Re: Humor from an old Autoweek

[harrison sapir <hsapir@earthlink.net>]

Reminds me of an old Motor-Something or another magazine that I found at my
fathers house. There was an article titled "The Unit Construction Hoax" It
was written in the fifties when all cars had big heavy frames.

harrison

Dwight Varnes wrote:

> I received a box of 80's Autoweeks as a gift recently, and have been
> making my way through them, reliving my past and laughing at what was at
> one point the exciting future. The following is the official passage
> regarding Audi's new brake system (the much-loved UFOs):
>
> "Audi's V8 powered 300 will sport an elegant and clever new front brake
> design. Audi found brake systems now in use inadequate for the car,
> especially in the planned 400+hp, twin turbo version of its new 3.6
> liter V8. The problem: insufficient swept area, the disc area contacted
> by the pads in a full revolution of the rotor.  To get enough swept area
> for the anticipated power, wight and speed, the 300s wheels needed to be
> 18" in diameter, far larger than can fit to the car.  The solution? Audi
> engineers devised a brake disc only .25" less in diameter than the inner
> race of a 16" wheel, by means of a metal 'spider' welded onto the outer
> edge of the 1.25" thick rotor. The wheel bolts to the spider. With the
> hub out of the way, the caliper clasps the rotor from inside."
>
> Ahh yes. An ingenious solution. One wonders if they ever tested the damn
> things after they designed 'em.
> --
> "Life is too short to drive boring cars."
>
> Dwight Varnes, insurance appraiser and car nut
> 1970 124 Spider (restored, mostly)
> 1986 Audi Coupe GT (bigger engine at machine shop)
> 1989 VW Jetta GLI 16v (the wife's ride, needs restored)
> 1984 Nissan 4x4 Pickup (rust never sleeps)
> 1965 Buick Skylark conv. (more fun than you'd think)