I drove a Radical SR3
Discussion
Went over to Eastern Creek last Thursday as I was invited by Radical Oz to drive the car. 
Overtook a Ferrari Testarossa on my 4th lap (probably getting about 60% of the capability of the car.) On the first lap we were following an MX5 which was absolutely on the limit around the track. It felt like we were trundling along at 50 in the SR3. It's like a gokart, but with way more grip...and it sounds like a cross between a motorbike and an F1 car. Loud is redefined when the motor's right behind your kidneys. 
It gets a bit bumpy above 200.
Have I used enough smileys?
Overtook a Ferrari Testarossa on my 4th lap (probably getting about 60% of the capability of the car.) On the first lap we were following an MX5 which was absolutely on the limit around the track. It felt like we were trundling along at 50 in the SR3. It's like a gokart, but with way more grip...and it sounds like a cross between a motorbike and an F1 car. Loud is redefined when the motor's right behind your kidneys. It gets a bit bumpy above 200.
Have I used enough smileys?
Whats the spec on one of them? If it's a bike-engined example then the F1 comparison is particularly apt as they will rev to twice what a 5+L V8 will (talking bog standard SBC's here, not a screamer like in a 360 Modena). And any idea on the production numbers, ie would one be registerable in NZ?
htsd said:
Whats the spec on one of them? If it's a bike-engined example then the F1 comparison is particularly apt as they will rev to twice what a 5+L V8 will (talking bog standard SBC's here, not a screamer like in a 360 Modena). And any idea on the production numbers, ie would one be registerable in NZ?
It was a tracksport with 252hp. Engine revs to around 11000 (at that point your ears start itching). I don't think you'd be able to road reg it in NZ (even though you can in the UK). They've built 400 since 1998, so you'd fall within the LVVTA rules. However (and that's a HUGE 'however') there is no way you'd want one of these things as a road car...apart from the fact that everyone would look at you and you might be able to score more easily. Like any decent racecar it's about as comfortable as velcro undies. And it's got no roof. Or storage. And plod might be pulling you over lots (breathe towards the throttle and you'd be illegal). And you don't want to be riding that motorbike clutch up Hobson St in rush hour.
Esprit said:
FANTASTIC CARS! Although my money would probably go with an Ultima though..... an din NZ, I don't think they are road legal.... I think there's something about their lack of ride height that precludes them......(there's about a half-inch of ground clearance)
50mm. Not good for multistorey carparks.
Ultima is $60k more.
AFAIK there is no minimum ride height in NZ providing you can maintain 35mm suspension travel
Theres the 100mm limit but you can go lower than that with a cert which a radical would require anyway
Not exactly a practical road car anway. Not really in the same league as an MX5 but how would it compare to a single seater like a formula ford or formula holden or something?
Theres the 100mm limit but you can go lower than that with a cert which a radical would require anyway
Not exactly a practical road car anway. Not really in the same league as an MX5 but how would it compare to a single seater like a formula ford or formula holden or something?
Like any race car the Radical can be adjusted for ride-height, rebound etc and makes a reasonable road-car aparently. Plenty of owners drive theirs to circuits in the UK and one owner uses his as a daily driver in Italy! 
Lack of weather protection and chain drive (lots of maintenance, lack of refinement) would put me off a bit although I would always look upon something like this as an alternative to a motorbike not a car. If I was in the market for one I'd hold out for that V8 - have you downloaded the sound files from their website? YEAH BABY! As for being stared at, I rather like it! 
I haven't driven the Challenge cars but I have driven the Star Cars and they're great fun. I put one around Taupo in 41 seconds with a slipping clutch and not much talent so they've certainly got the pace. I think they look a bit comical with their shrunken bodies but they should be taken VERY seriously.
You can pick up a used Ultima Sport in the UK for $60kNZD or spend $180kNZD on a very high spec GTR/Canam. A good spec' GTR can be put on the road for $120-140k NZD self-build or you can pick up a used one from around $90kNZD (which is my preferred option).
