RE: Radical launches SR1 entry-level track car
Discussion
Great "entry level" as they say, but i just cant get my head around the prices of this type of toy! Whilst i am not doubting build/development costs, it makes me consider how many people out there can afford £35k+ on a car just for the track! I am sure they have done their numbers and will probably have a full order book or very soon have a full order book!
The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
RX7 said:
Great "entry level" as they say, but i just cant get my head around the prices of this type of toy! Whilst i am not doubting build/development costs, it makes me consider how many people out there can afford £35k+ on a car just for the track! I am sure they have done their numbers and will probably have a full order book or very soon have a full order book!
The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
To be contrite, handmade everything though........engine, gearbox, chassis, bodywork. Amazed it can be built for such little money. Brilliant.The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
RX7 said:
Great "entry level" as they say, but i just cant get my head around the prices of this type of toy! Whilst i am not doubting build/development costs, it makes me consider how many people out there can afford £35k+ on a car just for the track! I am sure they have done their numbers and will probably have a full order book or very soon have a full order book!
The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
No doubting they're a lot of money, but they're not a lot of money for what they are. If you see what I mean. Best thing for us mortals is to find a like-minded, trustworthy, non-psychotic friend and go halves. Split all the bills down the middle and it's actually less to run than a Caterfield on your own.The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
RX7 said:
Great "entry level" as they say, but i just cant get my head around the prices of this type of toy! Whilst i am not doubting build/development costs, it makes me consider how many people out there can afford £35k+ on a car just for the track! I am sure they have done their numbers and will probably have a full order book or very soon have a full order book!
The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
its a seriously limited market and their main competition is probably the rest of the radical range. they'll have done their homework... i'll bet the average radical owner has at least 2 other cars. so 50 or so people stump up 35k for a track toy i don't find that nearly as amazing as the 50,000 or so people who stump up 85k for a porsche/ferrari/benz/rr etc.. and lose 35k depreciation!The question i always seem to come back to is, how many more could you sell for less money?
caraddict said:
How much hassle, I mean; how much time does it take to strap these cars on and off a transport car/truck? Could one person do it alone? I'm sure it's worth it though 
That's the only thing that keeps me away from trackday only cars.
With a brian james tilt bed trailer or similar i can load my car in about five to ten minutes plus whatever else you want to take in the car.That's the only thing that keeps me away from trackday only cars.
Andy
griff7 said:
caraddict said:
How much hassle, I mean; how much time does it take to strap these cars on and off a transport car/truck? Could one person do it alone? I'm sure it's worth it though
That's the only thing that keeps me away from trackday only cars.
With a brian james tilt bed trailer or similar i can load my car in about five to ten minutes plus whatever else you want to take in the car.That's the only thing that keeps me away from trackday only cars.
Andy
I've seen all these crazy and not street legal turbocharged BMW's and I feel smitten... If the car breaks down, just put it back on the trailer. Not bad of a deal.
Anyone else?
caraddict said:
griff7 said:
caraddict said:
How much hassle, I mean; how much time does it take to strap these cars on and off a transport car/truck? Could one person do it alone? I'm sure it's worth it though
That's the only thing that keeps me away from trackday only cars.
With a brian james tilt bed trailer or similar i can load my car in about five to ten minutes plus whatever else you want to take in the car.That's the only thing that keeps me away from trackday only cars.
Andy
I've seen all these crazy and not street legal turbocharged BMW's and I feel smitten... If the car breaks down, just put it back on the trailer. Not bad of a deal.
Anyone else?
I went for it (Radical & the Tow Your Own' bit) and my only regret is that I didn't do it ten years before that! Forget all these hopped-up road thingies, buy a car that was designed at the onset as a racing track car. Treat yourself, you've earned it.
PM me if you want more info; maybe you can come along and see what it's all about, who knows perhaps even try a passenger ride. Say No if you're worried about getting hooked, lined and sinkered, because for sure, you will be. Guaranteed.
There's always the Sports 2000 championship, 200bhp in the Duratec class and cars available from £19k, low running costs and an established championship (40 cars out at Spa a couple of weeks ago). www.sports2000-srcc.com for more details
Never seen the point in Radicals as track day cars. They are too far, almost dangerously so, as a track car when you're surrounded by average drivers in all manners of mundane machinery. The speed of them could also flatter drivers; hiding fundamental issues in their driving (a problem for a lot of people in 'fast' cars).
And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
hondansx said:
Never seen the point in Radicals as track day cars. They are too far, almost dangerously so, as a track car when you're surrounded by average drivers in all manners of mundane machinery. The speed of them could also flatter drivers; hiding fundamental issues in their driving (a problem for a lot of people in 'fast' cars).
And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
Always been my perspective too. Fat wallets toy as a trackday car.And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
Yazza54 said:
hondansx said:
Never seen the point in Radicals as track day cars. They are too far, almost dangerously so, as a track car when you're surrounded by average drivers in all manners of mundane machinery. The speed of them could also flatter drivers; hiding fundamental issues in their driving (a problem for a lot of people in 'fast' cars).
And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
Always been my perspective too. Fat wallets toy as a trackday car.And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
hondansx said:
Never seen the point in Radicals as track day cars. They are too far, almost dangerously so, as a track car when you're surrounded by average drivers in all manners of mundane machinery. The speed of them could also flatter drivers; hiding fundamental issues in their driving (a problem for a lot of people in 'fast' cars).
