JSM Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 this would scare me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud_gXPCMUDw That was scary! Also nuts! Man the jail time would be incredible if they got caught. The power on that thing was amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoungZOwner Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 I am not sure what would take to scare me, haven't drove anything with huge horsepower or a bike, but i get to drive my dads SVT Lightning with 500hp, and man that thing moves, not scary fast, but sure does get your heart pumping. On the other hand though my Z will be alot lighter but not as much horse power so if gets my heart going like that truck does, i will be good. Got to love it when little ricer burner get ass handed to him because doesn't know what the truck is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMWHYR0HEN Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 This topic is really vauge to me. I think what determines how much power is enough should be how controlable that power is. I'd be scared as hell if I drove an 800HP car with a flimsy chassis, soft suspension and crappy brakes, whereas I think i'd be a lot more comforatable in an 800HP F1 car. Then after that it comes down to the driver's capabilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZDrifter Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 It depends on the kind of driving for me....I was disoriented after riding in Clifton's 240... But I was getting a little nervous in a viper GTS-R going around Portland International Raceway. Id say the most scared I have been in a car or truck in this case... was probably drifting a quad cab long bed f-250 diesel. Has something like a 8 inch lift on 38's but it spanked my Z back when it was stock. So it depends....If I had a little more of a ride in Cliftons Z I think that car would scare me. Its always nice to have blurred vision as boost builds and acceleration causes your internals to fall towards your spine haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-Gad Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Enough power = not possible... The power of a car I am driving doesn't scare me. It's when I am riding with someone else in a car that has some power that scares me. I don't like not having control of what the car is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8dats Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Enough power = not possible... The power of a car I am driving doesn't scare me. It's when I am riding with someone else in a car that has some power that scares me. I don't like not having control of what the car is doing. well put mike! your white z scared me ...a little i still need a ride in the 2j-z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFancypants Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 The new Corvette Z06 scared me. I think that limit would be reached at around 400 whp in the S30. - Greg - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest da-man (is not!) Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 As many others have said, it depends on a lot of variables. In high school, I had a 600hp 3200lb car. But I was fearless then. Looking back at it now, I SHOULD have been scared, the way I backyard engineered most of it. But it was a great learning tool. (I became so good at changing head gaskets, I did one at the dragstrip one night in under 15 minutes, with a flashlight in my mouth! ) But here's an observation: in my years roadracing motorcycles, I rememebr being very scared as a beginner with 80hp. But towards the end of it, I remember wishing I had more than the 180hp I had on the superbike. So here's my take on it: as long as it's well engineered HP.... I don't think you can have too much, or even enough. If the car will also stop and turn as well as it goes..... then bring it on! But when you take a 200,000 mile buick skylark that came with a V6, and dump in a fully built 600hp 455, without changing brakes, springs, shocks, etc, and then you put the wrong wheels on the back, 'cuz they're wider (never mind they're the wrong bolt circle) and you put in the hands of a 17 yr. old..... be afraid. be very afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 ...The power of a car I am driving doesn't scare me. It's when I am riding with someone else in a car that has some power that scares me. I don't like not having control of what the car is doing. Perfect quote--my sentiments exactly. I have driven 450 hp V8 Z cars, and they are not scary to me when I'm driving. Put me in the passenger seat and I get white knuckles... Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slow_Old_Car Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I agree as well w/ the control freak angle of things... If i'm driving, it's a race, i don't lift unless i absolutely need too, if i'm the passenger... you cannot possibly be braking soon enough for me not to be tightening my fists on the nearest grippable surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 How much really depends on how comfortable you are with the car and it's current level of power. My experience is that whatever you've had for awhile (and now you're used to) is never enough. Eventually though, you run into "What's practical". More important to me is, how much power can I make and keep the car fun to drive? How drivable is the car? Is it a pain to maintain or tune? Are you always breaking stuff? I'd rather have a 350 hp car that runs great ALL the time than a 450 hp car that is a pain in the butt to keep on the road. Once you reach the practical limit (whatever that is for you) you can start loosing weight, but that can take a lot more effort and eventually eliminate the "practical" element as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garvice Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 so i did some math on my motorcycle.it dynoed at 130 at the wheel.weighs 500lbs.