Bad day Good day
Discussion
The car is replaceable - the Wife is not. Total = A VERY Good Day, considering the circumstances.
At over 700hp (which is where my GTR will be ultimately), I've already told my Wife that the ONLY way She gets behind the wheel on the streets, is if She first agrees to undergoing Professional High Performance Drivers Training at Sears Point - AND - completes a minimum of 20hrs Track Time on a real road course like Sears Point in one of their mach-f1 cars - AND - another 20hrs minimum driving the GTR at Sears Point under supervision.
THEN, (and only then) She can drive the GTR on public streets. AT that point, it will be a piece of cake for Her, because She will understand what 795 ponies in a 2,300lb race car truly means. Otherwise, She has absolutely NO WAY of knowing what the car is capable of doing, or where the limits of the car (and Her driving skill) reside.
She can't wait to take the lessons...
L2Pilot
At over 700hp (which is where my GTR will be ultimately), I've already told my Wife that the ONLY way She gets behind the wheel on the streets, is if She first agrees to undergoing Professional High Performance Drivers Training at Sears Point - AND - completes a minimum of 20hrs Track Time on a real road course like Sears Point in one of their mach-f1 cars - AND - another 20hrs minimum driving the GTR at Sears Point under supervision.
THEN, (and only then) She can drive the GTR on public streets. AT that point, it will be a piece of cake for Her, because She will understand what 795 ponies in a 2,300lb race car truly means. Otherwise, She has absolutely NO WAY of knowing what the car is capable of doing, or where the limits of the car (and Her driving skill) reside.
She can't wait to take the lessons...
L2Pilot
Jeff,
Glad to hear the better half is OK.
I think you bring up an interesting point. We all like to think we know how to drive...but do we really?
When we talk about cars as potent as the GTR, maybe EVERYBODY should be getting plenty of track time in the GTR before you let loose on the road.
With that much power (and even with alot less power), the GTR is capable of going from stand still to lots of trouble in nothing flat!
I know Ill be getting plently of Advanced Training before I go all out!
I am actually planning to use a MoTec ECU and imposing a limit of say...half throttle. Maybe even this is too much until I get used to the car.
Andy
Glad to hear the better half is OK.
I think you bring up an interesting point. We all like to think we know how to drive...but do we really?
When we talk about cars as potent as the GTR, maybe EVERYBODY should be getting plenty of track time in the GTR before you let loose on the road.
With that much power (and even with alot less power), the GTR is capable of going from stand still to lots of trouble in nothing flat!
I know Ill be getting plently of Advanced Training before I go all out!
I am actually planning to use a MoTec ECU and imposing a limit of say...half throttle. Maybe even this is too much until I get used to the car.
Andy
Glad to hear she's OK Jeff. Had to watch whilst my better half raced at the weekend. She came away with a very credible 5th place and was more than happy.
It's a constant source of amusement to me when I see the look on other driver's faces when she takes her helmet off and they see that she's just a wee girly
Regarding an individual's ability to control a car like the GTR, well, you can never learn enough. For maximum safe enjoyment, I'd say that most people would be well advised to seek some tuition in a safe environment (track/airfield/skid pan etc.) so they can experience what may happen if things get a little out of control (or a lot).
It's a constant source of amusement to me when I see the look on other driver's faces when she takes her helmet off and they see that she's just a wee girly
Regarding an individual's ability to control a car like the GTR, well, you can never learn enough. For maximum safe enjoyment, I'd say that most people would be well advised to seek some tuition in a safe environment (track/airfield/skid pan etc.) so they can experience what may happen if things get a little out of control (or a lot).
Doz said: There was a thread some months back about an instructor in the Oxfordshire area. Anyone recall this thread or remember the instructors details?
I was chatting to the British GT Ultima team, and Aaron Scott, one of their drivers, is up for a bit of private tuition. I have his number somewhere if you email me off line.
Also, Nigel Greensall comes very highly recommended. He knows Ultimas and Stealths very well, and seems a friendly chap. He can book Bruntingthorpe by the hour. He has a website, probably www.nigelgreensall.co.uk or something, but google it otherwise.
Cheers
Domster
doc_fudge said:
I am actually planning to use a MoTec ECU and imposing a limit of say...half throttle. Maybe even this is too much until I get used to the car.
Andy
Hmm I did not know Motec could do that, I will have to look into it.
My wife has had experience on a track. However it has been only in FWD cars. I actually told her to come out to some lapping days with me so she could get used to the car. She had declined and now thinks it may have been a good idea.
Well whats done is done and I don't think she will turn me down on that idea next time. The accident was blamed on her but it could have happened to anyone. She was doing the speed limit (if you can believe it) and it started to rain. Now this was not your usual rain it was one of those isolated pockets of rain/thunderstorm on a sunny day. It caught the traffic by surprise and cars infront of her hit the brakes. She went to change lanes to get away from traffic but it was right at the beginning of a bridge expansion joint. She did not see it because it was in standing water.(I looked this morning) Bump + hydroplanning = Very bad
I don't know if there was anything that could have been done. Well in hind sight I guess I could say slow down earlier, but hey sometimes we just don't get a warning. She then proceeded into the brdige wall bounced off of that went into a pickup truck and then was hit by a car. The car is definitley a right off. She seems to be doing very well and even managed to go into work today 
P.S. My name is Jay
>> Edited by JCof T.O. on Thursday 29th May 16:35
Good idea's about getting used to the power.
Most powerful car I've driven was a 600hp 300zx. My goal is to get some serious power, 600-700hp. Of course I'm not foolish enough to jump up to that power level straight away.
Since it looks like I'll start with an LS1 (build it up to a 427), I'll just take my time getting used to the car, slowly increasing power.
I remember going from a ford wagon (17yo) to a sports bike (cbr250rr), that felt like a big leap (at least for the first few hours).
Still, I handled the 600hp 300zx pretty well, so I'd think that'd be similiar to about 350-375? horses in an ultima.
Most powerful car I've driven was a 600hp 300zx. My goal is to get some serious power, 600-700hp. Of course I'm not foolish enough to jump up to that power level straight away.
Since it looks like I'll start with an LS1 (build it up to a 427), I'll just take my time getting used to the car, slowly increasing power.
I remember going from a ford wagon (17yo) to a sports bike (cbr250rr), that felt like a big leap (at least for the first few hours).
Still, I handled the 600hp 300zx pretty well, so I'd think that'd be similiar to about 350-375? horses in an ultima.
Jay,
I was thinking one thing and wrote another
The MoTec has the capability of dual rpm limits and so initially setting a lower limit may help. In hindsight, probably not help enough as big hp motor also produce big torque figures even fairly low in the rev range with big throttle openings so some way of limiting the throttle opening would be better.
Possibly as simple as a temporary stop on the accelerator cable?
Andy
I was thinking one thing and wrote another
The MoTec has the capability of dual rpm limits and so initially setting a lower limit may help. In hindsight, probably not help enough as big hp motor also produce big torque figures even fairly low in the rev range with big throttle openings so some way of limiting the throttle opening would be better. Possibly as simple as a temporary stop on the accelerator cable?
Andy
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