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90-511: The Mark VII held a lengthy standard equipment list, including an onboard trip computer / message center and digital instruments (on all except the LSC models after 1985). Mark VII's also came with full air suspension at all four wheels. The 1985 LSC was the first American vehicle with electronic 4-channel anti-lock brakes (6 months before the Corvette ). Mark VII also had the distinction of being

180-602: A West Coast road course event to replace it, and chose the Sears Point facility. Riverside Raceway was razed for the Moreno Valley Mall . In 2002, Sears Point Raceway was renamed after a corporate sponsor, Infineon Technologies . On March 7, 2012, it was announced that Infineon would not renew their contract for naming rights when the deal expired in May 2012. The 2.520 mi (4.056 km) road racing course

270-438: A self-levelling suspension . In 1956 air suspension was used on EMD 's experimental Aerotrain . In the U.S., General Motors built on its World War II experience with air suspension for trucks and airplanes. It introduced air suspension as standard equipment on the new 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham . An "Air Dome" assembly at each wheel included sensors to compensate for uneven road surfaces and to automatically maintain

360-437: A 'Pneumatic Spring for Vehicles'. The design consisted of a left and right air spring longitudinally channeled nearly the length of the vehicle. The channels were concaved to receive two long pneumatic cushions. Each one was closed at one end and provided with an air valve at the other end. From 1920, Frenchman George Messier provided aftermarket pneumatic suspension systems. His own 1922-1930 Messier automobiles featured

450-492: A C-notch is then bolted or welded to the vehicle frame in order to maintain structural integrity. Specifically on pickup trucks, this process is termed "notching" because a portion (notch) of the cargo bed may also be removed, along with the wheel wells, to provide maximum axle clearance. For some, it is desirable to have the vehicle so low that the frame rests on the ground when the air bags are fully deflated. Owners generally choose between having their cars 'tuck' their wheels into

540-502: A car with lower ground clearance has different aerodynamic characteristics, automakers can use active suspension technology to improve efficiency or handling. Tesla , for instance, uses "Active Air Suspension" on the Model S and Model X to lower or raise the vehicle for aerodynamics and increased range. In 2014 the new Mercedes S-Class Coupe introduced an update to Magic Body Control, called Active Curve Tilting. This new system allows

630-603: A five-year contract was signed with the National Hot Rod Association for the California Nationals. The NASCAR Winston Cup Series debuted at the raceway in 1989. In 1994 more than $ 1 million was spent on a beautification project and construction of a 62 ft (19 m)-high, four-sided electronic lap leader board in the center of the road course. In the following years a major $ 3 million renovation plan included VIP suites and

720-709: A fleet of new vehicles every year, and one of Bob's choices was the Comtech Mark VII. Larry Albedi Motors (Lincoln-Mercury) in Vallejo, California , serviced the vehicle a couple of times before it was returned to Ford at the end of the year. The Comtech parts that were unique to that Mark VII were also listed in the Lincoln Mercury parts catalog, but when the Merkur arrived the Comtech pages were removed and

810-617: A functioning air/oil hydropneumatic suspension , incorporating the advantages of earlier air suspension concepts, but with hydraulic fluid rather than air under pressure. Citroën replaced the conventional steel springs on the rear axle of their top-of-range model, the Traction Avant 15 Hydraulique . In 1955, the Citroën DS incorporated four wheel hydropneumatic suspension. This combined a very soft, comfortable suspension, with controlled movements, for sharp handling, together with

900-792: A level high enough to maneuver over obstacles and inconsistencies on paved surfaces. These systems generally employ small, electric or engine-driven air compressors which sometimes fill an on-board air receiver tank which stores compressed air for use in the future without delay. It is important that the tank is sized for the task and can be calculated using a specific formula involving the compressor output, standard atmospheric pressure and compressed pressure. High-pressured industrial gas bottles (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide tanks used to store shielding gases for welding) are sometimes used in more radical air suspension setups. Either of these reservoir systems may be fully adjustable, being able to adjust each wheel's air pressure individually. This allows

990-403: A manual ride height switch allows control over the suspension by the driver. The "Loading" and "Off-Road" heights are available only at speeds typically less than 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). The "Highway" setting is not available manually; it is set when the vehicle moves at over typically 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) for over 30 seconds. Unlike a mechanical spring system (where deflection