-not exactly new suzuki gsxr1000 type stuff but it runs good.turns out i am showing 3.85lbs/hp on the bike.my car is heavy for a z-2650 but its a 77 with ac.did the math-i need 688 hp at the wheels if i want the car to run like the bike.my addiction will never end. Got to ask, did you take into account your weight? Say you weigh 200lbs. That means your motor bike is actually 5.38lbs/hp. Your Z then weighs 2850 lbs which means you only need 530 hp (just trying to bring your hp needs down a bit) I think what determines how much power is enough should be how controlable that power is. I got to say, there is no point in having x hp if you can't put it down on the road. Lastly, I also have to say, I have been realy scared driving my 87kW (at the engine) 1400kg corolla, because I have done some really stupid things in it. Like the time that the back end came around (how does that work in a front wheel drive car, had me stumped) whilst going around a round about and having cars behind me (or should I say infront of me) and having to reverse around the round about before they hit me. I have been even more scared when I let my wife drive my Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_furious Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I think we've hit the nail on the head...to be scared, you have to feel out of control. Feeling out of control has a lot to do with what you've experienced / what you're used to. Freud would have a freakin' field day with this. I've been scared by my cars occasionally, but the most power I had in any of them was around 350 in a 4000 lb car, which was fairly slow compared to what most people here are used to. That one only really got scary over 120 mph...acceleration was pretty good, but when the speedo's needle is past the numbers and starting to wind through the bottom into uncharted territory, you'd better believe that it's getting a little nuts. I was on $200 of Winston whitewalls and ticking through at least two mile markers every minute when I decided that a blowout would probably ball that land barge up around me so tight they'd bury me in it. When I backed off, the nose dropped what seemed like a whole foot. I miss my 440. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrycoxusa Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I have an Infiniti G35, 280hp, that seems to be plenty, about 120 more than a 280Z. I also have a 2004 Yamaha FJR1300, I'm happy with the stock horsepower. Unless you are on a racetrack, you really don't need more power than that. I am building a 74 260z with a 2.8, flattop pistons, crane cam, headers, and a holley 4bbl, I'm hoping to get 180hp. That should push that little Z along nicely. 0-60 at 6 seconds is generally the figure for good acceleration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Horsepower is not that important for getting around a race track quickly. Here's a story about my friend Paul Mumford told by another friend: Apparently NOT everybody knew that PMUM was the man.... Paul and I were at Willow Springs as he was out there on "Open Bike Day". He brought his R1 race bike and his new little toy, a Honda CBR600 F4. As his mechanic (known as Motorcycle Dave) was checking out the R1 Paul decides to take the little stock bike out with the big boys. At open bike day they run you by lap time and not CC's. So Paul tapes up the glass on the little stocker and decides to head out. The conversation at the pit exit went something like this... Starter: You can't go out now PMUM: OK, Why? Starter: These guys are running :26's and below. We have a :30 and below and another class that's above :30's. PMUM: Yeah, I'm aware of that. Isn't this the below :30? Starter: Yeah, but these guys are all running :26's and they like it that way. PMUM: Sounds great, let me out with them. Starter: (in disbelief and loudly) What? No you're not going out with these guys. (Voice from background) track worker: Paul, what's up? (apparently recognizing the completely thrashed leathers Paul insisted on wearing) PMUM: This guy won't let me out. Track worker: You must not know Paul. The fastest club racer here a couple of years ago....three years running. Starter: He's on a stock 600 and wants to go out now. Track worker: Have fun Paul, and be nice. So I find my way to the bleacher section at turn one to watch Paul. As he comes down the front straight the other bikes are blowing by him. I'm thinking Paul has lost the magic.... Then while all the others are braking Paul's still tucked, and slips by about three bikes that are "mixing it up". I get a good little laugh and watch him head to turn two with about four more bikes just ahead of him. As he leans it into the big sweeper I hear a bike horn. Beep beep beep beep, and it's PMUM the layin' the wood to the big boys giving while giving them a friendly reminder that he's going underneath them. This is turn two, knee down and about 15mph faster than the next fastest bike. I watch him proceed to embarrass the field until the back stretch as the bikes start to catch him (giving up about 30 mph of straight away speed to the bigger "race bikes"). He gets to turn 8 and pulls the same stunt, but now at 150mph with knee on the ground, and as he comes out of turn 9 I realize he's "flashing the brights" as well. After completely humiliating the field (horn and lights EVERY lap) he comes in and thanks the starter for "letting him out". And the day had just begun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest da-man (is not!) Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Horsepower is not that important for getting around a race track quickly. Here's a story about my friend Paul Mumford told by another friend: you are absolutely correct. That's why, as we've stated, the rider is 90% of the equation on a bike. my little 85hp air-cooled Ducati was alot of fun against liter bikes..... until I ran into people who could ride as well (or better) than myself. When you are competing, eventually that last 10% of the equation kicks-in, and you need to have equipment at least as good as the guy you're trying to beat. Your friend would never have dreamed of taking that old 600 out against even newer model 600's in an AMA-PRO feild.... let alone with the Liter class bikes. Take Rossi, for instance, who confessed early on this season (before the tire talk became the hot subject) that it was demoralizing to get gapped by the Ducati, and he simply could not overcome such disparity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan280zt Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Here is the video from fastest thing that I have been in 1030awhp at this time! This was "easier" run because they just put in STOCK spare transfer case because built one broke on one of the previous passes! Enjoy Ivo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest da-man (is not!) Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 wow. i mean, really. wow. if I could find an EVO half-cut.... reasonably priced.... I'd still consider doing that to my car, instead of the LS1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZDrifter Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Alright I dont care who you are but you cant tell me this wouldnt scare you the first couple times riding in it or driving it. Holds record for speed in one mile......Good Lord.... http://videos.streetfire.net/video/e22d280f-fe32-4fa1-85c3-99c8008d85ac.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest da-man (is not!) Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 oh that's totally wicked.... and the sound is awesome! anybody know any more about that car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.