MX-5 canes Noble in Alps!!
Discussion
After Le Mans had a gentle (not!) blast through the Alps. Was delighted to find that it was quicker to the king of all mountain passes - Stelvio (think Italian Job) - than a Noble in the same convoy!
After a couple of hairpins I let the Noble through, two later I had overtaken, leaving the remaining 44 (yes, 44!) hairpins at the 5's mercy. At the top I was at least 5 bends ahead of Leicestershire's finest! Whilst I'd like to put some of the difference down to driver ability, in reality it was totally down to the car - good lock and ground clearance, great "flick-ability" - easy to hang the tail out, great balance, slick gearchange and fantastic steering.
If anyone is off to do some serious driving in some of the best roads anywhere, you would be hard pressed to beat an MX-5, faster/larger GTs/supercars are well and truly trounced.
David and Goliath?!
After a couple of hairpins I let the Noble through, two later I had overtaken, leaving the remaining 44 (yes, 44!) hairpins at the 5's mercy. At the top I was at least 5 bends ahead of Leicestershire's finest! Whilst I'd like to put some of the difference down to driver ability, in reality it was totally down to the car - good lock and ground clearance, great "flick-ability" - easy to hang the tail out, great balance, slick gearchange and fantastic steering.
If anyone is off to do some serious driving in some of the best roads anywhere, you would be hard pressed to beat an MX-5, faster/larger GTs/supercars are well and truly trounced.
David and Goliath?!
Sortie 10 said:Sounds like all the top qualities of the Noble. I'd still say it was down to the driver
in reality it was totally down to the car - good lock and ground clearance, great "flick-ability" - easy to hang the tail out, great balance, slick gearchange and fantastic steering.
Sortie10 - loose lips sink ships! I've only just read this.
However, the fact remains that my Noble was well and truly trounced going up the North side of Stelvio by Jim's MX5. Driver it may have been (probably in fact!) but short of whipping the back around on the handbrake/power the boat like turning circle of the Noble just couldn't get around the tighter hairpins without three pointing some of them... Sadly, my gonads proved not to be the requisite melon/football size to start swinging my engine end around with nearly bottomless drops merely inches away..
A cruel person would say that I would have been better off in the mondeo donor car. But the superb long sweeping corners at the bottom of the hill and the max speed run on the autobahn later restored my faith in Noble performance..
There had better be a pint waiting for me next time I come down to cider drinking land Jimmer my lad...
>> Edited by miken on Thursday 8th July 18:16
I've only just read this. However, the fact remains that my Noble was well and truly trounced going up the North side of Stelvio by Jim's MX5. Driver it may have been (probably in fact!) but short of whipping the back around on the handbrake/power the boat like turning circle of the Noble just couldn't get around the tighter hairpins without three pointing some of them... Sadly, my gonads proved not to be the requisite melon/football size to start swinging my engine end around with nearly bottomless drops merely inches away..
A cruel person would say that I would have been better off in the mondeo donor car. But the superb long sweeping corners at the bottom of the hill and the max speed run on the autobahn later restored my faith in Noble performance..
There had better be a pint waiting for me next time I come down to cider drinking land Jimmer my lad...
>> Edited by miken on Thursday 8th July 18:16
Chris, it must have been the altitude at 1.75 miles high (2758 metres) playing havoc with my turbos..
Couldn't in any way have been the drivers fault. Oh No. Thats a definite. Without doubt. 100% Fact
The MX5 impressed me all through the drive down to LM and after - missing some grunt in overtakes maybe, but when it came to the twisty bits its nimbleness and balance really allowed even an average driver to make rapid progress..
Couldn't in any way have been the drivers fault. Oh No. Thats a definite. Without doubt. 100% Fact
The MX5 impressed me all through the drive down to LM and after - missing some grunt in overtakes maybe, but when it came to the twisty bits its nimbleness and balance really allowed even an average driver to make rapid progress..
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