Old V's New in performance

[Stewart A.]

I was just watching a new ZR1 doing a few runs down the 1/4 and it didn't really impress me ! When I watch a Mid year Corvette compared to a C5 or C6 run a 1/4 mile even at the same elapsed times the new stuff just don't look and seem as nearly aggressive and impressive. The rubbery feel and quietness of the new stuff is kind of boring to watch. The old stuff with axle hopping and flames popping out the open headers just seems to look and sound like it's doing twice the speed but it aint ? Is it just me or is the mad cow kicking in again !! Stewy

[Stuart F.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

Stewy';

It's not you. We've all noticed this I'm sure. It just shows you how far the newer technology has come, what with traction control and suspensions, to say nothing of the brute horsepower engines that can still produce fantastic gas mileage and do it so effortlessly w/o noise. But, as you say, it is still more impressive to watch the old "fiberglass" perform. Much can be said for the difference in impressions between daylight and night time drags too. At night the sounds are seemingly more intense, as well as the sparks and flames, etc.

Stu Fox

[Paul H.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

I agree!! The new cars are fast but the stock exhaust on the C5 and C6 makes the car sound anemic. A nice set of B&B Bullets and some headers at least make it sound good. Just no substitute for the feel and sound of the old cars. The new ones insulate you from the performance too much.

[Alan S.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

Hi,
I think it's interesting that the sound a particular car made had such an influence on how we felt about that car.
I'll NEVER forget the first time I heard the sound of a Z-28 with chambered exhaust. But I'll also never forget the sound that a Ford Thunderbolt made at the old York US 30 dragstrip.
Regards,
Alan

[Martin N.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

Hey Guys-

I used to have a 1969 Z-28 and in my mind nothin' like the sound of a set-up small block chevy (preferrably a Vette or a Camaro) winding out each & every gear and hoppin' all the way down the 1320! Kinda like the old NHRA Modified Production class of yore.

Marty

[Stewart A.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

I'm not canning the new cars there awesome and it just shows how much further the companies have come forward in engineering. But they seem to have taken the fun, adrenaline and excitement from a performance car. I'm very big on owning cars with a personality and I think the manufacturers are slowly taking that feel and character away from the performance market.
You know what everyone does when they buy a Harley, they drop the pipes and give it the personality they are renown for. You wouldn't own a Harley from the factory with it all corked up. It's not just the exhaust and engine noise it's the entire car.
I was lucky enough to drive a friends 911 GT3 RS Porsche a while ago and that car has it all. It has the stripped out interior, factory cage, rough as guts ride and a sound that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Without doubt it's exciting as hell to drive the whole package is perfect at least someone seems to be getting it right ?
Christ there is even no camshaft overlap sound in a new performance car. They idle like your family wagon ? That's what I mean !! The race for perfection has killed the performance car !! Stewy

[Pat M.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

The new ones insulate you from the performance too much.

I agree. The understandable pursuit of comfort and quietness has led to a loss of some of the very experiences we buy the cars for in the first place.

[Duke W.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

The most impressive aircraft takeoff I ever saw up close was a Connie taking off from Juneau Airport when I was working up there during the summer of 1967. I was by the side of the runway right about where she lifted off.

Since then I've seen many other aircraft takeoffs from similar vantage points, including 747s, B-52s, C-141, C5, and a F-106, but they just don't compare to the sound of four R-3350s at full boost - 72 total supercharged cylinders, and you can hear the primary exhaust pulse from each one!

Unfortunately I never saw a B-58 take off from a similar vantage point, but from films I've seen, the four J-79s on afterburner may have taken the cake, especially at dawn or dusk when the whole thing looks like it's on fire!

Like the old saying goes: "They don't make 'em like they used to."

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

'Back when I was in the AF with Orville and Wilbur I stopped by one of the hangars on my way from Ops. to see a Marine F-4 that had come in for emergency maintenance. After a day or so it was ready to go. And the Marine crew got in a discussion with a couple of AF pilots. The discussion turned into a bet---"I can be off the ground before I hit the taxiway---No you can't." Outside the hangar he lit it, blew the back doors of the hangar off their tracks, tool boxes "moved" all over, scorched everything but personnel, and lifted off before they got to the runway. He went vertical as the controller came on (speaker in the hangar, too) and among other things told him to return. No answer. The controller came on again and instructed him that he must report at the 9000' marker (horizontal) and he had not done so. The Marine clicked in and said he was still vertical but as soon as he was outside the 9000' marker he would gladly report. That sound was one I will always remember. He will too, as I heard later he went from major to captain and owed the govt. $45,000 in damages.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Old V's New in performance

Steven;

It's usually the Air National Guard boys that are inclined to do the showin off, not to besmurge them, but the Marines are more disciplined and less prone to being suckered into a bet - leastwise state side. The F-4's are usually not too subtle when they are being used in "jinging and janging" around as they are noisy and they emitt tons of particulate matter out their tubes, but ya got to love um.

Last year (2008) some AF boys with F-15"s were doing the flyby for the speedweek Nationwide race at Daytona, after which they came back and did a real tight turn into final. One of them had a flame out/burp in one engine that let out a 50' flame and a god awful "bang" right over our heads. We thought for a moment we were going to be wearing him, but he touched down immediately after he leveled and flared to the runway. That was more exciting than the actual fly over. After having been in/around combat for a number of years in SEA, there aren't too many noises that bother me, but that one was unexpected,

Stu Fox