Friday, August 10, 2012

Twenty Rejected American Le Mans Series Taglines

Apparently, I didn't grasp the seriousness and weight with which they regarded themselves. Also I wasn't being paid enough for what was essentially a complete rebranding, so I really didn't feel motivated to try that hard. It didn't help that the agency I was freelancing for was owned by an ALMS driver. Not at all.


  1. ALMS: [like] a 9,000 RPM, 700 horsepower, 200 MPH Swiss watch.
  2. America's breathtaking, world class professional racing series.
  3. From production-based Corvettes to Aston Martins to Le Mans Prototypes, there's no other American racing series to compare.
  4. The world's greatest sports cars prove themselves in the American Le Mans Series.
  5. At 200 MPH, you barely have time to think. That's why we serve drinks.
  6. The most sophisticated, well-run race teams in the world sometimes make it to the starting line. That doesn’t mean they’re good enough to win.
  7. The world’s greatest racers, in the world’s greatest cars, come to compete in front of America’s most passionate fans.
  8. Le Mans in France thinks American Le Mans is too competitive. We tend to disagree.
  9. When the world’s prestige automakers think they have something to prove, they come to ALMS to do it.
  10. The evolutionary pinnacle of American racing--everything else is a dead end.
  11. We think the other guys should be known as “French Le Mans” / If the world were a fair place, the other guys would have to call themselves “French Le Mans”.
  12. When racers talk about racing, they talk about ALMS.
  13. You don’t have to be a smart, sophisticated race fan to like ALMS--it just worked out that way.
  14. When races are run on Mars, our teams and fans will be there.
  15. If you want to know which teams are likely to win at Le Mans in France next year, look at ALMS this year.
  16. Where passionate fans enjoy unprecedented access to the highest-quality racing in America.
  17. Top brands, teams, tracks and passionate fans come together only in ALMS.
  18. For ALMS teams and fans, world-class racing isn’t a lifestyle--it’s their life.
  19. ALMS drivers don’t go to Formula 1--they don’t want to.
  20. Everything else is just going around in circles.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

I am the very model of the modern mopedalist


I have bought a new vehicle, a Persian Ivory 1980 Peugeot 103 LVS U3 moped. Top of the line, baby! It could use new seat padding and I think a reed valve; I'll probably save up for a 15mm carburetor. Although as it took two years for me to buy this, don't expect that any time soon. I am considering hand-porting the engine, which should yield some notable gains.

In the meantime: Specs!


SPECIFICATIONS
1980 Peugeot 103 LVS U3

ENGINE

Type                           Two-stroke aircooled piston port single, chromed aluminum cylinder
Displacement                       49 CC (2.991-cu.in.)
Bore x stroke                        40 x 39 mm
Compression ratio               8.4:1
Horsepower @ RPM           1.5 @ 5,000 (rated)
Torque @ RPM                    NA-lbs.ft. @ 3,600
Main bearings                      2
Fuel system                          12mm Gartner side-draught reed valve carburetor
Ignition system                    6-volt/26 watt Peugeot high-voltage flywheel magneto
Lubrication system             Two-stroke/total loss
Exhaust system                   Single steel, long baffle muffler

TRANSMISSION

Type                                       Variator six-weight automatic extensible pulley centrifugal clutch; Vee belt primary 
                                                transmission; chain to rear sprocket
Ratio                                      11T front x 8-inch, 52T rear sprocket

STEERING
Type                                       Direct
Ratio                                      1:1

BRAKES
Type                                       Manual; cable operated
Front                                      3.5-inch internal expanding drum
Rear                                       3.5-inch internal expanding drum

CHASSIS & BODY
Construction                         Steel tubing and pressed steel frame
Body style                             1+1 passenger moped
Layout                                   Mid engine, rear-wheel drive

SUSPENSION
Front                            Telescopic forks
Rear                             Shock absorbers and telescopic supports
Wheels                          Lelue chromed wire
Front/rear                              17 x 1.35 inches
Tires                                      
Front/rear                              17 x 2.5 inches

WEIGHTS & MEASURES
Wheelbase                            44.09 inches
Overall length                       69.29 inches
Overall width                        25.20 inches
Overall height                       40.5 inches
Front track                            Single
Rear track                             Single
Curb weight                          109.8 pounds

CAPACITIES
Crankcase                             None
Cooling system                    Aircooled
Fuel tank                               1.05 gallons
Transmission                        Dry
Rear axle                               Grease

CALCULATED DATA
BHP per CC                          32.66
Weight per BHP                  70 pounds
Weight per CID                    6.71 pounds

PERFORMANCE

0-60 MPH                             NA seconds
¼ mile ET                              NA seconds @ 35 MPH
Top speed                             31 MPH* (35 MPH indicated)
MPG                                       100.1*
*Source: Peugeot

PRICE

Base price                             $NA