14 replies to this topic

[Mini Manannán]

128 is a fairly mundane lap on a bike these days but in a car is insane!

 

I remember Tony Pond going round in a TR7 then later on doing the first 100mph lap in a car in a Rover Vitesse!

 

 

I was on a hedge at McGuiness' when he went through, it sounded really, really angry!  Apparently last year's car was 350bhp, this year Prodrive built it specifically for the attempt and they upped it to 550bhp 

[GraemeC]

The last attempt was 2014 but the car was MUCH closer to showroom spec in line with Pond's.  This Prodrive car is far more modified, which they freely admit.

One interesting fact - the 2014 car went through the speed trap quicker than this year's did, it was the braking & cornering (slicks etc) where the time was gained, and hence faster average.

 

I would be very surprised if this ever runs again.  The TT organisers don't particularly like it (it gets in the way of them running the bike event) and it is also starting to get close t be a little embarrassing when it is nipping at the heels of the bike records.  Cynically, I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of runs later in the week was partially 'engineered' to stop them breaking the 130 mph average that they were striving for.

[Ethel]

That's extensive telemetry, but no seat cushion humidity indicator???

[Mini Manannán]

 

 

I would be very surprised if this ever runs again.  The TT organisers don't particularly like it (it gets in the way of them running the bike event) and it is also starting to get close t be a little embarrassing when it is nipping at the heels of the bike records.  Cynically, I wouldn't be surprised if the lack of runs later in the week was partially 'engineered' to stop them breaking the 130 mph average that they were striving for.

 

I agree with that, Higgins reckoned that was a test run and he's get 130 on a serious run.  But it doe scertainly gets on the breasticles of the die-hards sitting on the hedge.  Also this year there were 7 'ordinary' Scoobies going round after every race with paid seats in them which was very dull, I don't see them going any time soon though.

[Cooperman]

I still think my old friend Tony Pond's 100 mph lap in a Rover Vitesse was awesome as it was a real 'first'. The Rover Vitesse was nothing special as a car, even back then, and the way Tony drove it showed what a superb driver he was.

[Mini Manannán]

You're right there Peter, I was there on the hedge when he did it.  We didn't have an app where you could follow his progress like you  can now. We had to listen to the commentator at Ramsey and then wait, wait, wait for the result to come over the radio. It was sensational then and very well regarded around the rock.  Mark Higgins' 'practice' lap, while the car was a really angry snarling beast of a thing and so very, very fast it wasn't talked about nearly so avidly.

[CityEPete]

The thing with saying the cars are nipping at the heels is that the car is a rally prep 550bhp on slicks, the superstock bikes can be purchased from your local dealer on a pcp deal, tomorrow! Hutchy put that stock engined bmw around at 133mph, to get a car that could do that for four laps then be used to get to work or rides across europe for the next ten years fault free like the bmw S1000rr is something else imo.

[absx2]

Well being a biker for 31 uninterrupted years I wouldn`t call 128 mph average speed mundane but I know you mean a its the norm.

I am blessed, no cursed with the lunatic gene with the provenance to prove it and I have nothing but admiration for the guys that take part in the TT.

They are the modern equivalent of gladiators, dicing with death every second of the way.

Just to make an observation for those who don`t ride, a motorcycle takes up a very similar space in a corner to a car as the rider and motorcycle is in effect lying down.

Basic physics dictates that a car can take a corner at a higher speed than a motorcycle as it has a massive contact patch on the road and the ability to spin and slide without falling off. That coupled to some serious HP and the driver to go with it its no surprise.

I`m fast enough on a bike to scrape the pegs and use 98% of the tread ( no chicken strips ) and sometimes all of the tread followed by pain   but I know I can take the same corners a little quicker in the Cooper, it just needs a good run up 

[CityEPete]

I wonder what a GP bike would do, and who would do it?!

[DFulton]

Can I just say that I'm genuinely disappointed in this thread?

 

I clicked on the link expecting to see some sort of supercharged Mini...!

[R1mini]

Nothing mini will ever do a 128mph average lap, ever

 

So don't be disappointed

 

David

[Mini Manannán]

I wonder what a GP bike would do, and who would do it?!

 

Bruce Anstey was on a RC213V this year. He had a big old prang in practice though so never got to show the bikes full potential.

[CityEPete]

Maybe next year then, Dunlop will either do a 135 or die by the sounds of things too!

[Mini Manannán]

Maybe next year then, Dunlop will either do a 135 or die by the sounds of things too!

 

Micky D was quoted as saying "win or die" a few years ago!

[CityEPete]

He's said he has a 135 in him maybe more if he can find the limit! What does he think will happen if he finds the limit at 200 mph?!