Road legal racers

[Richy_Rich]

Does/has anyone drive a road legal racecar and use it on the public highway as well.

My racecar is technically road-legal (tax and MOT etc.) and I had to run a new engine in. Simple thought I, just drive about a bit for a few hundred miles, after all it WAS a road car when I bought it.

But, ooh heck. The state of our roads, it was like riding in a shopping trolley, the car was also too eager for the majority of simple tasks (like pulling away from traffic lights), the steering heavy at low speeds, the brakes rubbish when cold. It gave me a real headache from the extra concentration required and I'm used to driving a TR-2 so it must have been bad Not to mention the 'Max Power Crew' who seemed to want to take every opportunity to race me away from the lights (hardly a mean feat given that I had the rev limiter set to 4k and was being gentle with my new lump).

I wondered because Radical are selling their new car as a road legal racer, who'd want to take it on a road in the UK? Not me, ta.

[Adam43]

Drove the race car to Anglesey and back (after it had completed 120 competitive miles!) a total road mileage of 340miles (ish).

Very noisy, very bumpy, no radio, air con etc...

It was not too bad though. We put it on different wheels/tyres and take it easy. It's fine on the smooth roads (99% of the journey). And it is a very torquey engine, so traffic and road use is quite civilised (it still retains the Jaguar feel!).

We were travelling with another normal road car and it is interesting to see how other cars will move over for the Mondeo on motorways, but then just sit in the outside lane for us! (while we are on the subject do BMWs have rearview mirors? and it there a special law to say that they should use the middle or outside lane on an otherwise empty motorway? )

As for the traffic lights, I find I have a lack of competetive spirit. A TR-2 (or anything else) on the race track or a Max Power Nova in Croydon town centre? Let them have their moment!

A Radical on the road? Scarey. Especially for the other road uses! It's scarey enough when one blast past you on the track, let alone on the high street!

[THR]

how about a GT car on a road? like a Saleen.. now that would be fun!!!

my kit car is pretty much a race car.. but also road legal. nice and loud and fast etc.
tis quite good chasing bikes (they just arent used to cars keeping up)
i just find boy racers are a bit "oh my god wots that". but then where i live i can only think of one set of traffic lights with two lanes!
tis a bit bumpy.. and roundabouts, lol... til i sorted the steering out.. the tight ones were a bit impossible as it didnt have enough lock, lol.

[Adam43]

Not quite the same, but we had problems with the steering on tight corners.

We had trouble with the power steering leaking on the racer so we took it off. The steering is quite heavy without it. However it became ideal for the race track because you can feel so much through the steering, but it was too heavy for the road. At low speed (less than 20mph) it was horrible! So pulling out onto a roundabout was a nightmare! However we have found a way of curing it for the road, but letting us have the feel for the road: we fitted a larger steering wheel for getting to circuits!

[DAVID PATERSON]

I had a Datsun 1600 (510) Historic Touring Car (classic saloon) which i raced for several years. It was road registered and I used to drive it to and from the meetings and to the workshops when ever anything had to be done.

I tried very hard to be inconspicous, always sitting in the outside lane, just under the speed limit.

At the same time it was terrific and awful to drive. Absolutely rock hard suspension, bounced and bucked over every bump, tramlined horribly, but rare was a corner that required any kind of deceleration.

Of course, no rdio or aircon and a way too tight race seat.

[Stacy]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
(while we are on the subject do BMWs have rearview mirors? and it there a special law to say that they should use the middle or outside lane on an otherwise empty motorway? )

I do have a mirror, but I find I'm not looking in it too often when preparing for the launch into hyperspace at 155.. ;-)

[Adam43]

[Richy_Rich]

Adam, do race in a jag then? I've seen a coulpe of them being driven to the circuits, big green xj-s I seem to remember driving in a few times, was that you?

I race with the TR-Regsister, so we do quite a few races with the JEC throughout the year.

David also reminded me of another point, being inconspicuous. Every time I take mine out I notice all the other drivers rubber necking to get a look as they go past, pointing me out to their kids and stuff - hardly good for concentration. Mind you, I guess I do the same whenever I see a race car about...

[Richy_Rich]

Oh, and I have been overtaken on the M25 by a couple of radicals. I guess they were on some corporate affair as they both had grinning blokes wearing suits as passengers and bored instructor looking types driving

[Adam43]

Yes I race a XJS. A blue one (with a bit of yellow on it). Are you going to Cadwell on the 27th/28th. We are deciding what to do. It is the Jaguar Car Club meeting there, but all the Jaguar Enthusiast Club races are down at Lydden.

Lydden is a lot further for us (probably trailer it down) and we would get so much more track time at Cadwell because we would enter the 100K (which has a radical in it!).

However it is nicer to race against all the other Jag boys (and girls) so I think we will go to Lydden.

[Chris Y]

I occasionally take my Mighty Mini on the road, just for a little bit of a shakedown (literally), or just to check brakes/steering. I've got adjustable dampers that go soft enough to make the trips around Manchester's potholes just about bearable

Any sort of modded Mini tends to get looks, but especially loud, colourful, speedy Minis The police patrol cars that I have encountered when driving around Manchester just pretend that they haven't seen me

[Morris 1100]

I have taken a Formula Vee for a quick run around the block!

[Adam43]

Nice! And your sig is "What are you looking at?" !!!!

[Richy_Rich]

Adam, I'll be at Cadwell. It's the same weekend as the TR Register International, which is a pain (who organises this stuff, eh?). I quite enjoy our weekends with the jags, I've met a few of the drivers and they all seem like a nice bunch.

I've seen the radical in your 100k races. There's a tr-6 in that as well isn't there?

Might see you there if you decide to go, if not I'm sure we have more races with the Jags coming up, I know there's one at Croft (Sept I think) so I'll doubtless bump into you at some point

[DAVID PATERSON]

WW once tested a BMW Super Tourer around the streets of Redcliffe.

LP once tested a HDT Commodore around the streets of Essendon.

[Adam43]

Rich, the TR-6 in the 100K is driven by Joseph Henderson. He has only done Oulton, I think. His name is down on the Pembrey Qualifying sheet I have (although I didn't go to Pembrey), he was on pole by 13s! However he doesn't appear in the race results and his number corresponds to the Radical! So I don't think he was actually there and it was all a mix-up.

We have only just sent of the entry for Lydden and it has a small grid size (I think) so there could be a problem getting a race. So I may well see you at Cadwell!

We have a 100K at Croft with the Jaguar Car Club and this is the day after we are at Oulton for some Jag races (don't ask). Hopefully we will do both days - that should be a fun weekend!

[Richy_Rich]

Adam, our only remaining outing with the jags this year (after cadwell) is on October 20th at Donnington Park with the Jaguar C.C.

Maybe see you at one or the other anyway