'09 ALMS Round 5 • Lime Rock, July 15th - 18th - Page 10

cmk · 21 Jul 2009, 00:28 (Ref:2505163)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

Mis-communication during the pit stop, simple as that.

Quite. All it takes is release signal before all finished signals received. Even Ferrari struggled a bit with this concept last year in ye olde F1.

Matt · 21 Jul 2009, 06:15 (Ref:2505220)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

(off topic but do they still use the old circuit for SCCA and others???)

Yes. Grand Am uses the old circuit as well.

porsche91722 · 21 Jul 2009, 09:52 (Ref:2505323)

I watched a live stream of the race early sunday morning (Aus time) and Lime Rock looks like a very nice little track. My son just downloaded some hi res pics off Speed and the place really looks magnificent. Great photography. Well worth a look. Sorry I can't do a link. I ain't that good yet.

R4z3rw33n · 21 Jul 2009, 13:22 (Ref:2505452)

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche91722

I watched a live stream of the race early sunday morning (Aus time) and Lime Rock looks like a very nice little track. My son just downloaded some hi res pics off Speed and the place really looks magnificent. Great photography. Well worth a look. Sorry I can't do a link. I ain't that good yet.

Here: http://www.speedtv.com/gallery/view/1019798/306460/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=750&width=844

.

prototype · 21 Jul 2009, 14:43 (Ref:2505497)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

I'm a little surprised no one has put an effort together to run a top notch Ford GT team with pro drivers. That car, as we know, has Le Mans winning capibility and based on their performance at Lime Rock with one pro and two decent drivers, I feel like that car has the canvas needed to win at lemans. The thing is so low that it must have a major advantage on the straights.

Low to the ground isn't everything. The Spyker is low to the ground as well..

Gingers4Justice · 21 Jul 2009, 17:37 (Ref:2505603)

Quote:

Originally Posted by prototype

Low to the ground isn't everything. The Spyker is low to the ground as well..

And the Spyker has got 3 good drivers. And on a single lap, it's as fast as a (slower) Porsche or Ferrari. It's just it can't keep a fast pace over 24 hours and - well - finish.

TWK · 21 Jul 2009, 21:51 (Ref:2505755)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

I'm a little surprised no one has put an effort together to run a top notch Ford GT team with pro drivers. That car, as we know, has Le Mans winning capibility and based on their performance at Lime Rock with one pro and two decent drivers, I feel like that car has the canvas needed to win at lemans. The thing is so low that it must have a major advantage on the straights.

Huh? No GT ever raced at Le Mans, so we know nothing about it having ANY "Le Mans winning capability."

The GT40 is about as relevant to the current (recently past) Ford GT (or the "Doran Ford GT") as is an AMC Pacer.

Ford won't support racing for the GT because they know something you clearly do not.

Gliding_Serpent · 21 Jul 2009, 22:05 (Ref:2505756)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWK

Huh? No GT ever raced at Le Mans, so we know nothing about it having ANY "Le Mans winning capability."

The GT40 is about as relevant to the current (recently past) Ford GT (or the "Doran Ford GT") as is an AMC Pacer.

Ford won't support racing for the GT because they know something you clearly do not.

4 wheels and an engine... I call that capable.

Probable, a different story.

The financial situation at Ford is not... conducive... to running a factory car a Le Mans, but there would be nothing wrong with a few private cars. I am getting tired of the Fiat/pig run... and based on the results of this year, I would not be surprised to see the sea of Fiat's continue. Some variety would be a nice change. Bring on the Vettes!

Jonerz · 22 Jul 2009, 15:22 (Ref:2506132)

The Ford GT being low would just increase downforce, thus decreasing straight away speed. The big honking V8 it has probably would help straight line speed. The way David Murry thrashes it around I think it would be the bee in the bonnet of the top GT2 teams at most any track with two professional drivers. This is a program run by Dick Barbour we're talking about.

Chris

cthib10 · 22 Jul 2009, 16:05 (Ref:2506165)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonerz

The Ford GT being low would just increase downforce, thus decreasing straight away speed. The big honking V8 it has probably would help straight line speed. The way David Murry thrashes it around I think it would be the bee in the bonnet of the top GT2 teams at most any track with two professional drivers. This is a program run by Dick Barbour we're talking about.

Chris

What I would give to see 2 professional drivers in that car for just one race! You could see Murray pulling away after every corner granted he seemed to have to make corners a bit slower than the Porsche's and BMW's.

dxk1 · 22 Jul 2009, 16:18 (Ref:2506176)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthib10

What I would give to see 2 professional drivers in that car for just one race! You could see Murray pulling away after every corner granted he seemed to have to make corners a bit slower than the Porsche's and BMW's.

How about Murray and Bouchut for just one race?

That would throw a scare into the rest of the GT field.

DK

trahsub · 22 Jul 2009, 16:32 (Ref:2506185)

I agree. Regardless of what other people Think, Whine, or Karry on about (

), being witness to that GT really makes you wonder what it could really do.

About Ford knowing something I don't, I imagine their decisions to not campaign the car at Le Mans have much less to do with its potential than they do the economy and Ford's present situation. But what do I know.

Tim Northcutt · 22 Jul 2009, 16:43 (Ref:2506193)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

I agree. Regardless of what other people Think, Whine, or Karry on about (

), being witness to that GT really makes you wonder what it could really do.

About Ford knowing something I don't, I imagine their decisions to not campaign the car at Le Mans have much less to do with its potential than they do the economy and Ford's present situation. But what do I know.

