Flemke - Is this your McLaren? (Vol 5)

[flemke]

michael243 said:

Have you ever taken the F1 around a track, if so how was it and what kind of speeds did you manage to get out of it?

It's def been around Bedford, Bruntingthorpe, Chobham, Nordschleife, Hockenheim, Magny Cours and Dijon. Can't think of any others atm. Max circuit speed was at Bruntingthorpe, around 210. The issue there is whether you can get the car sufficiently slowed down before the end of the straight (this was before I changed brakes, suspension, and tyres). Max speed on public road has been 221.

As for "How was it around a track?", that is a question that much of this thread has been about. The car was not designed for circuits. In standard form, the brakes could be better, there is a tendency to go from understeer to snap oversteer, and the steering could be quicker. Power-to-weight is obviously excellent, and although there is a tendency towards oversteer, it is fairly controllable. There is a big difference between the road car and the GTR.

[flemke]

Max_Torque said:

flemke said:

My sat-nav:






I would prefer an F1 in pretty much all road driving situations except in the wet.
P1 is never a handful except when its wideness comes into play. Otherwise it is always easier to drive than the F1. It's just not as enjoyable or rewarding.

You've got the wrong map, you want this one:

I shall keep my eye out for that edition.

Legalities aside, I have wondered how many roads in Britain would physically accommodate 220+.

You really need 3 or more lanes in width, a good 2 miles that are flat, straight and smooth, preferably lacking in crosswinds and much animal life.
Smooth is important, and what you might not notice at 100 or 120 can be quite evident if you're going 100 mph faster.

[Storer]

Indeed, clearly the risk is that it will look less cool:



[/quote]

Now at the risk of being shot down, I like that car and colour. The wing isn't too large, nor is the splitter. It looks balanced and not OTT in my opinion. The only thing I might change are the wheels, back to standard design.

On the UK road to do 220mph. I would say there are none suitable.
There are some straight enough, long enough and wide enough but none that are level enough. If you run a car with relatively little suspension travel you will know that our roads are in a dire state and even new stretches are seldom without 'humps or dips'.

French auto routes are a better bet.


Paul

Edited to say. Interesting collection of cars in that garage.

Edited by Storer on Wednesday 7th October 20:05

[andyps]

flemke said:

My sat-nav:






I would prefer an F1 in pretty much all road driving situations except in the wet.
P1 is never a handful except when its wideness comes into play. Otherwise it is always easier to drive than the F1. It's just not as enjoyable or rewarding.

Where do you keep that in an F1? When using a map if driving solo I tend to keep it on the passenger seat for a quick reference when safe to do so - at a junction for example. Can you reach if it is on a passenger seat that is set further back, or is there space beside the drivers seat to slot it in?

[andyps]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

quite possibly the biggest ever first world problem, ever.

Wouldn't that be reaching the touch screen of a satnav on the windscreen of an F1 whilst wearing full harness belts?

[flemke]

Storer said:

Flemke said:

Indeed, clearly the risk is that it will look less cool:

Now at the risk of being shot down, I like that car and colour. The wing isn't too large, nor is the splitter. It looks balanced and not OTT in my opinion. The only thing I might change are the wheels, back to standard design.

On the UK road to do 220mph. I would say there are none suitable.
There are some straight enough, long enough and wide enough but none that are level enough. If you run a car with relatively little suspension travel you will know that our roads are in a dire state and even new stretches are seldom without 'humps or dips'.

French auto routes are a better bet.


Paul

Edited to say. Interesting collection of cars in that garage.

Indeed, the problematical wheels were the reason that I offered that example. Spoke proliferation ridiculous, silver colour a fail.

Edited by flemke on Wednesday 7th October 23:28

[flemke]

andyps said:

flemke said:

My sat-nav:






I would prefer an F1 in pretty much all road driving situations except in the wet.
P1 is never a handful except when its wideness comes into play. Otherwise it is always easier to drive than the F1. It's just not as enjoyable or rewarding.

Where do you keep that in an F1? When using a map if driving solo I tend to keep it on the passenger seat for a quick reference when safe to do so - at a junction for example. Can you reach if it is on a passenger seat that is set further back, or is there space beside the drivers seat to slot it in?

Unless with 2 passengers, I keep it on the right pax floor, which is close to hand because you sit quite low.
With 2 passengers, I keep in on the right pax seat, on top of the right passenger's lap.

[Joe911]

flemke said:

No, afraid not. I have done almost no driving in computer games. A friend of mine who is a frequent poster on this thread has driven my F1 often and I think he has driven a virtual F1 on a computer set-up. I'll see if he can share his thoughts about it.