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1080-486: A mechanical spring, air suspension can adjust to different vehicle weights by increasing the pressure in the air bag, allowing vehicle height to be maintained at a particular value. Standard coaches also have a system called ferry lift, which raises the vehicle and increases its breakover angle . This system aids loading and unloading the coach on and off ferries due to their steep ramps and risk of grounding out, but can also be used on rough ground or on steep crests. Although

1170-510: A non-production prototype Stout Scarab that featured numerous innovations, including a four-wheel independent air suspension system. In 1950, Air Lift Company patented a rubber air spring that is inserted into a car's factory coil spring. The air spring expanded into the spaces in the coil spring, keeping the factory spring from fully compressing, and the vehicle from sagging. The air springs were also commonly used on NASCAR race cars for many years. In 1954, Frenchman Paul Magès developed

1260-476: A primary passing point, and some INDYCAR drivers believe eliminating the Chute and replacing it with a new hairpin at Turn 4A, then rejoining the track at Turn 5, would create a circuit with three passing zones (Turn 4, Turn 7, and Turn 11). Furthermore, the speeds of the current layout with the Chute have been slower than if the full configuration was used. The layout is now used as a Club circuit with options, as at

1350-476: A race weekend on the original Long Grand Prix Road Course is 1:20.683, set by Allan McNish in an Audi R8 during qualifying for the 2000 Grand Prix of Sonoma . As of August 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Sonoma Raceway for different classes are listed as: Sonoma Raceway has a permanent seating capacity of 47,000. This includes the grandstands and terraces around the track. During major races, hospitality tents and other stages are erected around

1440-457: A smooth ride, and one chamber is used for a dynamic driving feeling. A solenoid valve located between each chamber and a separate electronic control unit oversees the control process. In addition, the basic minimum ground height of 148mm is divided into four stages: high, normal, low, and ultra-low according to the driving mode, driving speed, and driving environment. depending on the driving mode, driving speed, and driving environment. And it informs

1530-417: A suspension "to hold the car aloft on four gas bubbles." During World War II , the U.S. developed the air suspension for heavy aircraft in order to save weight with compact construction. Air systems were also used in heavy trucks and aircraft to attain self-levelling suspension . With adjustable air pressure, the axle height was independent of vehicle load. In 1946, American William Bushnell Stout built

1620-609: A two-story driver's lounge/emergency medical facility. In 1995 Trans-Am and SportsCar races returned to Sears Point and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was added to the major-events schedule. Owner "Skip" Berg sold the track to O. Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. in November 1996. Major renovations began at Sears Point Raceway in 1998 with the creation of "the Chute", an 890 ft (270 m) high-speed stretch. The first-ever running of

1710-642: Is a road course and dragstrip located at Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains of Sonoma County, California . The road course features 12 turns on a hilly course with 160 ft (49 m) of total elevation change. It is host to one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It has also played host to the IndyCar Series , the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series , and several other auto races and motorcycle races such as

1800-409: Is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an electric or engine-driven air pump or compressor . This compressor pumps the air into a flexible bellows , usually made from textile-reinforced rubber. Unlike hydropneumatic suspension , which offers many similar features, air suspension does not use pressurized liquid, but pressurized air. The air pressure inflates the bellows, and raises the chassis from

1890-589: Is consolidated mechanically, as the Bill Blass Edition adopts the suspension and wheels of the LSC; the Bill Blass Edition is largely differentiated by its use of a digital dashboard. Both versions are given redesigned seats (distinguished by lower headrests). For 1992, the Mark VII saw no major changes from 1991. A new color, Deep Jewel Green Metallic Clearcoat, was introduced and is very rare. A total of 190,832 Mark VIIs were produced. The Mark VII GTC

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1980-571: Is introduced (see below). As they have largely been replaced by cassette tapes, the 8-track tape player option is discontinued. An in-car telephone is added to the options list for $ 2,995 ($ 8,784 in 2023 dollars ). For 1986, the Mark series was integrated into the Lincoln brand after being within the Continental marque for 18 years, ending the naming confusion. The Continental Mark VII was renamed

2070-518: Is largely independent of load. The developers of ECAS also designed LoadSafe, a related system to ascertain load and change in load on an LCV type vehicle fitted with air springs. The system comprises: The Multi-Chamber air suspension is a suspension capable of controlling the spring characteristics of the air suspension step by step. Multi-Chamber air suspension applicated on the Genesis G90 consists of three chambers. Three chambers are used for

