Your first 'moment'
Discussion
Hello all. After 6 months or so thinking about it, I finally took the plunge into S6 engined ownership and picked up my Tam a week ago. Stunning car, something I never dreamt I'd ever be able to own. 
Anyway, the weather hasn't been great, so I haven't been able to drive the car properly until this evening - some nice dry roads I thought. How wrong could I be. There I was driving 'enthusiastically' and a nice long straight opens up. Time to flex the right ankle properly. Superb, what an engine. Then about a nano-second later, WHAT THE ****
. Back end twitched big style. Not entirely sure how it came back together, more the quality of the chassis than the driver I think! Went back for a look on the way home and there was just a slight film of standing water. Just goes to show what a step up in power the Tamora is from a 'quick' Chim 450. Only ever had moments like that before when some lock's been applied. Perhaps it was that power step at 4000 rpm that I've heard of?
Thouroughly enjoyed the rest of the drive
, although I think the part worn rear Toyo's might be getting replaced sooner than I thought!
I guess everyone has a 'rude awakening' at some point
.......
Anyway, the weather hasn't been great, so I haven't been able to drive the car properly until this evening - some nice dry roads I thought. How wrong could I be. There I was driving 'enthusiastically' and a nice long straight opens up. Time to flex the right ankle properly. Superb, what an engine. Then about a nano-second later, WHAT THE ****
. Back end twitched big style. Not entirely sure how it came back together, more the quality of the chassis than the driver I think! Went back for a look on the way home and there was just a slight film of standing water. Just goes to show what a step up in power the Tamora is from a 'quick' Chim 450. Only ever had moments like that before when some lock's been applied. Perhaps it was that power step at 4000 rpm that I've heard of? Thouroughly enjoyed the rest of the drive
, although I think the part worn rear Toyo's might be getting replaced sooner than I thought! I guess everyone has a 'rude awakening' at some point
.......Most Speed Six engined car crashes seem to be single vehicle 'it just lost traction in a straight line' stylee incidents. The Speed Six has a big torque jump between 3,500 and 4,000 rpm. In second and sometimes third gear if you having just floored the throttle as it gets to this point it may well lose traction. This is not like a Rover V8, where if you manage to keep the torque under control until 3,000rpm then you're 'home and dry'. If you're not ready for it, or aware of it and just give it 75% of max throttle until the revs hit 4,000 rpm you're much much more likely to have a tree/fence/hedge/ditch/TVR interface.
My only moment was losing traction in second at 50odd mph under WOT. I then sat down and thought about what happened and now use my right foot more thoughtfully. I can confidently say I've never lost traction or even squealed the tyres without meaning to since.
My only moment was losing traction in second at 50odd mph under WOT. I then sat down and thought about what happened and now use my right foot more thoughtfully. I can confidently say I've never lost traction or even squealed the tyres without meaning to since.
Luckily my Tamora moment was on an airfield day which I managed to get onto soon after buying the car - had come round a hairpin, onto the main stright, wheels all pointing in one direction, so thought it was definitely time for full bananas - and I spun off in a straight line!
Glad to have found this limit off the public roads
Glad to have found this limit off the public roads
chris watton said:
Yep, a week into having the Tam, at the time, I didn't realise I had 3 front wheels and tyres on the car! Overtook a car, not too mad, and the tail certainly wiggled a lot - since I have had the proper wheel and tyre config, hasn't been anywhere near as twitchy!
Remind me what the proper wheel & tyre config is please. I am at 24 psi.
NailedOn said:
Yep, a week into having the Tam, at the time, I didn't realise I had 3 front wheels and tyres on the car! Overtook a car, not too mad, and the tail certainly wiggled a lot - since I have had the proper wheel and tyre config, hasn't been anywhere near as twitchy!
Remind me what the proper wheel & tyre config is please. I am at 24 psi.
That's fine
, I actually had a front wheel, complete with front tyre on the back! Didn't know 'till I took it in for a service (very soon after I bought the car, to be on the safe side), I asked them to fit a centre cap to the rear wheel, but they couldn't because the wheel nut stuck out too far, because it was a front wheel! lol
Training - That's the answer. There are some guys who deliver specail (police type) training especially for TVR owners. I did it when I first bought a Cerbera. It's one thing to say all inputs should be smooth (steering (esp tvr's), throttle, brakes etc), it's another when someone who knows what they're doing assess you and gives you personal advice.
I think it cost me about £300/£400 - Sorry I can't remember the name - can try and look if you're interested.
For what it's worth my T350 moment was in two parts. Firstly trying to over take in 3rd and not getting the pickup I expected (Cerbera's a lot quicker in gear) and then doing it in second and nearly reversing into the car I was overtaking
Come to think of it, I might do some more training myself.
Bigman.
I think it cost me about £300/£400 - Sorry I can't remember the name - can try and look if you're interested.
For what it's worth my T350 moment was in two parts. Firstly trying to over take in 3rd and not getting the pickup I expected (Cerbera's a lot quicker in gear) and then doing it in second and nearly reversing into the car I was overtaking
Come to think of it, I might do some more training myself.
Bigman.
MTY4000 said:
I'm with GOM - smoothly depressing the accelerator pedal seems just as fast and much safer.
Ditto that - driver training also very helpful however and I recommend Ride Drive (along with a lot of others) -
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=225283
Enjoy!
When I purchased my Tam last October, it had Avon tyres fitted. The garage I purchased the Tam from fitted a new cheapo tyre (Not Avon) on the back to pass the MOT. I had a couple of incidents where accelerating from a standing start caused the backend to twitch, which I put down to the uneven tyres on the back.
icraigmy said:
When I purchased my Tam last October, it had Avon tyres fitted. The garage I purchased the Tam from fitted a new cheapo tyre (Not Avon) on the back to pass the MOT. I had a couple of incidents where accelerating from a standing start caused the backend to twitch, which I put down to the uneven tyres on the back.
I'm shocked that any garage that would deal with TVRs would fit different tyres across an axle, even if only to pass an MOT! I wouldn't do that even on a £50 shopping car...
RideDrive - They're the guys who trained me - Equally, I can recommend.
One piece of advice. DON'T DO AN 8 HOUR COURSE. They offer the option of splitting that course over two dates, take that option. I was SO KN*CKERED after the 8 hours I could hardly drive the 10 miles home. Plus you'll get a chance to practice using their advice between the courses.
It made me a much safer driver - it's taken me three years to break the habit
Bigman.
One piece of advice. DON'T DO AN 8 HOUR COURSE. They offer the option of splitting that course over two dates, take that option. I was SO KN*CKERED after the 8 hours I could hardly drive the 10 miles home. Plus you'll get a chance to practice using their advice between the courses.
It made me a much safer driver - it's taken me three years to break the habit
Bigman.
glad your first moment was a success - mine was not - i was told that my tam would bite my head off and it did just that only just got it back after being off the road for 6 months - needless to say i am very nervous driving it at the moment - had new disks pads tires and a brake cylinder so am /running it in/ but trying to book a day at castle combe circuit to get to know it alittle better.
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