On Track with the noble

On Track with the noble

Author
Discussion

steveobes

Original Poster:

631 posts

186 months

Wednesday 11th November 2015
quotequote all
Having owned my noble for about six years iv always thought of getting it "on track".
However the thought of binning it or breaking down on the day has always put me off.
Last year i did a few laps of Bedford in my sons mx5 and thought it was well organized
with loads of free space and not as scarey as i thought.
Finally took the plunge and booked Brands in Febuary this year.
Fantastic day with no issues dispite having road tyres.
Since then i have done Rockingham twice, Blyton Park on a cobra day, again without any issues
apart from power steering fluid foaming up which iv cured by using a higher grade fluid.
Did Brands again on monday with some federal rsr semi slick tyres and the amout of grip was to me
amazing.
So five track days with travelling to and from track [driving hard on track] no issues at all.
Havn`t even changed pads.
What car can even come close to that?
This car just seems to get better n better.
So if your unsure about getting your Noble on track please give it a go.
Its just bloody fantastic.
Steve

sundance002

1,304 posts

171 months

Wednesday 11th November 2015
quotequote all
Hi Steve,
You just summed the Noble on track up perfectly, As I remember my first time on track other than karting tracks, was in my escort Mexico,
I had butterflies all night and coukd not sleep, drove tbere thinking! No worry can always just watch,got there drove 3 laps like my gran, then turned into a speed demon lol, loved every minute.
The reason I share that with you?
The first time I took my Noble on track at Snetterton, I drove like my gran all day, lol, the second time I took it in Spain Ascari,running 635 hp I topped the time sheats all day against some tough compatition.
The Noble inspires confidence, drive within your limit and no matter what your driving standard you will have a fantastic day.
Good on you mate for taking the plunge, its really sonething you should try when owning a Noble,
Even if its only once. :-)

steveobes

Original Poster:

631 posts

186 months

Wednesday 11th November 2015
quotequote all
Cheers for that reply
Just needed to let it all out lol

stevegto3

428 posts

144 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Steve you are not the only one!! for years ive been trying to pluck up the courage to take the noble on track and did so this year at brands (in the pouring rain!!)

Ive realised life is too short and its too easy to say no all the time. The noble was great, loved every minute of it - of course i was worried i would bin it or it break it, but sometimes you need to throw caution to the wind snd go for it!

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
I love being on track with mine and have done nearly 50 track days , Spa is amazing in a Noble and on a sunny day Silverstone GP takes some beating !!!! Where and tear seems minimal with tyres and brakes lasting a full year no problem !!
Get some tuition if you get chance , dampers , tyres and driver training will bring you the best improvements on lap times .
Careful with the upgrades it becomes a slippery slope biggrinbiggrin


macky17

2,220 posts

196 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Still trying to pluck up the courage - partly because I don't want to ruin my car and partly because I know I'll love it and it will become my new, favourite (expensive) hobby.

Not that it matters - just willy waving ultimately - but I've always wondered how quick a standard M400 would be in the hands of a proper driver against modern competition. Surely it would annihilate even the most track-focused of these new hot hatches? What about a GT3-RS? I'm guessing most of you fellas with the balls and experience to know have modded your cars into the stratosphere and can't remember how quick (slow?) the standard car is!

Adrian W

14,414 posts

235 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
macky17 said:
Still trying to pluck up the courage - partly because I don't want to ruin my car and partly because I know I'll love it and it will become my new, favourite (expensive) hobby.

Not that it matters - just willy waving ultimately - but I've always wondered how quick a standard M400 would be in the hands of a proper driver against modern competition. Surely it would annihilate even the most track-focused of these new hot hatches? What about a GT3-RS? I'm guessing most of you fellas with the balls and experience to know have modded your cars into the stratosphere and can't remember how quick (slow?) the standard car is!
A current GT3-RS (if you could find one) would slaughter an M400

andygtt

8,345 posts

271 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Adrian W said:
macky17 said:
Still trying to pluck up the courage - partly because I don't want to ruin my car and partly because I know I'll love it and it will become my new, favourite (expensive) hobby.

Not that it matters - just willy waving ultimately - but I've always wondered how quick a standard M400 would be in the hands of a proper driver against modern competition. Surely it would annihilate even the most track-focused of these new hot hatches? What about a GT3-RS? I'm guessing most of you fellas with the balls and experience to know have modded your cars into the stratosphere and can't remember how quick (slow?) the standard car is!
A current GT3-RS (if you could find one) would slaughter an M400
The current GT3-RS is something of a beast and is a lot more powerful than a stock M400 and thus is a lot faster smile

However lets not forget, a stock noble of all pedigree is still silly fast... just the latest batch of modern sportscars are just mental lol

Mine is still faster 0-150mph than a 918 or leferrari etc so Im safe until we get to the corners lol

Jarcy

1,559 posts

282 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Adrian W said:
macky17 said:
Still trying to pluck up the courage - partly because I don't want to ruin my car and partly because I know I'll love it and it will become my new, favourite (expensive) hobby.

