SR1/SR3 as a Road Car?
Discussion
< I'm sure this has been asked before and is probably an annoying question in this forum (but I cannot find a thread on it). Sorry.>
but..
Would an SR3 or SR1 (ex)race car make a fun and/or usable weekend road car?
I am in Germany, and have someone who is confident in being able to take care of the legal process to get it on the road.
What I am really interested in are peoples opinions on whether or not an SR1/3 would make a fun and useable road car?
Can the ground clearance be easily modified without ruining the handling? Can the front splitter and other low hanging aero parts be removed for road use?
Would the sequential box be useable on the road? Are they too high maintenance?
My current car is a Caterham R300, so any comparisons that could be made would also be appreciated.
but..
Would an SR3 or SR1 (ex)race car make a fun and/or usable weekend road car?
I am in Germany, and have someone who is confident in being able to take care of the legal process to get it on the road.
What I am really interested in are peoples opinions on whether or not an SR1/3 would make a fun and useable road car?
Can the ground clearance be easily modified without ruining the handling? Can the front splitter and other low hanging aero parts be removed for road use?
Would the sequential box be useable on the road? Are they too high maintenance?
My current car is a Caterham R300, so any comparisons that could be made would also be appreciated.
What's the point? A Radical on road tyres is like a hand job without a happy ending. You'll jack it up so the aero doesn't work and lose all the mechanical grip. What road could you safely explore its performance on? Unless you want to do track days where only road cars are allowed, I don't see the point.
This....!
Gc285 said:
SR1 has pitiful passenger seat.
You can do it, but it is very tight.
Cannot remove the front splitter. Body sits on it.
Raise ride height?...you can raise anything.
Legal...I know of no one that's done it.
Reverse= almost non existent.
Like they say SR3sl,designed for the road.
I agree with your sentiment, but what's wrong with reverse? Works fine as far as I can see.You can do it, but it is very tight.
Cannot remove the front splitter. Body sits on it.
Raise ride height?...you can raise anything.
Legal...I know of no one that's done it.
Reverse= almost non existent.
Like they say SR3sl,designed for the road.
Bert
I reckon you'd hate driving it anywhere and to make it remotely drivable on the road then you'll lose all the characteristics that make the Radical what it is. Even driving to track days will be horrible and then, once you're there you'll find the Radical disappointing.
Personally, I'd stick with the Caterham or upgrade to an R400/R500 if you want more go.
Personally, I'd stick with the Caterham or upgrade to an R400/R500 if you want more go.
BertBert said:
I agree with your sentiment, but what's wrong with reverse? Works fine as far as I can see.
Bert
I have used reverse in the sr1,works fine but can be hard to change between forward and reverse. I recon that if you get it wrong it could damage the dog teeth and if don't get it in forward properly, I can see it popping out of gear. Sods law it will be at the worst moment. I cable tie mine up.Bert
Gc285 said:
SR1 has pitiful passenger seat.
You can do it, but it is very tight.
Cannot remove the front splitter. Body sits on it.
Raise ride height?...you can raise anything.
Legal...I know of no one that's done it.
Reverse= almost non existent.
Like they say SR3sl,designed for the road.
Stopping to lubricate the chain every 30 mins would be a PITA too.... You can do it, but it is very tight.
Cannot remove the front splitter. Body sits on it.
Raise ride height?...you can raise anything.
Legal...I know of no one that's done it.
Reverse= almost non existent.
Like they say SR3sl,designed for the road.
This is an old chestnut.
I have a road legal SR3 which I love. It runs at twice the ride height of a race car (just enough to get it over 99% of speed bumps) which I would guess loses it around a third of the underbody downforce, though it would be interesting to stick it in a wind tunnel. It runs on a softer spring damper set up but the same geometry as a race car works well on the Dunlop track day tyres, though I now use Toyo 888's with different camber and prefer it. It needs the dampers adjusting for the track when you get there but that is sufficient to make it handle well.
I have a small windscreen that clamps on which makes it possible to do things like drive to Le Mans in a pair of wrap around sun glasses for 2 track days, or all the way up through Wales in a day to go to Anglesey. It comes off when I get to the track. I use split glass goggles and a sheepskin flying helmet in colder weather, never a helmet on the road.
I drove it to work today, it gets out quite a bit in the summer. The road handling is very good but everyone is right here, you can't find its limit on the road of course. But then can you in a GTR, GT3, frankly most performance cars including all but the skinniest tyred caterfields? It gets pulled around by cambers as much as a Caterfield and doesn't suffer from front end lift, clearly. It is great fun even at low speed and I had a lovely drive home today in the sunshine
To me the only real decision is can you live without the option of a roof. If you can, think 4 wheeled motorbike. If you want a fast track day car with the added interest of aero and the adventure of driving there I think it's up there with the best.
People are always quick to pooh pooh the idea here but they only have experience of a race car. Until you've tried it you won't know if it's for you. There aren't many around, possibly because you have to be a bit nutty to love it, so if you do get one you'll get a lot of the right sort of interest everywhere you go.
I have a road legal SR3 which I love. It runs at twice the ride height of a race car (just enough to get it over 99% of speed bumps) which I would guess loses it around a third of the underbody downforce, though it would be interesting to stick it in a wind tunnel. It runs on a softer spring damper set up but the same geometry as a race car works well on the Dunlop track day tyres, though I now use Toyo 888's with different camber and prefer it. It needs the dampers adjusting for the track when you get there but that is sufficient to make it handle well.
I have a small windscreen that clamps on which makes it possible to do things like drive to Le Mans in a pair of wrap around sun glasses for 2 track days, or all the way up through Wales in a day to go to Anglesey. It comes off when I get to the track. I use split glass goggles and a sheepskin flying helmet in colder weather, never a helmet on the road.
I drove it to work today, it gets out quite a bit in the summer. The road handling is very good but everyone is right here, you can't find its limit on the road of course. But then can you in a GTR, GT3, frankly most performance cars including all but the skinniest tyred caterfields? It gets pulled around by cambers as much as a Caterfield and doesn't suffer from front end lift, clearly. It is great fun even at low speed and I had a lovely drive home today in the sunshine
To me the only real decision is can you live without the option of a roof. If you can, think 4 wheeled motorbike. If you want a fast track day car with the added interest of aero and the adventure of driving there I think it's up there with the best.
People are always quick to pooh pooh the idea here but they only have experience of a race car. Until you've tried it you won't know if it's for you. There aren't many around, possibly because you have to be a bit nutty to love it, so if you do get one you'll get a lot of the right sort of interest everywhere you go.
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