What is your take on the Hennessey/Bugatti supercar war?

[bull]

There seems to be a bit of favoritism for the Bugatti camp among the media, but maybe I'm just being a whiny American. Still it seems that the Veyron's accomplishments are taken at face value while those of the Venom GT are scrutinized to the nth degree, dismissed or mocked. I can't help but get the feeling the Europeans are annoyed by the fact a bunch of dumb rednecks continually inch past the production vehicle speed record only to be beat back by a couple 10ths of a mph and then fight their way back to break the record again.

On the other hand the Venom is apparently a chopped up Lotus, or should I say 29 chopped up Lotuses since they are producing 29 of them. That's more than a little cheesy. And apparently the Guinness Book of World Records has gotten strict with the rule stating the production number has to be a minimum of 30 cars so Hennessey doesn't qualify anyway; one unit short. It's a circus. Anyway, here's the latest:

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/hennessey-venom-gt-breaks-270-mph-to-set-new-speed-record-152322294.html

[Mike DC]

   
Hennessy could buy 30 Veyrons from Bugatti, stick nitrous oxide tanks on them, and have Guinness officially record them going faster than regular production Veyrons.  Then it could be argued that he is "building faster production cars than Bugatti."



It's all a dick-measuring contest anyway.  The Veyron, the Lotus, whatever. 

IMO if you can't lap the Nurburgring faster than everyone else then you've built a sideshow stunt car.  Even if the trick is top speed it's still a one-trick pony. 
     

[Cooter]

I dont have a dog in this race.

[bull]

I dont have a dog in this race.

Since when has that ever stopped you from offering your opinion?

[Cooter]

I dont have a dog in this race.

Since when has that ever stopped you from offering your opinion?

since I don't have a dog in this race. Hate 'super' cars.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I think Bugatti has a much better reputation that that other guy 

Why anyone would give him a dime, is beyond me 

Well reported, too:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f58/wow-john-hennessey-crook-yeah-viper-guy-34744/

And in his own supposed words:
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/21978-efool-gets-punked-his-own-board.html


But wait, there's more:

http://www.forzacentral.com/forum/threads/for-those-who-dont-know-the-real-story-behind-john-hennessey-hennessey-performance.17015/

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20020405/free/204050704

http://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1fecpk/what_exactly_did_hennessey_do_to_make_himself_so/

[kab69440]

I can't afford either. I therefore could not care less.

[JB400]

Nothing wrong with a little friendly competition.  It's the customer that wins.

[ws23rt]

I like this stuff. competing for top dog is always fun to watch.  The cheating that is done makes it all the more fun to watch.
My dog's bigger than your dog cause I either cheated or didn't. Or fed him kennel ration

[bull]

I have to say the reactions here (most) are surprising. A bunch of car guys who don't like fast cars? A bunch of Americans who don't enjoy a small American company challenging a big and proud French company, and winning (how many wars have we bailed them out of again)? Maybe the Hennessey guy really is a scumbucket or maybe it's just a case of below-the-belt character assassination that comes with any kind of testosterone-charged competition. The Americans have their faults here but isn't there just a little part of you that celebrates knowing the world's fastest car has a twin turbo V8 and is built here in the states? I just double checked the URL and it seems I have not stumbled onto a knitting forum, so what gives?

[Mike DC]

It's not about the nationalities involved.  Worthy builders deserve respect and crooks don't. 

 

[1974dodgecharger]

I believe he has stopped being a crook though he can't build a customers car though he always has prototypes or only one.

I think Bugatti has a much better reputation that that other guy 

Why anyone would give him a dime, is beyond me 

Well reported, too:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f58/wow-john-hennessey-crook-yeah-viper-guy-34744/

And in his own supposed words:
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/21978-efool-gets-punked-his-own-board.html


But wait, there's more:

http://www.forzacentral.com/forum/threads/for-those-who-dont-know-the-real-story-behind-john-hennessey-hennessey-performance.17015/

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20020405/free/204050704

http://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1fecpk/what_exactly_did_hennessey_do_to_make_himself_so/

[bull]

It's not about the nationalities involved.  Worthy builders deserve respect and crooks don't. 

 

"Crooks" like Tucker and DeLorean?

[Cooter]

Some enjoy watching the rich (superstar builders. Small American company or not), play with their billions.
some enjoy watching rich, golf playing, country club hangin out, bearded dudes 'act' like rednecks on some show called "Duck Dynasty".
Some enjoy watching the rich throw money at stupidly overpriced muscle cars under a tent.
some enjoy watching 20 or so guys beat and bang 'Stock' cars into each other for 500 miles in a left turn.
some enjoy watching two insanely expensive hot rods go stupid fast in a straight line for only a 1/4mile.
some can only enjoy a 2nd gen Charger if it has 'Corvette' tail lights and everything the way some designer decided it should be.

[Ghoste]

Built in France Bull but the name is owned by and engineering comes from Volkswagen.  You get to take on two nations at once there.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I believe he has stopped being a crook though he can't build a customers car though he always has prototypes or only one.

I think Bugatti has a much better reputation that that other guy 

Why anyone would give him a dime, is beyond me 

Well reported, too:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f58/wow-john-hennessey-crook-yeah-viper-guy-34744/

And in his own supposed words:
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/21978-efool-gets-punked-his-own-board.html


But wait, there's more:

http://www.forzacentral.com/forum/threads/for-those-who-dont-know-the-real-story-behind-john-hennessey-hennessey-performance.17015/

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20020405/free/204050704

http://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1fecpk/what_exactly_did_hennessey_do_to_make_himself_so/

...does a leopard ever really change its spots? 

He sold a HUGE part of his business to an investor, who, through money, is slowly washing away the past with PR. Bought and paid advertising, how much money will it take?

...an elephant doesn't forget