Can anybody tell me how a wedge handles on track?

[lear]

I had a Chimaera for a number of years and miss owning a TVR. I am now looking for something to use on track days and wondered if a 350 might be suitable. Ideally I want to spend less than £6k and thought this might be the ideal opportunity to purchase a wedge! However, I do not know much about how they handle and whether they are really suited to track use. Any advice gratefully received.

[400SE Dave]

Mine runs a totally standard set up, only just this weekend uprated to poly bushes and rose jointed drop links. However, I found it very, very predictable on the track, plenty of feedback as to where it is sliding and seems to allow quite a bit of time to 'rescue' it.

As it is standard it rolls quite a bit which limits a bit the corner speeds but I like it this way as it spends most of its time on the road and I didnj't want to stiffen it up too much.

In short, great fun on track, the torque really drives it out of the corners and for a 20 odd year old car it generally handles well.

HTH, David

[mikeb]

You need to spend some money though if you want it to seriously go around a track. The brakes as standard for example are pwp. Suspension rolls quite a bit also.

I was chasing around a couple of Lotus Elise's and they ran rings around me around Castle Coombe. Get them on the straight however and they run out of puff! ;-)

MikeyB

[400SE Dave]

mikeb said:

The brakes as standard for example are pwp.

Forgot that bit, you are right. Fronts are pretty OK but the rears just can't get cool. Seriously thinking about the vented rear disc upgrade for mine.

[wombat172a]

I run my 350i track, and it is pretty much standard. Would I recommend it? I'm not too sure, completely standard the brakes are pretty poor and aren't up to much use, however the suspension although crude isn't too bad, although the later models with better suspension would surely be the type to choose.

However, )and this is the important bit) it is A LOT of fun! I also think that planning upgrades is part of the enjoyment too, and there is plenty of scope.

[Wedg1e]

I did a trackday in my 390SE and was comprehensively thrashed by a 2L Esprit (but to be fair, that's as it should be). I could out-grunt him out of corners and down the straights but he could brake later and corner harder so he was consistently faster.

[pwd95]

You'll need to spend a lot of money on a Wedge to make it handle like a standard Griff/Chimp in my experience. Irrelevant if your not wanting fast Track times of course. Just IMHO.

[NTEL]

^^^^^^^ What he said. In its current state, my 280 FHC handles better than my Tuscan 2 but its had a fair few bob spent on the suspension. Although it still has ancient trailing arm rear suspension, its been fully rose jointed, has a larger front ARB that standard, nitron dampers, 450lb springs on the back, 900lb springs on the front, 235mm wide rubber on the back. Suspension geometry is very important too. I run shed loads of negative camber front and back with lots of toe in. Feels and is very planted. A couple of other Taz racers have commented that, though the bends, when they are wrestling with the steering, mine is just glued to the track.

Also, it will give you some warning before the rear snaps away. I definitely wouldn't like to drive it on the road though!

[lear]

Thank you for all of the feedback. I am definitely in the "fun" category rather than the fastest thing out there camp so I am not entirely put off. Also, it is clearly a more interesting proposition if there is scope for sensible improvement rather than the car having fundamental flaws that can not be overcome. I am wondering, if I were to spend say £4k on a 350 and another £2k - £2.5k on upgrades, what would the priorities be? Sounds as if upgraded brakes and decent rubber would top the list? This is sounding more and more like an excuse to buy another TVR.....

[wombat172a]

Brakes (vented fronts?), tyres, suspension overhaul (including new shocks & springs), cooling upgrade (aluminium radiator and kenlowe fan) and a roll hoop would be on my priority list.

After that, power, LSD etc.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Wedg1e said:

I did a trackday in my 390SE and was comprehensively thrashed by a 2L Esprit (but to be fair, that's as it should be). I could out-grunt him out of corners and down the straights but he could brake later and corner harder so he was consistently faster.

Some of that may be down to setup and driver, as my Standard 400SE, was quicker than my mates Standard 2.2 Turbo Esprit. This was about 15 years ago when both cars was a lot newer. most cars now will be either modified or be shagged.

Have to say they are great fun on the track, and something everyone should do at least once.

Good rubber is can make a lot of difference.

Also breaks can be a limiting factor, but mainly due to the amount of time you can spend out and pushing, just making sure the current ones are working 100% correctly, have use some good pads, and 5.1 fluid can make a difference. (a sticking calliper will have you over heat in no time)

Other option is buy a race Tasmin, and Join us in the TVR Challenge, theres quite a few new drivers this year.

[taz turbo]

One of my track day experiences as follows...

Vented front discs, DS2000 pads, DOT5.1 fluid all worked well, took 50% of the thickness from front and rear pads in one day, but minimal brake fade, brakes were hot by the end of each session all discs blue/purple colour.

'Standard' spec. springs with Koni dampers set up for road and SO2 tyres all performed faultlessly.

A better than standard spec. radiator saw coolant temps from 88/89 degrees upto 91/91 degrees.


I had the luxury of 100% tuition from an approved instructor, consensus of opinion was I was working physically harder than drivers of Griffith and newer cars (no surprise), heavy brakes, heavy steering... But, by the afternoon I was lapping (Oulton Park) faster than many griff's and chimp's and equalling the slower Cerb's (they were all 4.2's at the time) Cerb's were faster on the straights but some could be caught in the corners, I suspect the majority of the improved lap performance was due to the tuition, which was very interesting to watch some members arriving to a TRACK DAY in full Nomex suits with matching gloves etc etc etc, they were obviously very experienced racing drivers as these tended to be the contingent who turned down tuition and caused some pointless situations on the track.

To summarise, a reasonably well sorted car, with some tuition and you WILL have a great day. Do it.

Chris.

[Wedg1e]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

Some of that may be down to setup and driver, as my Standard 400SE, was quicker than my mates Standard 2.2 Turbo Esprit. This was about 15 years ago when both cars was a lot newer. most cars now will be either modified or be shagged.

Indeed. My 2.2 non-turbo Esprit sometimes felt faster on the road than the 390SE but not on other occasions. However it definitely cornered flatter, the brakes had more feel and the steering was lighter. I also liked the instantaneous throttle response of the carb'ed twincam, and as for servicing work, it was about equal difficulty on both cars.
If I wanted a track-only car, no question it'd be the Esprit, but for the sense of occasion when road driving, the TVR wins hands-down.