Most fun race car you’ve driven?
10-30-2018, 09:16 PM
#16
Fun...
I got to wondering - besides obviously good competition, reliability, and adequate affordability - what makes for the most fun time spent in a race car (or track only car). Thinking in terms like the character of the car, the way it must be driven, the intangibles like sound and road feel, and that sort of thing. Maybe it’s raw g-forces, maybe it’s just that it makes you feel like Steve McQueen.
What’s the most fun race car you’ve driven, and why?
What’s the most fun race car you’ve driven, and why?
Out of all the cars I got to race in the '70s (Ferrari 250 GTO, 911R, Carrera RS, 3,0 RSR, 934.5 Turbo, Kremer K3), I had the most fun and grins racing in SCCA show room stock sedan, driving a Datsun 510. It was fun because it had no power or grip and the racing was very close.
10-30-2018, 09:18 PM
#17
+
1969 911 R Type. By far the most fun you can have with your clothes on. 1,850 lbs, no ABS, no traction control, no power steering, double clutching on downshifts, 901 gearbox, no power under 5,500 rpm and loud!! There is so much going on that you can get totally exhausted from just a 30 min stint.
10-30-2018, 09:42 PM
#18
Only got got drive it for an afternoon, but a Spec Racer Ford is a ball. Raw, open cockpit, and so so light. I recall going flat through the esses at COTA and seeing a 911 wallowing with body roll behind me trying to keep up. Trailer the owner used to haul it was smaller than most small fishing boat trailers.
I'm sure there are others, I just haven't had the chance to drive them.
-Mike
I'm sure there are others, I just haven't had the chance to drive them.
-Mike
10-30-2018, 10:14 PM
#19
Rennlist Member
He'll be at COTA this weekend racing with SVRA. Red/Black Swift #4. Stop by and say hi if any one here is going.
10-30-2018, 11:13 PM
#20
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Out of all the cars I got to race in the '70s (Ferrari 250 GTO, 911R, Carrera RS, 3,0 RSR, 934.5 Turbo, Kremer K3), I had the most fun and grins racing in SCCA show room stock sedan, driving a Datsun 510. It was fun because it had no power or grip and the racing was very close.
10-31-2018, 12:00 AM
#21
For me it was my Radical SR3. There is nothing like the thrill of driving a lightweight, high downforce car with paddle shifting and slicks. 0 to 60 in ~3 seconds, 2.5g cornering force and 2 g braking force. Causes smiles that are hard to wipe off of your face. 
Charley
Charley
10-31-2018, 08:16 AM
#22
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2016 991 GT3R. Had the opportunity to co drive it in the enduro this past weekend at Daytona with my friend JoeT. It was very interesting to feel how much different the capabilities are between high and low speed sections. The lower speed corners were not much different than most cars but the high speed braking and cornering performance was awesome. The other awesome thing was the torque and how smooth the engine was. So much fun!
10-31-2018, 09:47 AM
#23
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That's awesome, Cory. Video, please?
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www.peterkrause.net
www.gofasternow.com
"Combining the Art and Science of Driving Fast!"
Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
Consultation Available Remotely and at VIRginia International Raceway
10-31-2018, 10:01 AM
#24
Drifting
Out of all the cars I got to race in the '70s (Ferrari 250 GTO, 911R, Carrera RS, 3,0 RSR, 934.5 Turbo, Kremer K3), I had the most fun and grins racing in SCCA show room stock sedan, driving a Datsun 510. It was fun because it had no power or grip and the racing was very close.
. In my earlier post I said my Swift FF was my favorite, and I'll stick with that. However, a very close 2nd favorite would be my Showroom Stock C Golf GTI. Close showroom stock racing (in the old days) in SCCA was a blast. I used to load it up, drive it to the track, flog the heck out of it, and drive it home.
10-31-2018, 08:30 PM
#25
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Some phenomenal exotics, interesting cars, and interesting points. Of the more common and attainable race cars mentioned, FFs and shifter karts were cited several times.
Everyone seems to appreciate: Light weight, crazy motor, capable of fairly high g loads, visceral and connected analog driving experience, and obviously good competition
Some like and some don't: Modest power or P/W, low grip levels
It was touched on but I had expected to hear more about folks enjoying cars that are quite hard to drive at the limits with some disagreement. Zzyzx's counterpoint on FF not having enough power to be entertaining in the absence of competition was also interesting.
Luigi, I'm in the same boat as you but only on step one. I rented a Spec Boxster (on Hoosiers) for a NASA DE day and decided I was done tracking daily driven street cars. I bought one and started building it within a few months. It's a good car to learn with and a reasonably good fit for the cars that run locally and that was a big factor in the decision. I actually would have loved to pick up a FF, but I want to race and presently no organizations run formula car races at my local track - just sedans. I may look into the club/entry level fly in arrive-and-drive formula car series after I'm a better driver.
