R35 gtr

[grahamjc]

I think you've got too much money Graham.

If only that was the case........... I just have a very understanding lady in my life

 

[grahamjc]

Just back from dropping the car off for its new wrap at PWPro.... its not a colour collecting on Saturday. They will also be detailing the interior and the engine bay.

And a new set of R888Rs have been ordered.

 

[grahamjc]

Completed another day at Goodwood, was an awesome day out! Went with a friend, he took his Renault megane track slag and his 730bhp GTR, we took the MX5 and our 650bhp GTR. There was another MX5 there....

The SCd MX5 is absolutely awesome it was so quick on the day, surprised so many cars! Kept catching a 500bhp Jag passed a Porsche Boxster GTS. Also surprised some AMG mercs, all of which were quicker on the straights, but stood no chance in the corners. In fact, the car handled so well, that I am tempted to put the rails and braces on hold and only adding the ARBs. Semi slicks will be a great addition to this car, once the current tyres die.

However there is now an interesting issue where when hot and corning hard, the power is cut and then half a second later its back... not the best feeling when pushing on through a corner!

Some videos
Supercharged MX5
http://vid920.photobucket.com/album...F-7663-436B-8C0D-9595F02DDC79_zps1uvyzfu7.mp4

Short-shifting GTR
http://vid920.photobucket.com/album...oodwood Track Day 07/IMG_6481_zpsam2xxtqu.mp4

GTRs swapping places
http://vid920.photobucket.com/album...oodwood Track Day 07/IMG_6489_zpspoa04ked.mp4

 

[grahamjc]

Car has since had the R888Rs fitted, a lot less noise and great in the warm weather..... waiting for the first patch of rain

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Looks a good day, any lap times?

 

[grahamjc]

unofficial, but I was consistently at 1:40 with the MX5....

nothing for the GTR

 

[grahamjc]

mel was consistent with 1:50s in the mx5, she still has a lot to learn and she short shifts a little too much, but she is gaining confidence in the car and is still really enjoying it all.

The idea is that once she is closer to my lap times it will mean that she is pushing hard, so we will take the car off the road for a winter and strip, full cage, rebuild everything, remove whats not needed, seam weld, etc, etc. Hoping for Nov/Dec next year. Will also do proper coilovers and maybe brakes (stock ones are doing very well considering how many sessions we do in this car and the power it runs compared to standard)

 

[grahamjc]

ASDA Day this weekend I get to scare people that have never been in a GTR around Bruntingthorpe.

 

[Woody928]

Sounds like you having a lot of fun with the GTR! I just read through the whole thread, glad to see the cars getting some proper use rather than just posing away and never getting to stretch its legs. My next door neighbour has an R35 which I've been out before in, and I can honestly say that I've never been out in something as fast as that car on the road ever. The performance is mind boggling to say the least.... Seriously impressive bit of kit.

My only questions to you is, do you not think its too fast for the road? I'm still waiting to receive my Z so can't compare the two, however I've got an MR2 Turbo which is fully setup running about 280hp on stock boost and I couldn't imagine wanting anything faster for the public roads.... Interestingly on twisty B roads I can comfortably hold my own and he wouldn't come past, however as soon as the road opens up the GTR can make it look as though I'm not even moving! I love a bit of track time as well, however unfortunately finance limits me for doing it as much as I'd quite like to.

Cool collection you've got there anyway, glad to see you've got appreciation from cars from completely different eras

Also meant to ask where abouts are you in Surrey? nice to know there's some Z's local to me.

 

[grahamjc]

Sounds like you having a lot of fun with the GTR! I just read through the whole thread, glad to see the cars getting some proper use rather than just posing away and never getting to stretch its legs. My next door neighbour has an R35 which I've been out before in, and I can honestly say that I've never been out in something as fast as that car on the road ever. The performance is mind boggling to say the least.... Seriously impressive bit of kit.

My only questions to you is, do you not think its too fast for the road? I'm still waiting to receive my Z so can't compare the two, however I've got an MR2 Turbo which is fully setup running about 280hp on stock boost and I couldn't imagine wanting anything faster for the public roads.... Interestingly on twisty B roads I can comfortably hold my own and he wouldn't come past, however as soon as the road opens up the GTR can make it look as though I'm not even moving! I love a bit of track time as well, however unfortunately finance limits me for doing it as much as I'd quite like to.

Cool collection you've got there anyway, glad to see you've got appreciation from cars from completely different eras

Also meant to ask where abouts are you in Surrey? nice to know there's some Z's local to me.

I love to drive all my cars The GTR is by far the best car I have owned, it can do so much, still be comfortable and easy to drive. My missus drives it all the time.

Yes, the car is too fast for the road and too heavy for the track but its still great fun! If I am close to rev limiter in 3rd gear, Im hitting 100 mph saying that, the GTR has saved me a few times on motorways, where a truck has just decided to move over, etc. Id rather have the power and not need it, than need it and not have it

Its too big and heavy for the twisty b roads, the GTR after all is a GT car, but oh man when it can stretch its legs Until you get a GTR on track, most will not understand how good it actually is.

Oddly, I prefer the MX5 (supercharged, suspension, half cage, seats) for out-n-out track, but I am overly careful with the GTR as I know what the costs will be In the MX5, I just dont care.... so long as I can walk away. On track, the MX5 will keep up with the GTR through tight and twisty sections, but on the open sections the GTR accelerates so well and can carry a lot that speed through the more open flowing corners.

Oh yes, I love a good mix of cars wait till you see the next project..... once 240 and escort are done and escort is sold.

 

[grahamjc]

I used to live in Bletchingley, but as of June I live in London

 

[Woody928]

Sounds like your a complete petrolhead as well!

Yeah you can see how it earned the name Godzilla. Thats where its never really made much sense to me, as it doesn't really suit either world particularly well. Don't get me wrong its an incredible bit of engineering and some thing to be marvelled at, and nothing can come close to the price point but I've never really lusted after one.

I can understand wanting more power and not needing it, just having the piece of mind that its there. It can certainly get you out of trouble as quickly as it can get you into it. The track is the only lace you can safely use the car to be honest. However not enough people have the necessary skill/talent to properly exploit its limits at a circuit either (no disrespect intended without knowing your driving capabilities). I've had a few track days where people have monstered me in a GTR on the straights and then haven't been able to corner for toffee and I've been all over them and it starts again.

The MX5 will be a hoot that you don't have to worry about, and won't cost the world to run so makes perfect sense. I never fully appreciated them until I spent a drifting day in one and it was just hilariously fun to drive. I've got a lot of time for them, very different car to my MR2. Far for of a tail out fun car then serious lap time vehicle but that's why its great.

Haha I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's never content. I read through your 240Z thread and its looking the business. I'm glad to see your restoring it properly for many years of use ahead. Have you decided on the colour yet?

Not too far away from me then, I'm in a little place called Hinchley Wood if you've ever heard of it? Its just down the road form Surbiton and Kingston, also 5 mins from Hampton Court. Are there ever any local meets? Would be great to meet some people and see a few other cars for inspiration.

 

[uk66fastback]

Last Christmas the wife bought me a Red Letter Driving Experience which was four cars at the track of my choice and a couple of laps in each ...

Last week I did it having luckily got a dryish day in the middle of some wettish ones. When I was choosing on the phone upon booking which cars to have I plumped for the usual ones, Audi R8, Lambo Gallardo etc and a Porsche 997 for good measure but was stuck on the fourth one.

Was I approaching retirement and fancied the Aston, nah, prancing horse maybe, not for me. So I thought I'd go for the GTR. So glad I did as after driving all four of them, the GTR was the pic by a long way with the Lambo last!

I did drive it like Miss Daisy though ... not paying the extra for the all-encompassing insurance and my first time driving anything with this amount of grunt on a track and I turned into my nan.

Embarrassingly so.

It was the last car of the four and by that time I'd at least got used to the layout of the track. Having a co-driver who encouraged me to floor it did help which is probably why I enjoyed these two laps the most. Didn't gave the cajonies to drive it as he wanted though ... maybe next time.

But I don't mind showing you a vid of it! Came straight home and searched the web for one I could afford - sadly there wasn't one. I was wearing my 240z T-shirt on the day which got a few comments - one of the instructors asked me a few questions on the way round ... I obviously wasn't going fast enough to stop the conversation. But they say, it isn't a race, it's a 'Driving Experience'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaaZWqDwBYY

 

[grahamjc]

Sounds like your a complete petrolhead as well!

Yeah you can see how it earned the name Godzilla. Thats where its never really made much sense to me, as it doesn't really suit either world particularly well. Don't get me wrong its an incredible bit of engineering and some thing to be marvelled at, and nothing can come close to the price point but I've never really lusted after one.

I can understand wanting more power and not needing it, just having the piece of mind that its there. It can certainly get you out of trouble as quickly as it can get you into it. The track is the only lace you can safely use the car to be honest. However not enough people have the necessary skill/talent to properly exploit its limits at a circuit either (no disrespect intended without knowing your driving capabilities). I've had a few track days where people have monstered me in a GTR on the straights and then haven't been able to corner for toffee and I've been all over them and it starts again.

The MX5 will be a hoot that you don't have to worry about, and won't cost the world to run so makes perfect sense. I never fully appreciated them until I spent a drifting day in one and it was just hilariously fun to drive. I've got a lot of time for them, very different car to my MR2. Far for of a tail out fun car then serious lap time vehicle but that's why its great.

Haha I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's never content. I read through your 240Z thread and its looking the business. I'm glad to see your restoring it properly for many years of use ahead. Have you decided on the colour yet?

Not too far away from me then, I'm in a little place called Hinchley Wood if you've ever heard of it? Its just down the road form Surbiton and Kingston, also 5 mins from Hampton Court. Are there ever any local meets? Would be great to meet some people and see a few other cars for inspiration.

Always loved cars, but for me they NEED to be driven, not show pieces.

Yeah the GTR is a bit "lost" as such, but the way it handles road, track, fast road use is what makes it so good. Its hard to explain, but as an example, on Friday I drove from London to Hinckley Island, through traffic, motorways, etc and then on Saturday hammered it round Bruntingthorpe doing 5 sessions on 30-40 minutes each of passenger rides for Asda On Your Marks charity day. Then Sunday drove it 200 miles (round trip via Dan and then friends) and it never missed a beat. 5 years old, 40k miles.... however, saying all that, if you havent been out in one GO and get out in one, they are simply awesome!!! You just forget all the faults, the noises, the weight, the cost and for me I just fall in love with driving it every time I take it out.

If you know Bruntingthorpe track, the car was exiting the first sweeping left hander at 110-120mph I had passengers tell me at the end of the lap that they were expecting me to brake (or at least slow down for the first corner), but my foot was welded to the floor had an awesome weekend with the car and friends

I classify myself as ok, Im no driving god, but for me its more about having fun rather that pure laptimes.

As a side note, for ages a friend has been telling me to take his R33 (sprint car, stripped, caged, ohlins suspension, ap brakes, 700+hp) out and it always had minor issues (like misisng 3rd gear, missing 4th gear, then he killed the block, then the head, etc), but I finally got a chance to drive it. what a different animal altogether!! Absolutely loved the mental machine!!! Single turbo, no power below 5k rpm, but when the turbo spools WOW!!!! The big difference for me was the handling..... it was just sublime and really showed off the weight and handling difference between the 2 GTRs. Took a few passengers out in it and we were all just giggling like little girls the whole way round .....

Oh yes, the mx5 is just an absolutely laugh and I love it!!! For track fun you really dont need much more

240z is getting there.... went and collected some light buckets from Dan over the weekend since he was only a few miles from Brunters and then took him out in the GTR Yes and its a surprise

Dont know the area.... most of my cars are dotted all over the place. Mechanic has one, 2 separate bodyshops have 1 each and GTR is at home in the city. MX5 is usually at a friends place down south. Hampton Court isnt too far.... always up for meeting fellow petrol heads

Last Christmas the wife bought me a Red Letter Driving Experience which was four cars at the track of my choice and a couple of laps in each ...

