Aerodynamics are Important to People that can't Build an Engine

The Coffee Shop
1

A quote from Enzo Ferrari that applies to so many people in this forum

:slight_smile:
.

2

He made that statement as Lotus was coming on line with improved aerodynamics and superior brakes and starting to wax Ferrari’s ass. It sounds cool until you realize they were the words of a dinosaur making excuses for losing.

3

Was that before or after losing to Ford?

https://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/16x9_1280w/public/news/image/2015/04/Large%20Image_8636.jpg?itok=l0KUF1B6

4

Tom A. said it best. (See tag line below.) :slight_smile:

5

Was that before or after losing to Ford?

https://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/styles/16x9_1280w/public/news/image/2015/04/Large%20Image_8636.jpg?itok=l0KUF1B6

After
https://peterwindsor.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/78hol012.jpg

6

The John Player Special Lotus F1 is a thing of timeless beauty.

8

Lotus has always been about “Adding lightness.” That said saying they didn’t care about aerodynamics is weird. Read up on the skirts of the John Player Specials. Lotus have always cared about the air.

10

"Lotus was more about saving weight. "

12

"Lotus was more about saving weight. "
Which a) is true, and b) is not saying they ignored aero.

That particular car - Andretti’s Type 79 - sacrificed everything for aero though. The 78 before it introduced it, but the 79 perfected active ground effects. That thing litterally sucked itself to the ground. And naturally Enzo complained and made it illegal :wink:

It wasn’t as crazy as the Chapperal card with down force fans though.

13

I apologize. I over argue British motoring

14

This just in…

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/28/ferrari-driver-crashes-288000-supercar-just-an-hour-after-purchase.html?__source=xfinity|mod&par=xfinity

Oh the humanity.

15

Fuck that dude. I hate the fact that people will plop down big coin on cars but but zero time, money or effort into learning basic performance driving.

16

Roger that. Apparently the police believe that “excess speed was not a factor”. Bullshit - that thing’s mangled beyond recognition.

17

Lotus was more about saving weight. Chapman said adding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.

Ferrari started to take steps in that direction, thanks in part to Lotus.

What was the joke about Colin Chapman - he’d design a part, make it as light as possible until it broke in testing and then add a little more weight to it. My brother is a total Lotus nut. He has a 72 Europa twin cam, 65 Elan and 2014 Evo.

18

HE HAS A EUROPA? I am in tears being 2 steps away from it now.

20

They are magical to me.