Anyone coming to Bedford on 28th?
Discussion
Hi there, just thought I'd ask if anyone is planning to bring their Ultima along to the track day at Bedford on the 28th?
I'm currently toying with the idea of a Can-Am as the Ultima has to be the for me looks like ultimate (pardon the pun) road/track car and I would very much like to see one in the flesh - or better still have a ride.
I've heard so many mixed stories about how this car handles and I guess that before I go any further I would like to see for myself what this car can do.
Obviously you have all made the big decision and there for I can quite easily guess your opinion on handling and other characteristics but as a matter of interest what car backgrounds did you come from before you became Ulti-mad?
I'm currently toying with the idea of a Can-Am as the Ultima has to be the for me looks like ultimate (pardon the pun) road/track car and I would very much like to see one in the flesh - or better still have a ride.
I've heard so many mixed stories about how this car handles and I guess that before I go any further I would like to see for myself what this car can do.
Obviously you have all made the big decision and there for I can quite easily guess your opinion on handling and other characteristics but as a matter of interest what car backgrounds did you come from before you became Ulti-mad?
Jules,
The mixed reports about the handling of the Ultima are probably because you can make it handle however you like. Depending on how you spec the car you build, it will handle better on road or track. A good road setup is usually too soft for the track, and a good track setup is too hard for the road. When you decide what dampers and springs to fit to the car, you generally have to decide which way you want to go. Good quality adjustable dampers will have enough range to handle both road and track detups, but not everybody wants to start swapping springs and altering the suspension settings when they go to do a track day.
There are some issues with the design of the suspension. However, if you are building a car for the track, they're easy enough to overcome. If you're building it for the road and the odd track day, you wouldn't notice the deficiancy anyway.
James
PS. I'm planning to be at Rockingham on the 25th Oct, so if you're along there, I'll give you a ride.
The mixed reports about the handling of the Ultima are probably because you can make it handle however you like. Depending on how you spec the car you build, it will handle better on road or track. A good road setup is usually too soft for the track, and a good track setup is too hard for the road. When you decide what dampers and springs to fit to the car, you generally have to decide which way you want to go. Good quality adjustable dampers will have enough range to handle both road and track detups, but not everybody wants to start swapping springs and altering the suspension settings when they go to do a track day.
There are some issues with the design of the suspension. However, if you are building a car for the track, they're easy enough to overcome. If you're building it for the road and the odd track day, you wouldn't notice the deficiancy anyway.
James
PS. I'm planning to be at Rockingham on the 25th Oct, so if you're along there, I'll give you a ride.
Cheers james, I know what you mean about making it what you want but from the build so I guess I'm just going to put everything out of my head until I experience it for myself.
Obviously coming from an Elise background we've been a bit spoilt on handling and feedback as the Lotus has historically been so good at this. The negative feedback did come from someone who bought his Ulitma completely assembled and so he wouldn't have had the opportunity to spec a more Elise like handling package.
Thanks for the offer on 25th, unfortunately I'm not able to make it to Rockingham on that day but I will be at Brands on Nov 4th - bound to bump into one sooner or later.
Obviously coming from an Elise background we've been a bit spoilt on handling and feedback as the Lotus has historically been so good at this. The negative feedback did come from someone who bought his Ulitma completely assembled and so he wouldn't have had the opportunity to spec a more Elise like handling package.
Thanks for the offer on 25th, unfortunately I'm not able to make it to Rockingham on that day but I will be at Brands on Nov 4th - bound to bump into one sooner or later.
A well set up Ultima should run rings round an Elise.
The car has huge amounts of feedback, even our Porche Boxter falls a long way short of my Can-am in terms of feel and feedback.
On the track its increadably predicable and should flatter any driver with a degree of confidence (sorry should have kept that quiet
).
I found that the car demanded comittment and needed to be driven through the corners on throttle but it never once bit me even though I am a novice.
Also despite being quite nervous around the corners I was running rings round all but the seven drivers who had very fast cars and knew how to use them.
Oh and my car is 100% set up for road and even has a complient ride, I didn't touch the settings for the track.
Go to the factory, Ted will take you for a ride and show you what they can do.
Andy
The car has huge amounts of feedback, even our Porche Boxter falls a long way short of my Can-am in terms of feel and feedback.
On the track its increadably predicable and should flatter any driver with a degree of confidence (sorry should have kept that quiet
). I found that the car demanded comittment and needed to be driven through the corners on throttle but it never once bit me even though I am a novice.
Also despite being quite nervous around the corners I was running rings round all but the seven drivers who had very fast cars and knew how to use them.
Oh and my car is 100% set up for road and even has a complient ride, I didn't touch the settings for the track.
Go to the factory, Ted will take you for a ride and show you what they can do.
Andy
Lotus Jules
My contribution for what its worth! The Elise is clearly a good car and l look at the Ultima as a bigger, more powerful version although the length is not that much greater. l followed a few Elises up the Stelvio Pass 12 days ago in my Ultima and they did very well, but whilst an Elise 160 was at 7000 revs in 1st, l was at 3000 in 2nd, with 3rd on the straights and plenty of power to spare. There again, on the way down, the corners were much tighter and l let numerous Elises past as l didn't have the turning circle with greater width and didn't fancy flying off the edge.
PS a few pics to prove it! Nirvana to an elise fan.
www.cinghialoni.org/index1.htm
www.elise160.net/Stelvio2002b.htm
>> Edited by ultiman on Wednesday 25th September 20:14
My contribution for what its worth! The Elise is clearly a good car and l look at the Ultima as a bigger, more powerful version although the length is not that much greater. l followed a few Elises up the Stelvio Pass 12 days ago in my Ultima and they did very well, but whilst an Elise 160 was at 7000 revs in 1st, l was at 3000 in 2nd, with 3rd on the straights and plenty of power to spare. There again, on the way down, the corners were much tighter and l let numerous Elises past as l didn't have the turning circle with greater width and didn't fancy flying off the edge.
PS a few pics to prove it! Nirvana to an elise fan.
www.cinghialoni.org/index1.htm
www.elise160.net/Stelvio2002b.htm
>> Edited by ultiman on Wednesday 25th September 20:14
Ah, ultiman so that was your Ultima at Stelvio. I'm going to pop in and see paul at the pub tomorrow (his is the red 160 that you're parked behind) and catch the gossip as I couldn't be there myself.
It has to be said that for looks and presence you definately have a big advantage over the Elises but the pressure must always be there that the Ultima has to prove that it's a better car for costing twice as much.
I don't know, it's late and I start talking cr*p about now...I've just watched james's video and it just looks so composed from the shots - I really need a ride in one.
It has to be said that for looks and presence you definately have a big advantage over the Elises but the pressure must always be there that the Ultima has to prove that it's a better car for costing twice as much.
I don't know, it's late and I start talking cr*p about now...I've just watched james's video and it just looks so composed from the shots - I really need a ride in one.
Hi Clive, details of Bedford can be found at www.bedfordautodrome.com/ they are located at Thurleigh Airfield, and it just looks like an awsome circuit - definite Ultima territory, especially the 3.6 mile "Gran Turismo" circuit.
If you can make it then mail me.
If you can make it then mail me.
We organised a few track days there not long after it opened. The circuit is good fun. However, being an ex-airfield, you don't get any of those nice up and down bits, like you'd see somewhere like Oulton or Cadwell. Still, it's good if you want to hoon (as there's nothing to hit), and if you do the Grand Tourismo circuit, there are a couple of good straights that you can get some decent speeds on (I once hit an estimated 180mph along one in a slick shod race Tuscan).
James
James
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