Sideways in 2nd at 50...
Discussion
I have been having dark thoughts about the Sagaris lately. Just been using her to go to work and back. Hardly ever getting upto temperature properly. Using gallons of fuel around town going nowhere. No chance to go for a proper run. Thinking how much money I have in the car when I could be using it elsewhere, thinking I could be running a 911tt or a DB7 Vantage or a 512BB. Listening intently to work out if that rattle in the engine noise was there yesterday or if the knock was louder, checking to see if my engine wasnt overheating again.
You get the picture.
Then today I forgot footy kit, so had to go home from work at lunch. Ok, run back home, etc, BUT when I came out to come back here again...the engine was already warmed up
Pulled out of the BP station on Sandling Rd/Royal Engineers Rd out of Maidstone and gave her a bit of the old dogs bollox in 2nd. Thought, "Im not going very fast" and then realised that was because I was already doing 50, at a 30degree angle on a straight piece of tarmac with my foot only half way to the floor and holding her on a drift. At which pt all I could do was sit in the car p1shing myself laughing. Im meant to be in a fire breathing beast and she is sitting quite nicely in a little drift thats taking no effort to control and everything is all lovely and serene.
How can you not just love a car like that? That smile was plastered on my face all the way up Bluebell Hill, one silly little moment wipes away an entire 2 months of winter blues. Apparantly the car really shouldnt be able to do that.
Try that in yer GT bloody 3s !
You get the picture.
Then today I forgot footy kit, so had to go home from work at lunch. Ok, run back home, etc, BUT when I came out to come back here again...the engine was already warmed up
Pulled out of the BP station on Sandling Rd/Royal Engineers Rd out of Maidstone and gave her a bit of the old dogs bollox in 2nd. Thought, "Im not going very fast" and then realised that was because I was already doing 50, at a 30degree angle on a straight piece of tarmac with my foot only half way to the floor and holding her on a drift. At which pt all I could do was sit in the car p1shing myself laughing. Im meant to be in a fire breathing beast and she is sitting quite nicely in a little drift thats taking no effort to control and everything is all lovely and serene.
How can you not just love a car like that? That smile was plastered on my face all the way up Bluebell Hill, one silly little moment wipes away an entire 2 months of winter blues. Apparantly the car really shouldnt be able to do that.
Try that in yer GT bloody 3s !
DJC said:
Pulled out of the BP station on Sandling Rd/Royal Engineers Rd out of Maidstone and gave her a bit of the old dogs bollox in 2nd. Thought, "Im not going very fast" and then realised that was because I was already doing 50, at a 30degree angle on a straight piece of tarmac with my foot only half way to the floor and holding her on a drift. At which pt all I could do was sit in the car p1shing myself laughing. Im meant to be in a fire breathing beast and she is sitting quite nicely in a little drift thats taking no effort to control and everything is all lovely and serene.
How can you not just love a car like that? That smile was plastered on my face all the way up Bluebell Hill, one silly little moment wipes away an entire 2 months of winter blues. Apparantly the car really shouldnt be able to do that.
Try that in yer GT bloody 3s !
Just one reason I want one of these for my birthday. Imagine having all those moments captured to show the future grandkids - classic
PP
witty said:
At which pt all I could do was sit in the car p1shing myself laughing.
I'd of shat myself
(Need to find some nice wide clear roads so i can build up some confidence in my Sag)
That was partly why I was laughing though. It is meant to be a monster, a beast, an animal. Yet there I was at an angle, wheel already nudging back into the angle, foot easing off the power, without doing anything rushed, in a panic, even seemingly out of the ordinary. As the man says, "just a walk in the park Kochansky." It was no drama, no fuss, just a doddle. Yet my foot was only halfway to the floor, we were already doing 50, revs were up between 4 and 5k rpm I think. It was just funny and brilliant. Once you realise just what an absolute pussycat the Sagaris is, *then* you realise how absolutely devastating a device it can be at speed. Yes, you take liberties with it and you find yourself sliding and getting sideways very very quickly, but once there it is just a joy to play with. Learn that and learn when and where the limits of what you can do in the car and suddenly you understand and learn depths to this car that have no right to exist because Im fairly convinced TVR never intended them!
Xmas pressie is a day at Knockhill on the skid pan etc - and oddly enough there will be a project "team-building" event there as well, same thing. I'll be taking full advantage for all the reasons above - have had a couple of controlled slides and just love it - bringing it back is no effort at all.
That 2nd gear hoof is amazing!!
As you say - don't think they designed it in, but jeez it's good fun!!!
That 2nd gear hoof is amazing!!
As you say - don't think they designed it in, but jeez it's good fun!!!
You pussy DJC! you should have kept your toe in and riden out the slide. Backing off is for wimps! 
Sounds fun and I agree that the car is beautifully balanced but I disagree it's great by accident.
