martinwhitcher Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 come on then, just out of interest, which is the better car a well set-up R500 or P.C. superlight??? Martin MW 51 CAT ps. i am NOT going to bring K2 RUM into this it is NOT a VX vs K question!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 There is not a lot between them. I have been unashamedly copying the best bits of the R500 and improving over the cost compromised bits. An R500 owner driving my car would notice a lot more torque in the mid-range, better brakes and sharper throttle response and snappier gearchanges. Peterid=teal> 253 BHP K-seriesteeth.gif, no gearboxbum.gifid=red> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 Peter, I take it you've fixed your gearbox, or is the gearchange snappier because you miss out 2nd smile.gif Greg, Q 880 RAE (Green/Ali XF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinwhitcher Posted June 10, 2002 Author Share Posted June 10, 2002 so then peter, quiz time Brakes?? what's the difference? and what about weight, is yours as light as a R500? Martin It's monday and i'm being noseyteeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 Nothing you can't do with an R500, but I have the full race brakes with the vented rears and proportioning valve running Pagid RS14 race pads. Gear change generally has been very good because of a lighter flywheel and featherweight 5.5 inch race clutch with hydraulic actuation. It is a bit suboptimal currently. Just before Curborough, my car weighed in at 480kg with a quarter of a tank of fuel and with the full race cage. There aren't many R500s that keep the weight off to such an extent. Peterid=teal> 253 BHP K-seriesteeth.gif, no gearboxbum.gifid=red> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 Martin, you're a spoilsport........ Fat Arn Visit the K2 RUM siteid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinwhitcher Posted June 10, 2002 Author Share Posted June 10, 2002 Oh go on then Arnie, how will yours fair against the R500? (not against Peters car, oh forgot he was slightly quicker wasn't he?wink.gifeek.gif) Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 Richard, where are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 Richard's R500 at Curborough was running a standard R500 engine, I believe and it trounced me. His suspension, particularly dampers, is not standard and his setup has been developed over a couple of race seasons. I suspect that my extra power was negated in the twisty bits because of my diff ratio. I have been running a 3.62. Richard runs a 3.92. (That is not to say that there aren't circuits where the 3.62 would be more optimal). I am going to have to replace my diff because it is an AP Suretrak and it has contributed to my gearbox failure. I will have the opportunity to move to a 3.92, although my gut feeling is that it will make the car worse on the road. I have datalogs from Richard's car in test and my braking is much superior. Peterid=teal> 253 BHP K-seriesteeth.gif, no gearboxbum.gifid=red> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 More info on the "AP suretrak breaks 6 speeder" would be nice too.......What happenedquestion.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted June 10, 2002 Share Posted June 10, 2002 The deadly combination is: -Over 200bhp -AP Suretrak -An old spec 6 speed gearbox -Big fat sticky tyres -Riding kerbs, putting down a lot of that power -The race clutch didn't help The Suretrak lets an unloaded wheel spin up - it never locks entirely. As you bounce a wheel over kerbs, it gets knocked in the air momentarily. With sufficient power, this gives the wheel a chance to spin up and when it comes back down to earth, the sticky tyre grabs a handful of ground and sends a shock load up the geartrain. The original spec gearboxes had weak fifth gears and a new design is available (Phil Stewart). Mine had been updated to the new design fifth. Second gear had also been known to fail, but only with more powerful cars than mine - particularly the 300bhp Swiss turbo car. Mine is the first K-series car to break second gear. In newer six speed gearboxes, second, third and fourth have also been updated to stronger parts with a different tooth form on the gears. I lucked in with the magic combination. All of the Curborough twisties are second gear and my gearbox lasted a couple of weeks post-Curborough. Peterid=teal> 253 BHP K-seriesteeth.gif, no gearboxbum.gifid=red> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ince Posted June 11, 2002 Share Posted June 11, 2002 "I have datalogs from Richard's car in test and my braking is much superior." Or I was using less braking on purpose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted June 11, 2002 Share Posted June 11, 2002 That's always possible... Peterid=teal> 253 BHP K-seriesteeth.gif, no gearboxbum.gifid=red> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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