Racing cars for road use
Discussion
A while ago a James May from top gear took a Vantage N24 (later known as the GT4)across europe as opposed to a lightened track focussed supercar such as the n400, CS, GT3 RS ect.
He of course didnt like it, but other sources (evo mag) from my recollection seemed to suggest that it was'nt unbearable and was rather impressive on the road as it was on the track.
Assuming that you can (Im not sure if all GT4 cars can be taxed and put on the road although I know most can), why not buy race spec supercar for £135,000 rather than a more compramised machine?
Given that you could use the car for many series from European GT4 to British GT, even 24hr events like VLN, there would be a large amount of fun to be had that you could'nt in a road car. Although I'd have a mate in another car incase of a shunt...
Now Im not talking about using it as a weekend car even, more of a 'blast' car. The sort of thing you'd take out for a spin of an evening purely for fun. From what I can see buying a car that boasts its racer breeding and track focus for mainly track use or for short full trottle road blasts is rather pointless if a actual race car is able to work on the road.
There is a great deal of choice,
M3,
Evora,
Vantage,
Maserati GT.
They are swift machines the Yas Marina site lists the 0-60 of their GT4 Vantage as 3.9, about the same as the GT3 RS.
Has anyone read anymore on road legal racers? Am I alone in thinking that this would be a good idea for a purer driving experience? Or am I mad?
He of course didnt like it, but other sources (evo mag) from my recollection seemed to suggest that it was'nt unbearable and was rather impressive on the road as it was on the track.
Assuming that you can (Im not sure if all GT4 cars can be taxed and put on the road although I know most can), why not buy race spec supercar for £135,000 rather than a more compramised machine?
Given that you could use the car for many series from European GT4 to British GT, even 24hr events like VLN, there would be a large amount of fun to be had that you could'nt in a road car. Although I'd have a mate in another car incase of a shunt...
Now Im not talking about using it as a weekend car even, more of a 'blast' car. The sort of thing you'd take out for a spin of an evening purely for fun. From what I can see buying a car that boasts its racer breeding and track focus for mainly track use or for short full trottle road blasts is rather pointless if a actual race car is able to work on the road.
There is a great deal of choice,
M3,
Evora,
Vantage,
Maserati GT.
They are swift machines the Yas Marina site lists the 0-60 of their GT4 Vantage as 3.9, about the same as the GT3 RS.
Has anyone read anymore on road legal racers? Am I alone in thinking that this would be a good idea for a purer driving experience? Or am I mad?
Edited by Fantuzzi on Saturday 21st April 20:02
Quite a lot of Porsche gt3's are road registered as well. I guess the main thing is how much it'd cost to make it "properly" road worthy?
Plastic windows, no underseal, no sound proofing, missing wiring looms, ruinously expensive consumables like brakes, dampers, gearbox rebuilds, battle hardened body work etc etc
Plastic windows, no underseal, no sound proofing, missing wiring looms, ruinously expensive consumables like brakes, dampers, gearbox rebuilds, battle hardened body work etc etc
Why? It's a waste to use a fully prepped race car on the road. It's massively frustrating- uncomfortable, noisy, awkward gear box, stupid clutch, bad fuel economy, irritating harnesses, irritating cage, no security, it overcools, no heater, no window de-mist, no radio, no handbrake, seats unsuitable for long relaxing drives, you constantly draw attention (the bad kind) AND...
... All the while you're driving along, you're wearing your fresh gearbox, your coking up the engine, the oil isn't getting up to temp, your wearing suspension, it's getting filthy, your race brake pads are glazing up and doing nothing but generate irritating noises etc etc
It's a nice idea in theory but an actual proper race car with all the racecar 'refinements' will be a nightmare on the road.
Also if you crash, your going to stove your skull in, break your bones etc on the cage.
... All the while you're driving along, you're wearing your fresh gearbox, your coking up the engine, the oil isn't getting up to temp, your wearing suspension, it's getting filthy, your race brake pads are glazing up and doing nothing but generate irritating noises etc etc
It's a nice idea in theory but an actual proper race car with all the racecar 'refinements' will be a nightmare on the road.
Also if you crash, your going to stove your skull in, break your bones etc on the cage.
Id have a WRC car...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t6g0y9-xYw
Even if it will only do 5mpg at most in stage mode and cost £400k to buy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t6g0y9-xYw
Even if it will only do 5mpg at most in stage mode and cost £400k to buy!
