What's an Ultima

[scaryx50]

When I rolled up at the RAF Huntingdon track day/VMAX, people were talking about these cars like they were some kind of deity. So I bumbled round on the warm up lap following one some way ahead of me (great big scary flames from exhaust on overrun) , and as we settled into the last corner of the first lap it suddenly struck me, he really was trying!! Well I said to myself, this is not what my Top Trumps cards say should happen.
So, I overtook it, so I could say that I had overtaken an Ultima (before it would likely whip me on the main straight). But blow me down as the X50 INCREASED the gap on the straight.
It was the same story with the other Ultima and with my RS29 pads the braking was significantly better.
This continued and my overriding feeling is not one of oneupmanship, but of great admiration for the X50. Incidentally on the Vmax 2 x Ultimas @ approx 171 mph on the limiter, me at 174, Fezza stradale 168, Nissan Skyline 850 hp 189.

All in a "family car" ,(well I picked up my wife and two kids afterwards and drove home).
I can't think of many cars which are such all round fun. I'll drink to that. Prost.

(luckyp & peterpsg from the Ultima forum, nice meeting you and hope your phone call to American Speed goes well luckyp (smily))

[willdew]

They can have all sorts of engines, in all sorts of states of tune.

This is a link to their "world record" page on their web site:
www.ultimasports.co.uk/records/

I imagine this one's "nippy" too: www.pistonheads.com/sales/96029.htm

Some of the slower ones may well not be as fast as an upgraded 911 Turbo. It's important to keep this in perspective - you own a very fast car by almost every standard. It's very much up to the owner/builder of the Ultima to spec his engine, brakes and suspension etc to his (her?) choosing.

Edited by willdew on Monday 25th September 17:28

[GTWayne]

scaryx50 said:

This continued and my overriding feeling is not one of one-upmanship, but of great admiration for the X50.

Undoubtedly a fantastic machine you have there but I think that should WE ever find ourselves in a similar environment you may well think a little differently (about the Ultima I mean). Compared to a standard TT, your x50 is indeed quite special (as if you needed telling!) but this is also so for the Ultima with the spec only limited by the builders intentions.
My Ultima GTW has 650 bhp, 611 ftlbs and will accelerate from 0-100 in six seconds and will max out at over 200mph. As fast as it may be, I very much doubt that your x50 will match that. Don't get me wrong, I do not wish to brag, I am only making the point that on the day, your car was in a higher state of tune compared to standard than either Ultima present. I hasten to add that although I own an Ultima, I also own a Porker and think they are fantastic pieces of kit.

Edited by GTWayne on Monday 25th September 20:57

[bluesatin]

I am fortunate enough to own an x50 and an ultima. In day to day terms on the road the x50 is quicker but at vmax the ultima accelerates a lot quicker but will hit rev limit (around 175-180) while the x50 will do 180+. Have to say on the bends the ultima is a lot quicker and the brakes are in a different world in the ultima- ask anybody that has been for a ride at Bruntingthorpe and they will mention the brakes rather than the acceleration.