- 5,785
- Norman, OK
- McClarenDesign
**CAR OF THE WEEK! Friday 20/07/12**
- Thread starter McClarenDesign
- 36 comments
- 3,877 views
- 5,785
- Norman, OK
- McClarenDesign
- 2,121
- Chicago
- mustang622006
You have the edge at London Sir, good job, I posted a 1:06.358. Just a note to clarify my review, I mis-stated the car I used first for the seasonals as an S-2000. I have no idea how or where I came up with that
the actual car used was the 1967 Toyota 2000 GT.
- 5,785
- Norman, OK
- McClarenDesign
MustangManiacYou have the edge at London Sir, good job, I posted a 1:06.358. Just a note to clarify my review, I mis-stated the car I used first for the seasonals as an S-2000. I have no idea how or where I came up with that
There's still time left... for this week's car... and on the track.
This week's car isn't as wicked as the Spirra, but by no means is it easy.
- 1,337
- England
- woodski427
Ginetta G4 1964
Kit Car Chaos
Unfortunately I haven't had much time to play or write this week, but I have managed a few laps in a couple of G4s.
Presumably being inspired by the likes of Colin Chapman, the four Walklett brothers designed and built the super lightweight Ginetta G4 as a road and competition car anfter having some success with a couple of previous models aimed at the amateur racer. They used the Ford 'Kent' engine destined for the new shape 109e Anglia. Fortunately for us this replaced the powerless, if successful, pre-war design side-valve lump. Even more fortunately, we have the '64 example which has the 1500cc out of the larger Cortina and, according to some stuff I've read, a BMC live axle replaced the original Ford one. Interesting.
I have two in my garage; my first acquisition is in Mars Red and already has some slight tweaking, while a newer one is stock and Cirrus White. After oil change the stock car has 94 BHP, a very trim 454Kg, and 444pp. To Trial Mountain...
Immediately you can tell this car has competition in its blood. Turn-in is tight, no understeer (no weight) and the car actually feels quite well balanced through the corner. Of course, 90BHP in such a light car with an early 60s live axle is going to bring on oversteer and sliding, so care with the throttle is necessary. However if (or rather when) the back end breaks away it is easily dealt with. This is all with the generous grip of Sport Hard tyres PD have given the car. Acceleration is pretty good for the horses and the five speed 'box is geared well enough for the track but could of course be improved. The combo gives reasonable pull over 4000rpm but the action is really between 5000 and the 7000rpm red line.
I only managed 1:52.4 at Trial Mountain in the time and conditions I had.
Also, I've had no Internet for three days this week so haven't been able to get to the seasonals this CotW was destined for, or indeed FR Krenkme to reacquaint myself with the Holy Handgrenade. Mars Red already had stage 1 engine tune and racing parts to give 138 BHP. I like the colour, so kept it but added some white Rays TE37s and went to find an offline test.
I found the Tuned Car race series in the A-spec Expert section, so I added the high rpm turbo to give 222BHP and 548pp. After a test on RH I went for RS tyres as I was up against cars well over 600pp on RH.
Two problems. First, traction. Even with RS there is a distinct lack of traction with this level of power - a proper setup might help here. Second, bullying! As MustangManiac also found out, the AI either realise the car is tiny, or just don't see it
. The G4 just bounces off the Skylines like a balloon off the wall, this was the cause of a few restarts as I got dumped off the first corner.
Once I'd sort of got the hang of the overpowered G4, the race was on. Starting in 8th I outbraked the the Skyline in front to sneak through on the inside of the first hairpin.
After a couple of laps I'd edged passed the HPA Golf into 5th and was pulling away, but on lap 4 I clipped the bridge which let the Golf back in. So I was on for 6th, but was too keen to get the jump on the Skyline behind me out of the final corner and hit the power too early...
I held on to prevent the spin but this setup likes to snap back...dumped into the wall and limped to 11th.
Oh well. It took the extra grip of RS, but I thought the little G4 held but up a good fight, even if the driver crumbled under pressure.
A bit of a strange beast this G4. It's a tiny British 'shed built' sports car with a small engine, but can be tuned to ridiculous pp levels. Stock it is a decent drive, but you need the right opposition as it can feel a bit underpowered; with 250+BHP it's just wild. The middle path and a good setup is your friend here - I found the Mars Red car with 140 BHP was a decent performer without being too edgy.
Kit Car Chaos
Unfortunately I haven't had much time to play or write this week, but I have managed a few laps in a couple of G4s.
Presumably being inspired by the likes of Colin Chapman, the four Walklett brothers designed and built the super lightweight Ginetta G4 as a road and competition car anfter having some success with a couple of previous models aimed at the amateur racer. They used the Ford 'Kent' engine destined for the new shape 109e Anglia. Fortunately for us this replaced the powerless, if successful, pre-war design side-valve lump. Even more fortunately, we have the '64 example which has the 1500cc out of the larger Cortina and, according to some stuff I've read, a BMC live axle replaced the original Ford one. Interesting.
I have two in my garage; my first acquisition is in Mars Red and already has some slight tweaking, while a newer one is stock and Cirrus White. After oil change the stock car has 94 BHP, a very trim 454Kg, and 444pp. To Trial Mountain...
Immediately you can tell this car has competition in its blood. Turn-in is tight, no understeer (no weight) and the car actually feels quite well balanced through the corner. Of course, 90BHP in such a light car with an early 60s live axle is going to bring on oversteer and sliding, so care with the throttle is necessary. However if (or rather when) the back end breaks away it is easily dealt with. This is all with the generous grip of Sport Hard tyres PD have given the car. Acceleration is pretty good for the horses and the five speed 'box is geared well enough for the track but could of course be improved. The combo gives reasonable pull over 4000rpm but the action is really between 5000 and the 7000rpm red line.
I only managed 1:52.4 at Trial Mountain in the time and conditions I had.
Also, I've had no Internet for three days this week so haven't been able to get to the seasonals this CotW was destined for, or indeed FR Krenkme to reacquaint myself with the Holy Handgrenade. Mars Red already had stage 1 engine tune and racing parts to give 138 BHP. I like the colour, so kept it but added some white Rays TE37s and went to find an offline test.
I found the Tuned Car race series in the A-spec Expert section, so I added the high rpm turbo to give 222BHP and 548pp. After a test on RH I went for RS tyres as I was up against cars well over 600pp on RH.
Two problems. First, traction. Even with RS there is a distinct lack of traction with this level of power - a proper setup might help here. Second, bullying! As MustangManiac also found out, the AI either realise the car is tiny, or just don't see it
. The G4 just bounces off the Skylines like a balloon off the wall, this was the cause of a few restarts as I got dumped off the first corner. Once I'd sort of got the hang of the overpowered G4, the race was on. Starting in 8th I outbraked the the Skyline in front to sneak through on the inside of the first hairpin.
After a couple of laps I'd edged passed the HPA Golf into 5th and was pulling away, but on lap 4 I clipped the bridge which let the Golf back in. So I was on for 6th, but was too keen to get the jump on the Skyline behind me out of the final corner and hit the power too early...
I held on to prevent the spin but this setup likes to snap back...dumped into the wall and limped to 11th.
Oh well. It took the extra grip of RS, but I thought the little G4 held but up a good fight, even if the driver crumbled under pressure.
A bit of a strange beast this G4. It's a tiny British 'shed built'
sports car with a small engine, but can be tuned to ridiculous pp levels. Stock it is a decent drive, but you need the right opposition as it can feel a bit underpowered; with 250+BHP it's just wild. The middle path and a good setup is your friend here - I found the Mars Red car with 140 BHP was a decent performer without being too edgy.
- 5,785
- Norman, OK
- McClarenDesign
That's hot.
The Ginetta looks like a mouse being chased.
