The Banana
Turbo Mini Forums

Since this term is used quite regularly on this forum I thought it may be useful to clarify it a bit, mostly since I'm confused myself. So: what's the definition of a banana? How does it compare to the (obviously obsolete) horsepower? Is there an easy conversion formula or is it a bit like the Celsius/Fahrenheit thing (which I for one don't get at all)? Does it matter if you use Chiquita or plain old Aldi babanas, or even the tiny ones I saw in the Congo? Would it be permitted to call Matty's 16v manifold a "banana spider" manifold? I know that a green painted engine generates more bananas than a red one, but by how big a margin?
Stuff like this keeps me awake at night you know...I really should get a life

Arnoud

1963 Cooper
1975 Pick Up

It was invented to get around the 'all rolling roads give different results' arguments. We don't care about that.

Bananas roughly = 1 hp
Curly Whirly roughly = 1ftlb

there is also a baldwin
i'm not sure on the conversion however

Speeding is like masturbating, everyone does it, but not all of us film it and put it on the internet

[quote=fab,8th Oct, 2010]fuck off

baldwin is a dyno place, 1 baldwin hp = 1 banana

soo 2 cars with 150baldwins basically means they both get there 150banana from the same rollers

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

I think your conversion is wrong Brett. 1 baldwin = 1f bananas

Where f=fudge factor, generally between 0.25 and 0.5

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

fair enough
i thought it was just pointed out as a more accurate comparison as most go/been there

i think in general dynos give the customer what they want... pub talk with proof
its how it drives on the road/track thats important imo ( however a bragging figure always helps as its the first question asked )

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

Hp is a defined unit of measure, the banana is not. How many bananas are in a bunch, and how big are those bananas in each bunch is any mans guess exluding the european union.

The banana unit takes into consideration all the differencies and deficiencies between dyno's, where the Hp unit cannot, thus making people aware that its just a number that in reality means very little

I want a nice graph that shows 200+ bananas for the van. Don't really give a shit what it actually has as long as we join the 200 club and it sees an improvement on the strip.

thanks guys, it's all much clearer to me now :)
BTW should a Dutchman ever mention his mini's banana he actually means the rear valance, just so you know.

1963 Cooper
1975 Pick Up