Tank vs. Crank

[Steve_S]

Stormin' Norman's 68-ton grunt meets Jay Leno's tank-powered torpedo, for no particular reason.

https://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=8789&page_number=1

 

[Nunyas]

i'm gonna have to read this when I get home... looks like a fun read.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bugimike]

For sure,!!! I got hooked on the first page, will have to come back and finish it though...!

 

[PHerder]

I liked the specs on pg 4.

Fuel mileage Tankrod: 5 mpg - M1 Tank: 0.6 mpg! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

And Jay's comment on fuel mileage:
"You know," says Leno, "it's Southern California. You want to do what you can for the environment and everything . . ."—he spots a gas station—"Hey, let's throw in a quick hundred."

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif

 

[JamesWilson]

Great article.

[ QUOTE ]
Do it right, and the Abrams rocks back on its hull and lunges, at least to 10 mph, which zings by in 1.4 seconds. The 20-mph mark passes in 6.4 seconds, at which point seismic sensors in L.A. start twitching. The acceleration slows substantially at 30 mph (15.5 seconds), and the quarter-mile doesn't hit until 32.1 seconds at 38.8 mph. At that velocity it would take about nine hours to drive from Kuwait City to Baghdad, possibly more if somebody's shooting at you.

[/ QUOTE ]

And they ran them through a slalom! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

 

[Nunyas]

sheesh... if the acceleration starts slowing at 30mph I don't even want to think about how long it'd take to reach 60. At least, I'd heard rumor that the Abrams can do 60.

Still, getting that much mass to speed takes a ton of power, getting that much mass to stop... well, I don't wanna be in it's path if it's trying to stop from 60MPH. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Bugeye58]

[ QUOTE ]

Still, getting that much mass to speed takes a ton of power, getting that much mass to stop... well, I don't wanna be in it's path if it's trying to stop from 60MPH. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Rob, that's why when I worked at the GM Proving Grounds, and there was one of those doing tests, they always reminded us that the tank had the right of way!
We did a lot of our "off road" testing in the military area, and the tanks were invisible in the dark.
Jeff

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
Still, getting that much mass to speed takes a ton of power, getting that much mass to stop... well, I don't wanna be in it's path if it's trying to stop from 60MPH. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Which is why I found the idea of a SLALOM so funny, the inertia involved in "quick" manovering side to side. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

Even the tank-engined hotrod's steering was 11 turns lock-to-lock....

Any cones hit were well and truly flattened.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

 

[Nunyas]

thrown track anyone? I'd imagine that's what would happen if they ~really~ attempted to do a true slalom run... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[bugimike]

There is a funny clip on youtube of a tank (smaller than an Abrams) trying to come to a stop at a stop-sign and sliding through...pretty funny! Steering a tank through a slalom must be much like "poling" on cross-country skis!!!

 

[swift6]

My brother used to drive M1A1's. He told me of a proving ground test where they stripped the tank down of armament and armor just to see how fast they could get it to go. Supposedly, the tracks came off at near 100mph. Though a fully armed and armored version couldn't achieve those speeds. He does have stories of holding the governor override button down and getting his 64 ton monstrosity airborne at both Grafenwoehr and Howenfels (I probably spelled those wrong) in Germany. I still have his 'Operator Instruction' Manuals around here somewhere. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Here is a pic of his Tank 'Asmodeus' in Germany in the early 90's. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif