Excerpt from a recent Franchitti column

ScuderiaWithStickPlease · Mar 21, 2013

Indy racer Dario Franchitti has an opinion column at evo.

Here's a long excerpt from the one in issue #181:

Away from the track, a road car that gives me a sense of being connected is what puts a smile on my face, and a truly exceptional car is one that beings all those key elements together -- feel, drama, throttle response, steering response, balance, the control weights.

Of the cars I own, the F40, Carrera GT, and the 911 hot rod are exceptional. Take the F40; yes, there are the looks and the fact that I had a poster of one on my bedroom wall, but even walking up to it fills me with excitement. Add this to the way you can manipulate the engine, and how you can keep the boost close to the boil, and the precision, and the grip, and the feedback -- it all comes together in one exceptional package. The F40 is not an easy thing to drive. Youve to to plan ahead and its a handful, but when I come out of it, no matter if Ive driven it for 10 miles or 100, Im energized.

The Carrera GT is in that category, but at a higher rate because its a more modern car. You can really haul arse in it, but if you take any liberties youll be in trouble. I has all that connection, all the thrills, and you need to be disciplined to drive it.

And the 911 hot rod? I love that little car. It only weighs 975kg but its got 330hp and a short 915 box. In second and third it lights the rear tyres, so you have to pay attention! The first time I drove it it was almost like flying a helicopter. It just does everything you think about. You know exactly whats going on through the steering or your bum. When you push too hard, you can feel the balance change -- whether its understeer or oversteer -- and then you can play with it.

And here are the two most important things: firstly, truly exceptional cars like the 911 leave the decisions up to you. And secondly, the 911 -- and F40 and Carrera GT -- allow you to feel the connection with the road more of the time. Some cars, and a lot of modern cars, dont necessarily do that. Take the 911 GT3RS 4.0 for example: what an absolutely epic car. But for me and where my limits are, Ive got to be driving at ridiculous speeds to get a thrill out of it. Its the same with the 458, and the McLaren 12C, for that matter. The guys who tested the 12C need their heads rebooting -- and that upsets me because I wanted it to be good. Sadly, the 12C feels numb to me.

An increase in feedback should not be directly proportional to an increase in speed. Modern cars are getting better and better, so to get that feeling of connection you have to be driving at ludicrous speeds. The really exceptional cars deliver the thrill not at ten-tenths of their capabilities, bit from four- or five-tenths. The McLaren F1 is one of those cars. I wish Id bought one instead of a bloody aeroplane, but I need that for work . . .

Modern cars are getting faster, grippier and more stable. But I only want those characteristics in a race car. It seems to me that a trend is developing when road cars are being engineered to behave like race cars -- but the truth is that driver enjoyment is way down the list of priorities for a racer. If we go down that route, its a slippery slope for those who love road driving.

Itll take a brave car company to say sod the Nurburgring lap time, sod the 0-60mph and the top speed -- lets focus on feel and connection . . .
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sherpa23 · Mar 23, 2013

I always liked that guy. I could not have said it better myself.

JeremyJon · Mar 25, 2013

there's a good video about him and his old school 911, i'll try and find it

250 lusso · Mar 25, 2013

He'***** the nail on the head. What he's talking about is precisely why cars like the Challenge Stradale have held their value so well, and the reason old 911's are going up in value. You can enjoy them and use much more of what they have to offer in the real world, and they still push all the right buttons even when you aren't going terribly fast. The Veyrons, LaFerrari's and P1's of the world are interesting technical exercises, but not all that attractive for real road use, unless your primary thrill is the 'Look at me' factor.

JeremyJon · Mar 25, 2013

250 lusso said: ↑

He'***** the nail on the head. What he's talking about is precisely why cars like the Challenge Stradale have held their value so well, and the reason old 911's are going up in value. You can enjoy them and use much more of what they have to offer in the real world, and they still push all the right buttons even when you aren't going terribly fast. The Veyrons, LaFerrari's and P1's of the world are interesting technical exercises, but not all that attractive for real road use, unless your primary thrill is the 'Look at me' factor.
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exactly, like this nutter! j/k (magnus walker 911)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVRDGczbEyM]MORNING DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK - YouTube[/ame]

sherpa23 · Mar 25, 2013

JeremyJon said: ↑

exactly, like this nutter! j/k (magnus walker 911)

MORNING DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK - YouTube
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I hung out with him for a small bit at Amelia Island last week. Super great guy and very personable. Not at all the hooligan everyone makes him out to be.

There's a great Dario article of him and the Porsche in a recent Panorama, I think.

JeremyJon · Mar 25, 2013

sherpa23 said: ↑

I hung out with him for a small bit at Amelia Island last week. Super great guy and very personable. Not at all the hooligan everyone makes him out to be.

There's a great Dario article of him and the Porsche in a recent Panorama, I think.
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cool, you can never tell until you meet someone in person IMO

i'll try and find that article to post here, later after work

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