ProCoach

I originally put down ten seconds, then Joe put down a time that he cited and I changed it. There is no question 1:40 is a damned good time for your car, but it's like comparing apples with oranges. That's all...

race911

Go look up track records for SFR SCCA. DSR @ 1:27 is right there. (And CSR is 1:30.) The reclassification of the cars into the current P1/P2 classes show 1:35. A circa 2012 Radical SR3 1.5L in the Radical Cup series was around 1:37. Best I ever did there with my first gen 1.3L is is about 1:41.

And for the pro stuff, my cousin's son (who won the two opening round races at St. Pete weekend before last) had the pole in their race 2 at Sears last fall in PFM just under 1:33.

ShakeNBake

This is all great info guys, thanks, I appreciate the comments and advice.

Lots of options

CharleyH

I purchased my 2010 Radical SR3 about a year and a half ago and it is one of the best decisions I ever made. I only use the car for track days and I do most of the maintenance myself. There has been a lot to learn adapting to this car, both in driving and in maintenance. Let me start with the driving.... It is a blast to drive!!! After driving this car for a while my interest in street based cars has significantly diminished. Learning to leverage the benefits of Aero has been a lot of fun. The car weighs about 1300 lbs, has ~1700 lbs of downforce, corners at 2.5G's, Brakes at 2G's, and does 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds. I have to say that I really like the paddle shift capabilities.

As far as maintenance goes the car has been very reliable. Basically fluids and general maintenance. I only had to bring it to the shop once and it turned out to be a bad spark plug and wires. I have a very good tool set, but it took a while to get the basic tools/equipment required to operate the car. The first challenge was getting a car with about 2" of clearance into the trailer. I use a long set of RaceRamps and a winch and I can easily load and unload the car by my self. The next challenge was jacking up a car with such low ground clearance. My car has air jacks so I had to get a nitrogen bottle, regulator, custom hoses, etc.. The next challenge was getting the wheels torqued. Standard torque wrenches don't torque to the required 240 ft/lbs. Only really expensive and big torque wrenches do (about 4 feet long and weigh almost 20 lbs). The list goes on and on, but you get the idea.

In short I would have to say that I highly recommend the Radical.

If you have any specific questions I would be happy to help,
Charley

Texas RS

great looking car

CharleyH

Thank you

ProCoach

Ok. Back to thirteen seconds, it is!

Unreal for a 1-liter (DSR regulation engine size) car...

Surprised about the PFM time differential off that, though.

PFM's are slightly quicker than top Atlantics here at VIR (1:44 PFM vs high 1:45 FA) and the DSR record is 1:47 flat, IIRC. This is for the 3.27-mile, Full Course.

winders

I am pretty sure that 1:27 time is not the full course. It is the only time listed under a 1:30 for DSR. I suspect it is the course as shown in the video you posted.

ProCoach

That would explain a lot...

ShakeNBake

Thanks Charley, that's a beautiful car! How long before you will need to refresh the engine/transmission?

CosmosMpower

I did some research on these before buying my GT3 it appears it depends on your use (racing or casual track) and also if the engine is a 1.3 or 1.5. 1.3 runs a long time on an engine refresh 80-100 hrs, 1.5 is 30-50 hours depending on use. IIRC engine and trans refresh is 4000-8000 depending on which engine and who does it.

CharleyH

Thanks.

I have the 1.5L and Radical recommends overhauling the engine every 40 hours if you are racing and every ~60+ hours if you are using it for track days. I am using mine just for track days but because the engine had 13 hours on it when I purchased the car and because I don't know how abused the car was in it's past life I plan to overhaul the engine at 40 hours (which is two track days away).

I can't recommend these cars enough. The biggest problem with the car is that nearly everyone else at the track days are now too slow

Charley

race911

However: http://www.mylaps.com/en/classificat...657?perClass=1 Two 1:27s and a 1:30 among the major players.

Sanction says it's the 2.52 mile course, and I've never known an SCCA Regional or National (Rational, in the case of this weekend) to run an alternate config, save for torrential rains creating rivers up on the hill or major construction.

race911

^^^^ Now I'm confused. The Richardson video linked earlier is definitely using a short T11, and he ends up with a best lap of 1:25.799, finishing first in class/second OA behind Mr. Go Pro Nick Woodman.

http://www.mylaps.com/en/classificat...111?perClass=1

And that sanction shows a 2.52 mile course.

I went back and looked at some backmarker competition over several events, and their times seem consistent in the 1:34-5 range. So, go figure..........

CharleyH

Spring mountain is selling a 2009 SR3 for $35K. It doesn't have paddle shifters, but that is the lowest I have seen this body style selling for.

http://www.springmountainmotorsports.../used-radicals