Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Satellite shot of GM's Wixom Proving grounds. Michigan Autobahn complex

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
A HERETIC I AM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-19-07 10:09 PM
Original message
Satellite shot of GM's Wixom Proving grounds. Michigan Autobahn complex
Below is a photo i captured from Google Earth of the General Motors Proving Grounds in Wixom, Michigan, about 50 or so miles NW of Detroit.


The perfect circle to the left is a high banked "constant speed" track. The circle is so perfect and the banking so precisely parabolic in cross section that depending on the speed and where the driver places the car on the track, a complete circuit can be made without touching the steering wheel. According to Google Earth's measuring tool, the circle is 1.42 miles in diameter. At the bottom of the photo is a paired straightaway with high banked turning loops at each end. I used the measuring tool and captured the shot before i erased it. That is why you see the a very white line and the red square to the right end of the straightaway. The straights are almost exactly 3 miles long. Fascinating place. I delivered prototypes there a few times in the 90's when i hauled cars for a specialty carrier. Security as tight as a military base.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Big Pappa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-19-07 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
1. That place
is huge!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
baldguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-19-07 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
2. Automotive Disneyland.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
A HERETIC I AM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-19-07 10:20 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. OOOH! A Ford Product!
Niiice. DB 7?

Ford has a large facility in Arizona, just off I 40 near the California line. Ford also has a small test facility in Dearborn, at one of their engineering centers, not far from the headquarters building.

Chrysler has a rather large facility in Chelsea, MI, about 65 or so air miles south west of the Wixom site.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
baldguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-19-07 10:32 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. V12 Vanquish
I'm sure they wouldn't mind a bit.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gatorboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-19-07 10:17 PM
Response to Original message
3. I'm sending this to a buddy. Thanks!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-19-07 10:19 PM
Response to Original message
4. Great shot of a really neat place. Thanks! n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sat May 04th 2024, 01:14 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC