Heh, heh, heh!

HilfigerCelica said:
Every vehicle drives differently. Maybe you're just used to mid-engine cars, Buck-O?
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I don't know, I think Buck-O isn't "just used to mid-engine cars" but rather his assesment is right on the money. It reflects what I have read in other literature and seen on TV in comparison tests (Car and Driver etc.). But then of course my only actual driving experience in a Viper is from Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec.
 
HilfigerCelica said:
Every vehicle drives differently. Maybe you're just used to mid-engine cars, Buck-O?
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No, not really. The cars i picked above where what i would choose as alternatives withen the same catagory of cars, that IMHO are far superior in handling, and balance. With the 911 GT3 being my number one pick. Almost anyone could drive a 911 GT3 at speed, and get a decent lap time. A skilled driver can make one fly around the track. The F360 fits the same bill. Except what the GT3 does in brute force, the 360 does with finesse. Overall though, th GT3 is the faster of the two.



As for what im used to, mostly FF cars. I come from a Honda background, and i feel most at home in an FF car. FR is my next most comfortable layout. But it varys so much from car to car in balance that its not always the case. MR and RR are tied for my least comfortable. Its not that im uncomfortable in them, but they require a bit more concentration, becuase they can bite you in the butt so quick if you stop paying attention.

But most importantly, aside from driveline layout, setup is everything. A slow car can have a nice balanced setup and lap just about anything. And as with the viper, powerful car, no balance, and it handles like crud. And driving ability doesnt hurt either. ;)
 
IndigoGTI said:




Oh, and Scott, how long are your sons staying with you?
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They will be here until late July. It is weird having them here in the summer since they lived with me during the school year for about 10 years. They decided to go live with their mom since she remarried and their grandmother also lives in the same home, so there is always someone home. With me, they came home to an empty house after school and were really too young to work effectively with me on weekends. I can understand how hard that was on them and since their mother is a lot more stable than she was, I let the boys make up their own mind on where they wanted to live, even though legally, I still have primary custody.
 
Scottwax said:
They will be here until late July. It is weird having them here in the summer since they lived with me during the school year for about 10 years. They decided to go live with their mom since she remarried and their grandmother also lives in the same home, so there is always someone home. With me, they came home to an empty house after school and were really too young to work effectively with me on weekends. I can understand how hard that was on them and since their mother is a lot more stable than she was, I let the boys make up their own mind on where they wanted to live, even though legally, I still have primary custody.
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Wow, I admire you for letting your sons do that. If I had asked my mother to let me live with my dad, there is no way she would have let me. Sad to say, but she was just too petty to let me do something like that. Anyway, that is a whole other conversation, sorry to get OT there.
 
stanger99 said:
Ok, now i'm jealous. How did you get to drive all of those cars and did you have to serve any time for it:p
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Boy, well, this is kind along but ill give you the uber quick version.



Back in the 60's my dad was big into sports car racing. That got me started into the whole scene. When i was growing up i learn alot about suspension setup, and engine tuning. When i got into highschool i took a vocational skills class to learn machining, and then got an aprenticeship to a tuner shop doing custom CNC work. I learn alot, and met ALOT of people. More on that later.

When i turned 16 and got my drivers licence, i got my SCCA Club licence the week later. And by 18 i held an SCCA Pro-Licence, and an International B licence for Group-N. So i had decent credentials for driving a car at speed.

Once i got out of highschool, and started working for the school district as an networking tech, i started to build my project car. Which most of the parts came from the machine shop i worked at in highschool. Through the people i met there, i met up with a guy in california who used to work for Comptech. After all was said and done, i had a fair number of the components from the Comptech 1st gen Acura Integra IMSA Trouring-D (basicly FIA Group-A) sitting under my hood. On my time off from work, i would run PIR, Willow Springs, SIR, Sears Point, Leguna Seca, and California Speedway on open track days. Needless to say when you have a first gen integra out there putting heat on 944's...people notice. So it opened up the oportunity to meet new people, and swap keys for a chance to see what the other person brought to the track.

THEN, once one of my best friends got a job working at microsoft, we met new people, and got some new friends to go to open track days with, with some more exotic rides to play with. And the ability to walk into Park Place motors and say "Yes, could i take that Catterham R500 for a spin around the block." And have them hand us the keys.



I did that up untill two years ago. Becuase i didnt have the money to renew any of my racing licences, and alot of the people i knew moved back down to California. Or they lost their jobs, same as i did.

No money = no go fast goodies = no track time

I do ocasionally meet up with some old friends and drive some new stuff around. Mostly all microsoft people that ive met through my friend.

So yeah, there you have it.



P.S. - Yes i know thats hella gappy, but if you want more info, jsut ask, id be happy to fill it in. Probibly best to do through PM, cause ive totally hijacked Scotts thread.
 
Final Hi-jacking, then back to the topic at hand. :)



I've driven a Hennesey Viper Venom 650 GTS, and I have to admit that the car feels huge in all aspects. True, it accelerates like mad, but Buck-o is dead-on accurate about the braking, handling, turn-in, etc. It takes some *real* talent to drive one of those things effectively.



While interviewing Jay Leno, I asked him about exotic cars like Lamborghini's and the like. His comment was: "I've had them, and I hated every second with them. You can't drive the things - take my driveway, for example. I don't have a steep driveway by any means, but because the way they designed the nose, every time I pulled in to my driveway, I'd rip something off the front end. After dumping close to $30,000 in new nose dangly's, I sold the thing. They're cool to look at, but that's where the cool stops."



(Direct quote from my tape recorder)



Back to oggling pictures. :D
 
Steve-the guy who owns the Lamborghini has already had the front end repainted because of all the stone chips he gets since it sits so low. He really doesn't drive it all that often, the Bentley and Escalade EXT get driven a lot more. He must like the car though, it is his second one. My only real beef is that the clutch is very stiff so it would be a real bear in traffic.
 
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