Not that it matters - just willy waving ultimately - but I've always wondered how quick a standard M400 would be in the hands of a proper driver against modern competition. Surely it would annihilate even the most track-focused of these new hot hatches? What about a GT3-RS? I'm guessing most of you fellas with the balls and experience to know have modded your cars into the stratosphere and can't remember how quick (slow?) the standard car is!
A current GT3-RS (if you could find one) would slaughter an M400
I was on track with the brand new GT3-RS at the recent Silverstone PH Sunday Service.
I waved as he passed me! wavey

- Mine is a standard power 3R.
Though I'm starting to think that it's the wrong side of 400bhp for ultimate track enjoyment.

macky17

2,220 posts

196 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Jarcy said:
I was on track with the brand new GT3-RS at the recent Silverstone PH Sunday Service.
I waved as he passed me! wavey

- Mine is a standard power 3R.
Though I'm starting to think that it's the wrong side of 400bhp for ultimate track enjoyment.
Noble's low mass must count for something though. New cars are pretty obese. Must be quicker than a GT4 surely. What about the 997 Porsches?

steveobes

Original Poster:

631 posts

186 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Simon
Had a bit of instruction at start of session, bur to be honest it was still a bit damp
to push car really,but it was great to be shown proper lines to take.
Too many cars on track all day which was a bit entertaining.
Managed to get a 57 second run which I was happy with.
Im sure with a proper driver this would be a lot lower.
Still braking far to early at paddock hill, really don't know how fast
a noble can take that bend really.
Just interested how you felt in TIME ATTACK going down that bend in your monster.
Steve

Jarcy

1,559 posts

282 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
macky17 said:
Jarcy said:
I was on track with the brand new GT3-RS at the recent Silverstone PH Sunday Service.
I waved as he passed me! wavey

- Mine is a standard power 3R.
Though I'm starting to think that it's the wrong side of 400bhp for ultimate track enjoyment.
Noble's low mass must count for something though. New cars are pretty obese. Must be quicker than a GT4 surely. What about the 997 Porsches?
I'm not a great Porsche aficionado, so couldn't tell a 996 from a 998, but I did pass the other 911s on track at the time. Not sure whether that was down to car performance or just the drivers taking it easy.

Adrian W

14,414 posts

235 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
steveobes said:
Simon
Had a bit of instruction at start of session, bur to be honest it was still a bit damp
to push car really,but it was great to be shown proper lines to take.
Too many cars on track all day which was a bit entertaining.
Managed to get a 57 second run which I was happy with.
Im sure with a proper driver this would be a lot lower.
Still braking far to early at paddock hill, really don't know how fast
a noble can take that bend really.
Just interested how you felt in TIME ATTACK going down that bend in your monster.
Steve
57 seconds around brands Indy in a road car is nothing to be ashamed of

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Adrian W said:
steveobes said:
Simon
Had a bit of instruction at start of session, bur to be honest it was still a bit damp
to push car really,but it was great to be shown proper lines to take.
Too many cars on track all day which was a bit entertaining.
Managed to get a 57 second run which I was happy with.
Im sure with a proper driver this would be a lot lower.
Still braking far to early at paddock hill, really don't know how fast
a noble can take that bend really.
Just interested how you felt in TIME ATTACK going down that bend in your monster.
Steve
57 seconds around brands Indy in a road car is nothing to be ashamed of
Well got to admit it was pretty scary !!! First time I had ever driven brands but I loved it and pushed pretty hard , managed a 53.707 in the final but think there was a bit more , a trip into the gravel at the hairpin slowed me down a touch !! 57 is a great lap time .



Edited by TuxMan on Thursday 12th November 19:50

steveobes

Original Poster:

631 posts

186 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
At least you know you were pushing on a bit lol.
That gravel gets everywhere. I know .
Mines only a 2.5 [slightly tweeked] with standard dampers n springs so with all your guys kind comments
just proves that these cars are really something else as standard.
going to change gear shift this winter with the m400 set up as mine is so sloppy.
Might change dampers and springs as body roll could be a bit tighter.
Good luck to all you Noble racers next year.

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Steve , it's been a brilliant experience this year , Brands was an awesome track and I loved a very lap !! It rewards a well balanced car and is not a power circuit so I only used low boost (500bhp)
For Next year Time Attack has introduced a control tyre so I've got to go over to Pirelli which I'm disappointed about as I've never used them before .