Karras' Next Car

[JoeP]

Chris, here is a little something in which to tool around Britain before you leave:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Aston-Martin-MK-1-Aston-Martin-DB6_W0QQitemZ300359810748QQcategoryZ5358QQcmdZViewItem

 

[STEVEMCMORN]

Chris, my parents live in Northumberland - they can probably pick it up for you!

[Phokaioglaukos]

Very pretty, but I'm only looking at race cars.

Last trip to the Ring this year will be on 7 November. Rented one of these for the day: http://jalopnik.com/399061/renault-megan...ing-record

Factory CF hood, plastic rear windows, race seat, cage and harnesses. Hope it doesn't snow.

[George3]

Chris,

That's a very interesting choice and looks to be a formidable track car.  I'd love to hear your experiences with the Renault and how it was set up.  Is your rental equipped with the seats, suspension and CF bits as well?  Plz update us.

Tnx,

G

[Phokaioglaukos]

It's now a very misleading topic, George, but I can give you an idea of the Megane already. I have rented from RSR Nuerburg (http://www.rsrnurburg.com/) a few times, and have tried the Alfa 75s (heavily modified for the Ring), Clio Cup and Megane R.26R. The Megane comes with the factory cage, harnesses, plastic windows and the like. I didn't notice the hood, but I wasn't looking for it.

The Alfa was great on the track. I had the V6 so there was some power and the suspension was track-stiff. It had just a four-point harness, though, so I only rented that model once.

The Clio had 3-point belts and a passenger seat, and was very capable. The suspension was a bit too soft, though. The Ring can be bumpy and at speed the Clio would pogo a bit in places.

The Megane has harnesses for driver and passenger, and is a great compromise between a track and a street car. Better suspension than the Clio, and more power too. It doesn't compare with a ride in a stripped street 996 GT3 on MPSCs, but then not much does. The forecast is for rain, but no snow, so I'm really looking forward to that. If I'm going to try to race at the Ring next year I need some time on the track in the rain, and the Megane will be good for that.

[George3]

Wow.

That's pretty exciting.  I'm very happy for you.  You are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to do that.  Hope the weather holds out favorably for you!

Best,

George

[Phokaioglaukos]

I'm hoping for rain. Last time I was there we had some rain, but it was only on part of the track. There are pretty much three weather systems that cover the track and it was dry for two of them and very wet for one. This time I hope for full wet all the way around so that I can play.

Saturday is an "exclusive" day, so there will be little traffic and no motorcycles or tourists. Sunday is a public day and I may skip that so as not to have to deal with the motorcycles. (Word is that on average there is one motorcycle fataility each week and one automobile fatality each month--but I think that is an overstatement.)