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Gerry | Vanagon
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Subject:Re: Horsies
Date:Wed, 26 Jul 1995 14:39:15 -0400

Attachment file number 1, file name

>>2.  Weigh the car, and take it to the drag races.  Use
>>your quarter mile ET and MPH with one of the following
>>formulas:

>>BHP = (0.00426 * MPH) **3  * weight
        >>HP = (MPH / 234)^3 * Weight
        >>HP = Weight / (ET / 5.825)^3
        >>ET = Cubed root of (Weight / HP) * 5.825
        >>MPH = Cubed root of (HP / Weight) * 234

     I LOVE IT!! With these formulas, we can always blame the engine, not
     the driver for slow 1/4 mile times. For example,a driver who normally
     runs a 12.00 1/4 mile misses a shift point, and records a slower 14.00
     second time. Driver error-NO WAY!! What really happened was the engine
     experienced a sudden and unexpected decrease in horsepower! :)

     In all seriousness, I think I will run these formulas against some
     articles in Road&Track, and see if they pan out.

     Also, I have a marine DYNO in my garage, left over from the days of
     when I owned a boat repair business. I have toyed around with the idea
     of adapting it to VW's, maybe by modifying a tranny case,etc. Just
     another project to deal with....

     BTW, anyone want to buy some boat parts!

     Tom Carrington
     BBTSQP8@bell-atl.com
     88 Vanagon
     65 Notchback
     89 Int'l Dyno Corp mod 2000 dyno