Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 2016 contender

Already on the case, not for the 2016 build but 2017 and not titanium as thats still really to heavy for 2017 car. An Inconel full system is the way I'm heading. Its the material F1 etc use.

Seems to me that what is needed is a Morgan development class with fairly open rules. That would allow such things as the 5L rear suspension and other modifications not allowed under the current rules. Perhaps the only real restriction of such a class would be body shape and original chassis.

The least expensive place to shed weight is the nut behind the wheel.

I can't wait for the 2017 car!
If inconel is on the cards as a possibility then that will be a "sequel" to watch!

As for DaveW comment.....most racing drivers would give an arm and a leg for weight loss!

Drink less beer maybe?

Noooooooo!

Titanium is about 1/2 the weight of inconel, Inconel is actually heavier than off the shelf 300 series Stainless steel, it is only its ability to retain decent strength in thin sections at elevated temperatures that make it worthwhile to use for exhaust or turbine components
It is also frighteningly frighteningly expensive to form and weld

When I interviewed at Lotus F1 to run their fabrication shop 3 years ago, we got talking about costs, hours etc to fabricate an exhaust.

60+ hrs per manifold (ie one bank of the engine), £15000 per side, and they would change them every race weekend....

The tubing was 0.8 mm wall thickness prior to bending, the outside bend (stretched) area after bending was was much much thinner. Akin to welding razor blades....

I for one would not like to see that level of expense within a club level championship. Sure, we all want to win races, but cheque book racing where an exhaust system can cost more than some people's entire budget for the season...

Really are you sure?

Whilst I admire your ambition you can lose an equivalent amount of weight elsewhere and probably higher up in the chassis for a fraction of the cost

For what it's worth, I've made aluminium silencers and the likes (and an awful lot of manifolds in stainless steel)
The silencers are difficult to get through noise testing, as the casing tends to "sing" a bit, and add to the decibel level

Simon @ SiFab

A good point Simon. Saving weight is important but racing at this level should be within the reach of enthusiasts. Exotic materials are all very well but racing Morgans would never get the sponsership money tha F1 gets and the days when someone like Jack Brabham could build a competitive car are long gone.

Personally I have been put off racing my Morgan for several reasons primarily cost. Just to enter speedmog requires a reasonable cost, roll bar, harness, and safety gear and you'd be lucky to see change from £2k. The MSA recently anointed plans to make open top cars to have a full roll cage with side protection, even more cost. I would not want this in my Morgan that I also use on the road. As you say the days of turning up in your daily runner and blatting around a track or up a hill are gone, and is now becoming prohibitively expensive.

I always thought the American stock car race system was a good idea, where the winner had to be prepared to sell their car for $1000 or whatever, precisely intended to prevent 'cheque book' development as Simon so neatly puts it.