Current formulae / categories capable of being run in 20 yrs?

[Mike Bell]

OK, prompted by the comment on another thread about needing the software unlock codes and works engineers to run a recent Peugeot LMP car, what categories and formulae out there racing as 'moderns' do you think will be useable as 'historics' in 20 plus years time?

Looking at the complexity of the current hybrid F1 and LMP1 cars I can't see them on track in 2025........

[GORDON STREETER]

That might be a problem Mike but these will still be eligible !

[BertMk2]

Well, you've already got the Super Tourers back in action (yay!) and the late 90's GT1 cars had a demo run at the Silverstone Classic last year - with any luck they'll get a championship as well. Looking further forward S2000 touring cars and GT3 would seem obvious categories to have a historic championship at some point in the future.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Well, you've already got the Super Tourers back in action (yay!) and the late 90's GT1 cars had a demo run at the Silverstone Classic last year - with any luck they'll get a championship as well. Looking further forward S2000 touring cars and GT3 would seem obvious categories to have a historic championship at some point in the future.

Yes, would be good to see the GT1 cars race! Correct me if I'm wrong, but they were 'loosely' based on road cars? GT3 is obviously so based, so they should be capable of continuing in the future. It's things like LMPs and the higher Formula cars I can see problems with.

The Super Tourers haven't had an easy ride, with tyre supply being a problem and then concern over the bespoke Magnesium wheels they run, which are no longer produced. They seem to have got together and sorted the issues, though, which is good.

[wolfhound]

Any class that has privateers running them then they should be useable.
Single seaters are almost all spec cars so they can still race each other but they are not really cutting edge for their time.
LMP2 cars could be interesting though.

[john ruston]

Most us old farts on here will be missing in twenty years

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Most us old farts on here will be missing in twenty years

Optimist! With luck I'll have a plug in hybrid bath chair to create havoc in.....

[bauble]

Audi uses production parts in the new R8 LMS whenever this makes sense in racing from a technical and economic point of view. For example, the V10 engine with 5.2 liters of displacement and a power output of up to 430 kW (585 hp) leaves the same line as the production unit. It remains nearly unchanged and, with a scheduled rebuild interval of 20,000 kilometers, stets standards in racing. The engineers use modified or completely new assemblies whenever this is required in racing by the regulations or by the clearly higher loads that occur in competitive conditions. The production ASF chassis, for instance, is modified whereas the completely new bodywork is made of CFRP. The suspensions now use wishbones strictly designed for racing for the first time and the six-speed transmission with paddle shifters is a completely new development as well. It is significantly lighter than its predecessor while its efficiency has increased because the previous drop gear system has been eliminated. The new MS 6.4 electronics include engine electronics, traction control and software for the electro-hydraulic gearshift. The powerful processor enables higher processing speeds that result in faster responses. A power box is another new feature. It replaces the traditional fuse box and makes it possible to define individual loads and scenarios.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

That might be a problem Mike but these will still be eligible !

Typical modern H&S, Namby Pamby wearing a crash helmet ... now in my day .......

[PeterMorley]

Keeping old electronics working is much harder than the mechanical side but the sensible/safe solution is to update them.

You can replace an old ECU with a modern off the shelf programmable unit.
The unit itself is affordable (£1500) unfortunately making the wiring loom to connect it can cost upto 20 grand!

The reduced size of the unit means it can be hidden inside the original boxes or hidden for those who worry about appearance.

Steering wheels might be a problem (some currently cost 25 grand) but again can be replaced by a standard unit - even current F1 has gone that way with a standard display!

Old carbon suspension components could be a problem and should be replaced (preferably with steel) but that happens with old steel ones anyway.

Basically the amount of money people are prepared to spend "historic" racing has increased so much that it will be possible to keep anything running if there is a desire to do so.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by bauble

Audi uses production parts in the new R8 LMS whenever this makes sense in racing from a technical and ........................ traditional fuse box and makes it possible to define individual loads and scenarios.

Yeh right, all your own words! Sorry for not responding earlier- been reading up on the LMP Audi and Nissan testing at Sebring, and the debate over Alonso's 'injury'......

Peter, I get your point on electronics.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Yeh right, all your own words! Sorry for not responding earlier- been reading up on the LMP Audi and Nissan testing at Sebring, and the debate over Alonso's 'injury'......

