RE: New track car almost ready
Wednesday 27th September 2006
RoadRazerA new sports car is about to hit the streets. Details are scarce but it's called the RoadRazer, and looks very stripped down and lightweight -- a real track animal, although it's also reckoned to be road-legal.
New track car almost ready
300Kg RoadRazer: 0-62mph in 3 seconds
RoadRazer
The chassis and bodywork will be made of carbon-fibre, suspension is more traditional with all-aluminium double wishbones all round, paddle-operating six-speed sequential gearbox allied to a Quaife diff, a dry-sumped engine, a foam-filled safety fuel cell, and push-rod operated, in-board adjustable dampers.
Weighing just 300Kg, it's calculated that its 175bhp engine will propel it to 62mph in three seconds.
Danish owner and builder Mikkel Steen Pedersen said: "Right now we've disassembled the RoadRazer because the paint shop needs to finish its work. After assembly I will send you some pictures of the RoadRazer. We've booked a stand on Autosport International 2007 in January, so that will be the first physical appearance of the RoadRazer in the UK."
The projected price is around £49,000 right now but this is still very much an estimate. We'll be bringing you pictures and more information when we get them.
Discussion
That is a lot of gold, but at last something that breaks new ground weight-wise. It seems every man & his dog knocks out a track car that weighs somewhere between 500 & 600kg, so much so that I wonder why people still persevere with the concept. Springing immediately to mind the recent news about the ex-Strathcarron car. The stripped out Fireblade BECs broke new ground by getting within shouting distance of 400kg, if this is as light as claimed then it's fantastic step forwards.
Seems far to expensive to me and lots of competition. Track days are not about racing, they are about having fun and improving your abilities so I can not understand why an extra 100KG makes any difference. Lightness is vital, on board with that, but most people on track days would not get a mini close to its abilities so I think people are missing the point. Another car for the "I must have all the best gear" brigade if you ask me....
lukeb said:
That is a lot of gold, but at last something that breaks new ground weight-wise. It seems every man & his dog knocks out a track car that weighs somewhere between 500 & 600kg, so much so that I wonder why people still persevere with the concept. Springing immediately to mind the recent news about the ex-Strathcarron car. The stripped out Fireblade BECs broke new ground by getting within shouting distance of 400kg, if this is as light as claimed then it's fantastic step forwards.
The original road legal track day car the Light Car Company 'Rocket' weighed in at just under 400 kilos back in 1991 so its about time someone managed to break that but at 300kg will be very impressive if they manage it and make it road legal...
The problem is if you want a full on track only car that will blow ANY road legal car away- Enzos and F1's included - get a Radical for £30k.
To make things road legal, road useable, and enjoyable, you need decent ride height, suspension travel, geometry, 2 seats etc - all of which comprimise track performance. Adjustable setups arn't really the answer either - do you really want to measure and fine tune ride height, camber, toe etc every time you take it to the track?
To my mind this looks a step too far for road use. I think Caterhams, Atoms, BrookeRRs etc are as far as you'd want to go.
Oh it'd need cycle wings, lights, and a blunter nose to be legal too.
Price wise - if it is CF it doesn't seem to bad - although going on experience with other manufacturers I'd add 75-100kg to that 'dry' weight!
To make things road legal, road useable, and enjoyable, you need decent ride height, suspension travel, geometry, 2 seats etc - all of which comprimise track performance. Adjustable setups arn't really the answer either - do you really want to measure and fine tune ride height, camber, toe etc every time you take it to the track?
To my mind this looks a step too far for road use. I think Caterhams, Atoms, BrookeRRs etc are as far as you'd want to go.
Oh it'd need cycle wings, lights, and a blunter nose to be legal too.
Price wise - if it is CF it doesn't seem to bad - although going on experience with other manufacturers I'd add 75-100kg to that 'dry' weight!
Okay, surely the CF bodywork just makes it more expensive than it needs be?
Would a £20K glass fibre model sell? I know I for one would rather pay for fibreglass repairs rather than messing about with CF if there was an on track 'incident'.
Oh, and if you've got that sort of money to blow on a track toy, why not buy an old Formula Renault and actually go racing?
Tim
Would a £20K glass fibre model sell? I know I for one would rather pay for fibreglass repairs rather than messing about with CF if there was an on track 'incident'.
Oh, and if you've got that sort of money to blow on a track toy, why not buy an old Formula Renault and actually go racing?
Tim
jon- said:
300kgs and 175bhp makes for a great power to weight ratio until you realise the average guy who buys one will add at least another 1/4 to the weight.
That with a tank of fuel would be around 450kgs, which isn't quite as smart for the 175bhp engine to push along.
That with a tank of fuel would be around 450kgs, which isn't quite as smart for the 175bhp engine to push along.
Not that bad though - my motorbike (dry) weighs in at about 200Kg, me with full kit is easily 100Kg - so lets say at least 310Kg all in with 125bhp - I can still do standing 1/4's in the low 11's and get up to 165mph....
I've got approx 400bhp/tonne - this thing fully laden will have about 390bhp/tonne.
lukeb said:
The stripped out Fireblade BECs broke new ground by getting within shouting distance of 400kg, if this is as light as claimed then it's fantastic step forwards.
My Caterblade (built by James Whiting) weighed in at 393kg with an empty tank, two seats, and a full cage (and no CF). Richard Meadon of Evo got his down to 369kg (IIRC) with lots of CF, only one seat and just a rollbar.
There were some Striker R1s putting out 150bhp+ for around 400kg. You could have someone build you a beautiful one for a heap load less than £50k.
300kg would be impressive, but not £50k impressive. And AFAIK it will need cycle wings to be allowed on road or track (except for test sessions, but then you may as well buy a single seat racer).
But then Caterhams and Elises are getting steadily heavier, so it's good to see someone making an effort. But not for £50k (did I say that already?).
John
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff