I'd like to thank
outsidethebox, the OP, for starting this thread; it is exactly
the kind of radical solution that I came to look forward to being discussed in
the 18 months I lurked here on EM.
I am surprised at the rampant cynicism, skepticism, and negativity that is
being heaped on it.
I find it plausable that the surprisingly high FE was achieved... but in a very
specific and almost unworldly environment.
I can envisioned a select group of highly qualified geeks and nerds getting
together and challenging each other to "show me what ya' got," no holds
barred. The only rule being that it had to be a "car" that is a vehicle with
four wheels in contact with the ground. The construction that I see is strictly
low budget, roll you own, use what ya' got. OK, its strictly about max FE,
it's not meant for TV, it's not meant to generate sponsorship money, it's not
about street-ability.
Get a small car, gut it to save weight, sit on an orange crate. Drive in a
bathing suit and bare feet. Put in a very small engine -- Crosly? -- with
balanced and spec'ed pistons, rods and crank, polished and ported intake,
etc. The thinnist lube oil the high temps will permit, maybe even castor oil
like was used in the model airplanes of the time.
As to the actual operation, I see a perfectly flat smooth concrete "track,"
no wind, high ambient temps. Speeds below 20 MPH where aerodynamic
losses are negligable. Push start, a little switch to toggle the ignition on
and off, maybe a compression release in there somewhere, maybe even a
freewheel somewhere in the chain drive. No brakes or suspension, who
needs 'em.
I can see a bunch of dedicated total engineering whackos pulling it off...
just for fun... just because the guys in the front office or in the coffee shop
said it couldn't be done. (When MPGs get really interesting, the suits step in
and gave it some visibility to try to get some public good will out of it.)
Funny, that sounds a whole lot like something you guys would do, or
appreciate if someone else did it.
