Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 144: Won on Sunday, Sold on Monday

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 144: Won on Sunday, Sold on Monday

Recently, I have been presented with the opportunity to host yet another QFC (Quick Fire Challenge), so here's how it happened. QFC20 (the round after QFC19, which I hosted) concluded a few days ago, and it was themed around late 1960s sports cars with a maximum capacity of 4,000 cc (4.0L). For this I made the AMS Shadowcaster 400 - a small and light front-engined coupe powered by a 4.0L dual-overhead-cam V12 developing 350 bhp. I had originally planned to use the same engine in a mid-engined car of similar size, but although it had better drivability and sportiness ratings, it was also much more expensive, so I went for the front-engined approach instead.

The AMS Shadowcaster 400 - a thoughtfully designed and engineered sports coupe with the heart of a purebred racer under its hood (picture above taken by challenge host).

When the results came out, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Shadowcaster turned out to be a very good all-rounder; despite mid-pack affordability, it scored very well in every other judging criterion (including performance), ultimately finishing a strong second overall in the final rankings. The only car it couldn't beat was one that turned out not to be as capable in terms of raw performance, but made up for it by being more affordable to buy, as well as being more reliable and cheaper to service. However, its creator was unable to host QFC21, so I once again stepped into the breach, feeling very proud of myself - and honored to take the reins once again. Here's hoping that QFC21 turns out well in the end, no matter what theme I choose for it.