2160-428: Is located just past the drag strip control tower and offers a fairly straight run to the start-finish line. It was used by INDYCAR from 2006 to 2011. Another factor in removing the hairpin is the fact that the turn is only visible from the garages or the bleachers behind the esses. This is due to grandstands built along the front straight that serve also as the drag strip's grandstands. The official FIA Grade 2 variant,

2250-409: Is noted for turns two and three, which are negative-camber ("off-camber") turns , with the inside of the turn higher than the outside. This provides a challenge for the driver, as turn two would normally have the drivers moving to the left side of the track. The raceway also has a 440 yd (400 m) dragstrip used for NHRA drag racing events. The drag strip was originally located on part of

2340-405: Is proportional to load), height may be varied independently from the load by altering the pressure in the air springs. The air springs were designed to provide a smooth ride, with the additional ability to raise the body of the vehicle for off-road clearance and lower it for higher-speeds road driving. Mechanical springs, for which deflection is proportional to load, cannot do this; with ECAS height

2430-428: Is sometimes eliminated and replaced with a multiple-bar linkage. These bars are typically in a trailing arm configuration and the air spring may be situated vertically between a link bar or the axle housing and a point on the vehicle's frame. In other cases, the air bag is situated on the opposite side of the axle from the main link bars on an additional cantilever member. If the main linkage bars are oriented parallel to

2520-606: The American Federation of Motorcyclists series. Sonoma Raceway continues to host amateur, or club racing events with some open to the public. The largest such car club is the Sports Car Club of America . The track is 30 mi (48 km) north of San Francisco and Oakland . With the closure of Riverside International Raceway in Moreno Valley , California after the 1988 season, NASCAR wanted

2610-630: The Lincoln Mark VII and given Lincoln badges with the first three digits of the VIN changed from 1MR Continental to 1LN Lincoln. Other visual changes involved the addition of a federally mandated center brake light (CHMSL). The rarely-seen BMW diesel was dropped from the line, as was the Versace Edition. A number of changes were made for the LSC for 1986 to differentiate it from the rest of the Mark VII line. To update its performance image,

2700-572: The Mercedes-Benz W112 platform featured an air suspension on the 300SE models. The system used a Bosch main valve with two axle valves on the front and one on the rear. These controlled a cone-shaped air spring on each wheel axle. The system maintained a constant ride height utilizing an air reservoir that was filled by a single-cylinder air compressor powered by the engine. In 1964, the Mercedes-Benz 600 used larger air springs and

2790-594: The Range Rover P38A . It was developed in the early 1990s by the company now known as Dunlop Systems and Components Ltd in Coventry, UK. ECAS provides variable-height suspension for on- and off-road applications. The five suspension heights typically offered by ECAS are (from lowest to highest in terms of height) "Loading," "Highway," "Standard," "Off-Road," and "Off-Road Extended." Height is controlled automatically based on speed and undercarriage sensors, but

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2880-517: The Toyota/Save Mart 350 , and was criticized by many drivers, who prefer the full layout. In 2001, it was replaced with the 70° turn, 4A bringing the track to its current dimensions of 1.990 mi (3.203 km). The Chute was built primarily for spectator visibility, to increase speeds, and improve competition for the stock cars, which are not necessarily groomed well for road course racing. However, it has been criticized for taking away

2970-439: The whitewall tires . For 1959, Buick offered an optional "Air Ride" system on all models that combined "soft-rate" steel coil springs in the front with air springs in the rear. An optional air suspension system was available on the 1958 and 1959 Rambler Ambassadors , as well as on all American Motors "Cross Country" station wagon models. The "Air-Coil Ride" utilized an engine-driven compressor , reservoir, air bags within

3060-567: The "Pave the Point" fund raising campaign. The first shop spaces (buildings A, B, C, and D in the main paddock area) were built. In 1986 Harvey "Skip" Berg of Tiburon, CA took control of the track and became a major stockholder in Brenda Raceway Corp., which controlled the track until 1996. Additional buildings constructed on the property brought shop space to more than 700,000 sq ft (65,000 m ) during 1987. In addition,

