Tracking a super car.

Tracking a super car.

Author
Discussion

James_B

12,642 posts

256 months

Sunday 28th October 2018
quotequote all
I’ve an R8 plus, and want to take it to the track to properly explore the limits and so hopefully then be able to enjoy it more on the road.

A day of trying to set “qualifying” laps would not be a great idea, but finding out how it acts beyond the limits of grip while having some fun seems like a good idea.

4321go

638 posts

186 months

Sunday 28th October 2018
quotequote all
James_B said:
I’ve an R8 plus, and want to take it to the track to properly explore the limits and so hopefully then be able to enjoy it more on the road.

A day of trying to set “qualifying” laps would not be a great idea, but finding out how it acts beyond the limits of grip while having some fun seems like a good idea.
Then a track day is absolutely NOT what you want to be doing! If you want to learn about car control, then book some time with a really good development coach and go visit the MIRA wet grip handling circuit, where you can drift your car all day long at 15mph. You do NOT want to drift through Craner Curves at 100mph and discover that you lack the talent to collect it afterwards. Besides, swift road driving has little to do with limit handling and much more to do with where you’re looking and what you’re thinking.....

isaldiri

18,412 posts

167 months

Sunday 28th October 2018
quotequote all
4321go said:
I own two cars: a Gallardo and a Westfield Eleven. The Gallardo is terrifying on track. Not because of the speed, but because of the “What if......?”s.
Is purely down to the monetary value then? Because imo the 'what if' I'd be more concerned about would be in a crash and I'd far rather be in a gallardo than westfield in that situation personally.....

4321go

638 posts

186 months

Sunday 28th October 2018
quotequote all
isaldiri said:
Is purely down to the monetary value then? Because imo the 'what if' I'd be more concerned about would be in a crash and I'd far rather be in a gallardo than westfield in that situation personally.....
Nope. Physics.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 28th October 2018
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These are not track cars, I think we all agree on that, and I don't think anyone is saying that you should track them hard as you would a dedicated track car. Nor is your first track day the place to find out what their, and your, limits are. However, these cars are performance cars and much of their development work is done on track, so I would definitely encourage taking them to the occasional track day to see what they can do. It's not only the only legal place to do that but also the safer place, for you, the car, and those around you.

Get an instructor though, even better attend a handling course (or two) first as suggested above - does Walshy still do Car Limits at North Wealds? Do proper warmup and cool down laps, stay off the kerbs, build up slowly, pick your track, do short stints. And once the bug has bitten, and you have experienced 150 plus down the Hanger straight, skipped round Brundle and Nelson, or stood on the brakes into Deene, buy a track slag and become a regular. Regardless of whether or not you bin your supercar, consumables are expensive. After that you may even take the next step and go racing, there are plenty of cheap(ish) ways to do that.

My point is we are fast approaching the end of days of supercar use on our roads, at least at anything near their capabilities. While I have nothing against mild use on public roads - they are road cars after all - if you have bought your supercar because of it's performance capabilities then it does seem a bit of a missed opportunity to not experience that engine screaming at the rev limit, tyres and brakes giving all they have, and arriving back in the pits to a group of mates, wide grin and exhausts pinging. Now for sure, you could travel to the Alps and experience much of that, but it's a long way to go when we have such wonderful tracks right here on our doorsteps.

MDL111

6,895 posts

176 months

Sunday 28th October 2018
quotequote all
isaldiri said:
4321go said:
I own two cars: a Gallardo and a Westfield Eleven. The Gallardo is terrifying on track. Not because of the speed, but because of the “What if......?”s.
Is purely down to the monetary value then? Because imo the 'what if' I'd be more concerned about would be in a crash and I'd far rather be in a gallardo than westfield in that situation personally.....
Agree - esp if somebody else in a 1.5 Tonne plus vehicle barrels into me

James_B

12,642 posts

256 months

Monday 29th October 2018
quotequote all
4321go said:
James_B said:
I’ve an R8 plus, and want to take it to the track to properly explore the limits and so hopefully then be able to enjoy it more on the road.

A day of trying to set “qualifying” laps would not be a great idea, but finding out how it acts beyond the limits of grip while having some fun seems like a good idea.
Then a track day is absolutely NOT what you want to be doing! If you want to learn about car control, then book some time with a really good development coach and go visit the MIRA wet grip handling circuit, where you can drift your car all day long at 15mph. You do NOT want to drift through Craner Curves at 100mph and discover that you lack the talent to collect it afterwards. Besides, swift road driving has little to do with limit handling and much more to do with where you’re looking and what you’re thinking.....
I don’t agree. I’ve done plenty of track days and they are a great way to get to know a new car.

Why would I want to drift an R8 at 15mph, or at all?

And why do you think I want to learn about car control? I want to see what my current car does in a safe environment, which is what I’ve done with previous cars and bikes.

