Honda Exige Vid
Discussion
Some of you may have seen this already.
Did my first track day in 3 years at Combe last friday. It was the first time out in the Exige and first time driving a rear wheel drive car fast so a bit of learning to do (as you can see from the spin vid
)
If anyone is thinking about doing a S/C Honda conversion it's well worth it
First up what not to do.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=foLqbLwAB4w
A full lap
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RS4Rk9gzc6g
And a bit of overtaking
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mA9pAx_9Jfs
Did my first track day in 3 years at Combe last friday. It was the first time out in the Exige and first time driving a rear wheel drive car fast so a bit of learning to do (as you can see from the spin vid
)If anyone is thinking about doing a S/C Honda conversion it's well worth it
First up what not to do.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=foLqbLwAB4w
A full lap
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RS4Rk9gzc6g
And a bit of overtaking
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mA9pAx_9Jfs
Not wanting to be a stick-in-the-mud, but that last video looked like you were so much faster than the rest of the cars out there that none of them managed to get a complete lap in without having to pull over for you.
This *really* winds me up on trackdays (usually it's when they let Radicals and the like join a session) - I may not have the cash or the talent to be truly quick but there's no way any road car (which is what I will always be driving, I don't have a garage or a trailer for a true track-only car) will be able to keep up with the really fast stuff.
The guy in the Audi seemed to have to slow down and indicate (they were all polite drivers by the looks of things) every time you came up behind him - did he ever get the chance to try a full lap at speed?
I just think it's horribly frustrating for those with reasonable cars wanting to get a full lap in when someone turns up in something as fast as a Honda'd Exige or quick Caterham or Radical, since if you want to be a good trackday citizen you'll be forever looking in your mirrors ready to pull over.
If that's an N/A Honda though, feck knows what a supercharged one would go like. They should have their own sessions!!!!
This *really* winds me up on trackdays (usually it's when they let Radicals and the like join a session) - I may not have the cash or the talent to be truly quick but there's no way any road car (which is what I will always be driving, I don't have a garage or a trailer for a true track-only car) will be able to keep up with the really fast stuff.
The guy in the Audi seemed to have to slow down and indicate (they were all polite drivers by the looks of things) every time you came up behind him - did he ever get the chance to try a full lap at speed?
I just think it's horribly frustrating for those with reasonable cars wanting to get a full lap in when someone turns up in something as fast as a Honda'd Exige or quick Caterham or Radical, since if you want to be a good trackday citizen you'll be forever looking in your mirrors ready to pull over.
If that's an N/A Honda though, feck knows what a supercharged one would go like. They should have their own sessions!!!!
Good vids, and it's clear to see from the spinner how much power the SC cars can put down if you're not judicious with the throttle.
If you don't mind me saying, it sounded like you were short-shifting in a lot of places, maybe I'm wrong but I'll bet there's more that'll come from it as you get used to the new install.
The SC Honda cars, and the Audi'd ones, are mentally quick. Anyone who thinks they've been in a fast Elige and who's not tried one really has no frame of reference.
Even if you never intend to buy one, get a pax ride when you can
If you don't mind me saying, it sounded like you were short-shifting in a lot of places, maybe I'm wrong but I'll bet there's more that'll come from it as you get used to the new install.
The SC Honda cars, and the Audi'd ones, are mentally quick. Anyone who thinks they've been in a fast Elige and who's not tried one really has no frame of reference.
Even if you never intend to buy one, get a pax ride when you can
I have one now, what a car (supercharged honda elise). Every passenger thats been in it has threatened to kill me I didn't think it would be so but its actually fun even at legal speeds and the ease of progress is astonishing merely feathering the throttle. There is nothing under 100k I would rather have.
I didn't think it would be so but its actually fun even at legal speeds and the ease of progress is astonishing merely feathering the throttle. There is nothing under 100k I would rather have.Mclovin said:
I have one now, what a car (supercharged honda elise). Every passenger thats been in it has threatened to kill me I didn't think it would be so but its actually fun even at legal speeds and the ease of progress is astonishing merely feathering the throttle. There is nothing under 100k I would rather have.
There's very little under 100k which would be quicker! I didn't think it would be so but its actually fun even at legal speeds and the ease of progress is astonishing merely feathering the throttle. There is nothing under 100k I would rather have.cyberface good point, it was taking about 5 or 6 laps to lap the S4 and Evo and maybe 4 for the slower cars. I have never minded pulling over for faster cars its the slightly sloer ones that wont get out of the way that drives me mad and can ruin a day.
The S4 pulled over fast because it was my brother driving it and the Evo and Clio are mates so they know the pace of the car.