3150-407: The 1986 LSC was given analog gauges in place of the all-digital dash; the engine output increased to 200 hp. Largely unchanged from 1986, a running change late in 1987 production added the 225 hp 5.0L "H.O." to a limited number of LSC models. 1987 would be the last year the Mark VII offered an optional CB radio. Since vent windows had all but disappeared on American automobiles by the 1980s,

3240-404: The 1994 NASCAR race, a makeshift auxiliary pit road was constructed inside the hairpin (turn 11) nicknamed Gilligan's Island . Cars that had the nine slowest qualifying speeds were relegated to these pit stalls. Pitting in this area was considered an inconvenience and a competitive disadvantage, more so than even the disadvantages one would experience pitting on the backstretch at a short track at

3330-447: The A.S.L. motorcycle in 1909. This was unusual in having pneumatic suspension at front and rear - rear suspension being unusual in any form of motorcycle at that time. The suspension units were similar to the normal girder forks with the spring replaced by a telescopic air unit which could be pressurised to suit the rider. Production of the motorcycles ceased in 1914. On 22 January 1901 an American, William W. Humphreys, patented an idea -

3420-637: The American Le Mans Series took place at Sears Point in July 1999. In 2000 Sears Point Raceway gained unanimous approval from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors by a 5–0 vote to begin work on a $ 35 million Modernization Plan that included 64,000 Hillside Terrace seats, repaving of both the road course and drag strip and increased run-off around the entire track. After the turn of the millennium, Infineon Technologies bought

3510-560: The Grand Prix layout, was used by INDYCAR from 2012 to 2018 and others. This version uses the end of the dragstrip (instead of the Keyhole) to create a Magny Cours -style hairpin that joints the drag strip to Turn 7 to open an overtaking opportunity. The circuit also modified Turn 9A (the chicane similar to Spa's new Bus Stop) by widening it by 10 ft (3.0 m) to allow for more room. A new Turn 11B has been made, moving further past

3600-421: The Merkur pages replaced them. The Comtech model being a prototype, they saw no reason to keep it in the parts catalog. The engine choices were a 5.0  L V8 and rare (approximately 2,300 made) 2.4 L I6 diesel . The diesel was a BMW design with a turbocharger and only available in 1984 and 1985. At least one diesel Mark VII was reportedly equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission . The Mark VII

3690-513: The Mustang GT, it was sold in both Bill Blass and LSC Mark VIIs. On LSC models, wheel size was increased to 16 inches. For 1989, relatively few changes were made to the Mark VII. To improve the handling of LSC models, Lincoln made changes to the steering. The 1989 model was the last year with a hood ornament. For 1990, to accommodate passive-restraint regulations, the Mark VII was given a driver-side airbag and three-point seatbelts were added to

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3780-531: The WTCC and the return of the SCCA World Challenge. The year 2012 saw the end of Infineon as the corporate sponsor, with the track being renamed Sonoma Raceway. The standard, full length road course at Sonoma Raceway is a 2.520 mi (4.056 km) 12-turn course. This course was utilized by all competition through 1997. Most races, including the Grand Prix of Sonoma, use the full course. The course

3870-410: The air bag may be caused from debris on the road . With custom applications, improper installation may cause the air bags to rub against the vehicle's frame or other surrounding parts, damaging it. The over-extension of an air spring which is not sufficiently constrained by other suspension components, such as a shock absorber, may also lead to the premature failure of an air spring through the tearing of

3960-399: The air line that transfers the air. They are screwed into the component and for the most part push-in or push-to-fit DOT line is then inserted into the fitting. Compressor failure is primarily due to leaking air springs or air struts. The compressor will burn out trying to maintain the correct air pressure in a leaking air system. Compressor burnout may also be caused by moisture from within

4050-422: The air lines, which must be routed to the air bags through the chassis of the vehicle, rub against a sharp edge of a chassis member or a moving suspension component, causing a hole to form. This mode of failure will typically take some time to occur after the initial installation of the system, as the integrity of a section of air line is compromised to the point of failure due to the rubbing and resultant abrasion of

4140-464: The air system coming into contact with its electronic parts. This is far more likely to occur with low specification compressors with insufficient duty cycle which are often purchased due to low cost. For redundancy in the system two compressors are often a better option. In Dryer failure the dryer, which functions to remove moisture from the air system, eventually becomes saturated and unable to perform that function. This causes moisture to build up in

