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Comment by tromp | Hacker News Reader

> a stupefying 1.4-second 0-60 run in less-than-ideal conditions.

I don't know why they call the following less than ideal:

> the manufacturer hired a jet truck to dry the back straight at the famed F1 circuit. There, and after doing a burnout to warm up the tires

Perhaps they could have waited for a strong tail wind?!

[EDIT: apparently it could be warmer and the road drier still]

Anyway, seems they have a good shot at taking over the 0-62 mph in 1.461 sec record set by these guys

https://techstory.in/students-of-university-of-stuttgart-mak...

A road-legal version is apparently on the way

https://www.autoblog.com/2022/07/01/mcmurtry-sperling-fan-ca...

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They did this in winter in England. Even if the track was dry, it was still far from the ideal surface temperature for something like this.

The conditions certainly weren't aweful, but they were not ideal (or less-than-ideal).

Weren’t awful? That’s like saying a 99/100 exam score isn’t awful, but it’s not ideal either.

There was no tire spin and that was so close to ideal conditions that I imagine the most they could shave off is a few hundredths of a second. Even if they couldn’t, it’s mind boggling how fast this car is.

There was no tire spin because the computers don't allow it. If you provide more grip the car provides more power.

So many things were far from optimal for that run. Low air temperature, high humidity, low track temperature, low traction track surface, low temperature tires (even with the spin, that only affects the surface and dissipates very quickly).

"Prepared surface" is a whole thing in drag racing. I remember reading how Dodge got their Hellcat under 10 seconds, and it involved not only special tires, but also a specific gunk that is apparently common to spread on the tarmac, said to be sticky even to walk on it.

Normal things in drag racing I guess, but no way they'd allow that in Silverstone.

The track was wet and it's common practice to warm up tires before racing or drag racings.

This number on a street legal (or technically soon to be street legal) car is insane. That 1.4 includes rollout compare that to a Tesla Plaid which does it in 2.3 seconds (the 1.99 seconds is only possible if you exclude rollout).

The McMurtry Spéirling broke the Goodwood hill climb record this year.

https://youtu.be/5JYp9eGC3Cc

That video is great, and less than a minute. For anyone watching, be sure to catch the reactions of those standing at the starting line.

That hill climb looks like a sped up Benny Hill video...

The track still wasnt dry, you can see the moisture

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