| Author | Message | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 1498 Registered: 2-2001 |
Martin, the 512TR is a real race car  When are you getting one ? | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 614 Registered: 10-2001 |
Martin, I've heard that also. The challenge series is a way to pump more money out of rich clients! Still, the Challenge cars are alot of fun to watch and is exciting. It's kinda sad really that Ferrari doesn't race in more series. Ferrari's reputation was built on F1, endurance and rally races. I would really love to see Ferrari design a successor to the 333SP and kick some Audi butt! I think if Enzo was still alive, we'd see more involvement in racing. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2967 Registered: 5-2001 |
I would say the only thing they are comitted to right now is F1. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2966 Registered: 5-2001 |
I would not say there is a lot behind in the Challenge series either. All they do is ensure that all parts are being bought thru their network. There is none or at least not much engineering wasted on Challenge cars. They put bigger brakes, BBS, and slicks and call it a series. There was more engineering that went into the 333SP in its time. When it was time to replace that car they were so into F1 that the successor was left behind and AUDI could catch up. Sad but true. I asked Ed from the Olive Garden team how much the factory actually helps them out with engineering and such. The answer was: not at all! The only thing Ferrari did for them was give them hints in the oil flow inside the engine to fix a problem that has occured on their engine. I guess that was in their (Ferrari) own interest as well. Mind you the team is based out of Modena (Olive Garden Rafanelli). They won't even let them test on the Fiorano track. That kind of bugs me! | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 612 Registered: 10-2001 |
Martin you're absolutely right! After all, the only racing Ferrari has been behind 100% is the challange series and Formula 1 with a minor hand in helping with the 333SP. Most road going Ferraris have lost their direct link with racing history, that's not to say they aren't race derived, it's just different now. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2963 Registered: 5-2001 |
Not all Ferrari's were meant as race cars. With the 308GT4 and the 308GTB the production cars became a means to generate business and money while they were working more intensly on the F1 program. The 456 is not a race car, neither truely is the 360, the 355 or the 348 either. The Challenge Series is just a toy series for rich people to stay happy. (pooh, I am gonna get heat for that!) | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 568 Registered: 12-2001 |
I dont really like the idea of the badges on the 308's. Knowing what they mean kind of prevents me from doing it to mine. Im sure the public wouldnt know any different but I would feel alittle silly showing up to a ferrari meet with them on the car. Kind of like a wanna be I guess. Thats how I look at it. Maybe get the magnetic ones and take them off at car meets. | ||
| Taso Anastasopoulos (90rossa)
New member Username: 90rossa Post Number: 33 Registered: 5-2002 |
Rumor is, the new Porsche Cayenne will be one to beat at Le Mans and Daytona next year. Taso | ||
| Mike (Dollartaker)
Junior Member Username: Dollartaker Post Number: 74 Registered: 7-2001 |
Terry, Thanks. You clarified my answer completely. The classes are what made the big difference. Thanks Mike | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 1495 Registered: 2-2001 |
the 308 is a beautiful car but it was alwasy too heavy & underpowered. The 288 GTO & the F40 cured that | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2351 Registered: 12-2000 |
Terry, I agree with everything you said, but we're in the 00's now and Ferrari is looking dang good against the Porsches. With GA and FIA championships, we just need to win GTS and/or GT Le Mans and Ferrari is back on top. | ||
| [email protected] (Tifosi12)
New member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2002 |
On a different note: Given the racing history the 308 series did have, would that justify to mount a couple of the yellow S/F badges on the sides? Obviously all Ferrari race cars have them, but also street cars got them, when their brethrens were used in racing (I'm looking at a TR 250 model sitting here on my desk, street version with S/F badges). I guess there is no definite answer, but what do people think/feel about this in regards to the 308? | ||
| [email protected] (Tifosi12)
New member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2002 |
Not to berate the point, but Porsche did have its fair share of success in F1: Their engines in the McLarens were the best you could get for a long time. | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 290 Registered: 4-2002 |
Well, the 308 with its 3.0 liter engine would have been classified with the Porsche 911 in most production car racing series. Most sanctioning bodies (SCCA, FIA, IMSA etc) allow modification to the suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, and some engine changes. When you do the things allowed to the 308, you would generally end up with a 2800lb car with 260hp. The 911 would be a 2200lb car with 240hp. The 911 will also have much better brakes (remember that under hard braking the 911's rear weight bias really works for it, nothing brakes like a 911!). Basically, the 308 would get spanked in these classes. Why do you think the SCCA did not allow 911's in their production car classes? As to adding the turbos and such.... well then you would compete with the 935's. Same story. Racing history is fun. Look at top level sportscar racing and Ferrari dominated the 50's and most of the 60's. But when Porsche got serious about it in the late 60's, there was no stopping them. The 908, 917, 934, 935, 936, 956, 962 won LeMans 17 times and put Ferrari out of the sportscar racing business. The 911 is the most successful production based racecar of all time. F1 racing of coarse is a totally different animal and Porsche was never very successful. Long winded I know... but you asked! ooooo forgot: The 288GTO is an excellent point. Group B racing was cancelled so it never got to race, but if it had my scenario still is spot on. The 288GTO would have faced off with the 959. I think we all know how that would have gone! | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 611 Registered: 10-2001 |
You could argue that the racing 308 is actually the 288 GTO. Too bad the series it was supposed to race in was cancelled! | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 559 Registered: 12-2001 |
D'oh! | ||
| Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Member Username: Amenasce Post Number: 295 Registered: 10-2001 |
The 308 did race ( in Michelotto form..900kgs 310 hp etc.. ) in some european Rallies and in the Tour De france . It did fairly good,won some national chamionships such as in Spain and it won the Tour Auto twice. | ||
| Bruno (Originalsinner)
Member Username: Originalsinner Post Number: 641 Registered: 5-2002 |
The car never evolved from or for racing.The closest it ever came to a success was in 1981 (if memory serves) as a twin turbo version (800+ hp if memory serves) at daytona.Dependabilty kept the program from proceeding any further.It's not a race car. | ||
| Mike (Dollartaker)
Junior Member Username: Dollartaker Post Number: 72 Registered: 7-2001 |
Why wasn't the 308 raced more? There are many classes of cars such as MGB, Alfa Romeo GTV, Triumphs etc., that had racing backgrounds. Is it just the class that it would be in, or what. Thanks Mike |