At first -----------
I seemed to be leaning toward the BRM to learn the circuits. It
was easy to drive and the sound was wonderful at full song.
Later I switched to the Eagle. Liked it, but something was
telling me I just didn't seem to like it THAT much.
Then I went to the Lotus.
WOW ------------ that S.O.B. flies, and went it is hooked up,
can really do wonders where the others were deficient.
I initially discounted the FERRARI at first and up to just the
last day or so. That sway in acceleration, and lack of "proper" road
manners turned me off. It sounded neat as hell, but "just 'cause it
sounds fast ---- doesn't mean it is gonna be".
Then a buddy of mine contacted me and pretty much confirmed the
same about the FERRARI, but really wanted to race it more rather than
the Murasama or Coventry or Brabham, etc., so I started fiddling with
it with conviction.
I found -----------
It seems to be MUCH MORE sensative to tire pressures than the
others, and with a bit more negative toe-in in front and positive
toe-in in rear, it starts that unstable sway and accelerates without
heating the edges of the tires unreasonably.
Changes in the sway bars ------------- giving it a bit more
understeer ----------------------- and fiddling with the tire
pressure, perhaps one pound more than you would feel is correct
---------- turns it into a LOTUS killer.
I wasn't able to get under 1:14's at the Glen with it at first
(admittedly I really wasn't looking for a lot of time with it in the
chassis adjustment department) ----------- but after a few hours and
making chassis and tire adjustment's ONE BY ONE -------- I got into
the low 1:09's with ease.
It is not as nervous as the Lotus, and takes the left hand sweeper
before the "BIG BEND wide open and even allows you to drift back and
forth the center crown of the road keeping the momentum at the utmost,
then brake even while turning into the bend a bit. Can't do that in
the Lotus without doing a PEGGY FLEMMING -------- :-)
As a kid ------------ I was a Jim Clark nut ------- he is STILL my
racing hero. And I always thought the Lotus was the absolute best in
engineering. Just look at what they were able to accomplish -----
INDIANAPOLIS -------- THE WEDGE LOTUS TURBINES -------- THE WEDGE 1970
GOLD LEAF LOTUS -------- of course it was lotus that really got the
attention of the INDY racers, even though Jack Brabham had been there
a few years earlier ----------------------- 1963 with Clark and Gurney
in the lotus Ford ----- the old timers finally started admitting the
rear engined cars were the way to go.
The formula one cars were the ones to beat until just reently.
Andretti won the Formula One World Championship in a JPS Lotus ------
and it was considered at least a year or two ahead in development than
everyone else.
BUT -----------------------------------------------------
This simulation is about 1967 ----------------------------------
And from where I stand ---------------------- Ferrari had a more
competitive machine (at least in GPL) than I first thought.
Everything aside ---------------- as much as I admire and love
the engineering and looks of the Lotus -------------------- I think I
have chosen the FERRARI as the GPL car I will work with and develop
from this point on.
Sure it has its quirks ---------- but so does the Lotus --------
but the Ferrari seems to be a bit simpler to drive without
complicating things too much.
I used to be a police officer ------------------ and the first
thing you learn in high speed driving is to relax as much as possible
and be smooth and do everything you can to be as uncomplicated in the
technique.
I think the Ferrari leaves more "brain Power" available to
concentrating on driving exclusively and loooking for the perfect
line, rather than putting out "fires" that seem to be constantly
happening in its behavior.
My opinion ------------------ for what it is worth,
Doug
