RE: Driven: Radical SR3 In Central London
Discussion
Walton said:
There's another big reason not many are road-registered. If ever anyone's seen a properly set-up radical for track they run much less ride-height than that shown in the pic and needed for road-use. The problem then is that you lose most of the down-force, making it no more grippy than a Caterham (I think Evo tested one set-up for the road for their lap timings). You'd have to do a full on geometry set-up every time you went on track - which in reality won't happen.
TBH most Radicals aren't driven at anything like their potential using all the down-force, which takes a good bit of practice. Certainly the last half dozen I've come across on track-days have been a slower than my R500.
Being honest Whalton, that is true of 80 odd % of the bigger track toys you see on trackdays. It's rare to see anyone in e.g 911 GT3, any fezza, etc etc pushing near the limit for the car if well set up. A lot of this will be because it's a track day not a race, but how many track day-ers properly set up their cars? IMO the people who have the 100% mentality would compete, not just do track days. From my experience, the faster / more specialised the car, the smaller the setup window - which means anyone taking a radical to a TD without full guages / ability to set up would be struggling o be really quick, no matter how good or committed their drivers were.TBH most Radicals aren't driven at anything like their potential using all the down-force, which takes a good bit of practice. Certainly the last half dozen I've come across on track-days have been a slower than my R500.
PS - not much is quicker than an R500, either!
So how does the car handle road humps, I find the bloody things a nightmare in the Viper, how high can you get the car suspension to combat this?Bobdenero said:
I have been on and watched a fair number of track days at Oulton Park, I dont ever recall seeing a Radical being overtaken, in the corners they are in a different league from all the Caterhams, westfields etc.
Half the time Radicals don't get overtaken because the guy behind is concerned the Radical driver will not have checked their mirrors since they left the pit lane.pilchardthecat said:
Adam205 said:
pilchardthecat said:
Why on gods earth would you want to drive it in the middle of London?
Because it's really good fun?Driving in London is about as far from fun as it is possible to get behind the wheel of car.
GFWilliams said:
pilchardthecat said:
Adam205 said:
pilchardthecat said:
Why on gods earth would you want to drive it in the middle of London?
Because it's really good fun?Driving in London is about as far from fun as it is possible to get behind the wheel of car.
pilchardthecat said:
GFWilliams said:
pilchardthecat said:
Adam205 said:
pilchardthecat said:
Why on gods earth would you want to drive it in the middle of London?
Because it's really good fun?Driving in London is about as far from fun as it is possible to get behind the wheel of car.
Much more fun than bring on the motorway!
Obviously a track would be better though...
pilchardthecat said:
Driving in London is about as far from fun as it is possible to get behind the wheel of car.
Bits of London, yes you're right - eg driving from Gatwick through Croydon to the centre on a Saturday afternoon up the A23 (grrrr). But other times it can be magical - early morning around Parliament when the sunlight hits the buildings, down Embankment, even doing a cab-driver impression round the back streets of Mayfair or Chelsea.
Even a quick blast up the sliproads to the Westway, or through various of the tunnels.
You just have to know how to avoid all the numpties....
Yeah, driving in London can be fun...but more often than not, it isn't. Good on uniquetrackdays.com for getting their name out there for not much outlay!
Re. the dual controls. Whay happens if you get a speeding ticket and they ask who was driving?
He pressed the accelerator, no, she did..
...though it may just have had a dual brake and clutch...
Re. the dual controls. Whay happens if you get a speeding ticket and they ask who was driving?
He pressed the accelerator, no, she did..
...though it may just have had a dual brake and clutch...80s Matchbox said:
Yeah, driving in London can be fun...but more often than not, it isn't. Good on uniquetrackdays.com for getting their name out there for not much outlay!
Re. the dual controls. Whay happens if you get a speeding ticket and they ask who was driving?
He pressed the accelerator, no, she did.. ...though it may just have had a dual brake and clutch...
It's just a dual brake and clutch Re. the dual controls. Whay happens if you get a speeding ticket and they ask who was driving?
He pressed the accelerator, no, she did..
...though it may just have had a dual brake and clutch...
Walton said:
RadGirl said:
Performance
Accel: 0-100mph (sec) 5.5
Sorry, but there's no chance a Rad would do 0-100 in 5.5s - more like 8s, and if it did your figures imply it's take 6.5s to stop from 100 (0-100-0 12s)!Accel: 0-100mph (sec) 5.5
There's another big reason not many are road-registered. If ever anyone's seen a properly set-up radical for track they run much less ride-height than that shown in the pic and needed for road-use. The problem then is that you lose most of the down-force, making it no more grippy than a Caterham (I think Evo tested one set-up for the road for their lap timings). You'd have to do a full on geometry set-up every time you went on track - which in reality won't happen.
TBH most Radicals aren't driven at anything like their potential using all the down-force, which takes a good bit of practice. Certainly the last half dozen I've come across on track-days have been a slower than my R500.
Edited by Walton on Friday 17th September 16:03
vintageracer01 said:
What a hoot. Must be a fantastic experience.
Great write-up and very cool pictures.
But do not forget to tell us how is the car on the track, please!
I'm actually the son-in-law to one of the owners in the above article. I actually got 6 laps at Silverstone in the Radical SR8 LM. I can definitely say, although a v8, that it really is super smooth and furious at the same time on corners. Straight line speeds are blistering fast too, just like a rocket. I still have to laugh that the passenger harness is an option.Great write-up and very cool pictures.
But do not forget to tell us how is the car on the track, please!
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