Seen the Road & Track article posted today?

[Rodster]

Awesome article on the 818 in Road & Track today - Click here. (http://www.roadandtrack.com/first-drive-factory-five-racing-818-r-track-day)

[flytosail]

Nurburgring ..... just saying.

[bbjones121]

The ring would be a great accomplishment, but I feel the latest GTM needs to take the trip first?

[flytosail]

The ring would be a great accomplishment, but I feel the latest GTM needs to take the trip first?

I can not believe it has not been done yet. After that lend it to the Stig and the guys at Top Gear. (The British show and not the American plagiarism attempt.)

[AZPete]

Very powerful PR! Congrats FFR!

[bbjones121]

I don't think the GTM has, I could be wrong.

[shinn497]

Man I want a GTM or the 818 to lap the top gear track. I feel like they would make fun of it since its american and a kit car....

[longislandwrx]

"This race-car thrill ride isn’t without compromise, however. On Gingerman’s occasionally ragged track surface, the Factory Five tramlines and hunts out imperfections with an alacrity that is something alarming. Kickback through the steering wheel can be violent. It should also go without saying that a mid-engined car with 43/57 weight distribution, a turbocharged engine, and a complete lack of power assistance or electronic driver enhancements must be treated with respect at all times. If you get the back end swinging, the computers won’t save you and your own hands might not be fast enough. This isn’t a car for novice drivers. "

All I can say to the guys who want 500hp... Good luck have fun don't die.




and the 250 hours number is very cool... I think I can have it done in 3 months, just in time for lousy weather :(

[THE ITALIAN]

I agree. My Roadster is mild compared to many, yet it is so fast it can make you piss your pants at any time. Going overboard is just spending money and the further you go, the tougher to handle. The challenge cars were introduced with 220 HP and could slide around the track faster than anything in their class and then some.
This WILL happen again with the 818.
I have a friend with 640 hp in his roadster, although he could beat me in 1/4 mile by maybe 1 second, I would not start side by side to his car and I would let him "get ahead" of me on a track (knowing he is not Michael Shumacher) as to watch him slide off into the dirt.
I remember watching duel engine go-karts (500cc) in the 80's rip the shorts off of $200K road racing machines on the track.
It's not how big your stick is, it's how you use it.

[longislandwrx]

A testament to driver aids....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ees2aZcDUn8

you can skip to 4:45

[Xusia]

That statement in the article is really making me lean toward a 2.0L donor (assuming I don't try an H6).

[Silvertop]

That statement in the article is really making me lean toward a 2.0L donor (assuming I don't try an H6).

It encourages me that I don't need to worry about being disappointed with the performance of my moderately tweaked (200+ HP) 2.5 NA 818. Gonna be fast enough to be scary.........!

[longislandwrx]

true... plus consider the weight savings ditching the turbo, intercooler, bov, tgvs, uppipe etc. probably about 40lbs when you add it all up, maybe more with a lightweight exhaust manifold.

[Evan78]

The most similar car I've driven was an Atom with a supercharged GM 4 cyl that made 215hp/250tq (at the wheels) if I remember correctly and weighs around 1400 lbs plus me and a passenger. It was quick, but not "holy cow this is way too much power" fast.

[Xusia]

Personally, I care more about the handling than the all out speed. Once I get to a certain point, more power is just more hassle; a hassle that interferes with my primary goal of having fun (which involves not worrying I could put it sideways and off a cliff or something). Maintaining driveability is key for me and more important than all out speed.

[Silvertop]

true... plus consider the weight savings ditching the turbo, intercooler, bov, tgvs, uppipe etc. probably about 40lbs when you add it all up, maybe more with a lightweight exhaust manifold.

Yes, there will be some weight savings there. Not sure if the exhaust manifold will be lighter, though. I'm using a ceramic coated stainless steel equal length header from Techworks. Just as important, the NA system offers a degree of simplicity -- no heat soak issues, other intercooler headaches, and just less stuff available to break. I like that.


The most similar car I've driven was an Atom with a supercharged GM 4 cyl that made 215hp/250tq if I remember correctly and weighs around 1400 lbs plus me and a passenger. It was quick, but not "holy cow this is way too much power fast".

Exactly what I'm looking for.......



Personally, I care more about the handling than the all out speed. Once I get to a certain point, more power is just more hassle; a hassle that interferes with my primary goal of having fun (which involves not worrying I could put it sideways and off a cliff or something). Maintaining driveability is key for me and more important than all out speed.

Yes!

[Rodster]

Interesting comments on this. I agree this car will be twitchy enough to be dangerous - but it's gonna be fun. I suggest taking a class to learn how to drive - like Bob Bondurant or Skip Barber. I hope Dave brings one to the HB Pier event tomorrow!

[longislandwrx]

Yes, there will be some weight savings there. Not sure if the exhaust manifold will be lighter, though. I'm using a ceramic coated stainless steel equal length header from Techworks.

I mean more from a custom one... aftermarket ones are monsters in terms of tubing length, to clear all the suspension/engine bits. i'm sure you know, you have one. Without that all in the way, i'm thinking a simple collector and dump tube should shave feet of tubing off the oem design.

[Red Tag]

Anybody know the laptimes at Gingerman?Also which configuration of the track (new vs. old) It is practically my home track. I've raced there many many hours and would love to know the laptimes to gauge the speed. I'm not sure what they are looking for smoothness, since the track is in relatively good shape. Speed is all relative. The faster you go, the more you get used to it.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

I don't think the GTM has, I could be wrong.

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No, I don't have any lap times for it. All I know is that the owner also owns a Roadster kit, and had taken that to the 'Ring many times as part of a club.....and the first time he was there with the GTM, he beat the best time he ever had with his roadster.