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Autocrossing an Elise and pics from the Mitty - Printable Version

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Autocrossing an Elise and pics from the Mitty - BLINGMW - 05-03-2005

Went to Road ATL on sunday to check out the Classic Motorsports Mitty. Heard they had some Elises to autocross, and a guy who wanted to buy my Fiero wheels/tires was there. So I took some cool pics, they really had some unique stuff there, and lots going on. Here's most of them, I'll link a few highlights later:

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2127296671

Anyway, as a big fan of mid-engine cars, the Elise seems pretty awesome. Sure enough, it was! :bow: They had a very small course set up, and you only got 2 runs. But it was enough to get a taste of the car, and the Lotus guys who brought them were knowledgable and pretty much acted like these things were already written off. :wink: Hell, I was surprised they weren't riding along and slapping your hand when you tried to shift hard or something.

So after watching the GRM and Lotus guys take a lap or two, and watching a few people pussy foot them around (you stood in line to do THAT? :roll: ), hoping they'd at least put a little heat in the tires for me, I finally got to hop in. Sure enough, these cars are really stipped down. About 1950lbs I think. Spartan door panels, no carpet, thin cloth racing style seats with only a slider, no recline. Getting in and out was pretty rough since the door sills were wide and higher than the seats and the wheel had no adjustments. But everything felt and looked solid, and it all made a whole lot of sense once in the driver's seat. Very functional and simplistic gauge layout, and the seat was plenty comfortable and put me in a perfect driving position. And I didn't even have to put the seat all the way back. I didn't feel cramped at all (I'm 6'2").

One BIG surprise to me, the pedals were out of control. Honestly, the gas pedal was maybe an inch wide, and there was not even enough space between the right edge of the brake pedal and the center tunnel for me to step on the gas with the sole of my tennis shoe. With an errant stomp, you could probably hit all three pedals at once. Confusedhock: For a race car? Sure! Great! For a street car, I thought this an odd choice, basically requiring either tiny feet, racing shoes, or bare feet.

Other than that, no gripes. I'd drive it every day if I could afford one. 8) So I twisted my foot to press the gas with the edge, ran the shifter through the gates a couple times (not Miata smooth, but pretty good and tight), tested my foot setup a little, found out the brake was initially disapointingly squishy, but then suddenly like an on/off switch (I think someone needed to bleed the brakes), and took off.

First dissapeared pretty quickly, short shifted into 2nd before the first left, down a little hill, a little sideways after a wet spot at the apex in the 2nd left, drift up the hill, fast right, 3 cone very tight slalom, I think I took out at least 2, plenty of power out even at mid RPMs, light brake, steer, rotate, dorifto, accel, brake, done. Sweet! I wanna go again! I would have done that all day if they'd let me. My 2nd time out I of course tightened it up a bit, went faster and took it a little easier on the cones.

I can say it's really like a big kart. Super fun and easy to control, great power, super brakes, very nimble, understeer, oversteer, sideways, you want it, just ask. I was really surprised that even on my first run, it inspired enough confidence that I could break it loose and bring it back without a thought. Being smooth would have taken some time, but it would have been so much fun. Of course, I thought.... for only a second... I could drive down this little hill, onto the track, do about a half lap, zoom through and out the pits, paddock, exit, main road, cya around suckers! :twisted: Maybe next time. In the meantime, someone buy me one!!!

And I even think they look awesome too! Tongue

- ScottyB - 05-03-2005

nice writeup Chan, i'm pretty jealous seeing as how that car is on my top 5 list!

- JohnC - 05-03-2005

I'm jealous of Chan, for once Wink

- CaptainHenreh - 05-03-2005

ScottyB Wrote:nice writeup Chan, i'm pretty jealous seeing as how that car is on my top 5 list!

Same for me. I want an Elise desperately.

Or a VX220. That'd be even cooler.

- JackoliciousLegs - 05-03-2005

ehhh... i'd take the elise over the vx220 after reading about them and seeing the reviews. If I had 40k to toss in a toy.. i wouldn't pick anythig else?

- CaptainHenreh - 05-03-2005

JackoliciousLegs Wrote:ehhh... i'd take the elise over the vx220 after reading about them and seeing the reviews. If I had 40k to toss in a toy.. i wouldn't pick anythig else?

So you'd pick the peaky 1.8 liter high strung sissy engine over the 2.2L turbocharged ecotec?

Oh, wait, you drive a rotary. The torque of the Celica motor would probably blow your mind.

- G.Irish - 05-03-2005

Neither. K20A. Then if that didn't kill me, supercharger Smile

I was debating whether I should've drove down for this, glad I didn't because I would've been pissed I only got two runs. Either way, it sounds like the car is all we dreamed it would be. I think I might pick one up in the medium distant future Smile

- .RJ - 05-03-2005

G.Irish Wrote:I think I might pick one up in the medium distant future Smile

NSX! NSX! NSX!

- JackoliciousLegs - 05-03-2005

CaptainHenreh Wrote:So you'd pick the peaky 1.8 liter high strung sissy engine over the 2.2L turbocharged ecotec?
For some reason, the Lotus pulls more Gs and is more agile. I'm also not a huge fan of GM. I'd much rather a japanese powerplant.

- .RJ - 05-03-2005

You know the VX220 was engineered in partnership with Lotus, right?

- BLINGMW - 05-04-2005

sorry, wetoddid was crapping out on me when I wanted to post some pics, just wanted to make sure you didn't miss this one:

[Image: wOTA2NTA2NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

ok, and a few more for those too lazy for imagestation

VALVE COVER racing! What a great idea. I'd never heard of this one. Think... pinewood derby. It was fun to watch, maybe worth a try at some future party/event?:
[Image: wOTA2NTA3NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

These ones were BLING, the red one was full of lead shot and had full suspension! Confusedhock:
[Image: wOTA2NTQ4NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

I like these. Probably cause they're like Japanese E30's. :lol:
[Image: wOTA2NTA4NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

Another lotus I'd consider:
[Image: wOTA2NTA5NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

I've never even seen a Ginetta. It's like, a non-gay Miata or what?
[Image: wOTA2NTI1NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

That little red button between the tach and speedo looks like it'd be SUPER useful for on-track emergencies!
[Image: wOTA2NTI2NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

This gold Lancia was REALLY nice IMHO:
[Image: wOTA2NTI3NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

Just cause John said something nice about me: Tongue
[Image: wOTA2NTI0NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

Yes, there were some neat race cars there too. I was too tied up in the bling to spectate the races. :oops: Here's a pic I snapped on the way out of a familiar looking Nissan: (yes, my camera sucks for high speed shots, thanks for noticing)
[Image: wOTA2NTI4NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

- Mike - 05-04-2005

BLINGMW Wrote:Just cause John said something nice about me: Tongue
[Image: wOTA2NTI0NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

so you pooped on the lip of a 300zx and took a pic of it? so sweet.

- BLINGMW - 05-05-2005

heh, what IS that? I didn't even notice. Good eye for poop Mike.

- ScottyB - 05-05-2005

those lancias are intense. i think the one on the right is the 037 rally homologation car from the gruppe B era, no? anyway it makes me hot and bothered.

- BLINGMW - 05-05-2005

ScottyB Wrote:those lancias are intense. i think the one on the right is the 037 rally homologation car from the gruppe B era, no? anyway it makes me hot and bothered.

yeah.... that's the problem, I don't know classic cars at all. :oops: If you say so, sure! I just wandered around and asked questions when I could, but I hardly ever knew what I was looking at. If a whole bunch of people raised their heads and were like "ooooh..." when something pulled up, I figured it was picture worthy. :lol: