A&Q about Lotus
Q:
I just finished up "Day 1 Training" at Jim Hall Kart Racing in Ventura, CA. I've never done anything like this, so it's still all really new to me.
On the drive home, it struck me just how similar the Elise is to these little karts. For example, the power-to-weight ratio is nearly identical. These karts had 16HP and weighed 150lbs. About 10lb/hp. The Elise weighs about 1900lbs and has 190HP...again about 10lb/hp. I found that the acceleration, braking, and general handling were very similar. The Elise is almost as spartan as a kart. Both are very low to the ground and have incredible grip.
Don't get me wrong though, there are differences. The karts are very raw and make the Elise seem smooth and refined. Steering the Elise after a karting day feels like driving a bus. And, you can go 70 in the Elise without feeling like things may just fly apart if you don't slow down. But overall, the handling seems very similar.
Just thought I'd share the experience with anyone who is wondering why people say it's like a go-kart.
A:
Originally Posted by benles
For example, the power-to-weight ratio is nearly identical. These karts had 16HP and weighed 150lbs. About 10lb/hp. The Elise weighs about 1900lbs and has 190HP...again about 10lb/hp.
Not exactly. Always add in your weight to both vehicles that you are comparing when doing power to weight. Redo both calculations above with your weight and you will find that the Elise power to weight is much better than the kart you were driving.
A:
"karting is the purest form of motor sports. The elise is not even close."
-Ayrton Senna
A:
Originally Posted by Dietrich
"karting is the purest form of motor sports. The elise is not even close."
-Ayrton Senna
Too bad he was dead before the Elise was even thought of...
A:
Originally Posted by Dietrich
"karting is the purest form of motor sports. The elise is not even close."
-Ayrton Senna
That may be the closest thing to blasphemy I've seen on a car board.
A:
Originally Posted by Dietrich
"karting is the purest form of motor sports. The elise is not even close."
-Ayrton Senna
I think what he meant to say is:
Originally Posted by What he meant to say
"Karting is the purest form of motor sports." -Ayrton Senna
The elise is not even close.
A:
On a track down here at Marina I think we were doing about 55 sec on the course. An instructor brought his kart and did a 42 sec. Only one to go across the finish line full brakes and sideways. And the only one to shift up three times on the straight where the rest of us were in second gear.
But. . . . .
The Lotus has to be one of the closest things to a kart that is built for the street.
have fun
Nick
A:
Originally Posted by benles
I just finished up "Day 1 Training" at Jim Hall Kart Racing in Ventura, CA. I've never done anything like this, so it's still all really new to me.
How was that ? I almost took it a few years ago but just did not have the time, was it worth it?
A:
Originally Posted by delise
How was that ? I almost took it a few years ago but just did not have the time, was it worth it?
From a technical isntruction standpoint, I don't think you can expect much better. We learned how/when to turn/brake/speed up. Learned about a few flag colors and signals. No advanced driving techniques, that comes on the Day 2 training. You don't race against anyone else, but you do find yourself comparing lap times even though it is a beginner class and not everyone is a beginner student.
From a self-esteem standpoint, it is a harder question for me to answer. I normally do very well in life, but I've never been the competitive type and martial arts is the closest thing to a "sport" I've done. My best lap time was the slowest of the group by about 10%. Normally I'm a pretty high achiever, so I guess I expected to do well and maybe it's good that I got knocked down a few notches
After a day of karting, my brain was just completely saturated from input and high speed motion. It was like that scene from Lawnmower Man where he learns everything in fast forward. The extent of this didn't really hit me until I got home. Normal activities like daylight, people talking, watching TV -- all were too annoying, I just had no room left to process anything. The best I could do was stare at a wall for the rest of the night and be numb. I couldn't even really get to sleep, but I wasn't really that awake either. It sound crazy, but I would not be surprised if you have a similar experience if you have not done this stuff before.
So today, the day after, I'm thinking: was yesterday the first time I really lived?
A:
Originally Posted by benles
I just had no room left to process anything. The best I could do was stare at a wall for the rest of the night and be numb. I couldn't even really get to sleep, but I wasn't really that awake either. It sound crazy, but I would not be surprised if you have a similar experience if you have not done this stuff before.
I suspect a lot of people know exactly what you're talking about. Add risking major damage to your Elise into the pile of things you'd have to deal with and you've pretty much described what a first HPDE event is like.
A:
You are correct, the Elise/Exige is the closest thing to karting you can get without a kart.
Trust me, I race karts very competitively (won the IKF Road Racing TaG Enduro National Championship this year, and just wrapped up the IKF Region 11 Tag Light Championship yesterday).
In fact yesterday at Thunderhill we were turning 2:08's which is about the same as the Lotus.
Although the karts definately pull more G's.