The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I like the German autobahn; see why

Great to see the old girl tearing up the Asphalt , we did the same in Nevada a week or so back. Nice one Roland

yea roland we know the feeling , soon wayne will have some vid of us doing it on the americas lonliest hiway 50,! btw very cool vid,some serious speed there

Cool vid

German autobahn runs right through the Netherlands does it?

Wish it did..
Had to drive about 80 miles to reach the border and to be able to unleash the beast.

I read something about this Nevada trip. Did you bring your car to the US Dave?
Because that is a dream that I have; to drive my Challenger over the Black Rock Desert.
Was wondering if an other European has done such a 'project'.

dave-r wrote:German autobahn runs right through the Netherlands does it?

Roland wrote:I read something about this Nevada trip. Did you bring your car to the US Dave?

No. I am not a rich man by any stretch of the imagination. It would have cost more than a round the world cruise on a luxury liner!

I did a little driving in Eddie's and Drew's Challengers. Plus a very quick go around the car park in Bob's new Challenger.

Great clip, thank you!

Anybody else noticed the length of the clip, 4:40?

babyelephant wrote:Anybody else noticed the length of the clip, 4:40?

A bit too much for my taste. I would have preferred it to be 3:83

christer wrote:

babyelephant wrote:Anybody else noticed the length of the clip, 4:40?

A bit too much for my taste. I would have preferred it to be 3:83

I guess I made of fool of me....!? It is only 60 seconds in a minute, right?

christer wrote:
I guess I made of fool of me....!? It is only 60 seconds in a minute, right?

babyelephant wrote:

christer wrote:
I guess I made of fool of me....!? It is only 60 seconds in a minute, right?

babyelephant wrote:...Anybody else noticed the length of the clip, 4:40?

At last, somebody notices..

I love highway driving. that was fun! I need to get back out in the garage.

Wow, that was incredible footage, thanks! I have never seen an Autobahn, only heard of them, i had imagined very wide and dead straight stretches of road so that people could go top speed, but that one does not seem like that. There are many cars on the road, and they stay in the fast lane while driving slow! Is there many accidents on the autobahns? Your car is so stable at 135mph! At 125 mine is wafting all over the road. The sound of the car is awesome too. What instruments have you put in the cluster -is it a Rallye cluster? Sorry so many questions! Great video!

Never been there but I know that the rules on the autobahn are very strictly enforced, according to a TV show on the satellite dish. They are enforced by human and cameras. Lane restrictions are very strict. You stay to the right except when passing IIRC. It was cool as the cameraman was in a Rolf<sp> Porsche running somewhere around 180-200 mph (around 290 or so kph?)

Goldenblack440 wrote:...Is there many accidents on the autobahns?...

Not more than anywhere else I believe. The ones who drive high speed usually know how to drive. Anticipate is the keyword here.

Goldenblack440 wrote:...Your car is so stable at 135mph! At 125 mine is wafting all over the road...

That's why I've put some much effort in suspension and body stiffness.
Subframe connectors, sway bars, thicker torsion bars, new (rubber) bushings, new leaf springs, new shocks, 17 inch wheels (so less rubber) all contribute to this stability.

Goldenblack440 wrote:...The sound of the car is awesome too. ...

Well, that's the (overmodulated) sound of my exhausts (mic on rear license plate). Have to experiment with different positions for this mic to get a more 'natural' sound.

Goldenblack440 wrote:...What instruments have you put in the cluster -is it a Rallye cluster?...

It's a rallye cluster, but with TPI Tech gauges in it. Did a very extensive search on the internet to find a set of gauges with the correct functionality, looks and size to fit in my cluster.

Goldenblack440 wrote:...Great video!

Thx!

Cool video Roland. Which modification would you say contributed the most to the high speed stability?

Thanks for the answers Roland. You have certainly put a great deal of effort not only into the car, but also filming and sound etc -a true pro! All those suspension and body modifications would certainly contribute to handling and stiffness etc but surely body aerodynamics at speed would have a big influence too. These cars get unstable due to air getting underneath the vehicle and not enough downforce, such as found on those cars designed in a wind tunnel (or a Citroen), or with true ground effects mods. Still, its certainly made a big difference to the high speed stability and i don't doubt your modern instruments show a true speed as well. Mine is only about 3% out (optimistic), but at near top speed that does make a difference to the numbers. Looking forward to more Autobahn vids.

Hey Roland. I didn't mean to step in front of you on the CC.Com board. I didn't know you were a member there. But I posted a link to your ride at 140 MPH. Nice.

Jon wrote:... Which modification would you say contributed the most to the high speed stability?

That's a tough one...

Goldenblack440 wrote:... but surely body aerodynamics at speed would have a big influence too. These cars get unstable due to air getting underneath the vehicle and not enough downforce, such as found on those cars designed in a wind tunnel (or a Citroen), or with true ground effects mods...

