Top up or down when racing?
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top up will significantly cut down on aerodynamic drag on these cars. Folks here actually notice a difference in gas mileage with the top down on the hwy, so its not wonder that putting the top up will make a difference if the "race" involves anything above 80-90mph. The folks on street encounters say that if two identical S2000s race, one with the top up and one with the top down to 100mph from a dig, the one with the top down would loose by approx 2.5 car lengths. All hearsay as I haven't seen anything to back it up, but its something to keep in mind.
If your talking about tracking the car, or road racing it, then having the top up might not matter - depends on the track I guess - one with good long straightaways where the driver can get up to 110+mph might benefit from keeping the top up.
But for example in an AutoX, where one barely breaks 60mph, it shouldn't matter. I think someone on here actually said that the car handled better with the top down because of the lower CG!
If your talking about tracking the car, or road racing it, then having the top up might not matter - depends on the track I guess - one with good long straightaways where the driver can get up to 110+mph might benefit from keeping the top up.
But for example in an AutoX, where one barely breaks 60mph, it shouldn't matter. I think someone on here actually said that the car handled better with the top down because of the lower CG!
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From: Shreveport, La
Originally Posted by MasterVtec' date='Mar 22 2007, 11:32 PM
A GTO absolutely killed me yesterday.
My top was up.
lmfao.
My top was up.
lmfao.
There again at 6.0 liters we would still have some room for growth. Better give us 10 cylinders.
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Originally Posted by Spec_Ops2087' date='Mar 22 2007, 08:15 PM
Aerodynamically, top up would be the smarter of the two choices as there is much less drag.
The max speed top down is only ~150mph where as max speed top up is ~168mph. Pretty significant difference considering what we're talking about.
The max speed top down is only ~150mph where as max speed top up is ~168mph. Pretty significant difference considering what we're talking about.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by trivium' date='Mar 22 2007, 11:43 PM
Show me evidence of a stock S2000 going 168mph with the top up on a flat level surface.
We all know the classic one of the s2k on the autobahn that did 173 if my conversion was correct but he was on a slight downhill apparently.
Otherwise, there is no real evidence beyond them. I'm not going to go out and test the max speed but that is around the general concensious for max speed in this car. Prove me wrong that it ISN'T the max speed
Maybe its 165 not 168, who cares about a 3mph difference but its mid to high 160s