The Car Thread

[The Bear]

Once you're going more than 15-20moh there's almost no difference in noise levels. Yeah there's no engine noise when you accelerate but that is a negligible difference really. The road noise of the tyres and suspension is louder than anything else any way

 

[EpsomWolf]

On the subject of tracks, very high profile accident at the Nurburgring last week. Always a bucket list thing for a lot of people and the countless accident compilation videos online only seem to add to the thrill, but there’s a lot of talk about this one particularly.

For me it’s the fault of the British guy in the BMW as it’s Touristfahrten (anyone can turn up, pay for a lap and drive), and he foolishly takes the racing line cutting across the Porsche when he’s supposed to keep right to let quicker cars past. BMW man moves suddenly to the right but is it to allow the Porsche through or just to get the angle for the left sweep into the racing line? Bit reckless from the Porsche driver as he’s on a hot lap and there’s no element of defensive driving on his part, whether that’s a legal requirement is open to debate.

Would imagine BMW man will need a lottery win to pay for the costs of that lot but as I understand it is still under investigation with that sort of thing to be determined. At least both drivers survived and miraculously the Porsche driver walks away with just a few scratches and bruises, unlike the young guy in the GR Yaris the previous week.

Would still recommend giving it a go but have someone in the passenger seat as eyes and ears and definitely stay right!

 

[sycophantia]

Something I always fancied but probably won't now. Bikes have been banned (apart from specific days). Do they still allow buses on with the cars?

 

[EpsomWolf]

No buses allowed anymore, banned at the same time as bikes when the new rules were recently introduced. A whole load of new restrictions too - minimum seed requirements, maximum noise levels, and the maximum weight restrictions particularly putting an end to a lot of the crazy goings on. Haven’t been allowed to drift either for quite some time and no doubt the regs are getting tighter and tighter all the while. Improving safety or sucking the fun out of it… probably a bit of both truth be told. Shame bikes are no longer allowed on the Public Drive days though, they really added to it.

Always wanted to take my van over as that would’ve been a hoot but that’s a ship that’s sailed now. Has been a good few years but it’s still an itch that’s not fully scratched yet.

 

[sycophantia]

No buses allowed anymore, banned at the same time as bikes when the new rules were recently introduced. A whole load of new restrictions too - minimum seed requirements, maximum noise levels, and the maximum weight restrictions particularly putting an end to a lot of the crazy goings on. Haven’t been allowed to drift either for quite some time and no doubt the regs are getting tighter and tighter all the while. Improving safety or sucking the fun out of it… probably a bit of both truth be told. Shame bikes are no longer allowed on the Public Drive days though, they really added to it.

Always wanted to take my van over as that would’ve been a hoot but that’s a ship that’s sailed now. Has been a good few years but it’s still an itch that’s not fully scratched yet.

That all sounds pretty sensible.

 

[Lupo]

Got back from my holiday the other day to a speeding ticket from when I went up to Yorkshire to visit the pudding in early June, was clocked by a camera on the M1 Northbound doing 88mph (I don't normally go this fast so must have got momentarily carried away). Thought as it was over the threshold of 10% plus 9 that I'd have to accept the points and fine - the points bother me more than the fine as I have a clean licence.

Anyway, sent them a grovelling, apologetic email and they say they are offering me a SAC.

Been looking at the virtual courses and all around the £95-£100 mark with Cheshire coming out at £90. According to Google, Hartlepool offers by far the cheapest at £79

 

[Keef]

when I got caught (32mph in 30) between Dolgellau and Fairbourne I had to do the course in the county I was caught in Gwynedd, ended up going up to fucking Holyhead on Anglesey, which is a fair trek from Machynlleth
I got the summons because
1. I got caught in a bus, and as a professional driver I should know better
2. North wales chief commissioner at that time was religiously anti speeding, get caught get done, he famously said “ there’s no excuse for casually drifting over the speed limit same as there’s no excuse for casually driving a knife into someone”
That all came to a crashing halt when he was caught doing 82 in a 50 through temporary road works by one of his own officers, who he then threatened if the prosecution went ahead the officer would be out of a job.
The chief was forced to resign after a public outcry.