Make sure that you address the content of the post and do not attack the person who posted it....FWIW

cmk · 22 Jul 2009, 16:51 (Ref:2506194)

The Ford GT, like basically everything else in GT2 in the ALMS, has been given dispensations to run in something other than ACO-spec by IMSA. So before we can make any guesses about how it would perform at Le Mans, we would need to know something about how it would do in the spec it would be required to run there. Beyond that, yes, the car looks quite strong on certain tracks in Murry's hands, and it would only benefit from having 2 pros in the car; beyond the race, it would allow 100% of the time in practice to be spent on setup.

That said, the car is not likely to ever reach the reliability or ease-of-work levels of the 997 or 430, and that would be an Achilles' heel at LM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

I agree. Regardless of what other people Think, Whine, or Karry on about (

), being witness to that GT really makes you wonder what it could really do.

About Ford knowing something I don't, I imagine their decisions to not campaign the car at Le Mans have much less to do with its potential than they do the economy and Ford's present situation. But what do I know.

FoMoCo's unwillingness to support the Ford GT has essentially nothing to do with 'these troubled economic times' fyi.

Hugewally · 22 Jul 2009, 16:53 (Ref:2506195)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

About Ford knowing something I don't, I imagine their decisions to not campaign the car at Le Mans have much less to do with its potential than they do the economy and Ford's present situation. But what do I know.

I think you'll find that its more about their desire to not tarnish their history (of a car they don't even own the name to) more than anything else.

cthib10 · 22 Jul 2009, 17:09 (Ref:2506206)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

How about Murray and Bouchut for just one race?

That would throw a scare into the rest of the GT field.

DK

Even better how about Murray and Bouchut in the GT running on Michelins!!! I really think the car has could be a top contender in GT2 with the right team.

chewymonster · 22 Jul 2009, 20:39 (Ref:2506308)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

The Ford GT, like basically everything else in GT2 in the ALMS, has been given dispensations to run in something other than ACO-spec by IMSA. So before we can make any guesses about how it would perform at Le Mans, we would need to know something about how it would do in the spec it would be required to run there. Beyond that, yes, the car looks quite strong on certain tracks in Murry's hands, and it would only benefit from having 2 pros in the car; beyond the race, it would allow 100% of the time in practice to be spent on setup.

That said, the car is not likely to ever reach the reliability or ease-of-work levels of the 997 or 430, and that would be an Achilles' heel at LM.

FoMoCo's unwillingness to support the Ford GT has essentially nothing to do with 'these troubled economic times' fyi.

Yep, I think the reason why the GT looked pretty competitive is because of the additional performance given to it by IMSA. Put it in full ACO spec and it would fall back a few spots even in ALMS racing.

trahsub · 22 Jul 2009, 23:29 (Ref:2506368)

That is interesting. Do the GTs in the Eurporean LMS have a similar build to the ALMS GT?

broadrun96 · 23 Jul 2009, 01:00 (Ref:2506385)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

That is interesting. Do the GTs in the Eurporean LMS have a similar build to the ALMS GT?

In general the answer is yes, the RSR, 430 GT and guessing the new Vette (C6-R or ZR-1.R? no idea what P&M will call the car) run the same ALMS as LMS and LM. But to get more cars in the field the ACO has allowed IMSA to modify rules for their own series, see LMP2 for the last few years for the biggest example. The Viper and the "Doran" GT are the big exceptions for the ALMS GTs this year, correct?

Duff_44 · 23 Jul 2009, 02:03 (Ref:2506396)

I just wanted to post a link to my (way too many!) Lime Rock pictures, for those interested:

http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p...20Lime%20Rock/

Hugewally · 23 Jul 2009, 02:36 (Ref:2506397)

AFAIK, the Doran Ford GT is ACO homoglated.

rich07 · 23 Jul 2009, 03:48 (Ref:2506414)

Its a shame Ford never built a GT to the current GT1 rules, I have seen a pic in a magazine article of a silver GT GT1 mockup but apparently it was a design study and Ford never went any further with it.

Just imagine GT and Corvette head to head at Le Mans in GT1, that would've been awesome.

HORNDAWG · 23 Jul 2009, 05:33 (Ref:2506426)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

That is interesting. Do the GTs in the Eurporean LMS have a similar build to the ALMS GT?

Are you talking about the Doran Ford GT? Just clarifying. If so, what Ford GTs run in the LMS?

L.P.

Tim Northcutt · 23 Jul 2009, 13:29 (Ref:2506625)

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadrun96

In general the answer is yes, the RSR, 430 GT and guessing the new Vette (C6-R or ZR-1.R? no idea what P&M will call the car) run the same ALMS as LMS and LM. But to get more cars in the field the ACO has allowed IMSA to modify rules for their own series, see LMP2 for the last few years for the biggest example. The Viper and the "Doran" GT are the big exceptions for the ALMS GTs this year, correct?

Someone please correct me if I'm misinformed, but I recall that Rahal's BMWs got some sort of restrictor break earlier this year, and that there were some bodywork modifications that were allowed that may not actually be homologated.

Hugewally? TWK?

Could you please correct or clarify this for me?

Hugewally · 23 Jul 2009, 14:41 (Ref:2506664)

The BMW is ACO homolagated. BMW got breaks from them for the car.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
'09 FRC Round 7, Lime Rock	HORNDAWG	Predictions Competitions	27	19 Jul 2009 17:54
'09 ALMS Round 3 - Long Beach April 17th & 18th	HORNDAWG	North American Racing	225	30 Apr 2009 20:15
ALMS - Lime Rock 2008 Race Thread.	Fogelhund	North American Racing	273	18 Jul 2008 18:38
ALMS Lime Rock 2005 Photos	Docjonel	Motorsport Art & Photography	4	10 Jul 2005 18:29
ALMS Lime Rock Practice Thread	rdjones	North American Racing	11	5 Jul 2004 04:06