The Ring - 7:56.33 - video

Okay, it's in a 1999 Porsche 911 GT3, and the current record for production cars. It can be found online at: http://www.globaltv.de/gtvde/product.asp?dept_id=8000&sku=praes01 I believe it is Walter Rohrl driving (no slouch this guy...). The video is in German, but nonetheless interesting even if you don't know the language. It is a streaming format (it popped up my Windows Media Player). You will recognize many of the curves. the thing that really "bothers" me is that the driving is so neat and tidy; Rohrl never puts a wheel wrong, never slides, and hardly has to work the steering wheel. From in-car, it looks like a Sunday drive. What a car. Stephen

> Okay, it's in a 1999 Porsche 911 GT3, and the current record for > production cars. It can be found online at: > http://www.globaltv.de/gtvde/product.asp?dept_id=8000&sku=praes01 ....except that the record was beaten about 3 weeks ago buy a Caterham 500. 7.53 I think they did. Kev

:> :> Okay, it's in a 1999 Porsche 911 GT3, and the current record for :> production cars. It can be found online at: :> :> http://www.globaltv.de/gtvde/product.asp?dept_id=8000&sku=praes01 : ....except that the record was beaten about 3 weeks ago buy a Caterham : 500. 7.53 I think they did. Wow. Learn something new every day. I'll bet the Caterham isn't as nice for a long trip, though :) Stephen

Those streaming things are annoying. Does anyone know how to save the .asx-file to disk rather than the link only? -- Matthias Flatt

I doubt that Caterham builds snowmobiles than can lap the Ring under 8min in mid winter. But SportAuto made a record attempt in late October with a heavily modified Porsche, resulting in a 7.46 lap. See: http://www.motor-presse-online.de/aktionen/rekord/inhalt.htm -- Matthias Flatt

:>> http://www.globaltv.de/gtvde/product.asp?dept_id=8000&sku=praes01 :>....except that the record was beaten about 3 weeks ago buy a Caterham :>500. 7.53 I think they did. : I doubt that Caterham builds snowmobiles than can lap the Ring under : 8min in mid winter. : But SportAuto made a record attempt in late October with a heavily : modified Porsche, resulting in a 7.46 lap. See: : http://www.motor-presse-online.de/aktionen/rekord/inhalt.htm : -- : Matthias Flatt I checked the Caterham webpage. It's true. The press-release is dated 8th January 2000. I think you mostly get rain in that part of germany during the winter. Anyway, the Caterham just got under the Porsche record by about half a second, but fair enough - a record is a record. The Caterham R500 superlight is a minimalist, no compromise car. Nothing wrong with that, as I imagine the driving experience is fabulous. The GT3 Porsche retains a certain amount of civility from the normal 911. I believe it might even have AC and electric window lifts. At least it has a windshield, something the Cat doesn't (you have to wear a crash helmet). Stephen

Well, I found the direct links to the files. They are asf, ms streaming files. You can paste the links in your browser and watch them in your Windows Media Player, but it doesnt let you save it. Sucks doesnt it. mms://globaltv.eurotel.de/globaltv/prodpraes/Porsche/911GT3.asf mms://globalTV2.eurotel.de/globaltv/prodpraes/Porsche/911GT3.asf If anyone would figure out a way into their ftp server, one could download the whole movie and store it localy, but anonymous access was not allowed. If anyone cracks the account and gets in, please post the login and pass. :P * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!

...The >Caterham R500 superlight is a minimalist, no compromise car. Nothing >wrong with that, as I imagine the driving experience is fabulous. The GT3 >Porsche retains a certain amount of civility from the normal 911. I >believe it might even have AC and electric window lifts. At least it has >a windshield, something the Cat doesn't (you have to wear a crash helmet). The thing I find amazing (and uplifting) about this is that the Caterham is the product of a tiny little company working in a garden shed (not literally, but, compared with the Porsche competion department...), powered by a development of a motor that normally pulls a shopping trolley hatchback around (OK, so the Caterham uses a development of the VVC variant, which also goes in the Lotus Elise and MG-F, but the basic "K-Series" motor is moire commonly found under the bonnets of Rovers100/200/400 series family saloons), is a direct, lineal descendant of a car Colin Chapman designed about 35 years ago, and you could probably buy about three of 'em and race them for a year for less than the price of the GT3, let alone the 959. I think the fact that you can credibly mention the Caterham and the Porsche in the same sentence is a tremendous achievement :-) -- JG

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> >> http://www.globaltv.de/gtvde/product.asp?dept_id=8000&sku=praes01 > >....except that the record was beaten about 3 weeks ago buy a Caterham > >500. 7.53 I think they did. > I doubt that Caterham builds snowmobiles than can lap the Ring under > 8min in mid winter. > But SportAuto made a record attempt in late October with a heavily > modified Porsche, resulting in a 7.46 lap. See: > http://www.motor-presse-online.de/aktionen/rekord/inhalt.htm

The Caterham thing was in Autocar magazine (a UK car mag). They took a Caterham Superlight R500 (230bhp, 460Kg = 500bhp/tonne!!), a Mitsubishi EVO IV and Skyline (I think) to try and break the record. OK, maybe not 3 weeks ago. I think it was late November though :) Very interesting article about how they were dodging people in Volvo estates and the like! Kev

Agreed. The Rover engineers did a fantastic job pushing the engine past Honda VTEC levels of power/litre, and still maintaining some driveability. The Caterham is a beast, easily breaking traction in all five gears. However, at 30,000 pounds (50,000 USD) it is not a bargain, but like you said, about half the cost of the GT3. Since both are designed primarily for a one-marque race series, I give the emotional edge to the Cat for staying truer to the concept (I also like the Elise for this reason - get rid of weight rather than add power). Stephen :> : ...The :>Caterham R500 superlight is a minimalist, no compromise car. Nothing :>wrong with that, as I imagine the driving experience is fabulous. The GT3 :>Porsche retains a certain amount of civility from the normal 911. I :>believe it might even have AC and electric window lifts. At least it has :>a windshield, something the Cat doesn't (you have to wear a crash helmet). : The thing I find amazing (and uplifting) about this is that the Caterham is : the product of a tiny little company working in a garden shed (not : literally, but, compared with the Porsche competion department...), powered : by a development of a motor that normally pulls a shopping trolley hatchback : around (OK, so the Caterham uses a development of the VVC variant, which : also goes in the Lotus Elise and MG-F, but the basic "K-Series" motor is : moire commonly found under the bonnets of Rovers100/200/400 series family : saloons), is a direct, lineal descendant of a car Colin Chapman designed : about 35 years ago, and you could probably buy about three of 'em and race : them for a year for less than the price of the GT3, let alone the 959. I : think the fact that you can credibly mention the Caterham and the Porsche in : the same sentence is a tremendous achievement :-) : -- : JG

Fantastic! Thanks for the link. Would love to be able to save this somehow -- Cheers, Robin Lord - Trance DJ & Sim Racer. http://www.oppositelock.co.uk Nrburgring and Grand Prix Legends | Okay, it's in a 1999 Porsche 911 GT3, and the current record for | production cars. It can be found online at: | | http://www.globaltv.de/gtvde/product.asp?dept_id=8000&sku=praes01 | | I believe it is Walter Rohrl driving (no slouch this guy...). The video | is in German, but nonetheless interesting even if you don't know the | language. It is a streaming format (it popped up my Windows Media | Player). You will recognize many of the curves. the thing that really | "bothers" me is that the driving is so neat and tidy; Rohrl never puts a | wheel wrong, never slides, and hardly has to work the steering | wheel. From in-car, it looks like a Sunday drive. What a car. | | Stephen |