reddsun1

Here's one for thought: impact of the use of aluminum in cars? I learned something I didn't know about [gotta love that Discovery Channel], and that's the stress-life of aluminum vs. steel. What I didn't know was that aluminum has a much more finite fatigue cycle; it won't flex or bend as in the same way that steel will. Aluminum will only stress so far, then break altogether under load. Hence the necessity to retire old airplanes to the boneyards after so many hours of flight service. So how will this characteristic affect the life cycles of high performance cars that utilize aluminum for major structures, like the Lambo Gallardo, Corvette Z06, Ford GT, etc.? I realize engineers/designers have taken these limitations into account when they design higher performance cars--hey, it's how they earn the big bucks. I'm sure these chassis are over-engineered and processed with other alloys, so as to compensate for this metallurgical characteristic. But could this concievably limit the amount of stress and use a car can see? If a car sees a lot of high performance use, like at track-days and such; if it were used hard enough, long enough--could it experience a major chassis failure? 20, 30, 40 years ago, cars were much more disposable in use and intent, part of what makes cars like LS-6 Chevelles and 427 Vettes so much more valuable to collectors today. With people buying cars nowadays with collectibility much more at the fore in their minds, will this relegate these "soda-can" cars to some sort of hermetically sealed rooms, destined to never see any real use? Or if they are used properly [cars--especially high performance cars--are meant to be driven, after all], will it mean they have to be consigned to the scrappers after so many __ thousand miles of driving?

Ooh, looks nice. Of course, being such an original car, I imagine you'll not want to alter it. But if it were a more "expendable" car...the engine bay on those is quite accomodating--if one wanted to get really wild with it, you could shoehorn a 460 in that sucker! I've always been of the mindset for "optimizing for the twisties" myself, though...

Natuarally not one to be left behind, Shelby's working on more iterations of the Mustang besides the 500KR. IIRC, another model in the works will be a s'charged V6 Shelby, which they claim will outperform std. V8 GT's in almost every category. But at up to $14K markup over std. Mustangs, I don't know if a blow dried V6 will generate the same interest as traditional V8 powered musclecars here in the US. For the GT. I think Ford's painted themselves into a corner with this one. For example: 1.) no suitable power plant for racing. They knew it'd suck up far more resources/capital to make it competitive in racing than they'd be willing to commit, hence no plans for a "factory" racing effort of any kind from the get-go. Now the s'charged 5.4(?) litre motor is fine for a boulevard terror, and makes some nice power numbers for exec's to crow and beat their chests about, but I for one would NOT use it as the base for a racing motor. And why not? Someone more familiar with homologation practices correct me if wrong, but that is a [relatively] healthy displacement size for a factory-available engine, and because it employs forced induction, I'd expect it to be more heavily restricted. Expect the sanctioning bodies to keep the leash pulled tight. In addition, 2.) supercharging = more moving parts, increased complexity, i.e. more sh-t that can break. Not to mention practicality suffers for crew/techs who'll have to work on it under the stress of racing conditions. Just makes it that much more of a pain in the arse, and likely to be the butt of many a joke and vulgar reference from mechanics. I'd adhere as much to the KISS principle [not the rock band ] as possible if I had my way. So what do you do? Go to a n/a engine? Ideally, I'd say use the Ford powerplant that's currently in the Saleen S7's. It's already proven and well developed in competition, and it's a real hoss of a motor [there's no mistaking that rip snorting fu--er for anything else in the pit lane]. Coincidentally it's a 427 c.i., and that'd be good for Ford, considering how significant that number is for the racing history of the original cars--hey, since they're on this whole "heritage" kick anyway, milk it for some press. But again, there's that catch-22. Since it wouldn't be an "available" or optional engine on the production car, I'd expect heavy restrictions yet again from prospective sanctioning bodies. A shame, really. Does anybody know the production figures for the Saleens? Is it less than the GT's 1000 car production run? If it were an optional engine on the GT, they might be considered "mass produced" enough to not be so hamstrung and restricted on power as the Saleens have been. Oh well, it's obvious I've spent way too much time thinking about this. Been away from the boards for a bit, so pardon the late reply, as I know the conversation has since moved on.

