Torsional Rigidity

Torsional Rigidity

Author
Discussion

Bombardier

22 posts

172 months

Friday 12th November 2010
quotequote all
Shame really.

It does take all kinds of people in this world and I guess some take criticism differently than others.

I am curious as to why he went the V12 BMW engine though.

GTRCLIVE

4,187 posts

284 months

Saturday 13th November 2010
quotequote all
Bombardier said:
Shame really.

It does take all kinds of people in this world and I guess some take criticism differently than others.

I am curious as to why he went the V12 BMW engine though.
He like most people is a big fan of the Maclaren F1... I think that had something to do with it.

cymtriks

4,560 posts

246 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
I'm surprised by some of the critisism of the factory on this thread.

Yes, the chassis could be lighter and stiffer but like the other mods that occasionally get discussed, such as revised suspension geometry, I suspect that the changes are just too big.

For a completely new chassis they'd need new jigs, new paneling, changes to the body work, revised loom and changes to stuff like gear linkages, exhausts and brake lines. Changing something this fundamental isn't going to be easy for a small company especially when most of their existing customers are perfectly happy.

Small changes around the engine bay (stiffening up the engine bay as on Jay's site for example) look the simplest change for the biggest real world gain but even then those real world gains don't seem to be that big.

So, is there actually a reason why the factory should change? Has anyone driven Jay's (or other "uprated" Ultima) back to back with the standard product?

pilbeam_mp62

955 posts

202 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
If there is anyone on the forum who has built, owned and driven an Ultima and who thinks that the weakest point in the whole package is ANYTHING other than the driver's ability ...let him speak now or forever hold his peace.

DHGTR

1,196 posts

244 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
Do they have discussions like this on the Lotus forum or the Ford RS forum all about torsional rigidity. The factory can't produce a car that satisfies every criteria of , tourer, racer, track car etc. So how many people that want stronger chassis have not fitted aircon and have installed a lighter ali radiator and have rose joint suspension etc?
The car just can not be all things to all people!

Steve_D

13,753 posts

259 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
It's quite simple the Factory just don't have the time to do all the changes whilst standing out in the road as the unit next door went up in flames.

Steve

UltimaCH

3,155 posts

190 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
It's quite simple the Factory just don't have the time to do all the changes whilst standing out in the road as the unit next door went up in flames.

Steve
So what happened??

Steve_D

13,753 posts

259 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
UltimaCH said:
Steve_D said:
It's quite simple the Factory just don't have the time to do all the changes whilst standing out in the road as the unit next door went up in flames.

Steve
So what happened??
Paul was talking to them on the phone yesterday when they said they would need to call back as the fire brigade was evacuating them.
This morning the unit to the right of the Factory is no more. Completely burnt to the ground.

Steve

GTRene

16,678 posts

225 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
huh...bad and sad news.

hope they do well and can overcome this soon, hopefully no important things are destroyed.

Steve_D

13,753 posts

259 months

Thursday 18th November 2010
quotequote all
GTRene said:
huh...bad and sad news.

hope they do well and can overcome this soon, hopefully no important things are destroyed.
The burnt out building is nothing to do with Ultima.

Steve

GTRene

16,678 posts

225 months

Friday 19th November 2010
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
GTRene said:
huh...bad and sad news.

hope they do well and can overcome this soon, hopefully no important things are destroyed.
The burnt out building is nothing to do with Ultima.

Steve
Happy to hear that for Ultima, thx.
maybe they can buy that part too biggrin

is it that building on the right? or the other side of the road to Ultima.


Steve_D

13,753 posts

259 months

Friday 19th November 2010
quotequote all
GTRene said:
.....is it that building on the right?.....
yes the one on the right behind the ISO container.

Steve

GTRMikie

872 posts

249 months

Friday 19th November 2010
quotequote all
pilbeam_mp62 said:
If there is anyone on the forum who has built, owned and driven an Ultima and who thinks that the weakest point in the whole package is ANYTHING other than the driver's ability ...let him speak now or forever hold his peace.
I agree. I can't understand why there are over 100 post on "Torsional Rigidity" The Ultima does all it was designed to do and more so best left alone! If you want a car with race car handling then go buy a race car.

Chewy

257 posts

256 months

Friday 19th November 2010
quotequote all
After driving my Ultima GTR on the road for 3 years I raced it in a “mid engined race car series” against several Marques of vehicle. Amongst the cars were several 'fully race prepared' Lotus producing considerably more power than my 311BHP. The suspension of my car was set to the factory recommended settings and drove like a dream. It was the most stable car on track at both high and low speed.
There is flex in the chassis and there are other modifications that could be done to improve it as a race car. After winning and having driven round the outside of several 'faster' cars I can assure those with concerns the Ultima is fantastic. If that’s down to flex in the chassis due to 'Torsional Rigidity' I'd like to keep it.
For our friends in Australia it's a different story as it seems they need to measure the rigidity and ensure it meets legislation. However I doubt you will see a real gain in performance by stiffening the chassis.
I’d be happy to race my standard car against any ‘super rigid’ offerings.

Captain Slog

375 posts

198 months

Friday 19th November 2010
quotequote all
Chewy said:
After driving my Ultima GTR on the road for 3 years I raced it in a “mid engined race car series” against several Marques of vehicle. Amongst the cars were several 'fully race prepared' Lotus producing considerably more power than my 311BHP. The suspension of my car was set to the factory recommended settings and drove like a dream. It was the most stable car on track at both high and low speed.
There is flex in the chassis and there are other modifications that could be done to improve it as a race car. After winning and having driven round the outside of several 'faster' cars I can assure those with concerns the Ultima is fantastic. If that’s down to flex in the chassis due to 'Torsional Rigidity' I'd like to keep it.
For our friends in Australia it's a different story as it seems they need to measure the rigidity and ensure it meets legislation. However I doubt you will see a real gain in performance by stiffening the chassis.
I’d be happy to race my standard car against any ‘super rigid’ offerings.
Well for me, that says it all, nice post Chewy

UltimaCH

3,155 posts

190 months

Saturday 20th November 2010
quotequote all
Good reading and confirms my impressions. 120 posts and counting....

shithotfast

1,132 posts

269 months

Saturday 20th November 2010
quotequote all
Well,.........in terms of stiffness ...... I get that every time I drive my ultima !!!!

DHGTR

1,196 posts

244 months

Saturday 20th November 2010
quotequote all
laugh

Well it only took 121 posts but the tone is now officially lowered!

Edited by DHGTR on Saturday 20th November 13:52

DHGTR

1,196 posts

244 months

Saturday 20th November 2010
quotequote all
laugh

Well it only took 121 posts but the tone is now officially lowered!

Edited by DHGTR on Saturday 20th November 13:52

738 driver

1,202 posts

194 months

Saturday 20th November 2010
quotequote all
[quote=DHGTR]laugh

Well it only took 121 posts but the tone is now officially lowered!



........someone got a hole in their exhaust now ???