<VV> Re: Strange economy run happening

[John]

On economy runs so little fuel is used that the tilt of the car makes a
significant difference in fueling and re-fueling the car.  During inital
fill you want the filler side higher.  You do this by having several
your super sized friends park their buns on the right front fender while
you lift the car at the left front wheelwell.  On re-fill you do the
opposite, tilting the filler neck to take less fuel.  I saw the trick
being done at the Washington, DC national convention.  That along with
lots of coasting with the engine off, very high tire pressure and a
weight lightened car made a first place finish.  Perhaps the rules
should requiring bouncing the car before fueling!

John 

> Message: 9
> To: Virutal Vairs <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
> From: Bruce Schug <bwschug@charter.net>
> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 16:33:23 -0400
> Subject: <VV> Strange economy run happening
> 
> FastVairers,
> 
> I've been on a lot of economy runs and I've never seen anything like
> this... see what you think.
> 
> Saturday, CORSA South Carolina had its annual economy run. We had a
> good turnout with eleven Corvairs and one "other" car. We filled our
> own cars up at the start, as usual, and got going. The course was
> short, about 42 miles, and flat, not many hills or mountains to coast
> down. At the end we pulled into a gas station and the fill-up began.
> The eventmaster and a helper carefully filled everyone's tank. I did
> very well getting 49+ mpg. One of these days, I'm going to get over 50,
> but not today! Other cars were; 32, twentys, etc.
> 
> But I didn't win.
> 
> Another fellow had a nice black early coupe. I'd never seen the car
> before and I don't think he'd ever run an economy run. They had pulled
> up to the pump and the eventmaster had only been able to get about .2
> gallons in it! THEY GOT 228 MPG! I wasn't there when they filled it,
> but they said they let it settle and it just wouldn't take anymore.
> 
> Later, a fellow pointed out to me the way the car sat when parked,
> lower on the driver's side. He told me that the driver was in the car
> when it was filled causing it to lean even more. Everyone knew
> something was wrong, but no one knew what. Assuming the guy had not
> installed a second gas tank or some other crazy thing, the only thing
> we could figure was that there was an air "bubble" trapped in the tank
> because of the way it was leaning. The only other possibility might be
> something to do with the overflow hose or something like that.
> 
> Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Any other ideas?
> 
> Bruce W. Schug
> CORSA South Carolina
> Greenville, SC
> bwschug@charter.net
> 
> CORSA member since 1981
> 
> '67 Monza. "67AC140"