Other tracks seem to run novice, intermediate and advanced session which do seem to work better.
S Works i was changing about 8000rpm most of the day but i do a find short shift out of the first chicane works well.
The S4 pulled over fast because it was my brother driving it and the Evo and Clio are mates so they know the pace of the car.
Other tracks seem to run novice, intermediate and advanced session which do seem to work better.
S Works i was changing about 8000rpm most of the day but i do a find short shift out of the first chicane works well.
Like i said at the start it was the first track day i have done in 3 years. I have been to Combe before as it’s the closest track to me (still 120 miles away) so it was a good place to try the car out for the first time.
I didn’t go there just piss people off just wanted to see how the car ran after i had the new engine fitted.
Sorry if it upsets anyone, do you want me to take the videos off???
I didn’t go there just piss people off just wanted to see how the car ran after i had the new engine fitted.
Sorry if it upsets anyone, do you want me to take the videos off???
Not at all, I wasn't being 'annoyed' - just making an observation about the way the trackday was run rather than the fact you've got a phenomenally fast car The vids really show how quick it is!
As DucatiGary says, joining an advanced session with the big boys with the track-focused Porkers on sticky tyres will give you a lot more competition
You will be surprised how quick those heavy old beasts are...
I always enjoy a track day as long as I can get a few clear laps in and really push the car and me to the limits - which means I'm concentrating on the track ahead, braking points and lines. If the presence of ultra-fast specialised machines means I've got to spend most of the time looking in the rear view mirror to be a 'good citizen' (and not someone who doesn't get out of your way, which you've just said pisses you off) - then it means that I've paid the same but become a second-class citizen on the track.
I understand it'll annoy you if someone doesn't get out of your way.... but perhaps that person is right on the limit, they are concentrating 100% but they aren't as rich as you and can't afford as fast a car...
To be honest this normally only happens when stuff like Radicals etc. are let on, since most of my trackday excursions have been in machinery just about decent enough to not be lapped by the fast stuff every lap. But Clios on the same session as supercharged Exiges????
The vids really show how quick it is!As DucatiGary says, joining an advanced session with the big boys with the track-focused Porkers on sticky tyres will give you a lot more competition
You will be surprised how quick those heavy old beasts are...I always enjoy a track day as long as I can get a few clear laps in and really push the car and me to the limits - which means I'm concentrating on the track ahead, braking points and lines. If the presence of ultra-fast specialised machines means I've got to spend most of the time looking in the rear view mirror to be a 'good citizen' (and not someone who doesn't get out of your way, which you've just said pisses you off) - then it means that I've paid the same but become a second-class citizen on the track.
I understand it'll annoy you if someone doesn't get out of your way.... but perhaps that person is right on the limit, they are concentrating 100% but they aren't as rich as you and can't afford as fast a car...
To be honest this normally only happens when stuff like Radicals etc. are let on, since most of my trackday excursions have been in machinery just about decent enough to not be lapped by the fast stuff every lap. But Clios on the same session as supercharged Exiges????
Castle Combe is the only track that i have been to that don’t have session set by ability, its just they way they run there days.
I had a MkI Golf before the Exige and did a good few tracks around the county and had great fun mixing it with the Radicals Westfield’s etc and i must admit it is a lot better when cars are grouped more by the over all pace be it fast drivers or fast cars.
Don’t get me wrong with the people getting out of the way thing, i would happily follow a car for a few corners rather than just push past. What i was trying to say is the kind that do 2 or 3 laps and just don’t want to get over because there car should be faster.
I always think the fun thing with track days is the different cars you get at them and there is no telling what will be fast or not.
I had a MkI Golf before the Exige and did a good few tracks around the county and had great fun mixing it with the Radicals Westfield’s etc and i must admit it is a lot better when cars are grouped more by the over all pace be it fast drivers or fast cars.
Don’t get me wrong with the people getting out of the way thing, i would happily follow a car for a few corners rather than just push past. What i was trying to say is the kind that do 2 or 3 laps and just don’t want to get over because there car should be faster.
I always think the fun thing with track days is the different cars you get at them and there is no telling what will be fast or not.
Agree with both the previous comments - it's usually the driver ability that should dictate the sessions... though have had to avoid the odd GT3 driver whose car had more ability than him spinning on Brands GP in an advanced session (I had a lowly supercharged 993 with trick tyres and brakes).... 