Peter, I get your point on electronics.

Right Mike! The picture reveals the level of my technical knowledge, the rest is from a recent Audi Press Release, which I thought helped to put your point across.

The sophisticated device about to plunge down the dreaded 'Black Slope', was my construction.

Oh ! And I took the picture, no way was I going to entrust my life to such a dangerous looking machine.

I am sure we would all value your expert view of the 'Alonso situation', if you can find the time to enlighten us.

I wonder how long before those wretched Mods close us down?

Cheers,

Bob.

[kipper]

I think things like current F1 and LMP1 cars can be ruled out due to the level of complexity. I wouldn't be surprised if there were to be somesort of GT3 revival in the future by simple reason of the the shear number that exist (I've read that there are over a hundred Audi R8s alone). As a consequence, I'm sure that a decent number will make it through to racing as historics.

The issue as I see it is the technology involved. There are issues with the compatibility of cars made in the mid 90s with current computer systems. I can't see that particular problem going away.

[Heightswitch]

Is technology really helping us now or are we becoming dependant slaves to it….

Cars don't get rusty anymore, They don't break, They do hundreds of thousands of miles… yet they still get scrapped because invariably a little control module becomes faulty and costs a fortune to fix??

I see the world changing to humanoid robots all walking about with a permanent arm extended looking into a screen zombie like where the world seems to have become obsessed with paying a fortune for something which essentially allows you to photograph your own face and sentd it around the world..

My wife has bought a Boogie Board…Its essentially a note pad marketed on the basis that it is sustainable…It was £35.

Whats so wrong with a pencil and bit of scrap paper…

We are supposed to be green but we throw away more than ever…

Remember bars of soap??? they now come in bottles!!!!!

Technology..great to a point but when it takes over for no additional benefit, time to do something different…

N.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by kipper

I think things like current F1 and LMP1 cars can be ruled out due to the level of complexity. I wouldn't be surprised if there were to be somesort of GT3 revival in the future by simple reason of the the shear number that exist (I've read that there are over a hundred Audi R8s alone). As a consequence, I'm sure that a decent number will make it through to racing as historics.

The issue as I see it is the technology involved. There are issues with the compatibility of cars made in the mid 90s with current computer systems. I can't see that particular problem going away.

I'm saving up for a GT3! Bentley Continental, please......

I think PeterM hit the nail in a previous post, suggesting that some re-hash of electronics will likely be necessary to make cars compatible with whatever level of technology we have reached by then.....

Sadly I can't see a couple of blokes running a 2014 Mercedes F1 out of the back of a Transit in 2035........

[John Turner]

Copied from t'other thread (now closed):-

if I live long enough I'd love to see DBR9s, CR6s, 550s and Vipers turn up in historics! Proper front engine RWD cars, the true descendants of DB4GTZ, Project cars, 250GTOs, Lightweight Es and Shelby Cobras etc.

I reckon an ORECA Viper is already a classic and truly historic, and I've actually sat in one. Nearest I'll ever get to racing!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Copied from t'other thread (now closed):-

if I live long enough I'd love to see DBR9s, CR6s, 550s and Vipers turn up in historics! Proper front engine RWD cars, the true descendants of DB4GTZ, Project cars, 250GTOs, Lightweight Es and Shelby Cobras etc.

I'm with you on that! What category were those cars, John- GT something or other?

I'll have a CR6, please.......

[bauble]

reckon an ORECA Viper is already a classic and truly historic, and I've actually sat in one. Nearest I'll ever get to racing!

John,
I think you could start a whole new series running Wolsleys, Capris, Rovers, Morris Minors, Ford Anglias, and several other marques.

You could call it Fuzcar.


Ding-a-ling-a lang!!!!

Bauble. Always one for bright new ideas.

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I'm with you on that! What category were those cars, John- GT something or other?

I'll have a CR6, please.......

It was GT1 but became so expensive technically that they now concentrate on GT3, still good cars but not quite as 'out there' as those earlier cars, a 'golden age' of the (relatively) modern era.

Ah, Bob, a Police car race. Hmm. We'd have to measure the sound output of all the sirens and bells constantly instead of exhausts.