Any Singapore Ferrari owners?

prob a R1.... but dun worry you can "chet" them at the high end.

 

can i just interject here to say that i "enjoyed" les' car yesterday. we did a swap for a day and i had the opportunity to drive his manual gcar. first impressions are: it's quite an easy car to drive, the power delivery is as impressive (if not more than the e-gear), there's no beef jerky ('cept my lousy manual shifting).

what i didn't like was the ground clearance (or lack thereof) which is significantly less than the db9 (no les, i did not scrape anything!); the constant feel that there is another car on your left shoulder, particularly at night (the lights reflecting off the left rear fin/buttress. jon/elmer - does it happen in darker coloured cars like yours as well?); the slight lack of drama (i know, i know, a bit rich coming from me) as compared to an fcar, eg. no click-clack when you shift as opposed to the fcar h-gate chatter.

would i buy one? would probably still like a phoebe celeste or titanium gray manual spyder but would seriously consider a 430 spider as well, ie. don't have the must buy regardless feeling.

 

commiserations bro. does this mean you have to un-tint your windows? that would suck big time. how come you never tell tp that your good friend is ah lung? you never know...

 

I have never done 2m10s! Never even close. The best Ferarri's and Masers only get 2m36s.

I am suggesting these race cars would get around in low 2m's with their Hyabusa engines, great aerodynamics, huge grip and low COG.

I am up there on track probably 20-30x per year as part of a race series. However, my little car only ever gets me into the mid 2m40s.

FF

 

If the plates help you avoid a much bigger fine and more importantly, points, it might be worth keeping them @ $70 a pop. Cheap points.

 

You would have to find your own. However, getting a pit garage at Sepang for 7 mths of year is easy and costs around MYR500/mth.

Using a Hyabusa engine means that any decent bike mechanic can set it up for you. There are plenty around Malaysia or you can co-opt one from a bike team. I can put you in touch with some guys from our race series who could do the chassis adjustments etc for a fee each weekend you use it.

FF

 

Hi FF,

I know of a guy who bot a go-kart in JB... he has only used it twice in the last 2 years. The same applies to club membership...unless one uses it... its money wasted... I am in that category

Its like that saying about buying a boat... the two happiest days of boat ownership is the day u buy it... and the day you sell it.

 

heard that mr tiong?

 

I agree that having a toy on your doorstep makes it a better prospect for regular use. However, in Singapore, if you like driving at race speeds, it is not possible (as you know - well.....legally!) So the next best thing is to take advantage of Sepang.

However, you really have to work at using it. I had my Kart stored at Jurong and after the first 6 months of intensive usage (3x per week), with travel and work commitments as well as family and other sporting commitments, it whittled to 3x per year. So I sold it.

Regarding boats - having traded high performance racing yacht ownership or race car ownership, I can tell you they are both holes into which you pour money, and that the happiest days are the days you use them, not buy or sell days, despite the adage. The very best days are when you win in them, and that only happens if you use them regularly and develop them. So vicious/virtuous circle, depending on how you look at it.

FF

 

thats very well put ! having owned go-karts and boats before, i too felt my happiest days when using these " pleasure crafts". yes , i was really happy when i acquired the machines but on the contrary, always a little sad to part with them. i guess as long as you dun over commit beyond your means on these " toys", i cant see how one can really be happy to sell them away.

 

Didnt people used to say that about a certain brand of cars?

hehe

note "USED TO"

HEE

 

Des, great observation and exactly spot on.

Understand that there will be a titanium grey with full orange interior (exactly like the one on top gear) coming, but likely that is an egear.

 

My daughter and I use our karts at Jurong as often as ship disasters and her homework allow, we were there Saturday and Sunday last week and will be there again tomorrow. The average is twice per month.

As for boats, I have owned boats for longer than I have owned cars and I have always owned one since I was 17. The fact that my ski race boat is in England and I only use it for 3 weeks every year is a shame but it owes me nothing and it puts a huge smile on my face everytime I am in it.
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Thinking about it, I will probably design some new bodywork for the karts...

 

Clive,

Did you go for a 100cc rac kart vs a Rotax Max for you? tempted to get back into karting.

What are the costs through Thia? Or who do you store it with/get maintenance from?

FF

 

Zoe's is a Rotax Junior on a First chassis, mine is a 250cc Biland on an Italcorse chassis

Storage is $100/month for 1 or $150 for 2 including preparation and the maintenance is ok (they don't often charge me). $30 track fee for 1 or $45 for 2.

Cheap fun really.

 

How about an exchange with your Porker for a weekend? But you'll get beef jerky

Bro, this car cannot compare to DB9 where the latter is designed for grandtouring. That's why you must get a post '05 model & remember to tick the "Lifter" option @ $10K? I find the sponge used on the G too hard for my back as well; doesn't wrap around comfortably but this is not a big issue.

I can't comment on the "ghost" effect; don't think I have that problem but my glass is dark & I have problem seeing what's on the sides but I'm sure you'll get over this after a few days while all 3 mirrors work very well. Still, I don't know when I scrapped my rear right rim as I'm very careful in carparks.

I don't get the click sound on a F shifter all the time unless you slam it in.

My guess is, the car is so well insulated; you don't feel the drama of engine & exhaust sound whereas the Fcar communicates with you. Get the Diablo 6.0

 

Cheaper than I used to pay. I paid $150/mth storage and maintenance and $60 wekends and $50 weekdays track usage. Did you jointhe circuit to get the discount?250 Biland - sounds like me. Are there enough to race or is it just endless laps of that little tight circuit. I like to compete. Now I am lighter I could be competitive.

FF

 

Hi Clive, I saw both your daughter(Red suit) and yourself(Blue suit) at Jurong Karting Circuit last Saturday at about 3pm. The track was still too wet from that passing rain. We did not kart because my brakes were malfunction and my wet tires was left at my home.
I have just transfered my kart to Jurong the day earlier for safekeeping and maintainance with Kartmaster. I hope to kart more regularly whenever I'm in town. Was tired of transporting it back and forth to Permas Jaya, such a great hassle.
Hope to see both yourself and Fezzafella at the track sometime soon.
Cheers

 

+5

The saddest part is when you see them parked there & you don't have the time/urge to use them yet maintenance billed to you. That's why I enjoy going to museums of any sorts. The short 10mins with each is enough to thrill my senses for memory

 

hey, din know you kart too ! we used to do it quite a bit with thia and ah heng few years back. thinking of picking it up again. gimme a shout when you next go to kartworld.

 

Karting sounds good to me too!

Clive you're starting your kids young.

 

Weekday track fee is $25, $30 at weekends through Thia.
There are quite a few Biland 250s now and often they have mini races on a Sunday afternoon. I joined Thia's "club".

Ah yes, we did only a couple of laps in the wet on the Saturday just to check the engines. We did rather a lot more laps on the Sunday...

Homework permitting we will probably be there tomorrow around 1100-1200 for a couple of hours at least.
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Best time to learn driving and handling skills is on slicks when the track is moderately wet. Takes BIG kahunas to go flat out down straight on slicks in the wet but it teaches you the most important secret of fast driving - be smooth. And how to manage the 100% of braking, accelerating and turning to best effect.

If I can get my son into it I have a good excuse to restart.

FF

 

Great helmet Clive. I am looking to have my helmet painted - whre did you get that done?

FF