Keeping up with Traffic

[Brosky]

Quit looking in the rear view mirror and watch the guy waving at you that's directly in front of you!

 

[Lou Metelko]

Yes, a 53 year old TR2 will go over 100MPH. Not by much but it will. To show my co-pilot how smooth it was at that speed, I took both hands off the wheel which really got her attention!

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana
54 TR2 TS981L

 

[Darwin]

Andrew, what diff ratio are you running in the herald?

 

[Andrew Mace]

Darwin, it's the stock 4.11:1 ratio (although it happens to have a late Mk3 Spitfire -- slightly beefier internally) differential in it at the moment, simply because that one was handy when I blew a stub axle bearing on the original! During my NY-MN-NY trip, I had 165SR13 tires on the car, possibly a wee bit taller than the original 5.20 x 13 bias plies. Currently, I'm running 175/70R13 Dunlops on 4.5" early GT6 wheels; they're probably pretty close to the original tire size, so I figure I'm still right around the 15.9 mph / 1000 rpms in top gear figure.

 

[YankeeTR]

I run my TR3 about 70 on the highway (3000 RPM w/OD) which still makes me about the slowest thing on the road. The car runs very well at that speed but there is always the nagging thought in the back of my head "50 year old suspension mounting points". I tend to enjoy taking the back roads at 55-60 something about that extra 10MPH that just doesn't feel as comfortable as I would like.

bill...I think most of us are most comfortable on the back roads. Kinda like moonshiners...

 

[swift6]

can a tr2 really do 100 M.P.H.?

Time for a little basic TR history...

A prototype TR2 was taken to a closed stretch at Jabbeke highway in Belgium by Ken Richardson on May 20th 1953, achieving close to 125mph in "speed" mode (bellypan, wheel spats, solid tonneau etc...) and around 105mph in "street" mode (same car but with the 'speed' items removed, the top raised and rear wheel spats stayed on since they were optional items). Here is an hour long YouTube video on the 50th Anniversary event. Jabbeke Video (it is pretty neat really)

In the early/mid 1950's, a main goal for the TR series was to be able to reliably 'break the ton' (100mph). Which put its top speed in the same arena as the Austin Healey 100's.

All of the TR's, from the TR2 to the TR8, are capable of 'breaking the ton' without modification.

 

[kodanja]

Very cool Video!

 

[philman]

i've had my tr7 dhc (5 speed) over 125mph and my tr7 fhc tops out at around 105mph (5 speed vs 4 speed, fi vs twin su's -- hs6's)

 

[MrPandy]

I'd bet I could get my TR6 over 100 if the cliff I drove off of was high enough.

 

[swift6]

If anyone does have difficulty getting their TR over 100mph, there is a problem somewhere. It should not be a mechanical challenge for any TR in good/safe running condition. Of course, this should never be tried on an open road. Only on a closed course. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

I'll choose to plead the fifth on any top speeds I may/may not have reached on open roads or any speed limits that I might/might not have fractured or just plain shattered! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[kodanja]

I'd be afraid my car would rattle apart!

 

[PeterK]

Even in the 3A, it climbs to 90 easily, more if I want, but I always worry about some ancient bit breaking and taking me out. Not that I could really name many ancient bits that haven't already been replaced with genuine high-quality repro parts from Taiwan. Merging on the highway is always fun with the top off, winding out through the gears and pulling away from the traffic flow behind you before slowing to legal speed. ALWAYS get waves from people as they slow to gawk then pass.

Of course, highway speed is easy with the HVDA, but I constantly work at keeping away from the other beasties on the road hanging on their cell phones, and not paying attention to the road. There is nothing to protect you in a TR3 if you get hit.