My video of the Ring

[Thevet]

Well after ages trying to learn how to edit and post a video, here is my attempt at videoing the GTR at the ring. Have to say a few apologies for the noise of the gear linkage, the camera slipping temporarily after the bumps of the carousel and for the poor light, despite it looking much better on the camera itself. However, it was my first trip and homemade video, so I'm pleased to have been and now to see it, even if a transit could have gone faster! Hope it gives you an ultima-eyed view of the circuit.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jKQLmWb1IKk

[Thevet]

Sound is there for me so check your computer/speakers etc, as for you Mr Absolutely, of course it's not allowed to take any evidence of your tracktime but as the good book says, "let he that is without motoring sin cast the first wheelnut". And for you P, complimentary as ever, that was my 3rd dry lap, with a couple of wet ones on the previous days.

[Thevet]

kylemrushall said:

very smooth, your car sounds like it is turbo or super charged but i quess its wind noise etc??

Supercharged, with a weiand 6-71 which gives some rather odd noises when cold as the belt jumps a bit until the ali expands and takes up the slack. But thanks also for the "smooth" compliment, as it didn't feel like it when there, even though it was a specific aim to try and be so. So much fun to drive in an Ultima though, you got to give it a try.

[Thevet]

kylemrushall said:

i would love to give it a go but i have problems with the old red mist my foot tends to get stuck to the floor!!!

I love to push the pedal to the metal but the general lack of run-off, the lack of insurance plus the potential costs of shutting the ring and having to recover and repair the GTR kept my mind focussed on not pranging it. I would think most people would find the same on such a track where if you crash you will mess up all the other drivers who wouldn't be able to get their runs in.

[Thevet]

Paul.B said:

It has nowt to do with track times or such like. The 'owners' do not want video taken as it could be used as evidence if the unthinkable was to happen within view and used for litigation purposes.
Scenario - you video yourself doing a lap. Vehicle in front has a BIG accident and someone gets killed (not unlikely at the 'ring) You post up your video and it getts seen by a relative/lawyer and they decides to sue. Could bring a whole heap of sh!t down on the 'Ring 'owners.' The greenies want the place closed down anyhow. The publicity they would get from live footage would be enormous.

That is why the don't want people videoing their laps. (And a bloooody huge shame too. But that is the world we live in. I aint saying it is right )

I know why they don't want videos taken, but I would not have submitted anything which showed an "incident". I hate the litigatious side of our society and will on principle ignore some of the crap that is there, although I will also attempt to ensure no-one has any cause to complain about the trespass.
How are those seats by the way?

[Thevet]

Hi Paul, agreed on the "way of the world", would like to put the seats back into the GTR as they fitted me better than the factory better, but they were just too upright to allow me to fit into the car. If money were no object then I suspect some nice Reverie carbon seats would be the fitting of choice, but not just yet unfortunately

[Thevet]

San Diego GTR said:

Great video even with the technical difficulties. How did the GTR feel around the track? It looks and sounds like the car just wants to keep going faster and faster. Looks like fun, wish I could take a few laps there, but the commute would suck from San Diego, California.
Paul

I think you already know how it felt from what you say, as it was superb to drive that track in an Ultima. I have few doubts that the factory will set a stunning time given the right conditions and driver familiarity with the track. Shame about the commuting distance for you fellas over there.

[Thevet]

GREEN CAT said:

Hi Tim,

Just watched your video on the ring. The GTR sounds lovely. We stayed at the same hotel (Green XKR). Going back soon with soft and sticky intermediates Mmmm !

All the best

Mark

Hi Mark, well tracked down and great to meet you there and chat, hope the car with the new tyres gives a great result, let us know.

Stig said:

Great vid Tim! Your Weiand sounds really odd? I had one in the GTR and it sounded completely different to that? For info, I never had a problem with the belt slipping either - are you sure yours is the right length?

Good job though!

Thnks for the compliment Stig, the blower sounds different for a couple of reasons, it's a 6-71 blower rather than the 254[?] that you had on your GTR, which definitely sounded sweeter than this one, it is also a toothed belt which means it can jump when cold rather than slip as on the ribbed belt you had, and I had to remove more of the bulkhead than you due to the larger size of the 6-71 and so get occasional rubs when the engine moves under accel/decel. Alot of the noise was also due to the gear change linkage, which I have mostly cured by a spot of weld next to the rollpins.

s62 said:

It must be awesome to drive the Ring in an Ultima

It is obvious that you do not know the track and once you
have memorized it and know what is coming next you will
gain alot of time/speed. This was a 9:55 lap BTG.

PS. Gran Turismo is very good for learning the layout of the track.

No didn't know the track at all before this visit, and despite trying to use the computer games, found that there were too few reference points shown to help me much. Maybe now I have a slight familiarity with the layout, they may be more use, have to try again. Obviously there is heaps more to come in terms of speed, but most importantly, staying on the track safely was paramount, as my passenger is rather important to me and the car wasn't insured. But I will be trying to go again, just need to see what crops up next year, eh Wayne?

[Thevet]

Builder said:

It would be an amazing trip to drive a GTR at the Ring. Maybe Paul and I can ship our cars over some day. Great video! Thanks!!!

If you can't bring the cars you could always tag along when the ring is finally invaded by ultimas next year, at least you'll be able to get a ride around, just keep watching here for news.