Most liked posts in thread: DeltaWing in 2012 LeMans

I had to bite my lips and make sure I read every page of this thread to see if anyone had figured out what makes this improbable DeltaWing works so well before I posted...but having read all the speculations and skepticism here and on other forums, I don't think the "outsiders" have figured out the trick either nor has the secret been officially revealed...so even though I know what makes this prototype handle so well (probably better than conventional racers in many respects), I think I should keep my mouth shut.

How do I know? I just came back from a business trip to Panoz...although our business talk was unrelated, Dan showed us the facility/crew that built this project and the inners of this prototype... :wink::wink: This is NOT a scam I promise you...having been in the car design business for almost 30 years, I also laughed at the juvenile arrow car we all drew as kids...knowing what I know now, I'm blown away by the genius of what makes this one different...why didn't I think of this first?

All I will say is that this is "thinking waaaaaaay outside of the box"....so stupid simple that no one thought of it...kudos to the first person to figure out the secret...there are going to be a lot of people who will be eatin their words down the road...and kudos to Nissan if they can overcome all the regulations...amongst many are trivial things like the headlamp location...rules say they must be such distance apart and forward facing but does not stipulate that it can't be in the rear of the vehicle...those are the kind of details that could kill the racer by other teams who feel threatened...AND THEY SHOULD! lol...I hope this brilliant idea doesn't go the way of Chapparrel and Tyrrell because of sore loosers...I will happen to be in France during that week for other things and wasn't planning on trippin out of my way to LeMans but I think plans might change now...just to see this 1.6 kick some V8 ass! You guys should be familiar with that sentiment eh? :biggrin5:

 

Thanks. That clears up... nothing? No hints, just tease? Maybe lift up the skirt a little bit, let us see the garter?

 

Love to just say it but I don't think it would be prudent of me to reveal what was shared while downing Jamesons lol...but trust me, when he told me "that", I said "no way"...and if I did just say it, you'd all say..."oh, no ****! that makes sense now"...it's nothing new, just not normally applied to racing...come on...you know it...what would make a three wheeler corner like a fother mucker?

 

I am going with rear wheel steering.

 

My man...You're a genius!

 

If true (and I think it just might be) you just might be right that the regs will eventually kill it. I was always amazed that this particular bit of tech never caught on. I had the chance to drive the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 back in the day which had the 4-wheel steering and it was absolutely brilliant.

Way off topic, but that car was an amazing piece of machinery for its day. 320 hp, 315 ft/lbs of torque at 2000 rpm, all wheel drive, four wheel steering and a fact that few knew: active aero pieces on the underside. Wonder if there are any survivors out there and what the after-market may have done for them.

 

I read something very interesting today, and I think it's very credible as I know the source......

Wanna know why they think this car will turn with no problem, and in fact why the last time out they said they had to dial it back cause it was turning too well?

Don't look at the front wheels, look at the back.....

Yep.

 

The front don't steer at all...ever try backing up really fast and steer at the same time? You can make a pickup change directions like a Mini...:lol:

 

In the Special RACER Digital ALMS Edition there is an article and pictures of the Deltawing. The pictures show the front wheels turned. So its not rear wheel steering. Maybe four wheel steering?

The article was a glorified brochure not giving a hint has to how the car works. Just the same half the weight / half the power jargon. And some good info on the designers and builders.

http://www.racermagazine-digital.com/racer/201205ALMS/?pg=36&pm=2&u1=friend

 

It could be 4ws or it could be an intentional photoshop misdirection...:wink:

 

It's an '88 Honda Prelude 4WS with the front steering rusted solid.

 

Interesting article on it in this months Grassroots Motorsports..with some pics under the covers....

 

Either way, if it was really working they would be releasing lap times instead of the same old jargon.

I bet its DOA.

 

Duncan Davis "Small tires .... nobody knows what to expect"
Can you say, Tyrrell P34?