4230-431: The arches when their air suspension is fully lowered or alternatively they can choose to go for 'fitment' which in partnership with stretched tyres sees the arch itself fit in between the tyre and rim. Air suspension is also a common suspension upgrade for those who tow or haul heavy loads with their pick-up truck, SUV, van or car. Air springs, also called "air helper springs," are placed on existing suspension components on

4320-586: The axle. Air suspension is used in place of conventional steel springs in heavy vehicle applications such as buses and trucks , and in some passenger cars. It is widely used on semi trailers and trains (primarily passenger trains ). The purpose of air suspension is to provide a smooth, constant ride quality , but in some cases is used for sports suspension. Modern electronically controlled systems in automobiles and light trucks almost always feature self-leveling along with raising and lowering functions. Although traditionally called air bags or air bellows ,

4410-803: The brass ring in the world of racing, and the film was loosely based around that idea. Sonoma has been featured in many racing video games, beginning with Papyrus 's NASCAR Racing for the PC, released in 1994 and has been a frequent addition to NASCAR based games and more recently road course variations have appeared. Bill Elliott 's NASCAR Challenge included the course released in 1991. It appeared in Gran Turismo 4 , and Need For Speed ProStreet as Infineon Raceway, and more recently in Project CARS 2 and recent Forza Motorsport titles. It has also been digitally scanned and used in iRacing. Scenes from

4500-567: The car's height. For 1958 and 1959, the system continued on the Eldorado Brougham, and was offered as an extra cost option on other Cadillacs. In 1958, Buick introduced an optional "Air-Poised Suspension" with four cylinders of air (instead of conventional coil springs) for automatic leveling, as well as a "Bootstrap" control on the dashboard to raise the car 5.5 inches (139.7 millimetres) for use on steep ramps or rutted country roads, as well as for facilitating tire changes or to clean

4590-544: The coil springs, and a ride-height control, but the $ 99 optional system was not popular among buyers and American Motors (AMC) discontinued it for 1960. Only Cadillac continued to offer air suspension through the 1960 model year, where it was standard equipment on the Eldorado Seville , Biarritz, and Brougham. In 1960, the Borgward P 100 was the first German car with self-levelling air suspension. In 1962,

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4680-420: The compressed air system also powered the brake servo. Rolls-Royce incorporated self-levelling suspension on the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow , a system built under license from Citroën . In 1975, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 incorporated a hydropneumatic suspension when the patents on the technology had expired. This design replaced the expensive, complex, and problematic compressed air system that

4770-581: The correct term is air spring (although these terms are also used to describe just the rubber bellows element with its end plates). On 7 January 1901 the British engineer Archibald Sharp patented a method for making a seal allowing pneumatic or hydraulic apparatus described as a "rolling mitten seal", and on 11 January 1901 he applied for a patent for the use of the device to provide air suspension on bicycles. Further developments using this 1901 seal followed. A company called Air Springs Ltd started producing

4860-620: The drag strip tower (Motorcycle Turn 11), being lengthened by 200 ft (61 m) to create a passing zone (it is located just before the race logos painted in Turn 11), and is located where the drag strip staging area is located. During the World Touring Car races, the course used most of the Grand Prix layout except for the full Turn 11 hairpin. (136.76 km/h) NOTE: NASCAR records based on full course. (As of June 12, 2023) The fastest official all-time track record set during

4950-440: The driver of the garage control through the infotainment screen. The speed bump control, the hump control, the slope control, and the high-speed driving control functions are activated under the air suspension control. Air bag or air strut failure is usually caused by wet rust, due to old age, or moisture within the air system that damages it from the inside. Air ride suspension parts may fail because rubber dries out. Punctures to

5040-452: The end of 2018 season, NASCAR returned to the full circuit in 2019. In 2022, NASCAR returned to the Chute layout. From 1989 to 2001, the pit road could only accommodate 34 pit stalls. So, during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Cup Series race, some teams were required to share pit stalls while other teams were forced to pit inside the garage area. When cars dropped out of the race, their pit stalls were reassigned to cars who were sharing. Before

5130-442: The end of the decade because of rising insurance costs. In 1981 Filmways regained ownership of the track after a financial dispute with Black Mountain group. Jack Williams, the 1964 NHRA top-fuel drag racing champion, Rick Betts and John Andersen purchased the track from Filmways at an auction for $ 800,000. The track was renamed Sears Point International Raceway. In 1985 the track was completely repaved, in part with funds donated from