Last week I did it having luckily got a dryish day in the middle of some wettish ones. When I was choosing on the phone upon booking which cars to have I plumped for the usual ones, Audi R8, Lambo Gallardo etc and a Porsche 997 for good measure but was stuck on the fourth one.

Was I approaching retirement and fancied the Aston, nah, prancing horse maybe, not for me. So I thought I'd go for the GTR. So glad I did as after driving all four of them, the GTR was the pic by a long way with the Lambo last!

I did drive it like Miss Daisy though ... not paying the extra for the all-encompassing insurance and my first time driving anything with this amount of grunt on a track and I turned into my nan.

Embarrassingly so.

It was the last car of the four and by that time I'd at least got used to the layout of the track. Having a co-driver who encouraged me to floor it did help which is probably why I enjoyed these two laps the most. Didn't gave the cajonies to drive it as he wanted though ... maybe next time.

But I don't mind showing you a vid of it! Came straight home and searched the web for one I could afford - sadly there wasn't one. I was wearing my 240z T-shirt on the day which got a few comments - one of the instructors asked me a few questions on the way round ... I obviously wasn't going fast enough to stop the conversation. But they say, it isn't a race, it's a 'Driving Experience'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaaZWqDwBYY

Im glad you enjoyed it...... thats how my missus drives it round track she took the GTR for 2 laps round Brunters, but still doesnt have the confidence in the car. She is happy through the MX5 around, but not the GTR yet.

As you say though, its a driving experience and yes, you need a lot of confidence in the car to be able to hit a corner at 100mph (4th gear) and to continue accelerating through the corner.

I have a couple of videos from the weekend, unfortunately, the camera got covered in oil from an MG that blew up, so they arent great quality and rear facing, but you can get an idea of how the car accelerates and corners.

R888R tyres are absolutely AWESOME!!!! Last year I was on very very worn squared MPSS setup and was only managing about 95-98 on the first corner and had to back off, this year that corner was flat (slight short shift to get into 4th before the corner) and exit speed was 115-118 and had the R888Rs squealing

 

[grahamjc]

Some pictures of the cars











Stig and our resident stig

 

[zNathan]

I think I saw that R33 at the Nissan event at Donnington last year?? I remember standing halfway down the bottom part of the passenger ride track (where the track descends to a U-bend and then back up the hill).

I saw a couple girls getting passenger rides and where we were stood just happened to be where he changed gear. They were so close to hitting the dashboard with their faces.. Haha it looked and sounded absolutely insane!

 

[grahamjc]

I think I saw that R33 at the Nissan event at Donnington last year?? I remember standing halfway down the bottom part of the passenger ride track (where the track descends to a U-bend and then back up the hill).

I saw a couple girls getting passenger rides and where we were stood just happened to be where he changed gear. They were so close to hitting the dashboard with their faces.. Haha it looked and sounded absolutely insane!

That would be it..... he was running a standard 5 speed box on that day and killed the turbo. Most of the women were screaming all the way around

 

[Woody928]

Always loved cars, but for me they NEED to be driven, not show pieces.

Yeah the GTR is a bit "lost" as such, but the way it handles road, track, fast road use is what makes it so good. Its hard to explain, but as an example, on Friday I drove from London to Hinckley Island, through traffic, motorways, etc and then on Saturday hammered it round Bruntingthorpe doing 5 sessions on 30-40 minutes each of passenger rides for Asda On Your Marks charity day. Then Sunday drove it 200 miles (round trip via Dan and then friends) and it never missed a beat. 5 years old, 40k miles.... however, saying all that, if you havent been out in one GO and get out in one, they are simply awesome!!! You just forget all the faults, the noises, the weight, the cost and for me I just fall in love with driving it every time I take it out.

If you know Bruntingthorpe track, the car was exiting the first sweeping left hander at 110-120mph I had passengers tell me at the end of the lap that they were expecting me to brake (or at least slow down for the first corner), but my foot was welded to the floor had an awesome weekend with the car and friends

I classify myself as ok, Im no driving god, but for me its more about having fun rather that pure laptimes.

