As an owner of a Z06 (2003), I know about weight savings in a car. For example, to save a few pounds, the windshield on the Z06 is thinner than the normal Vette, the Passenger seat is manual adjustment, and the exhaust is made from titanium.

All too often, people compare the weights of cars when comparing performance, but they never take into account the weight of the driver!

I'm not discounting the importance of low-weight vehicles, instead, I'm ranting that nobody ever mentions how heavy the driver is.

If 18 pounds saved by using titanium makes a big difference, then shouldn't the weight of the driver be important too?

If, under identical atmospheric circumstances, R&T tracked a car with this guy:

then C&D tested the same car with this guy:

I'm sure they would have different results.

So why does nobody ever mention the weight of the driver.

(Now give me my Big Mac and Coke!)

 

I guess we try not to include driver's weight because some people are insecure about their own weight

When introducing driver's weight, you're introducing another variable. In a comparison, you want to isolate the variable as much as possible, and in this case, the car itself. Ideally, you would have the same driver for both car.

 

After seeing the size of race car drivers, I knew my 6"5 225 **** had to find another career!

 

I'm 5'7", 140lbs. Am I good race car candidate? I used to run cross country and track, now I lift weights. I could easily start running 6-9 mile runs again.

 

maybe because you wont spend 60k on Vette to let them tell you that you are too fat?

:-).

Weight of the driver is something that car company can not influence.

 

This has been a long joke among my local car buddies. It's far easier to buy the needed parts than to get them to exercise.

 

What are we talking here, .1 second in the 1/4 mile, maybe .2?

 

Isn't that enough to determine whether a car is a 12 second car or a 11 second car? That can mean serious braggin rights.

Some mods costs hundreds of dollars for just a few extra HP that could easily be negated by eating too many Blimpie Bests (By the way, I say it is the best sub around... Hmmm, I think I smell a poll). However, it is much easier to pay for mods than to lose excess weight.