Track Driving- good work of you can get it
June 25th, 2010, Driving impressions, Features
Over the years, we have had the good fortune to drive a number of exceptional cars and have written about a few here in these pages. Those of us who instruct with various driving schools whether it be with the BMWCCA, Driving Concepts or Precision Performance Driving, have had the good fortune and fantastic opportunity to drive world glass cars as they were meant to be driven; on real race tracks……pretty good work if one can get it.
We have also had the good pleasure to meet a number of wonderful students and not only drive their great cars, but also share the knowledge that we have acquired over the years and help them to become (as a good friend of ours says) “the driver that their automobile deserves”. We think that all of our instructor comrades would agree, teaching others how to dance with a 3,000 lb partner is a rather cool thing to do; particularly with those who “get it” rather than with those who “think” they already have it.
It was not until just earlier today however, that we started making a list of all the cars that we have been given the opportunity to drive on a race track, a real race track were one turns both left and right. It is a rather long list …..we may have missed a couple, but…….here goes:
Arial Atom
Audi RS4
BMW 335i
BMW 530i, 540i
BMW 750i
BMW M3 ( E30, E36, E46, E90)
BMW M5
BMW M6
BMW Z8
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Dodge Challenger SRT8
Ferrari 328
Ferrari 360
Ferrari Testa
Ford Shelby Mustang
Honda Accord (really)
Lamborghini Diablo Race car
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Lamborghini Murcielago
Lamborghini Murielago Spyder
Lotus Elise
Lotus Elise race car
Lotus Exige
Mercedes-Benz CLK black 6.3
Mini Cooper S
Noble M400
Porsche 911
Porsche 993 twin turbo
Porsche 996 GT3
Porsche 996 Turbo S
Porsche 997 GT3
Porsche Carrera GT (really!!)
Porsche Boxster
Porsche Cayman
Shelby Cobra (Factory Five kit)
Subaru WRX
So which was best, worst?
The absolute hands down favorite for this car nut is without question the Porsche Carrera GT. There is no adjective that adequately describes the car…..in any language; it simply is THAT good. What can anyone say about the rest of the Porsche line up….bloody great cars! The best brakes in the business go to Porsche….seems
It may be interesting to note that the largest percentage of high performance driving instructors also drive BMW’s. We have a tremendous respect for the cars from
The Noble M400 was a treat…..really fun, really fast; REALLY liked it.
Ferrari …..Ah the prancing horses. Love the 360…what a fantastic, well balanced and easy car to drive fast. The exhaust note is also symphonic! The earlier cars, 308, 328’s thanks, but um …..No Thanks. The old Testa
Our English friends who gave us the Lotus deserve a very large pat on the back. One of the most intuitive cars we have ever driven and at one time owned. Steering wheel - for what??? !!! Look where you want to go and the car goes there…fantastic! Roy’s race car made us giggle and then laugh out loud for about three laps a couple of week ago…still can’t believe the amount of grip that car has…as a track car, most certainly one of the absolute best out there!
Lamborghini makes an interesting car…… The “Murci” is a reasonable Grand Touring car, but, not a track car….it is about as subtle as a bull (pun intended) and about as predictable and nimble as well. Great looking car with all the right sounds, but alas; not a good track car. Perhaps nice to be seen in, in
A couple of years ago we were not all that taken with the Gallardo either; really not. BUT….and here is the BIG BUT…..all of that changed the new 570…WOW! Terrific car! We still don’t care for the aesthetics much (the Ferrari is a far better looking car in our opinion) but the car is fantastic to drive, simply fantastic. The Diablo race car…holy smokes, what a handful!
The Benz…any Benz…if one has blue hair and the required walker, nice cars….they sure break at the track often though and we do mean simply quit running…even the supposedly “trackable” Black series cars. Seems they go home on tow trucks more often than any other car that we see come to a track day. Ok….in all fairness, the BMW 335 has an issue as well as they too go into the proverbial limp mode, but, at least they can be driven home.
Arial…scared us silly…..too neat, but, also too impractical; little car- HUGE fun factor.
The worst….Shelby Cobra Factory Five replica…sorry…so bad that there is simply no-way that we would ever get back in one.
Looking back over the list, we must admit that we have indeed been privileged to have been able to drive such a wide variety of truly great cars and to all of our students; “THANKS” !!!! We are very much looking forward to adding to it.
O.C.C.E.
June 25th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Dude;
we have got to get you in a Spec Miata…. Kick the backside of your pants it is.
June 26th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Any time John….I’ll drive anything you know that
Seems we also forgot a couple o cars…BMW Z4 M Z4 Coupe, M coupe, M roadster….geez…
July 8th, 2010 at 8:56 am
Klaus,
Great thoughts on some truly GREAT cars.
My list would be shorter, but still causes me to want to make comments, especially with regard to YOUR list!
LAMBORGHINI
First, I view Lambo, ANY Lambo as simply a glorified POS, with OUTSTANDING paint. This is NOT the Monday morning quarterback grouse. I test drove for Roush Engineering, and put 400 miles a DAY on a set road course, every day, for a month. This is FAR more than any of such ever get driven, let alone this sort of high mileage consistency.
First, at 6′3″, I could NOT sit in the car and still see out the windscreen, as my line of sight was directly into the windshield header. To drive, I needed to lean way over, resting an elbow on the console just to get down the road - a rather unsafe position to be in! One which also resulted in the worst back ache I have ever experienced, at the end of that driving day. Actually, I only drove this Gallardo one day, out of the month, because of that.
