The truth in the manual vs robotised manual obsession ?
Discussion
carspath said:
Hi again Richard ,
Absolutely the correct choice putting Mum first .... done that many times myself recently .
The car will wait for you
I sold the Brooke sometime in 2017 , I think .
I would be happy to talk to you about it .
The car needs dedication... in its purchase , it’s maintenance, and in driving it .
It’s great fun , it’s very fast , and it gives you the impression that it is even faster than it already most certainly is .
It also has almost no crash protection .
My wife , even though she rode shotgun , ( yes she deserves many medals ) over many many of those 10,000 or so miles ( including over 600 miles in one sitting ) , was very glad when I moved on to the X-BOW R .
Part availability may , or may not be a problem
The body needed to come off for even minor work
You need a good local mechanic... I was lucky in having an ex F1 mechanic very close by
Little niggles
But part of me still adores that car very ,very much .
It seems appropriate that we are discussing it on the Supercar Forum ..... it was exhilaratingly fast , very rare , manual , right hand gear change , naturally aspirated , bespoke ( many of the things Brooke did to my spec , including twin coolant reservoirs so that the Cosworth engine didn’t overheat on long distance Continental journeys ) longitudinally orientated engine in a part circular , part square space frame chassis .
What I will never forget is getting wheel spin in the dry in fifth at high revs , years ago on the Continent where it was legal of course, .... the Cosworth ECU was apparently programmed to suddenly give its all , just past 6000 rpm on this particular car ( it was the prototype )
I don’t know if this was deliberate or not , but the first time it happened it was a real surprise .
2nd time .... , proved that it is repeatable ,never again thereafter , thank you .
I designed that luggage carrier myself , and had it built .
I never got to use it .
Make sure that it is safe and legal ..... I never SVAed it or anything , never used it at all in fact
Having spent time with Dallara,s engineers while writing the X-BOW book , I now realise just how complex aerodynamics is , and my crude attempts at making it aerodynamic might not have been correct or safe .
Fun designing and getting it built , but never tested or used it . So be careful , very careful .
A life enhancing experience , that Brooke
A mini supercar
Good evening Dr Path,Absolutely the correct choice putting Mum first .... done that many times myself recently .
The car will wait for you
I sold the Brooke sometime in 2017 , I think .
I would be happy to talk to you about it .
The car needs dedication... in its purchase , it’s maintenance, and in driving it .
It’s great fun , it’s very fast , and it gives you the impression that it is even faster than it already most certainly is .
It also has almost no crash protection .
My wife , even though she rode shotgun , ( yes she deserves many medals ) over many many of those 10,000 or so miles ( including over 600 miles in one sitting ) , was very glad when I moved on to the X-BOW R .
Part availability may , or may not be a problem
The body needed to come off for even minor work
You need a good local mechanic... I was lucky in having an ex F1 mechanic very close by
Little niggles
But part of me still adores that car very ,very much .
It seems appropriate that we are discussing it on the Supercar Forum ..... it was exhilaratingly fast , very rare , manual , right hand gear change , naturally aspirated , bespoke ( many of the things Brooke did to my spec , including twin coolant reservoirs so that the Cosworth engine didn’t overheat on long distance Continental journeys ) longitudinally orientated engine in a part circular , part square space frame chassis .
What I will never forget is getting wheel spin in the dry in fifth at high revs , years ago on the Continent where it was legal of course, .... the Cosworth ECU was apparently programmed to suddenly give its all , just past 6000 rpm on this particular car ( it was the prototype )
I don’t know if this was deliberate or not , but the first time it happened it was a real surprise .
2nd time .... , proved that it is repeatable ,never again thereafter , thank you .
I designed that luggage carrier myself , and had it built .
I never got to use it .
Make sure that it is safe and legal ..... I never SVAed it or anything , never used it at all in fact
Having spent time with Dallara,s engineers while writing the X-BOW book , I now realise just how complex aerodynamics is , and my crude attempts at making it aerodynamic might not have been correct or safe .
Fun designing and getting it built , but never tested or used it . So be careful , very careful .
A life enhancing experience , that Brooke
A mini supercar
Caring for a close member of ones family has its own peculiarities and stresses. Nobody would be able to comprehend how they affect the carer. Ownership of such a car is a diversion and completely selfish. As such I now feel guilty as I have bought the little Brooke, to be delivered next Wednesday.
Rather than filling this forum with chat about it, I should very much appreciate it if you would mail me directly on rbhph@yahoo.com Thank you in advance.
Kindest regards
Richard.
Congratulations Richard '
Will do
Enjoy
See you at this year's Beaulieu Supercar Showdown - you should get automatic eligibility - under my ownership , it joined my others , as the Beaulieu photographic library reference example .
Bet you didn't know that , and this will surely make your purchase even sweeter !!
Will do
Enjoy
See you at this year's Beaulieu Supercar Showdown - you should get automatic eligibility - under my ownership , it joined my others , as the Beaulieu photographic library reference example .
Bet you didn't know that , and this will surely make your purchase even sweeter !!
Well Well, I did not know that. You won that bet Doc.
