DonW

The good news is that my wife can now stand to watch the racing 'cos the cars sound so much better! Neither of us were fans of the sound of last year's cars. I like the way this years cars seem to handle, too.

I've heard people talk recently about big Mercedes being muscle cars. That's just wrong, although they have big V8s and lots of power, they're just not American!

Well, Land Rovers are famous for being able to cross any terrain!

I had exactly the same reaction, then I scrolled down and saw you'd posted it!

What! You mean they make cars in other places in the world?!!! PM sent.

Well put, Skip! It would make a great gasser, but it's very fine just the way it is.

PM sent. Not too easy, not too hard in the end - I found it after I had given up, funnily enough.

I'm guessing it's not from Brazil?

Well done John I can empathise with you as I just got a contract testing software at BMW GB head office! Given my passion for BMW, I'm sort of in shock - I interviewed and was offered the job on Friday and I start tomorrow! Sadly I have to stay near the site during the week as it's too far to commute, not ideal but better than not having a contract at all... Good luck, -Don. PS I must say how you all on the forum have helped keep me sane during the dark times when I thought I'd never land another contract!

Well I got as far as Puma and Alfa Metais Veículos, seems like rear engind VW based sports cars were a big thing in Brazil!

Nope, can't get a handle on this.

Does anyone know what GT stands for? I know those responsible for the Hennessey GT don't! This is a GT:

Me too!

I'd say use the balsa, whoever cut the 'parts' and packed them into the boxes all that time ago would have wanted that... You don't build like somebody that wants an easy life! Whatever, I respect you for taking up this challenge.

Chevy were going to crush this Wankel engined concept car until someone stepped in at the last minute and it ended up being gifted (engineless) at the say-so of Wayne Cherry to Tom Falconer at Claremont Corvette in the UK who has restored it and got it running with a Mazda Wankel engine. There are countless other such horror stories, not all with happy endings. Makes you wonder.

Reminds me of Steve Bolander's car in Graffiti, but it isn't that one!

Thanks Tulio Do I get a point for noticing? Cheers. -Don.

So will they be facing forwards or backwards? Or just a little sideways...

Thanks Bill. I agree with your general point that cars with a big polar moment do have that sort of dumbbell effect, my comment has more to do with the general 'twitchiness' that short wheelbase cars with the weight concentrated in the middle tend to share, as you say in your last 2 paragraphs. Mike Hawthorn never really got on with 'Super squalo' GP Ferraris for that reason. The Cheetah could never be said to understeer, that's for sure!

Hi Cato Is that f/r or r/f?

Magic? Please do tell, Tulio!

He probably speaks French too, in fact I can guess what he might have said as he headed for said ditch! If you're not crashing you're not trying (someone said that, I don't think it's one of Abraham Lincoln's). Even Fangio crashed occasionally.

Must be the only road car since the brass era with the engine in literally in the middle but still in front of the driver where it should be. A couple of quotes from Diseno-art.com website that I found: 'Because the chassis was not stiff enough, the Cheetah exhibited quirky handling characteristics at high speeds.' '"Cheetah Race Cars" has gotten permission from one of the original creators of the Cheetah (Thomas) to create "continuation" cars that are advertised as faithful to the original with updated engineering and reliability, but without the problems of the replicas.' With such a low polar moment of inertia, snap oversteer would be the big problem and, as Cato says, the Cheetah makes the Cobra look safe. And there aren't too many cars like that since the brass era either. But what a way to go!

Eric Bates went on to be a top chartered surveyor, measuring out huge sites for major building projects, so he put his skills to good use. It is a lovely model, I can't help wishing he'd done a Spitfire too! Glad you all appreciate it.

It certainly wouldn't give over 3000bhp with those notches uncovered, even before the belts snapped. Maybe there are some blanking plates that haven't been fitted in that photo? Also, no way can the driver see what's ahead of the truck!