As a side note, for ages a friend has been telling me to take his R33 (sprint car, stripped, caged, ohlins suspension, ap brakes, 700+hp) out and it always had minor issues (like misisng 3rd gear, missing 4th gear, then he killed the block, then the head, etc), but I finally got a chance to drive it. what a different animal altogether!! Absolutely loved the mental machine!!! Single turbo, no power below 5k rpm, but when the turbo spools WOW!!!! The big difference for me was the handling..... it was just sublime and really showed off the weight and handling difference between the 2 GTRs. Took a few passengers out in it and we were all just giggling like little girls the whole way round .....

Oh yes, the mx5 is just an absolutely laugh and I love it!!! For track fun you really dont need much more

240z is getting there.... went and collected some light buckets from Dan over the weekend since he was only a few miles from Brunters and then took him out in the GTR Yes and its a surprise

Dont know the area.... most of my cars are dotted all over the place. Mechanic has one, 2 separate bodyshops have 1 each and GTR is at home in the city. MX5 is usually at a friends place down south. Hampton Court isnt too far.... always up for meeting fellow petrol heads

Hear Hear to that as they say! They weren't made for museums

As long as you enjoy it then who am I to judge, I've been out in one and can honestly say its the fastest thing I've ever been in on a public road. It was running about 650bhp and was just mind boggling how fast that car could go. I got out of the car completely buzzing with a massive grin, I must admit. I was just giggling at the speed at which it can accelerate. That being said I just couldn't work out how in my mind I could ever justify something like it! lol Amazing piece of kit, and as you say a remarkable amount of practicality to it

I'm not particularly familiar with it, however it must be a fast corner if your managing it at those speeds! Nothing beats a fun weekend of cars, especially with your mates

As long as your smiling and having fun then who cares.

You must be saving a massive amount of weight over the GTR and any car when setup for track is a revelation. When you have sticky tyres, extremely rigid chassis and heaps of power its incredible to behold. Which did you prefer?

MX5 would never really get boring though especially in SC form, it would be great fun to just blat around in.

When do you plan to have it finished by? Haha I'm not surprised, anyone who's never been in one will be blown away. I was expecting it to be fast but its just different league... A true super car killer

Haha that's kinda understandable given where you live, space is a massive issue for us at home, especially now that we have 6 cars between 4 of us. We've had to find a lockup nearby for the 240Z. If your ever in the area then just drop me a message, my 240z gets into Southampton next week and I would hope should be registered and road legal by the start of September. It would be good to meet some members and chat cars. Never gets boring....

Awesome pics btw, was that all GTROC?

 

[grahamjc]

Definitely not.... event the 240z once complete will be used

Love it! Good to hear that you have been out in one. Most havent....

Here is a video of a 458 (admittedly learning the circuit, but only thing I could find that was half decent and had telemetry), its the big sweeping left hander. For Asda day, we have an almost standing start at 2/3rds of the way up the pit straight and we have a coned off section so dont get to use all the "good" tarmac

[YOUTUBE]v=bH5pKmrDCiw[/YOUTUBE]

And then here is a video of my missus out in the R33 I mentioned with the owner driving was standard 5 speed box, 3rd was not working most of the time and was running about 650hp at this point in time.

[YOUTUBE]v=bH5pKmrDCiw[/YOUTUBE]

On track, the R33 is just immense..... so definitely preferred it, was also a much more raw driving experience.

240z completed? Are they ever complete? Well hoping for the next few months that its rebuilt and on the road with the body work all sorted. Then I have to find some time to sort the interior, dash has hole and seat need to be renewed. Then I want to see how the standard engine and this 5 speed box go.... so I dont think it will ever be truly finished.

Yeah, thats all GTROC cars... most of the group are actually pretty good friends and we do tour holidays together, etc.

 

[IbanezDan51]

Graham, this car is truly amazing. So useable but such an animal when needed. Looks a beaut as well. Definitely have the bug...

I'll get some snaps of my dash when I've repaired it (if I can! You saw how bad it was...) maybe I can help with yours if it comes out well.

Dan