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MG MGA - 1955 Le Mans

I was sitting my throne room, the only room that my wife will allow MG and race paraphenelia outside of the garage, and I re-read the quote at the bottom of a poster on the wall showing #41 driven by Miles/Lockett. It claims the car averaged 86mph and was timed at 117mph down the Mulsanne Straight.

117mph? I know these cars were alu skinned and the 1500 motors were breathed on, but what kind of ratio's do you think they were running to get the car up to this speed? 3.7? They must have been dogs out the corners.

j
JohnB

John,

We went through this a few months back I seem to remember, but here's some more statistics for your throne room.

From the Gearing Spreadsheets floating about!

Say 24.9 inch diameter tyres and only 4 gears.

3.7 Diff at 7000 RPM = 140MPH
3.7 Diff at 6500 RPM = 130MPH
3.7 Diff at 6000 RPM = 120MPH

3.9 Diff at 7000 RPM = 133MPH
3.9 Diff at 6500 RPM = 124MPH
3.9 Diff at 6000 RPM = 114MPH

I think it was established that this car did have a special 3.7 ratio at the time.

140 MPH in an MGA, now that would be some ride.

Cheers <MARK>
Mark Hester

OK so the ratio's work out for the final drive. But what about driveability? I wonder what kind of hp and torque would be required to push those tall gears up to 117mph? I guess it is a very long straight.
JohnB

John

Don't forget these race cars only had a small aero screen and with no bumpers they were much more slippery than the standard car that came later.

From Robert Vitrikas's book, it appears they had 1489cc engines, 9.4:1 compression ratio,82.5 BHP @ 6000 rpm and pulling 3.9:1 axles. They were originally 3.7:1 prior to the race. With the 3.9 axle it was found they didn't have to change down to 1st gear for the hairpin at the end of the Mulsanne straight.

6.00 x 15 tyres were fitted to the rear to improve handling and Andrex front shock absorbers were fitted. Apparently handling was very good.

Nearly 120 mph at 6000 rpm was achieved down the Mulsanne Straight.

Now print this off for a little light throne room reading.

Cheers

Pete
Pete Tipping

From one of the latest books "Call it MGA" I've seen, that the cars were fittet with af 3.7:1 ratio.

Car no. 64 did 230 laps at an average of 81.97 and car no. 41 did 248 laps at an average of 86.17 mph both doing laptimes around 5.30.

I've just returned from LaMans, and the Audi's were doing laptimes around 3.30 - I don't know about you, but I think it ws quite an good job done by our cars back then - If the track lenght was about the same!!!

ole
Ole Aaen


The Modern Lemans track now has a chicane in the middle of the Mulsanne Straight.

So at the historic races I doubt that MaBeL and others would get anywhere near that speed nowadays.
Perhaps if the owner is at Silverstone this weekend I can ask.
Mark Hester

Saw MaBeL at silverstone, but not the owner.

Did however chat to Jim Cox the former works mechanic that year for about 30 mins.... Chatty bloke.

Got loads of pictures from his days in the factory so he says.

Cheers <MARK>
Mark Hester

This thread was discussed between 22/06/2006 and 26/06/2006

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