I've never driven a shifter kart, perhaps that would change my perspective on karts. I like karts but I always find myself wanting to run on a track with a bigger sense of scale. I'm not sure why that is, but that's how I've felt. Kind of like autocross. The karts were just basic rental karts though, nothing like shifters. I assume the shifter karts are a completely different experience but I don't have much of a way to grasp or relate to it.
Everyone seems to appreciate: Light weight, crazy motor, capable of fairly high g loads, visceral and connected analog driving experience, and obviously good competition
Some like and some don't: Modest power or P/W, low grip levels
It was touched on but I had expected to hear more about folks enjoying cars that are quite hard to drive at the limits with some disagreement. Zzyzx's counterpoint on FF not having enough power to be entertaining in the absence of competition was also interesting.
Luigi, I'm in the same boat as you but only on step one. I rented a Spec Boxster (on Hoosiers) for a NASA DE day and decided I was done tracking daily driven street cars. I bought one and started building it within a few months. It's a good car to learn with and a reasonably good fit for the cars that run locally and that was a big factor in the decision. I actually would have loved to pick up a FF, but I want to race and presently no organizations run formula car races at my local track - just sedans. I may look into the club/entry level fly in arrive-and-drive formula car series after I'm a better driver.
I've never driven a shifter kart, perhaps that would change my perspective on karts. I like karts but I always find myself wanting to run on a track with a bigger sense of scale. I'm not sure why that is, but that's how I've felt. Kind of like autocross. The karts were just basic rental karts though, nothing like shifters. I assume the shifter karts are a completely different experience but I don't have much of a way to grasp or relate to it.
11-01-2018, 02:26 AM
#27
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Some phenomenal exotics, interesting cars, and interesting points. Of the more common and attainable race cars mentioned, FFs and shifter karts were cited several times.
Everyone seems to appreciate: Light weight, crazy motor, capable of fairly high g loads, visceral and connected analog driving experience, and obviously good competition
Some like and some don't: Modest power or P/W, low grip levels
It was touched on but I had expected to hear more about folks enjoying cars that are quite hard to drive at the limits with some disagreement. Zzyzx's counterpoint on FF not having enough power to be entertaining in the absence of competition was also interesting.
Luigi, I'm in the same boat as you but only on step one. I rented a Spec Boxster (on Hoosiers) for a NASA DE day and decided I was done tracking daily driven street cars. I bought one and started building it within a few months. It's a good car to learn with and a reasonably good fit for the cars that run locally and that was a big factor in the decision. I actually would have loved to pick up a FF, but I want to race and presently no organizations run formula car races at my local track - just sedans. I may look into the club/entry level fly in arrive-and-drive formula car series after I'm a better driver.
I've never driven a shifter kart, perhaps that would change my perspective on karts. I like karts but I always find myself wanting to run on a track with a bigger sense of scale. I'm not sure why that is, but that's how I've felt. Kind of like autocross. The karts were just basic rental karts though, nothing like shifters. I assume the shifter karts are a completely different experience but I don't have much of a way to grasp or relate to it.
Everyone seems to appreciate: Light weight, crazy motor, capable of fairly high g loads, visceral and connected analog driving experience, and obviously good competition
Some like and some don't: Modest power or P/W, low grip levels
It was touched on but I had expected to hear more about folks enjoying cars that are quite hard to drive at the limits with some disagreement. Zzyzx's counterpoint on FF not having enough power to be entertaining in the absence of competition was also interesting.
Luigi, I'm in the same boat as you but only on step one. I rented a Spec Boxster (on Hoosiers) for a NASA DE day and decided I was done tracking daily driven street cars. I bought one and started building it within a few months. It's a good car to learn with and a reasonably good fit for the cars that run locally and that was a big factor in the decision. I actually would have loved to pick up a FF, but I want to race and presently no organizations run formula car races at my local track - just sedans. I may look into the club/entry level fly in arrive-and-drive formula car series after I'm a better driver.
I've never driven a shifter kart, perhaps that would change my perspective on karts. I like karts but I always find myself wanting to run on a track with a bigger sense of scale. I'm not sure why that is, but that's how I've felt. Kind of like autocross. The karts were just basic rental karts though, nothing like shifters. I assume the shifter karts are a completely different experience but I don't have much of a way to grasp or relate to it.
The rental karts you mentioned are not the same as the shifters or Rotax and the latter will make you a much better driver (no abs, solid rear axel, no driver aids, etc). Everything happens so fast in a kart that when you get into a regular car everything seems to be happening in slow motion.
11-01-2018, 09:16 AM
#28
Out of all the cars I got to race in the '70s (Ferrari 250 GTO, 911R, Carrera RS, 3,0 RSR, 934.5 Turbo, Kremer K3), I had the most fun and grins racing in SCCA show room stock sedan, driving a Datsun 510. It was fun because it had no power or grip and the racing was very close.
11-01-2018, 11:49 AM
#29
Rennlist Member