5220-663: The ferry lift may be installed on some buses, the Kneel Down facility is more common on public transport buses. This helps reduce the step height for easy passenger ingress. The Kneel Down facility is also used when using the built-in wheelchair ramps. Due to several advantages, air suspension has been extensively used in commercial vehicles since 1980. Infineon Raceway Future: Trans-Am Series (1969, 1978, 1981–1993, 1995, 2001, 2003–2004, 2022, 2025) Sonoma Raceway (originally known as Sears Point Raceway , Golden State International Raceway and Infineon Raceway )

5310-520: The first American vehicle since 1939 with composite headlights and it was the first of the Continental Mark models to have exposed headlights since the 1960 Continental Mark V. The Continental Mark VII was introduced in August 1983 for the 1984 model year. It was available in a base trim level, Designer Edition ( Bill Blass Edition and Versace Edition). A new sport-oriented upper trim level

5400-447: The flexible layers. Failure of an air spring may also result in complete immobilization of the vehicle, since the vehicle will rub against the ground or be too high to move. However, most modern automotive systems have overcome many of these problems. Air line failure is a failure of the tubing which connects the air bags or struts to the rest of the air system, and is typically DOT-approved nylon air brake line. This usually occurs when

5490-445: The front straightaway of the course. Track changes completed in 2002 separated the road course from the drag strip. The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, an annual classic car racing event, uses the full circuit. NASCAR returned to using the full circuit in 2019 as a part of the tracks 50th anniversary. The full circuit was used in 2019 & 2021 (event was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic), but in 2022 they will return to

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5580-477: The leased raceway from Parker Archer and Hugh Harn in 1974. A few years later a group calling itself Black Mountain Inc., which included Bondurant, William J. Kolb of Del Mar and Howard Meister of Newport Beach, purchased the track from Filmways for a reported $ 1.5 million. American Motorcycle Association national motocross races in the hills north of Turn 7 became popular with Bay Area fans, but were phased out by

5670-453: The longitudinal (driving) axis of the car, the axle housing may be constrained laterally with either a Panhard rod or Watt's linkage . In some cases, two of the link bars may be combined into a triangular shape which effectively constrains the vehicles axle laterally. Often, owners may desire to lower their vehicle to such an extent that they must cut away portions of the frame for more clearance. A reinforcement member commonly referred to as

5760-402: The main crew, were staged in the garage area, and would have to service the car if it required major repairs. If a team pitting on Gilligan's Island dropped out of the race, the crew was unable to pack up their supplies and prepare to leave (a common practice at other tracks) until the race was over. Before the 2002 NASCAR track renovations were completed which extended the main pit road, up to

5850-496: The material. An air line failure may also occur if a piece of road debris hits an air line and punctures or tears it, although this is unlikely to occur in normal road use. It does occur in harsh off-road conditions but it still not common if correctly installed. Air fitting failure usually occurs when they are first fitted or very rarely in use. Cheap low quality components tend to be very unreliable. Air fittings are used to connect components such as bags, valves, and solenoids to

5940-526: The modified layout instead of running the original. The track was closed in 2020 because of government regulations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. All national events were removed from the schedule. The track was modified in 1998, adding the Chute , which bypassed turns 5 and 6 (the Carousel), shortening the course to 1.949 mi (3.137 km). The Chute was only used for NASCAR events such as

6030-528: The naming rights, and on June 22, 2002, the course was renamed Infineon Raceway. In 2006, the Grand Prix of Sonoma was transferred to the Rolex Sports Car Series, who would limit it to Daytona Prototypes only for 2007–2008 before the event was discontinued altogether. Since 2010, however, the course has seen a mild resurgence, with the circuit becoming a sponsor for various events as well as hosting an increasing amount of lesser series, including

6120-449: The need for repair. Some manipulate the sensors to set the vehicle to a particular ride height at all times by adjusting the lever ratio on the height-sensing devices, or a supplementary ECU to "fool" the system. Leaks in the system, often due to main seal wear caused by excessive duty cycle, can cause premature compressor failure. Air springs are used in bus suspensions due to a wide range of advantages over mechanical springs. Compared to