All I can say is: DAMMIT! That was my idea!! Looks like someone's in the process of trying to get the Ford GT homologated for competition, in Speed World Challenge? One of the backers includes Sammy Hagar and his Cabo Cabo(?) restaurants. The subtle aero refinements--at the nose, in front of the rear wheel arches and with the rear wing are nearly exactlywhat I had in mind, albeit with an original [i.e. smaller, lighter, purpose built for racing] GT40 chassis, maybe a Mk I or Mk II tub? I still say the new GT is too much of a pig to make a truly good race car. In fact, [no one would ever believe me, probably sound like a ranting fu--wit] I've got some .bmp's of GT40 line blueprints from a couple of years ago that I played around with in MS Paint that look very similar. Very. I even went so far as to contact a kit car company in Oz as to whether such mods would be feasible with the original bodywork. *sigh* I'm a misunderstood genius, I am.... Okay, maybe just a ranting lunatic....

a $55,000 vehicle, rendered useless by a $25 part....that's usually how it goes.

Anybody know where there may be more photos from the SEMA show? Particularly the customized Dodge Charger? It looks like West Coast Customs has finally created what consumers have been begging Chrysler for since day one: a two door coupe ver. of the Charger. Up til now, it's only been seen as the digital imaginings of Photoshop artists, but now it seems it's been shown to be possible. You've got to hand it to Chrysler, they've got some of the most aesthetically pleasing and most customizable cars on the road today [somewhat tacky customizers' paint choices notwithstanding]. But some of the auto rag pundits still proclaim it a company in the red? Go figure. But I guess all of the big 3 are in somewhat shaky conditions. They can't do any worse than GM, whose cars are some of the fugliest on the road. They seem to be kept afloat by fleet sales and older consumers who remain doggedly brand loyal. I think I'm liking the idea of a 2-door Charger--ugly ass truck grille or no...c'mon Dodge! Get with it already!

Paris Hilton is NO actress. She's not even very attractive... bleh

LOL! I saw about 5-6 minutes of Santa's Slay--was all I could stand. That's one of those movies that's so bad, everybody in the production crew has to know it. "...and they just! didn't! care!" I wonder is that another one of those "Christmas" movies that was shot somewhere in the middle of August? For another horrible example, I recommend "Jack Frost" [not the one with Michael Keaton]. One of the all-time worst B-movies ever. And would you believe they made a sequel?! It's even worse. I think they did this intentionally.

Oh dear GOD! I can't stand that fuggin' channel! That constitutes about 75% of the selection my wife watches. I almost quit dating her over that.....

Leonardo DiCaprio, hands down. Somebody call this guy and remind him he SUCKS. I mean really--he plays a mentally challenged kid in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and gets nominated for an Acadamy Award? WTF? Why do actors get accolades and awards for playing what has to be the easiest human behaviors to act out? How much skill does it really take for a person to drool, giggle and pitch hissie fits like someone who doesn't comprehend things in front of a camera?

It just occurred to me---there's only one thing I dread when I think about P. Jackson doing this film. I know it'll be there in spades, but still I hope: please, oh please, for the love of God! Can we not have 30-45 minutes of padding in the film consisting of gratuitous overuse of helicopter pan shots, added simply for the sake of showing the audience what "wonderful and exotic" locales the story's taking place in? Well, that explains where the 3 hrs is coming from...

Well, until they start making available Gundam "cloth" armor [is that what the snap on armor is called?] and/or VF-1 versions, I'll just wait and see where this goes...

Okay, fair enough...true, a real gorilla would have absolutely no friggin reason to be interested in a blonde anyway.

Oh rest assured, there likely will be a B-movie direct-to-video version following on the heels of this version. Wouldn't be surprised if one was already in the works. Oh sure, it'll have a cheesy but obvious vaguely familiar title, some character and plot differences, but it's coming. What a shame though. Part of me thinks: if there's to be a low-budget ver., it's only proper that it be by Roger Corman [does he even still make films?] JELEINEN: why not want him to look like a real gorilla? While the 70's version was cutting edge for it's time, in retrospect the dude in a suit ver. looks like just that--dude in a suit. I still love that waterfall scene with Jessica Lange. Kong, you's a dirty monkey! Did you see those legs of hers? Yeah, they go all the way down to the ground!

Anybody know if the chunky monkey will be all CG? Wonder how he'll stack up amongst Hollywood's other favorite monsters? I'm biased towards Stan Winston's T-Rex's for the JP movies, myself [we won't even count that made-up fake a$$ croc-o-dino; I just have to pretend that 3rd movie never got made, ugh!] As far as mechanical movie monsters, the T-Rex is the real king. That's gonna be tough to wrap my noodle around--the monkey boy beating up on not one, but two of the greatest predators [still open to debate] ever to walk the earth.

