pagani
10-07-2007, 01:13 PM
Interesting update on the scc ultimate aero tt high speed testing
Things have been very exciting yet extremely busy over here for the past several weeks so my apologies for not reaching out to you sooner. First off, I would like to thank everyone for their support and for joining the 250 MPH Club. Being aware that the Ultimate Aero is a car that will only be purchased by a limited group of people I wanted to make sure that all car enthusiasts were able to join in on the experience one way or another. Growing up it was always a dream of mine to be able to start my own car company and like many of you I enjoy any chance I have to be around or experience impressive cars.
Lets talk about testing...
I’d first like to make note of the approach we took to disclose information about our testing. We are the only company that has publicized testing from the very beginning and I think this is one defining factor of SSC. I don’t know how many people are aware of this but our first test session (Nevada) was also the first time we had the Ultimate Aero above 200 mph! From that test we learned of minor aerodynamic changes that needed to be incorporated into the final production version. Over the course of the next three test sessions we tested the durability of our drive train and focused on areas such as engine and transmission temperature. The Ultimate Aero passed the safety and durability testing with amazing results, from our twin turbo V-8 maintaining it’s strength and all the while performing perfectly during over 100 miles of 220 mph+ testing to our transmission temperatures peaking at a mere 185 degrees Fahrenheit under the harshest of conditions. The entire high speed testing segment of the final development of the Ultimate Aero was a wonderful experience. The only incident we ever had was when I was out testing the Ultimate Aero and hit a bird at 220 mph! (Check out the picture).
Our engineers’ talents really shone through as we completed real world testing over the course of just 5 test sessions in 6 months. The most rewarding part of the aerodynamics portion of the testing experience for me, was not just the experience of the full scale wind tunnel testing we did at Langeley, Virginia, but the fact that all the money and time that I spent in those early days of aerodynamics design, paid off extremely well in the real world. Proven by this top speed record!
That being said, I’d like to talk to you about the past few weeks which have been hectic to say the least! After we concluded our durability and aerodynamic testing in July we were now ready to stretch the Ultimate Aero's legs and see what she was capable of when it came to top speed. There are so many manufacturers that constantly make claims without testing them and this is something I don’t understand. As a new and limited production manufacturer we don’t have the luxury of a test track or a large budget for traveling to foreign tracks but I still made sure we tested our top speed. Another hurdle we ran into was being denied from other manufactures proving grounds (I guess I can understand why!). This led us to our only option, closing down public roads which posed interesting challenges but in the end I think this was the most impressive way to do it. We broke the record on a 2 lane county highway not on a perfect test track with controlled elements. This really showed what the Ultimate Aero is capable of.
Although testing went very well and we broke the top speed record I’m not completely satisfied because we have yet to find the true maximum top speed of the Ultimate Aero. We have been road length and road surface limited to date and unless we close down a national interstate or have permission to have a go at it on Bugatti/Volkswagen’s test track in Germany we’re limited in our options. we’re willing to prove to everyone that we have more speed on the table and have in motion plans to offer a challenge to any manufacturer that wants to accept it.
Lastly, I’d like to give thanks to my SSC employees and test driver Chuck Bigelow for accomplishing this enormous feat. And by the way Chuck is a 71 year old local from my hometown and as you will see in upcoming in-car videos, didn't wear a helmet or racing suit during any of our high speed testing or the record run!
Life Begins At 250...
This happens to a bird when you hit one@200+mph
https://www.shelbysupercars.com/images/ssc-bird-haha.jpg
:D 8)
Things have been very exciting yet extremely busy over here for the past several weeks so my apologies for not reaching out to you sooner. First off, I would like to thank everyone for their support and for joining the 250 MPH Club. Being aware that the Ultimate Aero is a car that will only be purchased by a limited group of people I wanted to make sure that all car enthusiasts were able to join in on the experience one way or another. Growing up it was always a dream of mine to be able to start my own car company and like many of you I enjoy any chance I have to be around or experience impressive cars.
Lets talk about testing...
I’d first like to make note of the approach we took to disclose information about our testing. We are the only company that has publicized testing from the very beginning and I think this is one defining factor of SSC. I don’t know how many people are aware of this but our first test session (Nevada) was also the first time we had the Ultimate Aero above 200 mph! From that test we learned of minor aerodynamic changes that needed to be incorporated into the final production version. Over the course of the next three test sessions we tested the durability of our drive train and focused on areas such as engine and transmission temperature. The Ultimate Aero passed the safety and durability testing with amazing results, from our twin turbo V-8 maintaining it’s strength and all the while performing perfectly during over 100 miles of 220 mph+ testing to our transmission temperatures peaking at a mere 185 degrees Fahrenheit under the harshest of conditions. The entire high speed testing segment of the final development of the Ultimate Aero was a wonderful experience. The only incident we ever had was when I was out testing the Ultimate Aero and hit a bird at 220 mph! (Check out the picture).
Our engineers’ talents really shone through as we completed real world testing over the course of just 5 test sessions in 6 months. The most rewarding part of the aerodynamics portion of the testing experience for me, was not just the experience of the full scale wind tunnel testing we did at Langeley, Virginia, but the fact that all the money and time that I spent in those early days of aerodynamics design, paid off extremely well in the real world. Proven by this top speed record!
That being said, I’d like to talk to you about the past few weeks which have been hectic to say the least! After we concluded our durability and aerodynamic testing in July we were now ready to stretch the Ultimate Aero's legs and see what she was capable of when it came to top speed. There are so many manufacturers that constantly make claims without testing them and this is something I don’t understand. As a new and limited production manufacturer we don’t have the luxury of a test track or a large budget for traveling to foreign tracks but I still made sure we tested our top speed. Another hurdle we ran into was being denied from other manufactures proving grounds (I guess I can understand why!). This led us to our only option, closing down public roads which posed interesting challenges but in the end I think this was the most impressive way to do it. We broke the record on a 2 lane county highway not on a perfect test track with controlled elements. This really showed what the Ultimate Aero is capable of.
Although testing went very well and we broke the top speed record I’m not completely satisfied because we have yet to find the true maximum top speed of the Ultimate Aero. We have been road length and road surface limited to date and unless we close down a national interstate or have permission to have a go at it on Bugatti/Volkswagen’s test track in Germany we’re limited in our options. we’re willing to prove to everyone that we have more speed on the table and have in motion plans to offer a challenge to any manufacturer that wants to accept it.
Lastly, I’d like to give thanks to my SSC employees and test driver Chuck Bigelow for accomplishing this enormous feat. And by the way Chuck is a 71 year old local from my hometown and as you will see in upcoming in-car videos, didn't wear a helmet or racing suit during any of our high speed testing or the record run!
Life Begins At 250...
This happens to a bird when you hit one@200+mph
https://www.shelbysupercars.com/images/ssc-bird-haha.jpg
:D 8)