Ingenere

130 posts

148 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
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I have been tracking all my exotics, race cars and teaching for decades.

None of them have ever been the worse for wear. I can't wait to get the 570 to a track!




RSbandit

2,590 posts

131 months

Saturday 3rd November 2018
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I try to do 4/5 trackdays a year, 2/3 in the UK usually Bedford ( v safe track loads of space) and a double at the Ring. Currently own a V12VS but tracked a V10 plus R8 before that. It's great to open the cars up in a safe environment whilst having alot of fun at no more than 80-85%. Going flat out all day on every lap is prob not the most mechanically sympathetic approach if your car isn't a lightweight track tool.

LotusJas

1,322 posts

230 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
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Yes, I track my 720S.


Did the same with every fast car I've had. Lotus, Caterham, Ferrari. Even my i8 smile

RSbandit

2,590 posts

131 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
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LotusJas said:
Yes, I track my 720S.


Did the same with every fast car I've had. Lotus, Caterham, Ferrari. Even my i8 smile
I've read you have to have a pre and post trackday inspection with McLarens otherwise you could void the warranty? Seems a bit ridiculous and makes a trackday v expensive

isaldiri

18,412 posts

167 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
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RSbandit said:
I've read you have to have a pre and post trackday inspection with McLarens otherwise you could void the warranty? Seems a bit ridiculous and makes a trackday v expensive
IME the dealerships have been quite reasonable about the inspections. When I had my car I used to group a couple of trackdays together before doing one rather than being required to strictly adhere to them each trackday. Not sure if things have changed but from what I can tell of those who have them it's by and large the same thing.

willy wombat

906 posts

147 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
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I am really quite surprised by this need for a dealer inspection. I think Enzo would be spinning in his grave if someone suggested that you couldn't take a Ferrari on track without a dealer inspection before and after.

isaldiri

18,412 posts

167 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
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willy wombat said:
I am really quite surprised by this need for a dealer inspection. I think Enzo would be spinning in his grave if someone suggested that you couldn't take a Ferrari on track without a dealer inspection before and after.
He could care less as he wouldn't warranty it! wobble

RSbandit

2,590 posts

131 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
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Just seems a bit much given McLaren have alot of race derived tech in their cars but yet won't stand by that if you take it on track unless you pay for extra inspections. Defo want to run a 570s at some point but also would want to take it on track.

E34-3.2

1,003 posts

78 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
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thecook101 said:
I don't think anyone is saying that they are designed for the track, but rather that a track day is the only safe and legal way to explore their potential. Avoiding the kerbs, tracks are smoother and pothole, cats-eye, stone and surface change free. Sure - if you track hard and regularly you are going to go through friction surfaces quicker but the occasional day of fast but sensible driving around a track is not going to place loads on the car beyond what they are designed for.

Ferrari tests their road cars on Fiorano, Lotus on Hethel, and McLaren (at least for the 12C) used Dunsfold http://cars.mclaren.com/featured-articles/fast-tra... These cars are absolutely designed to be driven fast, and a track is the best place to do that.
Interesting what you are seeing as a few years ago a driver's magazine took a "La Ferrari" or an"Enzo" (can't really remember) and what transpire from the pro driver that was these cars weren't made for track.

willy wombat

906 posts

147 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
quotequote all
isaldiri said:
willy wombat said:
I am really quite surprised by this need for a dealer inspection. I think Enzo would be spinning in his grave if someone suggested that you couldn't take a Ferrari on track without a dealer inspection before and after.
He could care less as he wouldn't warranty it! wobble
Taking a Ferrari on track doesn't invalidate the warranty.

MDL111

6,895 posts

176 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
quotequote all
willy wombat said:
isaldiri said:
willy wombat said:
I am really quite surprised by this need for a dealer inspection. I think Enzo would be spinning in his grave if someone suggested that you couldn't take a Ferrari on track without a dealer inspection before and after.
He could care less as he wouldn't warranty it! wobble
Taking a Ferrari on track doesn't invalidate the warranty.
Also as far as I am aware they only require a pre-track day check for Ferrari track days - guess that is a liability issue

isaldiri

18,412 posts

167 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
quotequote all
MDL111 said:
Also as far as I am aware they only require a pre-track day check for Ferrari track days - guess that is a liability issue
I thought there was a specific exclusion for track usage in the wording of the manufacturer warranty (like Porsche pre 991 gt3). Maybe I was mistaken, been quite a while since I had a look to be fair.

andyvdg

1,536 posts

282 months

Wednesday 7th November 2018
quotequote all
Included in the price if you track at one of the excellent Pure McLaren days and the technicians are there on the day to do the checks. When I last checked (which was a while ago admittedly) warranty coverage whilst out on track was a grey area, apart from McLaren who explicitly include it.