I knew when I was writing down all those modifications that I was forgetting one:


The one that theoretically should contribute the most to this high speed stability; my MAS front spoiler.
It was in fact the main reason for me to go to Germany; testing if my new front spoiler helped at high speeds.
Clearly I wasn't very awake with my previous reply

Ah yes, that would make a big difference! Very nice, and unobtrusive too. Nice paint too by the way. And those low profile tyres would make a lot of difference too. Mine are horrible balloon tyres on the front...255 60 profile. Also made in Taiwan...not a good combination! I dread to think of the sidewall flex under load. And over 100mph, bouncing around like a cartoon car.

I would be very interested, if it were ever possible, to place one of our E bodies in a wind tunnel with some knowledgable engineers and see what mods like this could be done to make them a better high speed vehicle. I'm sure that proper air exit points for the huge amounts entering the frontal area would be a big help, among other things. Now off to view your other clips.

Goldenblack440 wrote:...and unobtrusive too...

Had to look up that word
But you're right. That was absolutely a requirement for me. I don't like 'pimp' things on my car, and a front spoiler could be such a thing.
So I wanted an 'incognito' front spoiler. And it certainly helps that my car is black so it's not so visible.

How did you get the 255's to fit in front? They look really wide which I think is desirable . My 235's don't rub at all and are a lower profile which may help handling some.

Agreed Roland, nice look to your Challenger. I'm still contemplating (new word? ) a front spoiler selection here. If it works at speed, we might even sacrifice some original look. I think a semi flat would fit with the black grill.

Roland wrote:Had to look up that word

Yes, the English language has about 10 different words with all a similar meaning for many different descriptions. But "incognito" is a more colourful word -and suits our Chally's ! BUt you speak at least 2 languages fluently (maybe more) which i envy -i would love to speak Dutch, as i just love big curvy Dutch girls. Met one once, she was 6'1", great K frame and a well developed front end which handled nicely!

You could even paint the spolier black and it would go virtually unnoticed.

Jon, the 255's fit easily - there is even heaps more guard to go -but its the profile that is the killer. The only time i get a faint scrape is when i am reversing and have the wheels turned -they hit on the guard opening. My rear suspension is slightly saggy (fixing that soon) so i need to lower the front to keep it level -otherwise it looks like it is in permanent acceleration! They are too high for the height i like the vehicle. They should be a 50 series. But that photo was on the trip and it was really loaded down, with spares mainly, fuel and water

PS, just looked at your picture -are those Rallye wheels 14"? Mine are 15" and with that big profile, makes abig difference. I think you could go to 265 with 14" rims. It would be a beast then.

Jon, the 255's fit easily,

i managed to get a 275 45 17 on all 4 wheels,it is about as big as you can go in the front and yes i noticed a big difference too, when i installed a front spoiler much more stable

Goldenblack440 wrote:...BUt you speak at least 2 languages fluently (maybe more) which i envy...

In highschool you have to learn 3 foreign languages (English, German and French) for at least 4 years. So that helps certainly communicating in this global internet community.

Goldenblack440 wrote:...i would love to speak Dutch, as i just love big curvy Dutch girls. Met one once, she was 6'1", great K frame and a well developed front end which handled nicely!...

Indeed there are worse countries to live

Goldenblack440 wrote:...You could even paint the spolier black and it would go virtually unnoticed.

Ehm, still referring to this girl? Because my spoiler is black.. You lost me there.

I wish they had made at least one other language compulsory in UK schools when I was a kid.

I liked learning French but when you have to decide what subjects to do when you turned 14, I found French clashed with one of the other subjects I wanted to take (Chemistry I think?) so had to drop it.

I think they teach kids languages better and start them younger in many schools here now. But my generation are famous for not being able to speak anything other than English which is a handycap when living in Europe.

Roland wrote:Ehm, still referring to this girl? Because my spoiler is black.. You lost me there.

No, she was a very Euro colour, don't worry... but forgot her reluctantly when she never returned any emails. Just had another look at the spoiler, i must have just been looking at the side with the light reflecting off it and i thought it was unpainted aluminium - the rest of it is in shadow, i can see it's black now. Even more unassuming* than i first thought ! In fact if it didn't clash with the 71 R/T chin spoilers, i would seriously consider getting one. I tell you, many of our highways and freeways down here are every bit as safe and straight as the Autobahns, but so many of our population are irresponsible and immature when it comes to speed and performance cars, it would be inviting disaster to allow such high speeds. Also, many drivers regardless of age are very poor drivers with poor judgement, slow reflexes and lack of awareness. I think Europeans are much better in these areas.

* (unpretentious, modest)

Roland your wheels look like Magnum's. Are they easily available? I've bee after a 17 or 18 inch wheel for ages and never found one I really liked. I was hoping to find a larger diameter version of the Rallye wheel but I haven't found it so far. Any body else know ?
Car looks fab Roland, everything looks just so right