6210-419: The option for them was discontinued for 1987. For 1988, the Mark VII model line was revised. As the Mark VII carried a large list of features, the base-trim model was discontinued, leaving the luxury-oriented Bill Blass Edition and the performance-oriented LSC; both versions were priced the same. The 150 hp and 200 hp versions of the 5.0L V8 were replaced by the 225 hp "H.O." version; shared with

6300-458: The outboard rear seats. Since it had not been updated since 1984, the dashboard and interior controls were given a redesign; LSC models saw the addition of a 120-mph speedometer. LSC models were given 16-inch wheels with a design that was essentially a clone of the BBS RA wheel. To give new life to the Mark VII, the monochromatic LSC SE (Special Edition) was introduced. For 1991, the Mark VII line

6390-415: The race course, and crew members were unable to leave once the race began. Teams sent only the primary pit crew to Gilligan's Island , and once they were there, they could not access the garage area or their transporters to collect spare parts/tools. The only repairs that could be made were routine tire changes and refueling, as well as only minor repairs. Other auxiliary pit crew members, who were not part of

6480-483: The rear or front of the vehicle in order to increase the load capacity. One of the advantages of using air suspension as a load support enhancement is the air springs can be deflated when not towing or hauling and therefore maintaining the factory ride quality. Electronic Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) is the name of the air suspension system installed on the Range Rover Classic in 1993 and later on

6570-421: The spring rate and damping settings of the suspension, among other changes, for their sport/track modes. The Lincoln Mark VIII had suspension settings which were linked to the memory seat system, meaning that the car would automatically adjust the suspension to individual drivers. Most air suspension designs are height adjustable , making it easier to enter the vehicle, clear bumps, or clear rough terrain. Since

6660-557: The start-finish straight, which removed the need for Gilligan's Island and it has not reappeared in any NASCAR race at the track since. Variations of Sonoma's circuits are often used. Motorcycles use a 2.320 mi (3.734 km), 12-turn course. It is based on the full layout, and does not include the Chute. This layout, opened in 2003, skips the later section of the Esses (8A and 9) and the run from Turn 10 to Turn 11 (the hairpin), using instead Turn 11a as Turn 11 has no runoff. This hairpin

6750-470: The system and can result in damaged air springs and/or a burned out compressor. The ECAS computer can, using pre-programmed criteria to detect a fault, disable the system into "Hard Fault Mode" which lowers the vehicle to the suspension bump-stops , leaving it usable with radically reduced performance until repaired. Many enthusiasts use diagnostic devices such as laptop and hand computers running specially developed software to clear spurious faults and avoid

6840-845: The term ECAS was successfully trade marked. The system was first fitted to the 1993 model year Land Rover Range Rover. In 2005 the GM Hummer H2 featured an optional rear air suspension system with a dual compressor control system from Dunlop to support tire inflation for off-road applications. Vehicle marques that have used air suspension on their models include: Audi , Acura , Bentley , BMW , Cadillac , Citroën , Ford , Genesis , Hummer , Hyundai , Jaguar , Jeep , Land Rover , Lamborghini , Lexus , Lincoln , Mercedes-Benz , Mercedes--Maybach , Porsche , Ram , Rivian , Rolls-Royce , SsanYong , Subaru , Tesla , Volkswagen , Volvo , and more. Companies such as Jaguar and Porsche have introduced systems on some of their models that change

6930-399: The time. Since the length of the auxiliary pit road was significantly shorter than the main pit road, the cars that pitted there were held from 15 to 20 seconds to make up for the time that would have been spent if the cars had traveled the entire main pit road. Pitting on Gilligan's Island had several other inconveniences. The location (the staging area for drag races) was landlocked by

7020-540: The track was sold to Filmways Corp. , a Los Angeles-based entertainment company for $ 4.5 million. In May 1970 the track was closed and became a tax shelter for Filmways after losses of $ 300,000 were reported. Hugh Harn of Belvedere and Parker Archer of Napa arranged to lease the track from Filmways in 1973. Bob Bondurant , owner and operator of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving , and partner Bill Benck took over management and control of

7110-514: The track, which brings the total capacity up to 102,000 seats. The facility underwent a major expansion in 2004 which resulted in 64,000 hillside seats, 10,000 permanent grandstand seats, a wastewater treatment facility, 100 acres (40 ha) of restored wetlands, permanent garages, new retail space, a go-kart track and a new drag strip. In the 1970 motorcycle road racing film Little Fauss and Big Halsy , starring Michael J. Pollard and Robert Redford , Redford's character, Halsy, saw Sears Point as

