res ipsa
07-23-2008, 10:43 AM
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07-23-2008, 10:48 PM
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Amazing article.
I had the chance to meet Gary Thomason at the 2006 SCCA Solo Nationals. He is a multi-time Solo and ProSolo National Champion. He drives a 996 GT3.
I ran two autocrosses at El Toro Airport in Irvine, CA already.
Autocross results:
1) Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR 39.89
Gary Thomason: Even with 560 lb.-ft. of torque, wheelspin is not an issue, because it’s geared very tall…even out of the tightest corner, it’s got so much torque it just carries it. Extremely well sorted.
2) Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 40.29
GT: It does whatever you want, whenever you want it to. Plenty of grip, the gearbox works flawlessly out on the track…it’s the whole package. And it looks good too. I can’t name a fault, really.
3) Porsche 911 GT2 40.61
GT: They’ve got a lot of understeer dialed into it because of the big power. The ABS worked very well. I have a 996 GT3 and I’m used to it pushing quite a lot on the brakes, and this one does not.
4) Nissan GT-R 40.63
GT: Well, the hype is real…it’s a very special car. On the entry of a corner, the car doesn’t always give you what you’re gonna get in the middle or the end. Turbo lag is very small, almost unnoticeable.
5) Audi R8 41.12
GT: I’ve not driven an R8 before, and I was actually very impressed. Less edgy than the Gallardo. It’s a very easy car to drive, turns in well, doesn’t understeer and never puts a foot wrong.
6) Chevrolet Corvette 41.82
GT: I haven’t had a huge amount of time in the C6 Z06, but tons in the C5, but they’re very similar. It drives almost identically, other than it’s got more power and the gearing’s a lot taller.
7) Lotus Exige S 240 42.20
GT: Like the Evo, there’s more roll than you would expect; it’s a little bit soft. Very quick responses. The brake pedal? Just touch it and you’re in the windshield. Being narrow helps through the autocross.
8) Aston Martin DBS 42.27
GT: Very impressive…it doesn’t do anything really wrong. It ended up running times in the thick of things, with considerably smaller cars. It’s easy to get carried away with the throttle pedal.
9) BMW M3 Coupe 42.74
GT: There seems to be some inside-tire wheelspin on this car. There were runs where I had quite a bit of power-on oversteer…it’s easy to drift. A very agile and responsive car. It ran some good times!
10) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR 43.07
GT: It was better than I expected. The gearing is good for the autocross. The power moving around in the differentials was not overly obvious…you could feel it, but it was very subtle.
I had the chance to meet Gary Thomason at the 2006 SCCA Solo Nationals. He is a multi-time Solo and ProSolo National Champion. He drives a 996 GT3.
I ran two autocrosses at El Toro Airport in Irvine, CA already.
Autocross results:
1) Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR 39.89
Gary Thomason: Even with 560 lb.-ft. of torque, wheelspin is not an issue, because it’s geared very tall…even out of the tightest corner, it’s got so much torque it just carries it. Extremely well sorted.
2) Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 40.29
GT: It does whatever you want, whenever you want it to. Plenty of grip, the gearbox works flawlessly out on the track…it’s the whole package. And it looks good too. I can’t name a fault, really.
3) Porsche 911 GT2 40.61
GT: They’ve got a lot of understeer dialed into it because of the big power. The ABS worked very well. I have a 996 GT3 and I’m used to it pushing quite a lot on the brakes, and this one does not.
4) Nissan GT-R 40.63
GT: Well, the hype is real…it’s a very special car. On the entry of a corner, the car doesn’t always give you what you’re gonna get in the middle or the end. Turbo lag is very small, almost unnoticeable.
5) Audi R8 41.12
GT: I’ve not driven an R8 before, and I was actually very impressed. Less edgy than the Gallardo. It’s a very easy car to drive, turns in well, doesn’t understeer and never puts a foot wrong.
6) Chevrolet Corvette 41.82
GT: I haven’t had a huge amount of time in the C6 Z06, but tons in the C5, but they’re very similar. It drives almost identically, other than it’s got more power and the gearing’s a lot taller.
7) Lotus Exige S 240 42.20
GT: Like the Evo, there’s more roll than you would expect; it’s a little bit soft. Very quick responses. The brake pedal? Just touch it and you’re in the windshield. Being narrow helps through the autocross.
8) Aston Martin DBS 42.27
GT: Very impressive…it doesn’t do anything really wrong. It ended up running times in the thick of things, with considerably smaller cars. It’s easy to get carried away with the throttle pedal.
9) BMW M3 Coupe 42.74
GT: There seems to be some inside-tire wheelspin on this car. There were runs where I had quite a bit of power-on oversteer…it’s easy to drift. A very agile and responsive car. It ran some good times!
10) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR 43.07
GT: It was better than I expected. The gearing is good for the autocross. The power moving around in the differentials was not overly obvious…you could feel it, but it was very subtle.