Number one reason is a stiff chassis with a front engine set well back in the chassis - in fact the whole block is aft of the front axle, just as it is in a Caterham (my other car and another sublime handler once the tyres are warm). It's a true front-mid-engined car (the most forgiving configuration there is) and was designed as such from the start. OK that applies to all S6 tvrs but the extra special thing about the Sagaris is the work bilstein did on it. I'd heard early in the project that they (bilstein and tvr) were 'very pleased how things were going'. So pleased in fact that every tvr since the Sagaris has been revised accordingly and now handles better as a result.
Sounds fun and I agree that the car is beautifully balanced but I disagree it's great by accident.
Number one reason is a stiff chassis with a front engine set well back in the chassis - in fact the whole block is aft of the front axle, just as it is in a Caterham (my other car and another sublime handler once the tyres are warm). It's a true front-mid-engined car (the most forgiving configuration there is) and was designed as such from the start. OK that applies to all S6 tvrs but the extra special thing about the Sagaris is the work bilstein did on it. I'd heard early in the project that they (bilstein and tvr) were 'very pleased how things were going'. So pleased in fact that every tvr since the Sagaris has been revised accordingly and now handles better as a result.
Ha. Glad someone mentioned doing it in a T350 as I did something very similar in mine last weekend. Didn't go sideways but the tyres lit up, in third, around 50. Used more throttle than usual as some tit in a volvo decided not to slow down (or move into the outside lane) as I pulled onto the Westhill dual carriageway. Wasn't laughing but was wondering why the car wasn't going any faster but the rev counter was up at 5000rpm all of a sudden!
the pits said:
You pussy DJC! you should have kept your toe in and riden out the slide. Backing off is for wimps!
Sounds fun and I agree that the car is beautifully balanced but I disagree it's great by accident.
Number one reason is a stiff chassis with a front engine set well back in the chassis - in fact the whole block is aft of the front axle, just as it is in a Caterham (my other car and another sublime handler once the tyres are warm). It's a true front-mid-engined car (the most forgiving configuration there is) and was designed as such from the start. OK that applies to all S6 tvrs but the extra special thing about the Sagaris is the work bilstein did on it. I'd heard early in the project that they (bilstein and tvr) were 'very pleased how things were going'. So pleased in fact that every tvr since the Sagaris has been revised accordingly and now handles better as a result.
Neither the time nor the place Pits. That garage is just after traffic lights and almost immediately there is a jnt for the M20 that gets far too busy for stunts like that. I wasnt aiming to go sideways or stomping the pedal or being an arse, so wasnt playing the macho fun game. I know about the handling characteristics and the set up, I just cant believe TVR got this thing to be a hard arsed track toy, comsumate tourer and make it MX5'able! The last time a drove a car I felt was that confidence inspring was my MX5. I am astonished!
fatbutt said:
Ha. Glad someone mentioned doing it in a T350 as I did something very similar in mine last weekend. Didn't go sideways but the tyres lit up, in third, around 50. Used more throttle than usual as some tit in a volvo decided not to slow down (or move into the outside lane) as I pulled onto the Westhill dual carriageway. Wasn't laughing but was wondering why the car wasn't going any faster but the rev counter was up at 5000rpm all of a sudden!
Volvo's, I ask you!!! Much the same issue heading North of the AECC going home - a Volvo in the outside lane, 10-15 mph less than proscribed, and will not shift into the empty inside lane. Setting up a drift going past on the inside lane at 60 not recommended however much it would amuse me. But, still being impatient, when it did finally move in I hoofed it in third and did the wheelspin thing, just enough to remind me of the poke the 'Gris has. Held it, and then just took off - what a feeling!
Thanks for the inspiration DJC. Having felt the same "blue's" this week with only commuting the Sag in the dark and I live less than 12 miles from work so never get above 50c oil temp. So sun was out this morning and car still warm, so went for an early lunch hour. I'm actually proud to witness small evidence on my left rear tyre of drift marks from my lunch break (of course off public roads constable!.
Better then a Subway.
Cheers, Sagman
Better then a Subway.
Cheers, Sagman
SagMan said:
Thanks for the inspiration DJC. Having felt the same "blue's" this week with only commuting the Sag in the dark and I live less than 12 miles from work so never get above 50c oil temp. So sun was out this morning and car still warm, so went for an early lunch hour. I'm actually proud to witness small evidence on my left rear tyre of drift marks from my lunch break (of course off public roads constable!.
Better then a Subway.
Cheers, Sagman
Amen brother!
There's lots of fun to be had out there in cold, wet weather but keep the brain engaged at all times would be my advice. I was of course pulling DJC's leg about keeping the boot in during a slide. That's rarely the most appropriate way to drive on the her majesty's highway. It was also how I managed to spin a t350! The slide wasn't too bad but I did run out of steering lock. With more lock I might not have spun but it's not something TVR are overly generous with. So take care out there and save the real heroics for the track or a deserted Tesco's car park!
Not wishing to sound like a kill joy but have had a pang of conscience that some people might be tempted into pulling some stunts this weekend based on what they've read in the thread! If so I thought it's only right I should give a fuller account of my experiences.
Not wishing to sound like a kill joy but have had a pang of conscience that some people might be tempted into pulling some stunts this weekend based on what they've read in the thread! If so I thought it's only right I should give a fuller account of my experiences.
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