HustleRussell said:
Why? It's ...uncomfortable
not really - comfy Corbeau seatHustleRussell said:
noisy
yup, wakens the deadHustleRussell said:
awkward gear box
nah - TKO600 is fineHustleRussell said:
stupid clutch
absolutely - on or off - nothing inbetweenHustleRussell said:
bad fuel economy
yup, sub 10mpgHustleRussell said:
irritating harnesses
keeps you in placeHustleRussell said:
irritating cage
keeps an old man fit getting in and outHustleRussell said:
no security
...but I'd like to see someone else try to start it 
HustleRussell said:
it overcools
yea, but...HustleRussell said:
no heater
I wear a fleece if it's coldHustleRussell said:
no window de-mist
this is one of the things you have to add to get it on the road, has to be heated too..HustleRussell said:
no radio
Big chevy V8 sounds better than any radioHustleRussell said:
no handbrake
needed for SVA/IVI, so I've got one 
HustleRussell said:
seats unsuitable for long relaxing drives
seats are very comfortable, but at 7mpg you don't get a very long drive per tank, and with no power steering there's nothing relaxing about itHustleRussell said:
you constantly draw attention (the bad kind)
surprisingly notHustleRussell said:
AND...
... All the while you're driving along, you're wearing your fresh gearbox, your coking up the engine, the oil isn't getting up to temp, your wearing suspension, it's getting filthy, your race brake pads are glazing up and doing nothing but generate irritating noises etc etc
It's a nice idea in theory but an actual proper race car with all the racecar 'refinements' will be a nightmare on the road.
Yes, but it's a lot of fun now and again ... All the while you're driving along, you're wearing your fresh gearbox, your coking up the engine, the oil isn't getting up to temp, your wearing suspension, it's getting filthy, your race brake pads are glazing up and doing nothing but generate irritating noises etc etc
It's a nice idea in theory but an actual proper race car with all the racecar 'refinements' will be a nightmare on the road.
Certainly blows the old cobwebs away.bravonovember said:
A road car that looked like a g55 would be fab, but their not great race cars let alone a road car.
Yeah it must be crapEdited by bravonovember on Wednesday 18th April 20:15
ph said:
Teams running the current Ginetta G50, which has won multiple GT4 championships worldwide, will be able to upgrade their existing car to the new G55 for £25,000 or take advantage of a new part-exchange system.
The G50 won the GT4 class in the British GT cup at Oulton Park. The G55 hasn't really been aired yet this season.tvrolet said:
HustleRussell said:
Why? It's ...uncomfortable
not really - comfy Corbeau seatHustleRussell said:
noisy
yup, wakens the deadHustleRussell said:
awkward gear box
nah - TKO600 is fineHustleRussell said:
stupid clutch
absolutely - on or off - nothing inbetweenHustleRussell said:
bad fuel economy
yup, sub 10mpgHustleRussell said:
irritating harnesses
keeps you in placeHustleRussell said:
irritating cage
keeps an old man fit getting in and outHustleRussell said:
no security
...but I'd like to see someone else try to start it HustleRussell said:
it overcools
yea, but...HustleRussell said:
no heater
I wear a fleece if it's coldHustleRussell said:
no window de-mist
this is one of the things you have to add to get it on the road, has to be heated too..HustleRussell said:
no radio
Big chevy V8 sounds better than any radioHustleRussell said:
no handbrake
needed for SVA/IVI, so I've got one HustleRussell said:
seats unsuitable for long relaxing drives
seats are very comfortable, but at 7mpg you don't get a very long drive per tank, and with no power steering there's nothing relaxing about itHustleRussell said:
you constantly draw attention (the bad kind)
surprisingly notHustleRussell said:
AND...
... All the while you're driving along, you're wearing your fresh gearbox, your coking up the engine, the oil isn't getting up to temp, your wearing suspension, it's getting filthy, your race brake pads are glazing up and doing nothing but generate irritating noises etc etc
It's a nice idea in theory but an actual proper race car with all the racecar 'refinements' will be a nightmare on the road.
Yes, but it's a lot of fun now and again ... All the while you're driving along, you're wearing your fresh gearbox, your coking up the engine, the oil isn't getting up to temp, your wearing suspension, it's getting filthy, your race brake pads are glazing up and doing nothing but generate irritating noises etc etc
It's a nice idea in theory but an actual proper race car with all the racecar 'refinements' will be a nightmare on the road.
Certainly blows the old cobwebs away.
Mine is only a little low-powered and not particularly racy Caterham, not in the same class as the big GT cars mentioned in this thread so far... But I had it on the road for a couple of weeks before the season started and it just felt plain wrong. When I took it testing at Donington before the first weekend, it felt like it'd come home. Sad though it is aged 22, I would be happier driving a poxy little hatchback 90% of the time as far as British roads are concerned...
chevronb37 said:
I had a chat with Gareth Williams about his Vantage GT4 a couple of months ago. He said it was a dreadful road car. I honestly think my little Lotus is as track-orientated as I could be bothered with and still enjoy on the road.
Interesting, What did say was the problem?Thanks
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