Connect with us

Featured

The New F1 Nose Really Isn’t That Hilarious

Published

on

f1 nelson

While I wouldn’t consider myself a huge fan of F1 racing, I definitely have been intrigued by it from time to time. This was spurred even more by my recent viewing of the documentary Senna that focuses on the battle between legendary driver Ayrtn Senna and his chief rival in the 80s, Alain Prost. F1 drivers are fearless and they are constantly pushing their cars to the limits.

This is why I found the buzz around the new F1 car’s nose to be more than a little troubling. Everywhere you go on social media, there is talk about how one of the new noses looks like a certain male appendage. Even the nicer comments refer to this nose as the “anteater nose.” The ridiculous comments continue with the other new F1 noses as well, as no one seems to have anything racing-related to say.

F1-tweet

F1-tweet-2

I’m glad the lowbrow humor types among us are getting a good laugh out of this. But the fact is, the nose exists like this to make the cars faster – which is what I’m concerned with. Racing is about going fast, not trying to have the most attractive front end on your vehicle.

Engineers are constantly trying to get the most out of their vehicles while staying within the rules (for the most part). This new nose is a result of that, as it is very aerodynamic and works with the structure of the rest of the car.

Initially, engineers began raising the noses, with the ultimate result being increasing downforce – the key to going fast in F1 racing. But, the higher the noses got, the more of a safety risk they became. The noses continued to be modified as the rules changed, with the result being the protruded, downward pointing “anteater nose.”

Advertisement

So laugh if you must, but it’s all about speed and safety. And any true race fan should be a fan of both.

Wes grew up around cars at the family business. He makes no attempt to hide his love of early 90s GM products, and still repents selling his sweet '94 Pontiac Sunbird a few years back. He is currently a managing partner at phantomcopy.com.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Featured

Ford Continues to Please Minivan-Skeptic Soccer Moms

Published

on

Ford Aerostar Minivan Exterior Does Ford Still Make

If the words Aerostar, Windstar and Freestar mean anything to you, you know that Ford is responsible for some of the best minivans ever made. Beginning with the first model Aerostar in 1986, Ford’s snub-nosed minivan set the standard of what would be created by automotive manufacturers in this class for decades.

The Aerostar was also the first minivan in the United States to feature upgraded, luxury packages. With an XLT package, and Eddie Bauer trim levels, the Ford Aerostar allowed drivers to bring passengers, cargo and more in style. For the first time, drivers could take advantage of the versatile and reliable minivan platform, without sacrificing comfort and convenience.

Does Ford Still Make a Minivan?

The Aerostar continued in the mid-90s as the Ford Windstar. The Windstar was a complete reinvention, shifting the drivetrain from RWD to FWD, and bringing the flagship minivan more in line with current minivan design. The Windstar became the Freestar in the early 2000s, lasting until the 2007 model year, with the final Ford “Star line” minivan rolling off the assembly line in December of 2006.

While we don’t know for sure what was behind Ford’s decision to discontinue their family-marketed minivan, we can take a guess. For starters, Ford has extended their reputation for reliable cars and trucks into the crossover market. With options covering a wide range of size and seating configurations (everything from the subcompact Ford Ecosport to the boxy family hauler Ford Flex), crossovers have become the new favorite for family vehicles.

Ford’s versatile crossover line has a vehicle that can meet almost any need. Do you have a small family? Go with the popular 2018 Ford Escape. Big family with lots of stuff to haul? The 2018 Ford Expedition has your back.

Advertisement

Although crossovers and SUVs provide some distinct advantages (presence of AWD, higher ground clearance, and uni-body construction), the market for minivans hasn’t completely died, and neither has Ford’s commitment to providing drivers with a competent and compelling option.

Good News: Ford Still Makes a Passenger Minivan

ford transit connect passenger van in solar color_oAlthough Ford’s marketing has shifted toward promoting their incredible range of crossovers and SUVs as family choices, they still offer a more traditional minivan in the Ford Transit Connect Passenger Wagon. Utilizing the same body construction as the Ford Transit cargo van, the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon features up to 7 seats, and plenty of standard safety and comfort technology.

Lower ride height (easier in and out), sliding doors and greater visibility are among the reasons people still prefer vans for transporting their families. Additionally, the more contoured shape of most crossovers (not looking at you, Ford Flex) means that vans provide better cargo room! Family of four traveling cross-state with three suitcases? A Ford Explorer should be a great option.

Family of six, with a dog and 10 bags going cross-country, however, and the Ford Transit Connect Passenger Wagon starts to look a lot more up to the job.

Ford has a sterling reputation across the spectrum of vehicles they manufacture. Although the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon isn’t among their more well-known, it’s among the most competent and best value options in the minivan class.

 

Advertisement

 

Continue Reading

Featured

I Wasn’t Always a Dale Jr Fan – But Now I Get It

Published

on

dale jr nationwide

It was the crowning moment of the career of Nascar’s most popular driver. The 2004 Daytona 500. The chosen son, Dale Earnhardt Jr, had won the race that his father tragically died competing in only three years earlier.

Reports of the day say that everyone in the crowd was on their feet, cheering. Grown men were in tears. It was quite the moment, they say.

Well, I can tell you that there was at least one person that wasn’t cheering. That’s because I was that lone defector. (more…)

Continue Reading

Featured

The Essence Of 90’s Chevy Truck Commercials

Published

on

essence-90s-chevy-truck-commercial-like-a-rock

If you ever watched television for more than an hour at any time during the 90’s, you probably remember Chevy’s “Like a Rock” commercials. They aired on just about every channel, so they were pretty hard to miss—and pretty hard to forget as well. Even two decades later the sound of Bob Seger belting out those now-famous words is still shockingly memorable. (more…)

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © CarDebater