Re: Audi-Dudi's San Diego adventure...

["Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>]

On Thu, 5 Jun 1997, Jeffrey J. Goggin wrote:

> 3) Graydon Stuckey took me up on my offer to compete in the Ur-Q but found
> the car difficult to drive ... the reason why became obvious when I drove
Jeff,

	Thanks very much for the ride.   I had a ball.    That course was 
easily the largest course I have ever run, and the Ur-Q was very 
interesting to drive at the limit.   I didn't have too much trouble with 
the handling, but I couldn't seem to get used to the sensitive brake 
pedal.   Every time I tapped/eased onto the brakes, I unsettled the car, 
or worse yet, I locked up the brakes.   My 5KCSTQ has less power assist, 
and the pedal is alittle firmer.   The locked centre diff didn't seem to 
be noticeable at all.

	The only other thing that surprised me was the overall grip from
the tires.  I was expecting more.  The D40M2s on my 5KCSTQ stick like
crazy on the street, and I expected an order of magnitude greater from the
R1s.  The last autocross car I drove was on soft Hoosiers (Wayne Snyder's
EM SPitfire,) and it stuck pretty well, but not even as well as my
codriver's RX7 with R1s (225/50-15, same size!)

> 4) The 23mm 4k front a/r bar experiment didn't work ... it's too soft and
> allows the car to roll too much.  I found the slightly improved turn-in is
> more than offset by the decrease in transient performance.  Oh, well. 

That course was smooth enough too, that a stiffer sway bar would not be a 
detriment at all.

> 6) Duane Hale's 4kq turbo was quite an impressive looking car ... I didn't
> get to drive it (too busy) but the end results certainly left me quite
> impressed.  I can't imagine where he's going with it from here!  :^)

WoW!   What a car.   Duane's 4KTQ is impeccable!   The car is super 
c;lean, and the turbo installation is very well done.   Oh yeah, I _did_ 
get to drive it!     Duane's objective has been to produce a civilized, 
streetable "family sedan" with excellent performance.   I think he has 
achieved a very good compromise in this regard.   The car rides well, 
handles well, and is quiet and rattle-free.   Its also fast  :-)  Thanks 
Duane.

> 11) Audi owners DON'T flash their headlights at other Audis on the road ...

Yes, they have very little comaraderie!   I remember when my Dad had a 
Volvo, and every Volvo driver on the road would wave or flash his lights 
at us.

Later,
Graydon D. Stuckey