Radicals on CNBC now
01-21-2005, 12:54 PM
#3
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What Steve meant, was that CNBC was doing a piece on the Radical race cars. Spoke of a retired software guy buying a track outside Vegas. He has the "dealership" for radical in the states and wants to build up the surrounding area arond the track with condo's, spa, etc and have racing the cars to be the new sport like golfing has become.
01-21-2005, 03:38 PM
#7
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Let's build one on EVAN'S property!! We can run snowmobiles on it...........not today= too dmn cold!!
BTW, a friend of mine is building fiberglass window cockpit covers for a few radicals. All you need now is some heat and studs!
BTW, a friend of mine is building fiberglass window cockpit covers for a few radicals. All you need now is some heat and studs!
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01-21-2005, 08:40 PM
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Probably a bit more than $50k due to the exchange rate. I have heard of loaded up SR4's in the high 80's. Add this engine and you will be over $100k
http://www.radicalmotorsport.com/new...tine/index.php
I think there are other sports racers that are more competitive in SCCA and cheaper. Like the Stohr, Merloy and maybe Speads.
The Radical does not have a good place in any racing series but if you want a fun track day car it is a good choice and one of the few with a passenger seat. It makes a 600 hp 911 Turbo seem slow.
Also don't trust the hp ratings from Radical, they are grossly overstated. Mark will correct me if I am wrong but I think his 1300cc engine in his Radical was about 25-30hp less than the stated amount. Still it was blindingly fast compared to most cars. Times in the Radical or similar with a good driver are faster than all but the fastest factory Porsche race cars.
http://www.radicalmotorsport.com/new...tine/index.php
I think there are other sports racers that are more competitive in SCCA and cheaper. Like the Stohr, Merloy and maybe Speads.
The Radical does not have a good place in any racing series but if you want a fun track day car it is a good choice and one of the few with a passenger seat. It makes a 600 hp 911 Turbo seem slow.
Also don't trust the hp ratings from Radical, they are grossly overstated. Mark will correct me if I am wrong but I think his 1300cc engine in his Radical was about 25-30hp less than the stated amount. Still it was blindingly fast compared to most cars. Times in the Radical or similar with a good driver are faster than all but the fastest factory Porsche race cars.
01-21-2005, 10:13 PM
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These are fast cars but don't fit real well anywhere. Incredible DE machine and you can scare the carp out of passengers in it. (Ask Greg where we hit the brakes at T2 at Laguna.) The problem I had at DE's was that I never had one single (not one) lap that was clean. You are simply so much faster than most everything else that they are in your way. It is worse than the fast high HP cars as the Radical gets so much of its lap time in the corners.
But, fast as they are, they are not nearly fast enough for the SCCA class they fall into. A Radical SR-3 is probably 5-8 seconds off the pace for championship level CSR racing. They are also very expensive. In addition to the car, you need at least one set of additional wheels and tires and should have a third set with rains. You need a moderate amount of spares - nothing huge - just stuff like a few fasteners, extra wheel locks and safety clips, etc. By the time you pay shipping you are well over $70k for the car with the 1300 engine.
And yes, Radical is VERY optimistic about HP. They claim 205 HP for a completely stock Busa motor except for flat slide carbs and their special (and way too small) air box. That is a 165 HP package. They claim 252hp for the 1500 motor and I know that 2 or 3 have been dynoed by customers and none have gone over 200hp.
At $50k, where they sat a couple of years ago before a combination of price increases and falling dollar, they were a good deal. At current new price, they are too high, IMO. There are used ones available and that paints a much better picture. As long as you are happy with fun racing and do not expect to be competitve at the run-offs, or just want a silly fast DE ride, they are a great choice.
But, fast as they are, they are not nearly fast enough for the SCCA class they fall into. A Radical SR-3 is probably 5-8 seconds off the pace for championship level CSR racing. They are also very expensive. In addition to the car, you need at least one set of additional wheels and tires and should have a third set with rains. You need a moderate amount of spares - nothing huge - just stuff like a few fasteners, extra wheel locks and safety clips, etc. By the time you pay shipping you are well over $70k for the car with the 1300 engine.
And yes, Radical is VERY optimistic about HP. They claim 205 HP for a completely stock Busa motor except for flat slide carbs and their special (and way too small) air box. That is a 165 HP package. They claim 252hp for the 1500 motor and I know that 2 or 3 have been dynoed by customers and none have gone over 200hp.
At $50k, where they sat a couple of years ago before a combination of price increases and falling dollar, they were a good deal. At current new price, they are too high, IMO. There are used ones available and that paints a much better picture. As long as you are happy with fun racing and do not expect to be competitve at the run-offs, or just want a silly fast DE ride, they are a great choice.
