I added the values of the drive-train once that if I installed a Swedish final drive (3.2:1?), an overdrive, fully inflated the tires and sup'ed up the engine to rev upto 7000 rpms, then a Spitfire should be able to do 180 mph. Sadly, there are many other physical forces to consider; such as air resistance, coefficient of drag (Spitfires aren't the most aerodynamic car), and your description of "floating" is also appropriate. I believe that downforce and traction are necessary incredients in 100+ speeds. Due to it's light weight and lack of any down-force accessories (wing spoiler, air dams, skirts), any Spitfire doing over 100+ mph, is probably a good sized bump in the road short of going momentarily air born.
According to a program called Car Calculator (which takes into consideration values like coefficient of drag, rotational weights of wheels and such) a Late model Spitfire with over 100hp, 23" tires and OD should be able to do upwards of 115mph, but it doesn't get much better even when you bump the hp value to 130 horses; the top speed estimation is 120 mph. If you've got the brass testicles to take a Spitfire over 100mph, then in the oft quoted words of Rudyard Kipling, "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din." -Terry Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
