First Track day in the Ultima
Discussion
Just finished my first trackday at Silverstone South Circuit in the Ultima GTR I brought last week (the black one with the Cossie LT5 motor). Some thoughts:
Firstly it was quick! And the impressive spread of torque meant I only really needed three gears (Silverstone South is quite quick), those being 3rd, 4th and 5th.
The steering was not as heavy as I thought with good feedback although I found it understeering a little into corners.
As far as speed against other cars it was pretty evenly matched against a 997 GT3, until it rained. Then it was the fastest thing there!
Now I actually really enjoy wet track days as I always think it's more of a challenge plus you're not canning your car to death to try to get the best out of it (and when your Ultima is as tatty as mine then you don't care if it gets dirty) but it's fair to say previous cars such as my CSL had pampered me with their safety net electronics.
But I stayed out in the Ultima when it rained and boy was it good fun. The understeer became a lot more pronounced, happening into, through and out of corners. And once when I was giving a PAX lap we had it drifting sideways on the throttle, which was entertaining but backing off just brought it back into line with little fuss.
Temps all stayed good but there was some brake fade after around 10 laps (I have a mish mash of brakes being front two pot AP's and rear a Scorpio caliper on a larger disc).
Only downside was that the rubber piece between the filler cap and the fuel pipe had a split in which meant a lot of fumes into the cabin but I soon sorted this but making a seal with a cardboard coffe cup and a plastic bag.
I was really chuffed with the car's performance although on the way back from the circuit I popped into the factory to get some items and giving Ted and Andy the opportunity to look over the car and point out all the bits that were old and tatty. Which with my 'cups half full' attitude to life that means it's going to get even better and quicker with... new shocks, firmer springs, AP's all round, new bushes etc...
Now just need to make bonus to buy it all.
Well chuffed with the day I have to say!
P.S. Great part of the day when waiting 10 minutes to get on the track (as they cleared an accident) a Silverstone Staff member said "Sorry for the hold up mate, you must be boiling in there!"
"Nope, I've got A/C buddy"
Firstly it was quick! And the impressive spread of torque meant I only really needed three gears (Silverstone South is quite quick), those being 3rd, 4th and 5th.
The steering was not as heavy as I thought with good feedback although I found it understeering a little into corners.
As far as speed against other cars it was pretty evenly matched against a 997 GT3, until it rained. Then it was the fastest thing there!
Now I actually really enjoy wet track days as I always think it's more of a challenge plus you're not canning your car to death to try to get the best out of it (and when your Ultima is as tatty as mine then you don't care if it gets dirty) but it's fair to say previous cars such as my CSL had pampered me with their safety net electronics.
But I stayed out in the Ultima when it rained and boy was it good fun. The understeer became a lot more pronounced, happening into, through and out of corners. And once when I was giving a PAX lap we had it drifting sideways on the throttle, which was entertaining but backing off just brought it back into line with little fuss.
Temps all stayed good but there was some brake fade after around 10 laps (I have a mish mash of brakes being front two pot AP's and rear a Scorpio caliper on a larger disc).
Only downside was that the rubber piece between the filler cap and the fuel pipe had a split in which meant a lot of fumes into the cabin but I soon sorted this but making a seal with a cardboard coffe cup and a plastic bag.
I was really chuffed with the car's performance although on the way back from the circuit I popped into the factory to get some items and giving Ted and Andy the opportunity to look over the car and point out all the bits that were old and tatty. Which with my 'cups half full' attitude to life that means it's going to get even better and quicker with... new shocks, firmer springs, AP's all round, new bushes etc...
Now just need to make bonus to buy it all.
Well chuffed with the day I have to say!
P.S. Great part of the day when waiting 10 minutes to get on the track (as they cleared an accident) a Silverstone Staff member said "Sorry for the hold up mate, you must be boiling in there!"
"Nope, I've got A/C buddy"
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