RE: PH Blog: race cars for the road

[TonyHetherington]

PhillipM said:

Apologies if I'm wrong, but even some of the most hardcore track cars aren't as much of a bh to drive as a race car, as they've been built to enjoy driving in, rather than absolute flat chat pace at a sacrifice of everything else. I'm sure you could do it with a few of the more road-going based series though.

Not least because of the rebuild/refresh cycle. Everything in hardcore track cars are designed to be useable again and again, even though extreme.

Race cars can get checked/rebuilt/fixed between race weekends far more easily and commonly, hence they're even more extreme - at the peak of performance, of course.

I think really here we're just taking it too literally; "race cars for the roads". The summary is that an actual, proper race car for the road would be near useless. But many get close

[markmullen]

TonyHetherington said:

Not least because of the rebuild/refresh cycle. Everything in hardcore track cars are designed to be useable again and again, even though extreme.

Race cars can get checked/rebuilt/fixed between race weekends far more easily and commonly, hence they're even more extreme - at the peak of performance, of course.

I think really here we're just taking it too literally; "race cars for the roads". The summary is that an actual, proper race car for the road would be near useless. But many get close

It's a shame you think like that, I was just about to offer you mates rates on it

[Caractacus]

PhillipM said:

I'm guessing with that though, you don't have oil that needs changing every weekend, bodywork that flaps about in the wind, a gearbox that's a complete bh at anything other than full chat and a clutch and diff pack that makes the whole car jump and shudder in traffic and in bends unless all four wheels are slipping?



Apologies if I'm wrong, but even some of the most hardcore track cars aren't as much of a bh to drive as a race car, as they've been built to enjoy driving in, rather than absolute flat chat pace at a sacrifice of everything else. I'm sure you could do it with a few of the more road-going based series though.

Bodywork that flaps? Check. Rattles all over the show (especially the slider in the drivers window)? Check.LSD and gearbox that's not friendly until warmed throughly? Check. Triple plate clutch. Check. Rose jointed suspension? Check.

Nope, it's not a full on race car that needs oil changing that often. I do change it every second track day though.

My point is that it's a hell of a lot closer to a race car than a normal road car and I love driving it on the road. Is it fast on the road? Not overly. I'm often quicker point to point in a reasonable euro box (especially in the wet) due to the compliant suspension, etc. When it's mid summer and the roads are warm, by god, it goes like the clappers though.

[PhillipM]

When you take it out on the road, do you lock the doors after you get out and take the key with you, or do you just shut the door and hope like hell no-one jumps in and thumbs the starter button?