A Radical is Hamish Carter, an Ultima Linford Christie!
Lack of weather protection and chain drive (lots of maintenance, lack of refinement) would put me off a bit although I would always look upon something like this as an alternative to a motorbike not a car. If I was in the market for one I'd hold out for that V8 - have you downloaded the sound files from their website? YEAH BABY! As for being stared at, I rather like it! I haven't driven the Challenge cars but I have driven the Star Cars and they're great fun. I put one around Taupo in 41 seconds with a slipping clutch and not much talent so they've certainly got the pace. I think they look a bit comical with their shrunken bodies but they should be taken VERY seriously.
You can pick up a used Ultima Sport in the UK for $60kNZD or spend $180kNZD on a very high spec GTR/Canam. A good spec' GTR can be put on the road for $120-140k NZD self-build or you can pick up a used one from around $90kNZD (which is my preferred option).
A Radical is Hamish Carter, an Ultima Linford Christie!
jamieheasman said:
Like any race car the Radical can be adjusted for ride-height, rebound etc and makes a reasonable road-car aparently. Plenty of owners drive theirs to circuits in the UK and one owner uses his as a daily driver in Italy!
I haven't driven the Challenge cars but I have driven the Star Cars and they're great fun. I put one around Taupo in 41 seconds with a slipping clutch and not much talent so they've certainly got the pace. I think they look a bit comical with their shrunken bodies but they should be taken VERY seriously.
You can pick up a used Ultima Sport in the UK for $60kNZD or spend $180kNZD on a very high spec GTR/Canam. A good spec' GTR can be put on the road for $120-140k NZD self-build or you can pick up a used one from around $90kNZD (which is my preferred option).
A Radical is Hamish Carter, an Ultima Linford Christie!
It's not chain drive on the tracksport afaik. I've driven the Challenge Cars - even managed to break a drive shaft
I haven't driven the Star Cars. Re the V8: Radical have intimated you'll need to have 10 years track experience and an open CAMS license before they'll let you have one. They're expecting up to 400kW out of that engine once they've got it sorted.
dejoux said:
AFAIK there is no minimum ride height in NZ providing you can maintain 35mm suspension travel
Theres the 100mm limit but you can go lower than that with a cert which a radical would require anyway
Not exactly a practical road car anway. Not really in the same league as an MX5 but how would it compare to a single seater like a formula ford or formula holden or something?
Believe me, I'd take the Radical over an MX5
In terms of acceleration, it's the same as the Redline Sprint (you can find my article elsewhere in Pistonheads on that one), but the cornering is far superior in the Radical.
kylie said:
Hi darren, have you tried the Formula Challenge cars in Taupo? Would it be similar to those? They also rev high and similar engines in them. They are amazing to drive.
Now THAT could be a fun NZ Pistonheaders trip...
On the topic of the radical, sounds like you'd want to move to Pukekohe if you owned it and become good friends with the owners of the track...
htsd said:
Hi darren, have you tried the Formula Challenge cars in Taupo? Would it be similar to those? They also rev high and similar engines in them. They are amazing to drive.
Now THAT could be a fun NZ Pistonheaders trip...
On the topic of the radical, sounds like you'd want to move to Pukekohe if you owned it and become good friends with the owners of the track...
Pukekohe probably won't be for much longer. you should check out www.hamptondowns.com. Pukekohe will get more and more horse focussed - you don't want 95dB of fossil fuel burning when you've got a $1m gelding around
darren said:
It's not chain drive on the tracksport afaik. I've driven the Challenge Cars - even managed to break a drive shaft
Really you broke one!! I wasn't able to drive it at full speed due to the limiter being on it. After I do another session with them, they will take it off, part of the course programme. They told me that they hold the lap record down there of 38 secs. That was Feb though, so bound to be broken by now?
It would make a good PHers trip down there to book the cars for a few hours as its the closest thing to simulate the F1/Indy feel - dam fantastic!!. Comes at a price as always, its not cheap.
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