7200-399: The trunk lid was partially lowered by hand, and then automatically pulled down about an inch by a motor mounted inside the trunk latch. All models were now installed with Ford's Keyless Entry System , and an automatic dimming high-beam module. This worked via a sensor located adjacent to the rear-view mirror, and sensitivity could be adjusted by a dial located on the dashboard. The Mark VII

7290-406: The underlying principle remains the same. The metal spring (coil or leaf) is removed, and an air bag, also referred to as an air spring, is inserted or fabricated to fit in the place of the factory spring. When air pressure is supplied to the air bag, the suspension can be adjusted either up or down (lifted or lowered). For vehicles with leaf spring suspension such as pickup trucks, the leaf spring

7380-519: The user to tilt the vehicle side-to-side, front-to-back, in some instances "hit a 3-wheel" (contort the vehicle so one wheel lifts up from the ground) or even "hop" the entire vehicle into the air. When a pressure reservoir is present, the flow of air or gas is commonly controlled with pneumatic solenoid valves . This allows the user to make adjustments by simply pressing a momentary-contact electric button or switch. The installation and configuration of these systems varies for different makes and models but

7470-496: The vehicle to lean up to 2.5 degrees into a turn, similar to a tilting train . The leaning is intended to counter the effect of centrifugal force on the occupants and is available only on rear-wheel drive models. Air suspension has become popular in the custom automobile culture: street rods , trucks, cars, and even motorcycles may have air springs. They are used in these applications to provide an adjustable suspension which allows vehicles to sit extremely low, yet be able rise to

7560-507: Was a Lincoln-Mercury dealer-sold car built by Cars & Concepts with monochromatic paint, a body kit, and available performance upgrades. A select few were sent to Jack Roush Performance for suspension enhancements and optional 5.8L and T5 manual transmission conversions. There was also a 'Comtech' Mark VII, with a CRT touch screen, which did exist in at least one vehicle, it was on loan to Bob Bondurant while he had his driving school at Sears Point Raceway . Ford Motor Company allowed him to have

7650-473: Was constructed on 720 acres (2.9 km ) by Marin County owners Robert Marshall Jr., an attorney from Point Reyes, and land developer Jim Coleman of Kentfield. The two conceived of the idea of a race track while on a hunting trip. Ground was broken in August 1968 and paving of the race surface was completed in November. The first official event at Sears Point was an SCCA Enduro, held on December 1, 1968. In 1969

7740-451: Was equipped with a long list of standard equipment. A fully digital dashboard featured an onboard trip computer and message center; automatic climate control was also standard. Other standard features included four-wheel air suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, power seats, an AM/FM stereo, and power windows, locks, and mirrors. All Mark VIIs featured a power deck-lid release (through an interior mounted button) and electric pull-down, in which

7830-464: Was introduced with this generation, called the LSC (Luxury Sports Coupe). Alongside the standard 140 hp 5.0L V8 shared with the Ford Mustang is a 114 hp 2.4L turbocharged diesel inline-6 obtained from BMW to offer a more fuel efficient engine offering; all Mark VIIs came with a 4-speed automatic transmission. To back its image as a technically advanced car for the 1980s, the Mark VII

7920-595: Was raced in the Trans-Am Series in 1984 and 1985 without much success, with the best result being a ninth-place finish. The Mark VII LSC was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1986 .       Sold exclusively in China.        The Lincoln Mark LT was exclusively sold in Mexico after the 2008 model year. Air suspension Air suspension

8010-612: Was still used on the 600 models until 1984. Air suspension was not included in standard production American-built cars between 1960 and 1983. In 1984, Ford Motor Company incorporated a new design as a feature on the Lincoln Continental Mark VII . In 1986, Nissan installed an airbag modification to MacPherson Struts on the Cedric and Gloria . Dunlop Systems Coventry UK were also pioneers of Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) for off-road vehicles -

8100-493: Was the first modern American manufactured vehicle to be equipped with a replaceable bulb headlamp system. Ford had petitioned NHTSA for a rule change permitting replaceable bulb headlamp systems, which was enacted in the summer of 1983 in time for the introduction of the Mark VII. 1985 was the last year for the Mark Series to include the "Continental" name as its nomenclature. The dealer-installed GTC performance option package

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