RE: Ultima reveals new 'RS' model
Discussion
bigdog3 said:
I've done many track days and have never seen either an Ultima or Gardner at these events. Accepting that racing can be damaging and expensive, how do owners resist using them properly on track days even if only occasionally? Seems an awful waste 
Regardless, there was a Gardner Douglas being sprinted effectively some years ago at Barkston Heath (Javelin event)
Believe it was orange. Was that you?
The orange GD was Andy in their demo car, I was in my red one. Andy broke the lap record on the day if I recall. There was a video of it in car on their website at one bit along with the 700bhp customer car lapping the Ring.Regardless, there was a Gardner Douglas being sprinted effectively some years ago at Barkston Heath (Javelin event)
Believe it was orange. Was that you?Going back on topic, it's all well and good people talking 800bhp or even 1000bhp in something like this, it's all talk. Yes it's achievable but why? Will be undriveable in anything other than dry conditions and one with 500-600bhp would show it the way home on a nice road drive with twisty bits :-)
I've been in something with 700bhp and 900kg and altho hilarious, it wasn't safely useable with no traction control even with 335 rears
Olivera said:
I also have never seen one on a track day. Perhaps most owners are either of the build-and-look-at-it or polisher variety? A road-going homage to group c should also be used on track.
Even confessing to being a common or garden polishing variety of owner, I'm soooo much in the minority. Most owners track them. Many owners specifically build them as road legal trackday cars. The owners groups on Facebook is stuffed with photos and videos of regular trackday action and information exchanges about how to improve trackday performance at home and abroad. However, there's only so many Ultimas. There's only so many tracks. There's only so many trackdays. My local track is Knockhill. I see Ultimas there on track regularly if I pop over to spectate. To be fair, sometimes I go because I know other owners are going to be there but it's a fallacy to imagine that in general they don't see trackday action.
renmure said:
Even confessing to being a common or garden polishing variety of owner, I'm soooo much in the minority. Most owners track them. Many owners specifically build them as road legal trackday cars. The owners groups on Facebook is stuffed with photos and videos of regular trackday action and information exchanges about how to improve trackday performance at home and abroad.
However, there's only so many Ultimas. There's only so many tracks. There's only so many trackdays. My local track is Knockhill. I see Ultimas there on track regularly if I pop over to spectate. To be fair, sometimes I go because I know other owners are going to be there but it's a fallacy to imagine that in general they don't see trackday action.
Does anyone sprint out of interest? I've not seen any out when I used to do the odd one or two.However, there's only so many Ultimas. There's only so many tracks. There's only so many trackdays. My local track is Knockhill. I see Ultimas there on track regularly if I pop over to spectate. To be fair, sometimes I go because I know other owners are going to be there but it's a fallacy to imagine that in general they don't see trackday action.
There was a good Ultima/ GD cars day at Blyton a good few years ago.
200Plus Club said:
fblm said:
That really doesn't make much sense to me.
It may not to You, but rest assured you will see zero Ultima on track being raced or timed sprints , and very rarely on trackdays either. fblm said:
I know. I mean your explanation of why not. Plenty of people track far more expensive and faster cars.
Usually ones they bought off the shelf you see. Building one yourself is a different matter, like driving someone else's car, or a loaner, you'll always be quicker if it's not your blood sweat and tears imho. My experience of course. 200Plus Club said:
fblm said:
I know. I mean your explanation of why not. Plenty of people track far more expensive and faster cars.
Usually ones they bought off the shelf you see. Building one yourself is a different matter, like driving someone else's car, or a loaner, you'll always be quicker if it's not your blood sweat and tears imho. My experience of course. https://vimeo.com/5756507
Edited by Mack42 on Saturday 15th June 17:24
Mack42 said:
Personally after I built mine I did my best to drive the wheels off it.
https://vimeo.com/5756507
Me too but generally you don't see any racing.https://vimeo.com/5756507
Edited by Mack42 on Saturday 15th June 17:24
yonex said:
The same reason I would never take the Atom on a public session. I can just imagine some hero in a Clio trying to stuff it up the inside. Any contact, that's an £8K excess I have to put up, for someone else's stupidity.
No thanks.
When there's an owners day or a group of like minded owners get together it's fine.
Really? No thanks.
When there's an owners day or a group of like minded owners get together it's fine.
In a whole variety of cars, we have never suffered any contact at many track days 
yonex said:
The same reason I would never take the Atom on a public session. I can just imagine some hero in a Clio trying to stuff it up the inside. Any contact, that's an £8K excess I have to put up, for someone else's stupidity.
No thanks.
When there's an owners day or a group of like minded owners get together it's fine.
No thanks.
When there's an owners day or a group of like minded owners get together it's fine.
yonex said:
bigdog3 said:
Really? In a whole variety of cars, we have never suffered any contact at many track days
Maybe not, just my point of view I guess. In a whole variety of cars, we have never suffered any contact at many track days IMHO biggest risk on track days is over-enthusiasm, going off the tarmac and hitting something solid. But of course, that's up to the driver 
Mack42 said:
Looks and sounds terrific 
fblm said:
200Plus Club said:
fblm said:
That really doesn't make much sense to me.
It may not to You, but rest assured you will see zero Ultima on track being raced or timed sprints , and very rarely on trackdays either. The only Ultima i've ever come across on track was way back in the early 2000's, when i had absolutely no problem in overtaking them in 150bhp of hot hatch, but to be fair, i've i'd splashed out £100k on one, i'd want to keep it out the gravel too!
Max_Torque said:
The only Ultima i've ever come across on track was way back in the early 2000's, when i had absolutely no problem in overtaking them in 150bhp of hot hatch, but to be fair, i've i'd splashed out £100k on one, i'd want to keep it out the gravel too!
I had a mate who used to track his. It wasn't particularly quick. in his hands, but whether that was because of the car, because of the driver, or because (against my advice) he'd fitted the biggest f
k-off, twin element rear wing that money could buy, cantilevered way out behind and not balanced by anything at the front, so that the car understeered like nothing on earth through high-speed corners, I wouldn't like to say. 
hairykrishna said:
They're paying to talk about how they have 'a race car with number plates' not actually go racing.
...But in fairness it did start life as a racing car; the original was Bob Light's 'Shapecraft Ultima', which was dominant in the 750 Club Kit Car Championship and Castle Combe Special GT's, back in the mid-1990's:
The 'Shapecraft' bit refererred to the smoother bodyshell that Bob Light had commissioned to cloth the original Lee Noble Ultima, which again very much had a race history, albeit again only in the club-level Kit Car championship:
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff