VXR Vectra's Front Bumper

[entropy]

Why is it fugly and resembles little to the road going version?

[Calorus]

entropy said:

Why is it fugly and resembles little to the road going version?

Subjectivity and aerodynamics, respectively.

[entropy]

I thought aero mods aren't allowed under S2000 rules, apart from the default rear wing?

[rubystone]

Absolutely desiged to cause damage - have you seen the ruddy great metal bar that's behind it?

[rude-boy]

rubystone said:

have you seen the ruddy great metal bar that's behind it?

Didn't see Tom complaining much about it on Sunday though.

[stu harris]

rubystone said:

Absolutely desiged to cause damage - have you seen the ruddy great metal bar that's behind it?

Nope , please post pics to demonstrate.

Stu

[rubystone]

stu harris said:

rubystone said:

Absolutely desiged to cause damage - have you seen the ruddy great metal bar that's behind it?

Nope , please post pics to demonstrate.

Stu

I'd have thought you could dig one of those up - or have you modified the design since last season Stu? I see that you don't deny it's designed to cause damage though - I've been studying Vectras ever since that made its debut and I can't find a single road car with that type of front bumper....

[Ahonen]

entropy said:

Why is it fugly and resembles little to the road going version?

It's a homologation special part. They built 500, I think, road cars with the same bumper (or at least the bits were in the boot, Alfa/BMW '94 style). It allows a larger splitter as the splitter is not allowed to protrude beyond the bodywork perimeter.

We were at Oulton together a couple of weeks ago and the road car version was parked next to the truck, as I suspect it is at all BTCC events to stop people complaining.

That the bumper extensions are angled upwards slightly probably doesn't hurt either...

I'm quite surprised none of the others have done the same thing yet.

[Marc W]

Quite a few Vauxhall staff have Road Vectra's with the BTCC style front bumper, there were a load parked at the BTCC media day a couple of weeks back.

Edited by Marc W on Monday 31st March 14:57

[stu harris]

rubystone said:

stu harris said:

rubystone said:

Absolutely desiged to cause damage - have you seen the ruddy great metal bar that's behind it?

Nope , please post pics to demonstrate.

Stu

I'd have thought you could dig one of those up - or have you modified the design since last season Stu? I see that you don't deny it's designed to cause damage though - I've been studying Vectras ever since that made its debut and I can't find a single road car with that type of front bumper....

I'll get a pic from Triple 8. For anyone that has actually observed the front end its obviously an aero aid . The bumper is a one piece fully replaceable fibreglass. If you were at Brands then you'd have seen Matt Neals front corner in tatters from a collison. In future we're also going to get the drivers to autograph and sell on their own personal bits of carnage for charity.

The road cars were produced last season and are dotted around the Vauxhall franchise,mostly used ones by now as most were co cars. Again you could of seen them in the car park last year at most event.

The only changes have been to the front splitter. If you come to a race meeting you can see one first hand up close. Or demonstrate your point.

Stu

[rude-boy]

stu harris said:

The only changes have been to the front splitter. If you come to a race meeting you can see one first hand up close. Or demonstrate your point.

Stu

If I start arguing with you about the engine’s performance can I hoon it round the track so you can prove I’m wrong

[stu harris]

rude-boy said:

stu harris said:

The only changes have been to the front splitter. If you come to a race meeting you can see one first hand up close. Or demonstrate your point.

Stu

If I start arguing with you about the engine’s performance can I hoon it round the track so you can prove I’m wrong

No

Though Matt Prior did in autocar last week.

Stu

[rubystone]

You mya have defeated me in my quest for a piture of one of Tom Chilton's incidents last year when the front bumper came away....but tell us more about the gearbox that 888 and Dynamics were trying before the season started - any good?...did you use it in the races?

[stu harris]

rubystone said:

but tell us more about the gearbox that 888 and Dynamics were trying before the season started - any good?...did you use it in the races?

Yes , its a new S2000 Xtrac unit that , I think , only ourselves and Dynamics are using. Believe Chevrolet are using a Hewland.
Stu

[rubystone]

stu harris said:

rubystone said:

but tell us more about the gearbox that 888 and Dynamics were trying before the season started - any good?...did you use it in the races?

Yes , its a new S2000 Xtrac unit that , I think , only ourselves and Dynamics are using. Believe Chevrolet are using a Hewland.
Stu

Thanks - I was told we'd hear the difference, but that didn't come across on TV...and of course you are right - only you and Dynamics using it for this season at least, I believe...(but may be wrong...)

[SamHH]

What's so special about this gearbox?

[rubystone]

SamHH said:

What's so special about this gearbox?

It's received extra walnut treatment

Actually I did wonder whether it was essentially a seamless shift 'box, but both teams run their cars with H patterns don't they?...

[Ahonen]

rubystone said:

Actually I did wonder whether it was essentially a seamless shift 'box, but both teams run their cars with H patterns don't they?...

Not for about 15 years.

[rude-boy]

Easyish mistake to make though as at least one team has gone back to an H box due to the weight break.

[Munter]

Ahonen said:

rubystone said:

Actually I did wonder whether it was essentially a seamless shift 'box, but both teams run their cars with H patterns don't they?...

Not for about 15 years.

All the BMWs on the grid. Using a H pattern. Saves them 30kg apparently.