A good driver in a Honda'd Exige on good tyres is going to be right at the top of the pack though, surely there aren't too many K series guys who can keep up with equally good drivers in Honda'd cars?? (not wishing to open a can of worms)
Anyway I joined LoT a while back, but severely unfortunate circumstances this year means I haven't been able to attend any trackdays... car needs some TLC (engine mounts broken and turbo shagged) - hopefully next year things will be different and I'll be meeting you all in my lairy yellow VXT. And we'll see exactly how much better this famed 'superior handling' of the Lotus branded cars is
(just as a matter of interest - the S2 Exige weighs the same (maybe a bit more) than the VXT - not sure whether the supercharged Honda conversion adds weight or not - but the chargecooler upgrade on the VXT gives up to around 290-330 bhp depending on the size of your wallet and adds around 20 kg - so around 950 all in.... in a straight line, surely will be competitive???? Exige aero will be better at high speeds but up to around 100 it should be pretty similar, no?)
A good driver in a Honda'd Exige on good tyres is going to be right at the top of the pack though, surely there aren't too many K series guys who can keep up with equally good drivers in Honda'd cars?? (not wishing to open a can of worms)
Anyway I joined LoT a while back, but severely unfortunate circumstances this year means I haven't been able to attend any trackdays... car needs some TLC (engine mounts broken and turbo shagged) - hopefully next year things will be different and I'll be meeting you all in my lairy yellow VXT. And we'll see exactly how much better this famed 'superior handling' of the Lotus branded cars is
(just as a matter of interest - the S2 Exige weighs the same (maybe a bit more) than the VXT - not sure whether the supercharged Honda conversion adds weight or not - but the chargecooler upgrade on the VXT gives up to around 290-330 bhp depending on the size of your wallet and adds around 20 kg - so around 950 all in.... in a straight line, surely will be competitive???? Exige aero will be better at high speeds but up to around 100 it should be pretty similar, no?)
cyberface said:
Agree with both the previous comments - it's usually the driver ability that should dictate the sessions... though have had to avoid the odd GT3 driver whose car had more ability than him spinning on Brands GP in an advanced session (I had a lowly supercharged 993 with trick tyres and brakes)....
A good driver in a Honda'd Exige on good tyres is going to be right at the top of the pack though, surely there aren't too many K series guys who can keep up with equally good drivers in Honda'd cars?? (not wishing to open a can of worms)
Anyway I joined LoT a while back, but severely unfortunate circumstances this year means I haven't been able to attend any trackdays... car needs some TLC (engine mounts broken and turbo shagged) - hopefully next year things will be different and I'll be meeting you all in my lairy yellow VXT. And we'll see exactly how much better this famed 'superior handling' of the Lotus branded cars is
(just as a matter of interest - the S2 Exige weighs the same (maybe a bit more) than the VXT - not sure whether the supercharged Honda conversion adds weight or not - but the chargecooler upgrade on the VXT gives up to around 290-330 bhp depending on the size of your wallet and adds around 20 kg - so around 950 all in.... in a straight line, surely will be competitive???? Exige aero will be better at high speeds but up to around 100 it should be pretty similar, no?)
Don't forget the lotus badge adds at least 50 bhp in comparison to that heavy opal jobby ! A good driver in a Honda'd Exige on good tyres is going to be right at the top of the pack though, surely there aren't too many K series guys who can keep up with equally good drivers in Honda'd cars?? (not wishing to open a can of worms)
Anyway I joined LoT a while back, but severely unfortunate circumstances this year means I haven't been able to attend any trackdays... car needs some TLC (engine mounts broken and turbo shagged) - hopefully next year things will be different and I'll be meeting you all in my lairy yellow VXT. And we'll see exactly how much better this famed 'superior handling' of the Lotus branded cars is
(just as a matter of interest - the S2 Exige weighs the same (maybe a bit more) than the VXT - not sure whether the supercharged Honda conversion adds weight or not - but the chargecooler upgrade on the VXT gives up to around 290-330 bhp depending on the size of your wallet and adds around 20 kg - so around 950 all in.... in a straight line, surely will be competitive???? Exige aero will be better at high speeds but up to around 100 it should be pretty similar, no?)
crackthatoff said:
Don't forget the lotus badge adds at least 50 bhp in comparison to that heavy opal jobby !
Some local Novadose scrote ripped the large vauxhall badge off the back of my car (it's bigger than the usual vauxhall ones) so I've debadged it all after getting rid of the glue left behind. There's a pic on my profile, it has a clean rear end now and accentuates the crease down the middle
That means no badges, and definitely no Lotus badge weighing down the back of my car
Unfortunately it means I'm tailgated constantly by people trying to work out what the hell it is... I guess that's why the S2 owners have L O T U S in big chrome letters written on the back of their cars Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff