<VV> MPG Hystery

[Ron]

So how come a professional driver in the Mobil Gas Economy Run got 27 mpg 
and our modern amateurs with a 140 get almost 40 mpg?  Is it because they 
kept the Mobil Gas Run honest?
Just wondering,
RonH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Padgett" <pp2 at 6007.us>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 7:12 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> MPG Hystery


>
>>FIRST - A stock Corvair delivered a great 27.03 MPG in the 1960 Mobilgas
>>Economy Run
>
> Was that with 145 cid engine and 3.08 ratio behind a fthree-speed ? Wonder 
> what the tire size was. Long time ago I discovered that keeping the revs 
> down, a light throttle ("egg under the pedal"), shifting early, and a lot 
> of air in the tires was the key to driving for economy. Tuning for economy 
> is another whole story. If you know how to drive on a manifold vacuum 
> gauge (were common in the early '60s & became "fuel economy meters" in the 
> '70s) that is a big plus.
>
> Is an interesting article on http://www.thompson-motorsports.com/econ.html 
> about Mickey and Judy Thompson in 1962 and 1963 both gettiing over 27.3 
> MPG in a Pontiac Tempest "large engine" automatic at an average speed of 
> 42.7 mph. Can bet it was tuned within an inch of its life though. Suspect 
> the Corvair would have done better but had to be pushed pretty hard to 
> maintain the average speed.
>
> Things like that are automotive marketing gimmicks even when the rules say 
> "off the showroom floor" - there were ways. Remember the Ford ad's in the 
> mid-70s about runs from Phoenix to Lala land ? All downhill ?
>
> Now I don't drive that way unless competing but when our 3800 (said I like 
> that engine) '92 van with 120k on the clock & fueled with the cheapest 87 
> PON I can find can get over 24 mpg on a left lane run from Myrtle Beach to 
> Orlando with air on all the way and mostly on cruise, then 30 from a 
> Corvair seems reasonable.
>
> Padgett
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