Ironic that it was at the Showdown that I first saw the car. We were blessed by glorious weather in 2013 and stayed at the Master Builder's House Hotel nearby. A weekend never to be forgotten.
You said the car would wait for me; very spiritual. I was only just in time as it had been loaded onto the transporter, about to leave for the NEC show this weekend. They unloaded it for me. I didn't get to drive it but was a passenger as the rev's went past the 6000 mark. topping out at 7500 ish. Does it have a rev' limiter by the way? Hoping the engine hasn't been lunched before I even take delivery.
I shall look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.
Thank you
Ironic that it was at the Showdown that I first saw the car. We were blessed by glorious weather in 2013 and stayed at the Master Builder's House Hotel nearby. A weekend never to be forgotten.
You said the car would wait for me; very spiritual. I was only just in time as it had been loaded onto the transporter, about to leave for the NEC show this weekend. They unloaded it for me. I didn't get to drive it but was a passenger as the rev's went past the 6000 mark. topping out at 7500 ish. Does it have a rev' limiter by the way? Hoping the engine hasn't been lunched before I even take delivery.
I shall look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.
Thank you
Thanks guys. You have given me a great hour or so reading the ‘Manual v Auto’ debate. It made me look up Brooke cars which I am ashamed to admit I had not known- this despite being a petrol head for 40 years- but now I’m informed. Further I have learnt about the Beaulieu Supercar showdown which I have signed up for and will attend this August 8/9 2020.
I am and have always been a dedicated manual enthusiast* indeed it is difficult to understand how a petrolhead could not prefer the involvement and joy of driving a performance manual car over an auto. My V12 Vantage was bought on the back of that wonderful Clarkson Top Gear piece ‘The Ending’ some years ago. I still do not know where it was filmed—any thoughts? My M5 E39 and Honda NSX give equal excitement and involvement but most definitely would not if they were auto. In fact it’s a great day so no excuse for not giving one a serious work out to- perhaps the Neeld Arms- despite being on a dry January.
Whilst writing, you great car enthusiasts should be members of the ABD. Alliance of British Drivers they really do work for us like minded drivers and need your support.
Thanks for your posts
David
I am and have always been a dedicated manual enthusiast* indeed it is difficult to understand how a petrolhead could not prefer the involvement and joy of driving a performance manual car over an auto. My V12 Vantage was bought on the back of that wonderful Clarkson Top Gear piece ‘The Ending’ some years ago. I still do not know where it was filmed—any thoughts? My M5 E39 and Honda NSX give equal excitement and involvement but most definitely would not if they were auto. In fact it’s a great day so no excuse for not giving one a serious work out to- perhaps the Neeld Arms- despite being on a dry January.
Whilst writing, you great car enthusiasts should be members of the ABD. Alliance of British Drivers they really do work for us like minded drivers and need your support.
Thanks for your posts
David
- I do however do more miles in Clarksons favourite the Range Rover 5 litre- yes I know it’s an Auto.........
Hi Richard -- e mail sent , speak soon
13 dave -- look forward to meeting you at Beaulieu-- I just e-mailed Dan the organiser last week
The NSX is iconic -- met Senna's engineer at Beaulieu last year -- he ordered his red NSX immediately on hearing of Senna's death , and still has it .
You'll see him , and it , at this year's meet - an immaculately turned out Japanese gentleman , who is only outdone by the pristine appearance of his NSX which has done ? 150,000 miles .
Re manual vs auto -- the robotised manual transmissions appear to be a half-way house , but are much more similar to a manual than an auto
I find these RMTs demand more of me mentally , because I cant just put my hand out and feel the gear knob , and know which gear I am in .
I cant just slot the lever into the position where I know it should be for the upcoming revs .
Instead I have to mentally count the number of pulls on whichever is the relevant paddle
Something relatively new for me -- but it will be first nature for the present/ next generation
So a different form of concentration is needed -- at least for me .
But last week I reverted to form , and went backwards ( some , including you I suspect , will call it forwards )
I hear a new thread calling -- lets call it :
'' McLaren-lite -- manual & without the warranty concerns and advanced electronics issues ''
13 dave -- look forward to meeting you at Beaulieu-- I just e-mailed Dan the organiser last week
The NSX is iconic -- met Senna's engineer at Beaulieu last year -- he ordered his red NSX immediately on hearing of Senna's death , and still has it .
You'll see him , and it , at this year's meet - an immaculately turned out Japanese gentleman , who is only outdone by the pristine appearance of his NSX which has done ? 150,000 miles .
Re manual vs auto -- the robotised manual transmissions appear to be a half-way house , but are much more similar to a manual than an auto
I find these RMTs demand more of me mentally , because I cant just put my hand out and feel the gear knob , and know which gear I am in .
I cant just slot the lever into the position where I know it should be for the upcoming revs .
Instead I have to mentally count the number of pulls on whichever is the relevant paddle
Something relatively new for me -- but it will be first nature for the present/ next generation
So a different form of concentration is needed -- at least for me .
But last week I reverted to form , and went backwards ( some , including you I suspect , will call it forwards )
I hear a new thread calling -- lets call it :
'' McLaren-lite -- manual & without the warranty concerns and advanced electronics issues ''
Edited by carspath on Sunday 12th January 00:39
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