Talk:Shadow DN1

Southgate's experience

With respect to the car's rigidity, the text currently reads "having previously only worked with V12 engines, Southgate did not allow sufficient stiffening to compensate for the vibration of the DFV". This seems dubious, as prior to working on the DN1 Tony Southgate had extensive experience working with V8 engines. He was actually responsible for the Climax V8 engine installation on the Lola Mk4, had worked on the Lola T70, and had actually designed race-winning (and V8 engined) USAC cars for the Gurney Eagle team. Pyrope 23:20, 13 October 2015 (UTC)

This is fair comment. Motor Sport and Autocourse commented on Southgate being used to the very smooth BRM V12, and had mounted some engine components directly onto the chassis without allowing for any damping. This caused a number of minor breakages which affected the car's reliability. It's not that he wasn't used to V8s, it's that he was much more familiar with the BRM V12 than he was with the Cosworth V8. I have made the same point already on OldRacingCars.com: http://www.oldracingcars.com/shadow/dn1/ Allen Brown (talk) 17:17, 3 January 2017 (UTC)

Interesting comment Allen, thanks, many apologies that it has taken me this long to spot it! (Must remember to watch pages when I leave a fly-by comment...) However, your extra information suggests that it wasn't so much the chassis rigidity that Southgate fluffed, but rather the ancillaries' mountings. I have his book on my shelf so I'll have a look through there to see if he has any personal comment, then see what I can find elsewhere to adjust this paragraph. Pyrope 19:31, 15 January 2018 (UTC)

p.s. Your ORC page being, of course, a very good and reliable source! Pyrope 19:31, 15 January 2018 (UTC)