OK, wiseass, so you need some space to vent. Here it is. Direct letters to the editor to sccnews@sourceinterlink.com and we'll do our best to come up with a snide response. Or completely ignore you. But hey, at least you've got a voice.
Free Stuff!
To help Justin make it through another 25 hours, we're giving away $500 worth of goodies from Samco Sport. As one of the world leaders in performance silicone, Samco Sport has supplied Formula One, NASCAR and World Super Bike teams. Their product range includes a massive selection of replacement hose kits, custom parts for race applications, hose accessories and their newly introduced blow-off valves. To follow in Justin's footsteps, send us your feedback to sccnews@sourceinterlink.com, or to Sport Compact Car - Inbox, 2400 E. Katella Ave. - 11th Floor, Anaheim, CA, 92806.
Letter Of The Month
I read, and enjoyed, Andy Hope's piece on Thunderhill's 25-hour race last year (May '08 issue). In the article, Andy mentioned the damage that his team's car, as well as the Daytona prototype car, incurred. I was a member of the pit crew for Team Midnight Performance at that event. We also had some damage to our car during the race, so I thought you'd find this picture interesting. This was taken just after we finished the race (I believe we took seventh in the E2 class). Most of the front-end damage was from 'contact' with a Mazda Proteg. Note the large piece of steel stuck in the windshield on the passenger side. That was road debris kicked up by one of the Car and Driver cars. It flew clean through the window and hit the rear of the cabin at around 2 a.m. The driver didn't know what it was. He just heard a big bang and then some rattling around in the car. We just stuck it back in the window for the picture.
Justin Croyle
via e-mail
Return To Glory
While researching the wonders of Group B Rally, I came across something interesting. A little section said that FISA (then the name of the FIA's motorsport regulatory division) canceled the proposed replacement series Group S, which would have limited horsepower to 300. This would have been safer (as already argued when this news hit years ago). This is a travesty and I believe someone should start a petition, probably online (like everything else today), to convince the FIA to revive the Group S idea in all its glory.
John Walker
via e-mail
USCC DVDs
Do you have any DVDs of the USCC for purchase? Please let me know. I have the first three and then it seems they were no longer available, but you still continue to hold the USCC. I'd appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
Jaime Padilla
Sandy, UT
Yes, we continue to hold the Ultimate Street Car Challenge. The next event is gearing up and information on it will soon appear in an upcoming issue. You can catch video from some past events at www.sportcompactcarweb.com or at www.gtchannel.com. -JL
Gas Sipper
I really enjoy your magazine and my opinion is often swayed for the better by what I read in it. So I hate to say this, but I'm calling out Jay Chen. In the July 2008 issue, Chen writes... 10 ways to save gas: #5) Engine brake. An engine uses less fuel under full vacuum, when engine braking, for example, as opposed to idling. The deeper the vacuum, the less gas is used. I currently drive an '04 SRT-4 equipped with a ScanGauge. The ScanGauge can monitor multiple engine parameters and one happens to be gallons per hour (GPH) of fuel used. At idle, the engine is sipping 0.4gph. Following the rule above, I should be able to leave the transmission in gear when slowing for a stop sign and save fuel. The real truth is that coasting down from 60mph in fifth gear only cuts fuel flow to 0.6gph. Vacuum reads 20mmHg, which is the same as idle. So Chen says that more vacuum should save fuel. Negative, Ghostrider. Downshifting to third gear at 60mph increases vacuum to 27mmHg. Damn near perfect vacuum as far as engines go. The downside is that engine revolutions increase to 4000rpm and, in turn, fuel consumption increases to 1.6gph.
Clint Burleigh
Pearland, TX
...
>>next page