Oulton Park Aftermath - The Rebuild Begins
Discussion
You have my and I'm sure every other Tuscan owner's sympathy. You were right, it didn't look that fast.
Having now done 6 track days in mine, all I'm pleased to say without incident, it just goes to show how easy it is for something to go wrong. Have done Oulton Park myself many times, mainly in a VX220, but remember how much you had to concentrate on what is a very demanding but equally fantastic circuit.
Good luck with the rebuild, hope the chassis is okay and applaud your desire to 'get back on the bike' asap.
Having now done 6 track days in mine, all I'm pleased to say without incident, it just goes to show how easy it is for something to go wrong. Have done Oulton Park myself many times, mainly in a VX220, but remember how much you had to concentrate on what is a very demanding but equally fantastic circuit.
Good luck with the rebuild, hope the chassis is okay and applaud your desire to 'get back on the bike' asap.
cliffords said:
I dont think its your driving, I do think broadly these cars are not up to modern vehicle handling. My sons BMW at 14 years old does handle better than my tuscan at high speed, the cars are the same age. They are just a bit cr*p.
Hope you get it fixed as you wish.
Although if you look at top gear power laps a tuscan does 1:24... I don't think there's anything BMW above that (though I haven't looked for a while). 1:19 is something like a Nissan gtr. Hope you get it fixed as you wish.
I think they are ok when its flat, smooth and they don't get unsettled. The moment it gets tricky they go all floppy and unnecessary . If you take the car on a road with a few bumps and camber change and brake really hard you will find the rear upsets the front and you have a wrestling game on with about equal odds.
This is less likely with a mass produced vehicle like an old 3 series.
I might add I do own a Tuscan and enjoy the car albeit the handling is old fashioned to be polite.
I don't own a 3 series personally
This is less likely with a mass produced vehicle like an old 3 series.
I might add I do own a Tuscan and enjoy the car albeit the handling is old fashioned to be polite.
I don't own a 3 series personally
In my Chimaera the rear can go light over a slight crest like that, and if the track turns and I haven't turned the car to the new line before the crest, so as to take it straight, the rear can step out quite alarmingly.
I had a similar occurrence over the Mountain at Cadwell Park on my first track day in a TVR and was very lucky to catch the sudden step out. I now lift a little over the crest.
I had a similar occurrence over the Mountain at Cadwell Park on my first track day in a TVR and was very lucky to catch the sudden step out. I now lift a little over the crest.
Don't beat yourself up. Back in 2008, I took my single seat race Tasmin and my road Tuscan2 to Oulton for instruction by Mr Mike Caine. I thought I'd take the 2 year old Tuscan around first on my own, you know, just to warm it up. Going up clay hill, at about 110mph, the back end went light, I lost control, spun, and was lucky enough not to hit anything! Nowt to do with any talent, I was just plain lucky. I never took the Tussy on track again. I now race a proper Tuscan and don't lift at Clay Hill or Deer leap 
Road Tuscans are s
t on track. Many people have tried driving them fast on a track, but they just let go. Kev Gore tried for a few years to get his race road Tuscan to behave but couldn't. Jason Clegg looks to be successful but he's put an aweful lot of time and money into his.
Buy a race car and leave your road Tuscan on the road
Road Tuscans are st on track. Many people have tried driving them fast on a track, but they just let go. Kev Gore tried for a few years to get his race road Tuscan to behave but couldn't. Jason Clegg looks to be successful but he's put an aweful lot of time and money into his.Buy a race car and leave your road Tuscan on the road
NTEL said:
Don't beat yourself up. Back in 2008, I took my single seat race Tasmin and my road Tuscan2 to Oulton for instruction by Mr Mike Caine. I thought I'd take the 2 year old Tuscan around first on my own, you know, just to warm it up. Going up clay hill, at about 110mph, the back end went light, I lost control, spun, and was lucky enough not to hit anything! Nowt to do with any talent, I was just plain lucky. I never took the Tussy on track again. I now race a proper Tuscan and don't lift at Clay Hill or Deer leap Road Tuscans are st on track. Many people have tried driving them fast on a track, but they just let go. Kev Gore tried for a few years to get his race road Tuscan to behave but couldn't. Jason Clegg looks to be successful but he's put an aweful lot of time and money into his.
Buy a race car and leave your road Tuscan on the road
The real question is why though. The chassis is the same as a T350 or tamora, and I don't buy into the boot over hang stuff. Is the fuel tank further back and higher up. Road Tuscans are st on track. Many people have tried driving them fast on a track, but they just let go. Kev Gore tried for a few years to get his race road Tuscan to behave but couldn't. Jason Clegg looks to be successful but he's put an aweful lot of time and money into his.Buy a race car and leave your road Tuscan on the road
Having crashed a fair few bikes and cars over the years unfortunately I can sympathize with you!
I have watched the vid and your style around the track tries to take a tight line where you can. You just steer left momentarily before the brow to try and take the inside and this started it all off and I think after it went there was nothing you could have done!
Hope you get it sorted and back on the track asap!
I have watched the vid and your style around the track tries to take a tight line where you can. You just steer left momentarily before the brow to try and take the inside and this started it all off and I think after it went there was nothing you could have done!
Hope you get it sorted and back on the track asap!
m4tti said:
The real question is why though. The chassis is the same as a T350 or tamora, and I don't buy into the boot over hang stuff. Is the fuel tank further back and higher up.
Could it be the opposite - very little weight over and behind the rear wheels (in order to get the weight distribution 50/50 over the axles) ? The effect would be too little weight over the wheels, so too little traction when you go over a crest? And turn and you are spinning.So a large rear wing for downforce could make the car more stable - didn't somehow think most race cars had them for picnicking.
Or am I yet another bloke talking b
ks through his hat ? Sort of in training for next summer's TVR barbecues?Sad to see any car damaged on track. Anyone can get caught out and after watching the video its not obvious what went wrong but my two penneth - get some track driver instruction before going back out on track 
One of the first things you will be told is to have two hands on the wheel when not changing gear. You spent a lot of time on track one handed (though not before the spin). Sucessful opposite locking with one handed is a challenge.
One of the first things you will be told is to have two hands on the wheel when not changing gear. You spent a lot of time on track one handed (though not before the spin). Sucessful opposite locking with one handed is a challenge.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 4th October 08:53
m4tti said:
The real question is why though. The chassis is the same as a T350 or tamora, and I don't buy into the boot over hang stuff. Is the fuel tank further back and higher up.
At that speed and topography, aerodynamics is a key factor. Slippery shape of Mk1 Tuscan with no aerodynamic disturbance means fast in a straight line on the flat but otherwise it is always going to lead to a challenge. Sag is ugly for a reason - stability. That cheesy glass shower shelf on the back is not a spoiler, its there to disturb smooth flowing air that produces lift. Compare shape of Tuscan racer and road car and it'll be obvious.I wouldn't take my Tuscan on a race track bar having some professional help on how to mitigate the inevitable sub-optimal behaviour.
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