I've used a bunch of video games - though I've never been much good. I just can't get my mind around a driving game that uses a joystick and not steering wheel/pedals. I bought a race chair/wheel/pedals for Gran Turismo 4, 5 and 6 - and I got reasonably competent at GT5 - and drove an F1 a lot - I think I could do 6:30 on the Nordschleife (just like in the real world). The other problem is that even with force feedback - the wheel, pedals an gearbox are just totally unrealistic ... one more small issue - there's no g, just none

So in my experience none of the video games get to feel anything even remotely like an F1, or indeed any real car. Maybe someone with more feel than me can tell you about video game chassis balance - but I can't.

I did a few months ago have a go at a proper grown-up simulator (not McL level - but probably a £50k setup). The wheel and pedals were really really good but the biggest transformation was using an Oculus Rift headset. You really did feel like you were there at T13 ready to roll - it transformed the realism of the width and shape of the track - being able to place the car where you wanted within the width of the track, look through the corners past the apex and to the exit. It was really impressive. Unfortunately it made me feel really sick - I had to stop. I guess you get used to it.

[Dr JonboyG]

Joe911 said:

The other problem is that even with force feedback - the wheel, pedals an gearbox are just totally unrealistic ... one more small issue - there's no g, just none

This is indeed the biggest problem. Video games are great for learning circuits, and they're great for having fun, but even the very best ones will only impart some of the experience of driving the real thing. I've been extremely lucky this year as I've changed jobs and instead of working for the US government now I get to drive exciting cars (among other things). I've also been lucky enough to have been sent a particularly high-end wheel and pedal set for the Xbox, and have been comparing the cars I've driven in real life this year with their digital equivalents. Steering feel is not bad, but—for example—I've found that the Audi R8 V10 Plus in the game is much less engaging than the real life version, whereas the digital Z06 is much less scary than the aluminium and carbon fiber Z06. The brakes on the real GT350R are way more impressive than the game version, and the real RS7 doesn't feel like as much of a boat (but I haven't driven all of the real ones on track yet).

[chriskay]

flemke said:

chriskay said:

flemke said:

Mr Kay, thank you for your comment, although I fear that it is kinder than it is accurate.

I hope that we shall meet again, more likely in Shropshire than in Rheinland-Pfalz.

Cheers.

I would be delighted to host you here in Shropshire where we have some magnificent (and largely deserted) roads. Having said that, the roads in Rheinland-Pfalz aren't too shabby either.

Perhaps we could do that in the spring.

Now, you'll have to promise in advance that the weather won't be English.

I'm not even sure I'll be around in the spring; my lung condition doesn't appreciate cold weather. However, assuming I'm still here, I'll try to arrange something. The weather would be English but I'd try to sort out some of the pleasant variety.

Edited by chriskay on Saturday 10th October 11:13

[cc8s]

Flemke, now that you have had some time to settle into a more normal routine with your P1: when heading to the garage to jump in a car for a 'fun' drive, which of your cars do you tend towards?

I am aware, asking this, that your cars may not all reside in one location, thus rendering the question obsolete! If that is the case, or supplementally and focusing on McLaren, do you see the P1 as serving a different purpose as the F1 (as opposed to largely being a different generation of 'fast') and, if so, how do you see them differing?

Lastly, do your family/close friends have a preference between the two, if given the option for which to go out in?

Edited by cc8s on Monday 12th October 23:01

[flemke]

chriskay said:

flemke said:

chriskay said:

flemke said:

Mr Kay, thank you for your comment, although I fear that it is kinder than it is accurate.

I hope that we shall meet again, more likely in Shropshire than in Rheinland-Pfalz.

Cheers.

I would be delighted to host you here in Shropshire where we have some magnificent (and largely deserted) roads. Having said that, the roads in Rheinland-Pfalz aren't too shabby either.

Perhaps we could do that in the spring.

Now, you'll have to promise in advance that the weather won't be English.

I'm not even sure I'll be around in the spring; my lung condition doesn't appreciate cold weather. However, assuming I'm still here, I'll try to arrange something. The weather would be English but I'd try to sort out some of the pleasant variety.

Fingers crossed, my friend.

[flemke]

cc8s said:

Flemke, now that you have had some time to settle into a more normal routine with your P1: when heading to the garage to jump in a car for a 'fun' drive, which of your cars do you tend towards?

I am aware, asking this, that your cars may not all reside in one location, thus rendering the question obsolete! If that is the case, or supplementally and focusing on McLaren, do you see the P1 as serving a different purpose as the F1 (as opposed to largely being a different generation of 'fast') and, if so, how do you see them differing?

Lastly, do your family/close friends have a preference between the two, if given the option for which to go out in?

