DeTomaso Mailing List: April 1997, Message #126
     



From: Andy Poling <andy@realbig.com>

Subject: Re: Benefits of Campagnolo wheels

Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 14:34:04 -0500 (EST)



On Wed, 16 Apr 1997, Shane F. Ingate wrote:

[...]

>         Lets talk Campys.  Campys are magnesium, which is

> considerably lighter than aluminum.  Lets say a Campy wheel weighs

> 5 lbs less that an equivalent aluminum wheel.  This is equivalent

> to a saving of 200 lb is weight for the car, which means you

> free up 30 hp by sticking with the Campys.  30 hp is noticable!

>

>         A good argument for staying with the Campys.



I considered that for a while before I ordered the Wilkinson repro Aluminum

wheels, and I hated to give up the lightness.



On the other hand, Magnesium has several traits that scare me.  First the way

that they corrode if the Magnesium is exposed to the air (including inside

where you cannot see it).  Second, the fact that Magnesium burns *very* hot

(flashes) if ignited... like in a really bad track accident.  Lastly, those

Campy's are 25 years old - I have doubts about their strength vs.

brittleness.  I don't even know if you can test them in any non-intrusive

way to ascertain whether they are still wholly intact and strong.



I'll take the weight in exchange for a new wheel that won't corrode at a

spectacular rate if scarred and won't flash into a very hot flame when

ignited.  The repros I ordered are also larger: 8x16" front and 11x17"

rear... that's worth some time too. :-)



I just wanted to make sure we looked at both sides of the coin...



-Andy



72 Pantera: power             91 Miata: quickness              96 A4Q: traction

84 RZ350: all the above