Just got back from the 'Ring and am a complete mixed bag of feelings…which is odd as I expected it to be a brilliant weekend.
Whats really disappointing is that the problem is me (!) I just can’t drive my car anywhere near it’s limits…not even slightly close. I bought 4 laps and even after the 4th thought I could hear Colin Chapman turning in his grave at my driving. The car just has such high limits that I never once got that feeling of really ringing it’s neck and having that knowing satisfaction of driving it at 9/10’s. I think I’d have had more fun in something like a Clio cup 200 - then again like most people I learnt most of my spirited driving in front drive hot hatches so I guess they arent much of a challenge. I did manage to overtake most of your usual road racers (M3’s and the like) but got roasted by some tasty Porkers and the more exotic machinery. I can’t blame the car for being soo bloody capable and it’s told me loud and clear that I seriously need to do a walshy day or the like.
Anyway the drive back was fun, managed to hit a GPS verified 156mph on the autobhan…altho the last 6 mph took about 10 mins to reach. Without all the spoilers and my super long diffuser I think it would reach over 160 mph which isnt bad for a 1.8 four pot.
The beers were tasty too and the car got lots of pics taken of it, much to the annoyance of some the owners of Ferrari’s, GT3’s, etc.
Whitey I wouldn’t feel bad, anyone who says they’re pushing 9/10th after 4 laps of the ring on an open day is either crazy or lying, if you don’t know the Ring intermatly and it’s an open day you should treat it for exactly what is, a public road with no speed limit. I didn’t mention it earlier but a mate mine nearly died after a bike crash their a couple ago, he’s still not the same now.
You just never know what’s round next corner
The Ring is definitely the wrong track to test out the car’s limits, especially if you have no experience on it. You need at least 30 laps to remember the curves.
If you want to see the car’s limits, take it to a real circuit, like the Grand Prix course next to the North Loop.
How well you know the track must be a MASSIVE factor- the most significant one IMO
The M3 you overtook- may have been his first lap
The Porker that overtook you- may have been his 1000th
If i ever drive the ring- i would buy a fast car with a nice long wheelbase- front engine RWD and put some very progressive, but low traction tyres on it. Some kind of 3 series springs to mind
That way all corners will be slow, progressive and easy to catch but have the power to come out of the corners quickly and get some decent pace on the straights
[quote=OrangeD]Whitey I wouldn’t feel bad, anyone who says they’re pushing 9/10th after 4 laps of the ring on an open day is either crazy or lying, if you don’t know the Ring intermatly and it’s an open day you should treat it for exactly what is, a public road with no speed limit. I didn’t mention it earlier but a mate mine nearly died after a bike crash their a couple ago, he’s still not the same now.
You just never know what’s round next corner [/quote]
I would certainly agree with this - one lapse of concentration and its game over. We do driver training - If you are ever on track in the Midlands (Donny, Mallory etc)I am happy to come along and sit in with you; if its a weekend and so I don’t have to take time off work its pretty close to me as I live near Loughborough.
Don Palmer is “the don!”. I’ve been on a few of his limit handling days and he drove my old Elise SC around Milbrook on a HPC day (he was an HPC gatekeeper but not sure if he still is).
Putting into perspective what a good driver can do, he managed to keep up with a Carerra GT in my little Elise on the Alpine circuit!! Sufficed to say that the GT driver was shocked that we kept up…that was until he saw Don in the drivers seat
You are all right - the 'ring is the wrong place to push an Exige if you don’t know what you’re doing.
The car is soo far ahead of me in ability it’s frustrating knowing theres so much more speed I could be carrying thru the corners. Ultimately it’s what the car’s going to do once i get it past it’s limits thats worrying me…god knows what speed i’d need to be going to get to there - it terrifies me (!)
Anyway like you’ve all said I’ve got to get some track days under my belt asap, it’s obvious really I’ve just been too busy trying to squeeze every last horse out of the engine for pub bragging rights!
Cheers for the offer Jonny, if i’m up your way for a track day I’ll PM you.