 

[Lupo]

I remember a few years back that North Wales was operating a zero tolerance approach to speed which wasn't going down too well with people. Ironic that the orchestrator got caught out, 80 in a 50 is extreme too

 

[leedswolf]

https://www.autoblog.com/news/continuation-alan-mann-racing-ford-escorts-look-like-more-fun-than-most-of-the-supercars-at-goodwood

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Oh my

The bumblebee one is just total perfection. I loved the original MK1

 

[Squeak]

Memories of Ari Vatanen throwing his Escorts around on the RAC come to mind...great great days in rallying. Wish I still had mine.

 

[James]

No buses allowed anymore, banned at the same time as bikes when the new rules were recently introduced. A whole load of new restrictions too - minimum seed requirements, maximum noise levels, and the maximum weight restrictions particularly putting an end to a lot of the crazy goings on. Haven’t been allowed to drift either for quite some time and no doubt the regs are getting tighter and tighter all the while. Improving safety or sucking the fun out of it… probably a bit of both truth be told. Shame bikes are no longer allowed on the Public Drive days though, they really added to it.

Always wanted to take my van over as that would’ve been a hoot but that’s a ship that’s sailed now. Has been a good few years but it’s still an itch that’s not fully scratched yet.

Just to correct the narative on whats banned.
- coaches/ busses are only allowed on now under exceptional circumstance & not in Tourisfaren (banned in 2021)
- nothing over 3.5 tonne
- work vehicles are not permitted (steward discresion)
- no bikes in TF (I was on track august bank hol, someone crashed & lost there life)
- actively promoting your lap time will lead to a ban

The problem I've found in recent years with the Nurburgring is the lack of education & overpowered cars during Touristfaren. Trick to a relaxed drive around the Nordschlieffe is keep right & use your mirrors!

With the recent amount of crashes I've been put off going this year & will probably go on a quieter day (monday/ tuesday) next year

 

[EpsomWolf]

Love the bubble arch Escorts particularly. A lot of people think Group B was the pinnacle of rallying and it’s hard to argue against that, but there’s still something special about the RWD drift and nothing really symbolises that better than the escort. I loved the FWD hot hatches of the 80’s with their much better nimble handling but if you can’t drift you can’t party.

I keep watching the markets very closely as am just turned off by EV’s (not suggesting they are anything other than very good btw) and am undecided which way to go, and looks like that’s a common thing fuelling demand elsewhere but with 2 real boom segments;

1) Restomods

2) Manual, Petrol, RWD, tuneable, short(ish) wheelbase, minimal driver aids.

The Escort fits both categories and with drivers wanting to feel more connected with their cars and have a bit of fun the prices of cars ticking those boxes are going through the roof.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Just to correct the narative on whats banned.
- coaches/ busses are only allowed on now under exceptional circumstance & not in Tourisfaren (banned in 2021)
- nothing over 3.5 tonne
- work vehicles are not permitted (steward discresion)
- no bikes in TF (I was on track august bank hol, someone crashed & lost there life)
- actively promoting your lap time will lead to a ban

The problem I've found in recent years with the Nurburgring is the lack of education & overpowered cars during Touristfaren. Trick to a relaxed drive around the Nordschlieffe is keep right & use your mirrors!

With the recent amount of crashes I've been put off going this year & will probably go on a quieter day (monday/ tuesday) next year

My mistake was trying to learn the circuit beforehand and memorise it. With so many turns you’ll eventually get one wrong and that’s that. Came off on Adenauer Forst missing the left turn at the top of the crest but luckily it’s one of the few places with a run-off. You are right about staying right, and the mirrors too. Having a passenger as extra eyes and ears really helps and also the fundamental ‘you must be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear’ (hello Adenauer).

Awesome experience though, managed an overtake on the lower inside of the Karussell which will probably stay as one of best memories forever. A few guys I know do this all the rage blog thing where you drive there, do a lap and drive home again all within 24 hours, so might think about having a bash at that, but I envy you going as frequently as you do.