And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
Not surprised to see twaddle like that appearing, but mighty surprised to see it coming from a Proper Racing Driver!And then you need a car to tow it and a trailer to boot. Why not spend £30k on a race season in something affordable instead? Much, much more fun, you become a better driver, get to call yourself a 'racing driver' and make a load of like-minded people to boot.
fbrs said:
as brilliant as racing is, and the dream of many pher's i suppose, the problem is if you are at all busy with work or family; signing up to a race schedule not of your choosing is all but impossible, time on track is extremely limited compared to an open pit lane day, the costs are certainly higher than track days and you have to treck all around the country rather than stick to tracks near you. frankly its a massive pain the ar5e for a 20 minute race, compared to a day at the track jumping in and out of cars with friends. so if trackdays are your thing 30k isnt that much to drop on a car like this compared to buying an expensive road car, it will also cost peanuts to run compared to the ubiquitous gt3/2
If 'massive pain in the ar5e' had said 'massive personal commitment' and 'a 20 minute race' had said '20 minutes of Qualy and 2 x 20 minute Races' you'd have got a totally unqualified thumbs up for that very perceptive post.splitpin said:
If 'massive pain in the ar5e' had said 'massive personal commitment' and 'a 20 minute race' had said '20 minutes of Qualy and 2 x 20 minute Races' you'd have got a totally unqualified thumbs up for that very perceptive post.
i used to go with a friend who raced in the intermark challenge, some of the weekends were practice and or quali one day couple of races the next day... so yeah getting up at 3am on saturday to drive 6 hours, getting accomodation on a saturday night in the middle of nowhere, usually on your own, for an hour on track over 2 days if you're lucky, is, IMO a massive, expensive PITA. now if you had a friend do it with you and a couple of cars and a proper truck and an understanding wife and kids you dont like it would be great! fbrs said:
some of the weekends were practice and or quali one day couple of races the next day... so yeah getting up at 3am on saturday to drive 6 hours, getting accomodation on a saturday night in the middle of nowhere, usually on your own, for an hour on track over 2 days if you're lucky, is, IMO a massive, expensive PITA. now if you had a friend do it with you and a couple of cars and a proper truck and an understanding wife and kids you dont like it would be great!
Others see it completely different, but that's why I much prefer Race Series like Radical Clubmans Cup and 750MC BikeSports that do it all on the one day.Especially a Saturday as it's usually easier to get a hotel (and at a reasonable price) on a Friday night and I can still get to Church on the Sunday.
Spot The Lie?
Edited by splitpin on Tuesday 26th June 18:03
splitpin said:
Others see it completely different, but that's why I much prefer Race Series like Radical Clubmans Cup and 750MC BikeSports that do it all on the one day.
Especially a Saturday as it's usually easier to get a hotel (and at a reasonable price) on a Friday night and I can still get to Church on the Sunday.
Spot The Lie?
for sure. its great people do, i imagine piling 3 abreast into paddock hill at 10/10ths makes up for getting 3 hours sleep in the back of a rangerover.Especially a Saturday as it's usually easier to get a hotel (and at a reasonable price) on a Friday night and I can still get to Church on the Sunday.
Spot The Lie?
splitpin said:
Not surprised to see twaddle like that appearing, but mighty surprised to see it coming from a Proper Racing Driver!
Please expand! I'm prepared to be wrong, but i think twaddle may be taking it a step far 
I appreciate the commitment issue with racing (and advantage of track time with track days - kind of debatable), but then it is a choice. I've often passed the opportunity of points because i couldn't commit (or couldn't be arsed) to drive up to Scotland, or to some obscure circuit on the Continent.
There are also a number of struggling series out there that, with a few tweaks, would probably allow invitation entries, so you could find yourself racing in a few events at a weekend. For example, at Castle Combe the other week MX5s were allowed to test over both days, and then had two separate series (i even think it was 2 races per series, so 4 races in total). I'd also point out it is a lot cheaper to build a car that can do a 20 minute race compared to one than can do an hour!
Ultimately, it is too difficult to convey the enjoyment of racing competively. Without doing it, you don't know what you're missing out on. Maybe that is a blessing!!
I think this makes a lot of sense!
I could quite happily have a £10k diesel mile muncher for daily use and then something like that for track use. I'd imagine they'll hold their value pretty well?
I've had a few passenger laps at Combe in Radicals, think they were SR4s. Unelievable is the only word to describe them. I don't care how fast anyone thinks their car is, go out in a Radical and you'll find yourself re-evaluating what 'quick' is!
First time up over Avon Rise and I was convinced I was going to die. Braking is so late and hard and the cornering speeds are crazy! I will drive one one day, it's just a shame for the cost of an experience day with not a lot of driving, I could do 3 or 4 trackdays in may car, so can't really justify that!
I did speak to the guys who ran the car after, and they did say running a Radical can be a 2 man job. I think they said they just track it and their yearly budget to run was £10k (not sure if that was each or all together)
I do wonder what the engines are like on this new one, is it the same as the other Radicals that need to be rebuilt after certain hours/mileage?
I could quite happily have a £10k diesel mile muncher for daily use and then something like that for track use. I'd imagine they'll hold their value pretty well?
I've had a few passenger laps at Combe in Radicals, think they were SR4s. Unelievable is the only word to describe them. I don't care how fast anyone thinks their car is, go out in a Radical and you'll find yourself re-evaluating what 'quick' is!
First time up over Avon Rise and I was convinced I was going to die. Braking is so late and hard and the cornering speeds are crazy! I will drive one one day, it's just a shame for the cost of an experience day with not a lot of driving, I could do 3 or 4 trackdays in may car, so can't really justify that!
I did speak to the guys who ran the car after, and they did say running a Radical can be a 2 man job. I think they said they just track it and their yearly budget to run was £10k (not sure if that was each or all together)
I do wonder what the engines are like on this new one, is it the same as the other Radicals that need to be rebuilt after certain hours/mileage?
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