by duncan fox » Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:49 pm
Steve Holmes wrote:Duncan, why do you think the Shadow Mk 1 never really worked as well as expected?
Steve,This car fits Dons quote "if I wanted ordinary Id have bought a McLaren" to a tee.
Firstly I believe the chassis was over powered, it was originally designed around a 600 hp 5 litre Toyota quad cam engine that didn't arrive until early 1970, halfway through the program by which time they were struggling with a whole host of other problems. The main one amongst the many was those tiny tires and the cascade effect they had on the overall design. They were affected by the track surface imperfections, they followed every nook and cranny and in order to keep them on the ground the springing had to be hardened. Result.....it wouldn't go round corners. Went like a raped ape on the straights though due to its low frontal area (not the 250mph hoped for), but then wouldn't stop. The brakes just were not up to it, the air brake in the original design had been banned due to the fia ruling on movable aerodynamic devises. The transmissions had to be modified to turn those small rear wheels 40% faster. Shifting had to be clutchless (unless you wanted to let go the steering wheel) the result of no room for an extra pedal in the foot well and the necessity to have a l/h hand clutch. Cooling was marginal always no matter where the radiators were.
Trevor Harris ideas were all sound but just too much too soon......
Vic Elford said it was the worst car he ever drove.
Newer versions used more current and proven thinking in their designs resulting in a championship in 74
Pete Lyons made the comment in period "racing rewards audacity while punishing excesses of it. And punish Nichols it did, almost bankrupting him.
[quote="Steve Holmes"]Duncan, why do you think the Shadow Mk 1 never really worked as well as expected?[/quote]
Steve,This car fits Dons quote "if I wanted ordinary Id have bought a McLaren" to a tee.
Firstly I believe the chassis was over powered, it was originally designed around a 600 hp 5 litre Toyota quad cam engine that didn't arrive until early 1970, halfway through the program by which time they were struggling with a whole host of other problems. The main one amongst the many was those tiny tires and the cascade effect they had on the overall design. They were affected by the track surface imperfections, they followed every nook and cranny and in order to keep them on the ground the springing had to be hardened. Result.....it wouldn't go round corners. Went like a raped ape on the straights though due to its low frontal area (not the 250mph hoped for), but then wouldn't stop. The brakes just were not up to it, the air brake in the original design had been banned due to the fia ruling on movable aerodynamic devises. The transmissions had to be modified to turn those small rear wheels 40% faster. Shifting had to be clutchless (unless you wanted to let go the steering wheel) the result of no room for an extra pedal in the foot well and the necessity to have a l/h hand clutch. Cooling was marginal always no matter where the radiators were.
Trevor Harris ideas were all sound but just too much too soon......
Vic Elford said it was the worst car he ever drove.
Newer versions used more current and proven thinking in their designs resulting in a championship in 74
Pete Lyons made the comment in period "racing rewards audacity while punishing excesses of it. And punish Nichols it did, almost bankrupting him.