who autoxes a 240 and places well.
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
Autox involves so many quick transitions that the car spends most of its time transferring weight. The sooner weight transfer is complete, the sooner you will be at full traction.
With a lighter car, less weight almost automatically means quicker transfer.
Sure there are exceptions, but it takes a lot of traction or power (or both) to make up for a heavier car.
The 240, from what I've seen, is generally more competitive at a road course than an autocross. I seriously applaud anyone who autoxes a 240 and places well.
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
09-25-2002 | 09:54 AM
#12
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,115
From: NYC
I though we were talking about powerband. THus where the power is at. Do you think if the S2000 had more "*****" in the lower end, don't you think it would do better, even if he didn't shift and left it in second?
I think so. THe s2000 is competitive in its group, no doubt but would never win at the nationals.
I think so. THe s2000 is competitive in its group, no doubt but would never win at the nationals.
09-25-2002 | 11:06 AM
#13
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 680
From: Massachusetts
Holy ****!
I threadjacked my own thread that I started after threadjacking someone elses's...
I'm not real familiar with how the S2000 runs in autocross, but it seems that is a car that would be a great example of a peaky motor with basically no useable torque.
With it's sky-high redline, maybe he can run the whole course in 1st.
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
I threadjacked my own thread that I started after threadjacking someone elses's...
I'm not real familiar with how the S2000 runs in autocross, but it seems that is a car that would be a great example of a peaky motor with basically no useable torque.
With it's sky-high redline, maybe he can run the whole course in 1st.
-Justin
www.saltgod.org
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