August EVO Griff v MX5

[OB1JOB]

Apologies if this is up elsewhere but have just read the August EVO to see that they pitted the Griff against an 09 MX5 on the track at Bedford.

It made it around in 1.28.5 against 1.33.7 for the MX5

On the lap time table the Griff is sandwiched between Porsche Boxter S 1.28.1 (the Lexus IS-F 1.28.5 on the same time) and Ford Shelby GT500 1.28.6

Not sure how improved Metcalf's Griff is but did they get the best out of it

Mine always seems better with the roof off

[jimed]

I've not seen the article but did hear that Harry Metcalfe's griff was in at X Works for some engine work last week - new cam I think. Based on that and assuming that was the car they used maybe it was a bit down on power?
Jim

[dvs_dave]

Seems about right I reckon. Griff will be quick on the straights but the Boxster will easily have it under braking and around the corners. Remember that the Griff is a 20yr old design verses a brand new car with road roller rubber, huge brakes and face stretching cornering abilities.

[Marty V8]

Apparently Harrys doesnt have power steering either, which also has to make life just that bit more strenuous compared to wheel twirling in the others

[BliarOut]

Faster than a Shelby

[scotty_d]

They should have used a Chim

[Toma500]

Seen the article and read elsewhere that he had fitted some Hankook tyres dont know if these were on whensetting lap times but some Toyos wouldve been my choice , Also read the tyre test article and the hankooks faired pretty poorly. i wonder what tyres the mazda had on.

[Bluebottle]

dvs_dave said:

Seems about right I reckon. Griff will be quick on the straights but the Boxster will easily have it under braking and around the corners. Remember that the Griff is a 20yr old design verses a brand new car with road roller rubber, huge brakes and face stretching cornering abilities.

Sorry but, I've yet to see a cockster on track that could live with my Griff (pre-charger) i would expect a sorted Griff to be about 2 secs off Saggi pace...IRRC they did 1:24

[dvs_dave]

Bluebottle said:

dvs_dave said:

Seems about right I reckon. Griff will be quick on the straights but the Boxster will easily have it under braking and around the corners. Remember that the Griff is a 20yr old design verses a brand new car with road roller rubber, huge brakes and face stretching cornering abilities.

Sorry but, I've yet to see a cockster on track that could live with my Griff (pre-charger) i would expect a sorted Griff to be about 2 secs off Saggi pace...IRRC they did 1:24

......your no doubt far from standard Griff with trick suspension/brakes/tires with you driving, verses no doubt boggo cocksters with newbies at the helm.....

Definately something wrong with Metcalfe's Griff.

I think your Griff/Saggy comparison is rather optimistic too.

Edited by dvs_dave on Monday 28th June 19:22

[Byker28i]

Which MX-5 did they use? The new 2.0 litre 6 speed sports tech only has 160bhp, but the cornering speed is pretty special on it. It's very grippy and stable through corners but really needs to be worked hard to get the most out of it.

[Don1]

jimed said:

I've not seen the article but did hear that Harry Metcalfe's griff was in at X Works for some engine work last week - new cam I think. Based on that and assuming that was the car they used maybe it was a bit down on power?
Jim

Takes a bit more than a week to get an article and a magazine together... but interesting that it's being played with!

[Gazzab]

jimed said:

I've not seen the article but did hear that Harry Metcalfe's griff was in at X Works for some engine work last week - new cam I think. Based on that and assuming that was the car they used maybe it was a bit down on power?
Jim

I thought it had had new cams shortly before he bought it?

[brogenville]

On the whole I thought the article paints a pretty good picture of the griff. The premise of the article is that there was a debate in the evo office over which of the two cars would post a quicker lap, and given the grif wallops the mx5 with a 5(?) second faster lap time, I think face is certainly saved. Yeah, they say that the griff is hard wok to extract a quick lap from, but who cares, its not as if tvr's don't already have a reputation for unforgiving handling.

[lazyitus]

I think it's a pretty good article too. When you weigh up the fact that the 'ALL AMAZING' technology riddled Audi R8 is a mere 2 seconds quicker speaks volumes.

Long live the Griff and all who wrestle with her.

[900T-R]

That's about where I'd have placed a std Griffmaera. Still, looking at the company it finds itself in at that sort of lap time, it does give the lie to all the naysayers doesn't it?

[glow worm]

It's got some nice new manifolds to be fitted