07-23-2008, 11:23 PM
#4
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Willow Springs Times:
1) Viper ACR: 1:30.10 <== this is sick for a stock street car
2) Nissan GT-R: 1:31.23
3) Gallardo LP560/4: 1:31.32
4) Audi R8: 1:33.20
5) 997 GT2 : 1:33.57
6) C6 Z06: 1:34.32 (run flat street tires)
7) Aston Martin DBS: 1:36.26
8) BMW M3 Coupe: 1:36.92 (it could beat the Aston if equipped with the DCT)
9) Lotus Exige S 240: 1:38.11 <== 340Elise favorite track car
10) 2008 Evo MR: 1:38.37
1) Viper ACR: 1:30.10 <== this is sick for a stock street car
2) Nissan GT-R: 1:31.23
3) Gallardo LP560/4: 1:31.32
4) Audi R8: 1:33.20
5) 997 GT2 : 1:33.57
6) C6 Z06: 1:34.32 (run flat street tires)
7) Aston Martin DBS: 1:36.26
8) BMW M3 Coupe: 1:36.92 (it could beat the Aston if equipped with the DCT)
9) Lotus Exige S 240: 1:38.11 <== 340Elise favorite track car
10) 2008 Evo MR: 1:38.37
07-23-2008, 11:50 PM
#6
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These are the cars I'm currently considering (in this order):
1) F430S (I'm just dreaming on finding one at $50k over MSRP or less)
2) F430F1*
3) 997 GT2
4) Viper ACR
5) ZR1
6) Lambo LP560/4
7) Lambo Superleggera
8) 997 GT3 RS*
The two cars with (*) require plenty of upgrades to get closer to the performance of everything else in this list.
I found shocking that the ACR won the autocross. Gary is an extremely talented autocrosser, probably top ten worldwide. He personally loves Porsches and he has a 911 GT3.
At the Oval, I justify the ACR losing because all that downforce has to pay at high speeds. 7 mph behind in top speed while having the most HP in the group.
Vipers are strong, simple and solid cars. ACRs are even better.
By the way, I know who has the Ceramic brakes for the ACR at an affordable price (-36 lbs). With the Hard Code Package (-40 lbs), different wheels and race seats, the car can get close to 997 GT3 weight.
1) F430S (I'm just dreaming on finding one at $50k over MSRP or less)
2) F430F1*
3) 997 GT2
4) Viper ACR
5) ZR1
6) Lambo LP560/4
7) Lambo Superleggera
8) 997 GT3 RS*
The two cars with (*) require plenty of upgrades to get closer to the performance of everything else in this list.
I found shocking that the ACR won the autocross. Gary is an extremely talented autocrosser, probably top ten worldwide. He personally loves Porsches and he has a 911 GT3.
At the Oval, I justify the ACR losing because all that downforce has to pay at high speeds. 7 mph behind in top speed while having the most HP in the group.
Vipers are strong, simple and solid cars. ACRs are even better.
By the way, I know who has the Ceramic brakes for the ACR at an affordable price (-36 lbs). With the Hard Code Package (-40 lbs), different wheels and race seats, the car can get close to 997 GT3 weight.
07-24-2008, 11:09 AM
#7
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Willow Springs Times:
1) Viper ACR: 1:30.10 <== this is sick for a stock street car
2) Nissan GT-R: 1:31.23
3) Gallardo LP560/4: 1:31.32
4) Audi R8: 1:33.20
5) 997 GT2 : 1:33.57
6) C6 Z06: 1:34.32 (run flat street tires)
7) Aston Martin DBS: 1:36.26
8) BMW M3 Coupe: 1:36.92 (it could beat the Aston if equipped with the DCT)
9) Lotus Exige S 240: 1:38.11 <== 340Elise favorite track car
10) 2008 Evo MR: 1:38.37
1) Viper ACR: 1:30.10 <== this is sick for a stock street car
2) Nissan GT-R: 1:31.23
3) Gallardo LP560/4: 1:31.32
4) Audi R8: 1:33.20
5) 997 GT2 : 1:33.57
6) C6 Z06: 1:34.32 (run flat street tires)
7) Aston Martin DBS: 1:36.26
8) BMW M3 Coupe: 1:36.92 (it could beat the Aston if equipped with the DCT)
9) Lotus Exige S 240: 1:38.11 <== 340Elise favorite track car
10) 2008 Evo MR: 1:38.37
) or a better example of an Exige S -- us amateurs can do 1:35's in the stock 2007 (220 HP) Exige S and Craig Stanton turns 1:31's in the same car at Big Willow. Craig has even beat that Viper's time by many seconds in my Cup (Lotus) car. 
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07-24-2008, 01:01 PM
#8
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Ive owned 3 Vipers and now own an 08. It is a blast to drive, bulletproof, and people just go crazy when they see it. If you have the means....get one. I drive it more than my 2007 GT3.
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