I have no fun car that resides anywhere near where I reside. Cars are stored in diverse places. I only rarely have the time to do any fun driving. On the rare occasions when I am able to do fun driving, I plan ahead for which car to use; it's not spontaneous.

The P1 is equally impractical to the F1. F1 is more impractical because of its clutch but that is balanced off by its narrower width and usable carrying capacity. P1 is better if you're going to be stuck in traffic, although if you're going to be stuck in traffic there is no point in being in a P1.

As for preferences, I think most people prefer the F1 because, whilst there are other road cars that are essentially as fast as the P1, there are very few road cars that are as special as the F1.

[Storer]

Quote
I only rarely have the time to do any fun driving. On the rare occasions when I am able to do fun driving, I plan ahead for which car to use; it's not spontaneous.
End Quote.


This is a terrible shame.
I know nothing of your life or situation (other than those lovely cars!) but I find it sad that you are unable to be spontaneous.

Life is short, which is something your start to realise post 50...
Spontaneity can often lead to some of the best experiences.
It can be a view, a conversation, a chance meeting, an unexpected piece of road, as often as not (in my case) they tend to be the simpler pleasures of life.

Obviously if you have a number of 'homes' it will be difficult to house a car securely at each when there may be long periods with no one there. Storing at a secure facility will always remove the spontaneous use of a car.

It is possible to feel sorry for someone lucky enough to own the wonderful cars you do, and I do so for you!

Paul

[flemke]

Paul,

Thank you for your sentiments.
I'm like most people: rather lucky in some ways, less so in others.
About 4 years ago there was a big change in my personal responsibilities. My free time decreased by maybe 90%, which of course meant that there was not much scope for hobbies and other selfish stuff. Amongst other things, I had to stop posting on or even reading PH.
More recently the situation has started to ease, although it is going to be quite a while before there will be room for much recreational driving. At least I am back on PH. (or should I say, ?)
I'm not complaining. It's just one of those things.

Cheers.

[hurstg01]

flemke said:

I think most people prefer the F1 because, whilst there are other road cars that are essentially as fast as the P1, there are very few road cars that are as special as the F1.

[chriskay]

flemke said:

Fingers crossed, my friend.

Thank you for that. It's not looking good at present but I'm hanging in there. At least I still enjoy driving and would really appreciate the opportunity to renew our acquaintance.

[Joe911]

flemke said:

I have no fun car that resides anywhere near where I reside. Cars are stored in diverse places. I only rarely have the time to do any fun driving. On the rare occasions when I am able to do fun driving, I plan ahead for which car to use; it's not spontaneous.

I will inflict upon Flemke some actual car-related fun, whether he likes it or not, tomorrow. I can't say it's spontaneous as it's taken some time to find time and vaguely acceptable weather ... but it's game on. Not a McLaren ... but a solid 400bhp/ton, no ABS, no stability system, no roof.

[blindswelledrat]

flemke said:

Thank you for your sentiments.
I'm like most people: rather lucky in some ways, less so in others.
About 4 years ago there was a big change in my personal responsibilities. My free time decreased by maybe 90%, which of course meant that there was not much scope for hobbies and other selfish stuff. Amongst other things, I had to stop posting on or even reading PH.
More recently the situation has started to ease, although it is going to be quite a while before there will be room for much recreational driving. At least I am back on PH. (or should I say, ?)
I'm not complaining. It's just one of those things.

Cheers.

A general lifestyle curiosity, which you can ignore if you want.
By most people's standards you are very wealthy. Certainly wealthy enough to do what you want, when you want (perhaps at the expense of a certain degree of materialism, or maybe not). Do you have no interest in 'retiring' from whatever consumes your time?

[flemke]

blindswelledrat said:

flemke said:

Thank you for your sentiments.
I'm like most people: rather lucky in some ways, less so in others.
About 4 years ago there was a big change in my personal responsibilities. My free time decreased by maybe 90%, which of course meant that there was not much scope for hobbies and other selfish stuff. Amongst other things, I had to stop posting on or even reading PH.
More recently the situation has started to ease, although it is going to be quite a while before there will be room for much recreational driving. At least I am back on PH. (or should I say, ?)
I'm not complaining. It's just one of those things.

Cheers.

A general lifestyle curiosity, which you can ignore if you want.
By most people's standards you are very wealthy. Certainly wealthy enough to do what you want, when you want (perhaps at the expense of a certain degree of materialism, or maybe not). Do you have no interest in 'retiring' from whatever consumes your time?

I was lucky enough to be able to retire from work some years ago. What consumes a lot of my time now is not something from which one can retire. Again, I am not complaining, just explaining.

Cheers.