quattro for sale - only the rich need apply

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <1237240921081997/A22241/CSAV10/11B8AA582400*@MHS.minedu.govt.nz> Dave Eaton writes:

> the partial solution was to put so may wings and spoilers and gurney flaps on
> the thing that it auditioned for a role in a batman movie....

Yup.  The S1 has little vertical rubber spoilers along the tops of the 
fenders.  At speed, they move outwards to become mini-wings.  As Michele says, 
the whole car changes shape at speed simply because of the aerodynamic 
pressure. 

> many people have said that the decision to shorten the wheelbase of the quattro
> in order to develop the sport was wrong.  it probably imho wasn't, it was just
> that the weight distrbution was all wrong.  witness the escort cosworth and the
> new toyota corolla wrc cars.  small of wheelbase and reasonably narrow in
> track.  this is the trend for modern rally cars (compare the celica, the
> impreza).

But check out the new Ford's width.
 
> the ultimate solution to audi's problems in group b in 1985 was to develop a
> specialised rally weapon, mid engined, with speciailised suspension etc.  a
> prototype was developed and seen testing, but audi withdrew after henri
> poivonen's death after the board got pissed at all the money and the lack of
> results.

I've talked to the senior Germans about their withdrawal, and have also picked 
up independent echoes of the same comments from Audi Sport UK.  They were 
already pissed off about rule changes that they felt (like the BTCC weight 
penalties) were specifically aimed at counteracting technological advantage.  

What _really_ made up the board's mind was the excursion of a (Ford?) car into 
the spectators in Portugal.  The comment (and I've heard it _many_ times from 
German and UK Audi people) was that: "If there's an accident that kills a lot 
of parents, we don't want the car to have four rings on the front".

I've heard _exactly_  this phrase, in both languages, several times.  I find it 
a little odd that VAG allows VW to compete in these world-class events even 
though the Audi decision is not to take part.  If you like, it's a sign of 
Audi's independence.

The stress, in my conversations, has been less on regulations and officialdom and
more on crowd control.  This is definitely Audi's 'hot button'.

-- 
 Phil Payne
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club