interesting reading from this PHeader
Discussion
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...
The Viper was undoubtly the quicker. The frustration was always the Mantis had quite a lot of potential but the factory (and the teams) never had the budget to exploit it, its probably one of the reasons its endured so well in things like BritCar. I always maintained it needed more castor as it suffered terrible understeer, partly the diff was perhaps too stiff but it was mainly chassis related. The teams just put more rake into the car (hence always having high rear ride heights) but it could have been cured really and it should have been loads quicker. In fact I was offered back my old car not long ago, the old Ohana Mantis which was the only proper GTO factory chassis, it later ended up with Glen Eagling and Tom Shrimpton drove it in 03 I think. Its wrapped up in a barn somewhere gathering dust!
Both were actually pretty crude in engineering terms, the Mantis particularly. The Viper was always quite exciting to drive, and despite the size of the engine and weight up front it could be driven on the throttle if it was set up well.
Probably the easiest GT I've ever driven was either the Z4 GT or the Aston N24 both are remarkable 24hr cars as they are comfortable and require so little hustling which is nice - 24 hrs in something like a Viper would be a different challenge altogther.
I must say I think I hark back to GT1 as the prime period for GT racing, the cars really were special. The F1 or Porsche GT1 at full chat are awesome to watch, sadly I've never had a chance to pedal either!
For me personally it might not be current, I was fortunate enough to drive an ex Sebring 365 Daytona which put my hairs on end. It wasn't super quick but it was a hell of an experience. Perhaps it was just the cost factor had it gone wrong that made it exciting!
Of contemporary cars, the DBRS9 is pretty special, although dated now it blew me away when I first drove it. The same actually for the original 996 GT3 RS that was a hell of an evolution from the GT3 R, the wide front track made it a much more balanced car. But its only based on what I've driven really and I'm sure there are better cars out there for sure!
Sadly these days I'm better off commenting on road cars and commutes to London but then life moves on!
The Viper was undoubtly the quicker. The frustration was always the Mantis had quite a lot of potential but the factory (and the teams) never had the budget to exploit it, its probably one of the reasons its endured so well in things like BritCar. I always maintained it needed more castor as it suffered terrible understeer, partly the diff was perhaps too stiff but it was mainly chassis related. The teams just put more rake into the car (hence always having high rear ride heights) but it could have been cured really and it should have been loads quicker. In fact I was offered back my old car not long ago, the old Ohana Mantis which was the only proper GTO factory chassis, it later ended up with Glen Eagling and Tom Shrimpton drove it in 03 I think. Its wrapped up in a barn somewhere gathering dust!
Both were actually pretty crude in engineering terms, the Mantis particularly. The Viper was always quite exciting to drive, and despite the size of the engine and weight up front it could be driven on the throttle if it was set up well.
Probably the easiest GT I've ever driven was either the Z4 GT or the Aston N24 both are remarkable 24hr cars as they are comfortable and require so little hustling which is nice - 24 hrs in something like a Viper would be a different challenge altogther.
I must say I think I hark back to GT1 as the prime period for GT racing, the cars really were special. The F1 or Porsche GT1 at full chat are awesome to watch, sadly I've never had a chance to pedal either!
For me personally it might not be current, I was fortunate enough to drive an ex Sebring 365 Daytona which put my hairs on end. It wasn't super quick but it was a hell of an experience. Perhaps it was just the cost factor had it gone wrong that made it exciting!
Of contemporary cars, the DBRS9 is pretty special, although dated now it blew me away when I first drove it. The same actually for the original 996 GT3 RS that was a hell of an evolution from the GT3 R, the wide front track made it a much more balanced car. But its only based on what I've driven really and I'm sure there are better cars out there for sure!
Sadly these days I'm better off commenting on road cars and commutes to London but then life moves on!
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