Oh yeah, I believe it. What's that saying? "the camera puts on about 10 lbs" From my own personal experiences: there's that time I saw Paul Newman at a race in NY. Guy wouldn't weigh 100 lbs soaking wet. I have a friend who recently married a fellow that does work as a stunt double; she's got pics and testifies to the fact that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is not nearly as massive as he looks on screen. Says he looks "average height" ['bout 5'10" -ish?] at best in person.

LOL, so when Vader gets a new lightsaber, is this what he sees? untitled.bmp

Or better yet, Vader's visors turn blue, and are filled with the image of a little prompt box: "Exiting now will cause you to lose any unsaved information. Do you wish to continue?" Yes/No

Well, from seeing the video game previews, I've already known for a couple of months now that Kong will be fighting a T-Rex in this upcoming movie, like the 1933 original [the marketing/merchandising machine that exists these days is kinda sickening. No such thing as a "surprise hit" any more]. But after seeing some sneak previews just a while ago, it looks like this film is going to follow the original flick much more closely than I thought. Looks like it will be a period film, set in the 1930's. From the looks of it, it may very well be a scene for scene remake of the first classic [still the best, IMHO]; from the sauropod dino chase through the forest, to the Plesiosaur attack on the rafts, bi-plane fight on the Empire State, etc. Running time could be 3 hours?! Holy sh-t!! A movie that will actually give viewers thier money's worth, instead of 90 minutes of mental drooling? Could this film buck their overwhelming trend towards churning out crap merely for the sake of milking a franchise/character for all the money they can get from it, regardless of whether the movie actually comes out no better than if someone pulled down their pants and shat upon a roll of film?

This just looks like a baaad idea. Well, I have issues with the new GT anyway [yeah, like my opinion matters--not like I'd ever be able to afford one anyway]. But still, this just seems DUMB. I don't remember what the chassis structure is on the new car, but the original GTs used unitized tubs, and they found out that when the roof was removed, structural stiffness was SERIOUSLY weakened. So much for learning from/being inspired by this cars heritage and history, huh? I know, this is just a concept, and this sort of thing is addressed long before production is ever thought about. But still, it seems like what will inevitably result [doesn't it make in the neighborhood of 500 lb/ft of torque?] will be some pissed off customers with 'supercars' with twisted frames.

Awww, they're adorable! I want a baby 911! Ooh! Ooh, wait! I want a baby Lambo!

Wow, it's hard to believe that before long, it will have been 20 years since the original film! Holy Crap! Well, I know one thing---they sure as he-- won't get my money if they remake this classic. As far as I'm concerned, without Kevin Peter Hall [may he rest in peace], the Predator ain't sh-t. I wish I could get a screen cap pic of the scene where the Predator takes off his mask for the final fight and squares off with Arnold in the swamp. Those ain't stilts that he's standing on when he dwarfs Arnold [or was it his stuntman?]; he really did tower over Dutch like that. If Arnold is the Oak, then truly KPH was a Giant Redwood! He definitely was what made the Predator one of film's greatest monsters. Any attempt to remake Predator will only be greeted with this movie fan's scorn and contempt!

Just saw this last night. Is it a stand alone ep, or a series? Needless to say, the animation was nothing short of awesome. It appeared to me that the vast majority of the animation was done using CG and cel-shading [can anyone clarify a little on just what cel-shading entails? Is it merely using a color palette that matches hand drawn/painted cels?] The demons were friggin creepy [child taker and blood taker rocked]! That, in combination with the dark, clausterphobic backdrop of the alleyways made for a great "suspense-horror" atmosphere to the story. Can someone give a little clarity as to the nature of "demons" in Japanese culture? Am I correct when I gather that in Japanese lore, demons are much closer to "mortal," i.e. they can die using more conventional methods [swords, etc.], albeit much much harder to kill than mere mortals? as opposed to Western cultures' placing them amongst the "supernatural," i.e. can't kill 'em without envoking spiritual/religious ceremonies, etc., like ghosts?

I thought that Bugatti Veyron reminded me of something....yeah, it's a technilogical marvel, a real horsepower junkie's dream. But gawd, why'd they make it so damn ugly? They should have called it "dung beetle," cause that's what it looks like... But just when I thought Bugatti would reign supreme for "fugliest supercar ever designed," Audi steps up to the plate to challenge with their LeMans coupe supercar.

*groan* What a shame, especially considering how rare these beauties are becoming. Yet another otherwise cool looking old ride that's been spoiled with this whole DUmB wheels treatment. Looks like the top of the front wheels ought to be rubbing/grinding on the underside of the fenders every time the dang suspension compresses. There oughta be a law, I tell ya!