Gas fill ups (every day) were of course necessary with this mileage. Of interest is that it consistently required TWO people to perform the refuel, one to push the dash mounted gas fill hatch switch, keeping it engaged, while the other person shoves the engine cover slightly so that the gas door would actually open. No, they are too far apart for a single person to perform the “push-n-shove”.
For the times, we wanted to check oil (every day), or raise or lower the top (also every day), the engine cover needs to raise to perform these functions, then lower into place again. Except in NEVER did. Instead, one needs to move the driver’s seat all the way forward, then HAND CRANK the engine cover back into place, EVERY TIME!
Please also consider that these were not owner cars, or even new cars off the lot. These were BRAND NEW cars delivered directly from the manufacturer/distributor. Moreover, a factory technician worked over the cars EVERY day, at the end of our drive, based on our debrief!
These are cars for midget poseurs without enough money to buy a Ferrari !!!
FERRARI F430 - Coupe and Spider
On the other hand, I have never been a Ferrari fan either. However, I learned that my distain for the brand was likely more attributable to the owner/drivers, than the cars. I did very much enjoy the pair of 430’s, and even though I have also never been a fan of convertibles, I LOVED the Spider, to the point that I would consider buying one (for my wife!). I don’t lust after them, but I do appreciate one well driven, and do now understand why some do lust after these, and term these truly great Italian cars LUST WORTHY.
Great look, the red interior with the grey body of the Spider was stunning. The engine sound is pure magic. In fact, when asked by the Ferrari engineer at the final debrief about the quality of the sound system, I replied that the entertainment system in the 430 isn’t in the IP, its behind the seats!
Now I have complete respect for the brand, and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to fully experience it. Even got to drive the Spider in the rain, and it remains dry, so long as you keep the speed up!
PORSCHE 997/911 TURBO
My favorite, the car I drove for this assignment any time I could, and any time I was assigned the Lambo!
Perfect (for me) ingress and egress. Perfect ergonomics and seats. The ONLY thing lacking in the test car was a proper transmission, as this car had the deplorable Tiptronic. Have always been a stick guy, but then again, I have not had an opportunity explore the new PDK.
The other thing lacking on the Turbo was “motor music”, however that is easily fixed by a call to GMG.
Nearly my car of choice, but then I find a GT3RS even more to my taste.
If people would only learn how to PRONOUNCE the word!
MASERATTI GT
A stunningly beautiful, sexy and comfortable Grand Touring car, offering fabulous sound (and the option of matched luggage), but not a sports car. Still a remarkable car, that gets down the road, and around corners, with alacrity. Not my cup of tea, but I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest that anyone in the market for such a device give these a try. And you won’t find many others like it on the road, or … at the club.
MUSTANG GT, CAMARO Z/28 (and El Camino)
Same for these, but interestingly though I have been a Chevy fan, prior to coming into the import fold, and although I loved the sound and the fury of the Z, if it have been money on the line, I would have taken the Mustang hands down. It was almost as fun as the Camaro (and looks ALMOST as good), but had a feeling of being bolted together better, and that it would last far longer, thus decreasing the “cost per use” factor even more. Of course the NEW Camaro has changed all that. If people would only learn how to SPELL the word Camaro correctly!
Of course, one of those that I wish I still had was my 1970 (the 1969 style, for those who know, and NOT the newer, much bigger, 1970 1/2!), Z/28. Yellow with black stripes, cowl induction hood, Muncie M-22 4-speed. No power steering, no A/C, mechanical valve lifters, that required constant maintenance. Just a beautiful, wonderful, bitchin’ car, but a weekend racer, and power tour car, NOT a daily driver!
Also bought new, a 1969 El Camino SS396 4-speed, but that’s hardly a sports car either. Its mission was to tow the Holman-Moody (builders of Fords factory NASCAR engines), Ford 427 Hemi side oiler, with 580 hp, mounted in a 18′ Sanger flat bottom, to the River.
MITSUBISHI EVO VIII MR
Any EVO, and for that matter, any Suby, is one of the best bangs for the buck ever produced. A true sports car with four doors (and I used to feel that its not a sports unless it has two doors, two seats). Its not about luxury - its about the straights, and especially the CURVES. I will always remember the full four wheel drift, to make a date … the traffic light was … orange, on the way to pick up my (now) wife. The car and I were both beautifully in control, and SMOOTH. Oft times unattractive styling, cheap interiors, but a hell of a lot of FUN, FUN, FUN!
VW GTI
Also a great bang for the buck ride. Enjoyed it far more than I expected too. It was a great combination of functionality and still being able to spank PCH, north of Santa Barbara.
BMW 325i, M5
The other side of the ‘coin’, we have still beautiful 1989 325i, bought new - yes a 1 owner car, with now 227k miles and still accelerates like stink. Too bad the ’sounds so good on paper’ 2009 M5 doesn’t. 500 hp V10 should a LOT more interesting, and SOUND way better too. I guess that’s what to be expected when you need to shove over 2 tons on luxury crap around with you. Luxurious - yes. A sports sedan - FAR from it!
I am sure I have forgotten a few in there, and of course, all the trucks and 4×4s!
Anyway, thanks for letting me get this off my chest!
Happy Summer!
July 8th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Thanks Scott,
Crap..forgot ll about the EVO that I tested for HKS….that car was FAAAAAAST
Thanks for the in-put…good stuff !!
July 24th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I would also toss in the Nissan Z car. My 350Z could stop on a dime, pick it up and make change. That chassis set up with the Stoptech set up it had was unbeatable. Dare I say it rivals the GT3….I think so.
Now if we could just get a few more ponies under the hood and loose the salad bar on the back…..