Im talking about a street 458 that drives from home onto the track. I was low 2:06. Just trying to see what "street" cars do.
Spec Miata going away. I once asked a guy how he liked his Spec Miata race car. He said he hated it. When I asked, he said, "Why would you race a car you like? You're doing your best to destroy the car."
. Dunno if I'm going to sell. I guess with the Cup 2 coming, anything's negotiable. LMK if interested, it's the real deal and a driver's car. The joy it has provided is immense. . Dunno that either, I didn't have a Garmin in the Spider at Daytona. We ran the International Horseshoe if that's what you mean. . And this was the main reason I got a dedicated race car for the track. Clean up on aisle 2 would be an understatement if something were to go wrong there. . The 458 Spider was 170 flat out coming off the big sweeper, the speed of which was dictated solely by the need to allow adequate braking time coming into T1.
That’s my fear. I’ve been racing since 1992. Yep, getting old and still do 5 weekends a year in low horsepower MX5. Fun though and I can still get to the pointy end of grid. I do want to drive a challenge car and will eventually. If you sell yours let me know. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Most guys that own them are older (I’m no spring chicken either) and typically do 6-10 days a year. I admit to doing many more because 1) I enjoy the hobby and 2) it is an incredible car on track, even for HPDE. Pretty high on the pecking order, a well driven 991.2 Cup and the Lambo ST will take it, not many more (not those Z06s or Camaros). I may be selling a bit later this spring once I take delivery on the 992. I’ll PM you. In FL you’re in a sweet spot for parts, maintenance and expertise. I know all the vendors, etc., my concerns about all that have vanished. Contrary to the opinions of others (who have never owned one), running costs are reasonable. The 992 will be much harder to drive, I’m sure. I do think of the 458 Ch as a momentum car. I dare say you’ll fall in love,,but then again, what’s not to?
The Ferrari is mid-engine - about as well balanced as one can get. The price to be paid for that setup is the weight bias is in front of the rear wheels, so power output is less effective under hard acceleration. The 992 is rear engine. It will and does lay the power down better than a Ferrari. I see it on track. No disputing it. But……while rear engine bias improves power output, it creates other problems - that is, coming into corners you’ve got a bit of a pendulum effect, which can only be negated by getting back on power sooner into a corner. A bit counterintuitive, but that’s the way the Cup cars need to be driven. Compounding the issue is they have an enormous amount of front grip, providing a degree of confidence in handling which may not always be there. These cars tend towards snap oversteer as opposed to push. They’ll let loose without much warning. The Ferrari pushes, but is an easier (and more forgiving) car to manage in corners. One cannot drive a 992 like a 458. So, I’m gonna have to learn to drive on a track all over again. P.S. I don’t want to take credit for this realization. @Doc V. who posts up on Fchat, was kind enough to enlighten me when he found out I was getting a Cup. It was then that I really started to notice the difference, and why.
I think the transition will be easier than you think, William. I did something similar a few seasons ago, moving from a Cayman to a 911. You definitely have to drive the 911 differently, but it's a fun thing to learn. And the basics of weight and balance don't change -- just remember where the weight is.
Super, thanks! Probably correct here, I didn't mean to intend I'd be starting from scratch (otherwise I'd quit). Interesting the Cayman and GT4-RS (both enormously popular) are mid-engine platform, the GT3s remain rear engine. The interesting question is which one will be better for a given track based on weight distribution and grip, etc. I made the decision to get into the 992 GT3 platform based on looks (I know, a terrible criteria for selecting a track car, but I figured if it looks good, it'll drive the same). FWIW I'm still on love with the Ferrari's looks.
Looks are definitely part of why we love our cars - even our track cars. They should absolutely look the part. And the 992 does that. The 992 is a formidable platform. I think you'll have a great time driving it, as it will do anything you ask of it, and do it well. And, I'll be curious to hear your thoughts. At least on paper the weight distribution isn't far off the 40/60 of your 458. So it may be more familiar to you than you think. Give us progress updates and let us know how you're getting along with the new 911. With pictures, of course.
. Will do. Here is the first pic, it’s in the UK being stripped back to original, and a small rub being repaired. I plan to wrap it, not 100% how just yet, but may do the reveal (see below), or like this one I saw at Sebring last weekend. The car will get driven, that’s a certainty, The 458’s been out on track more than 35 times. An incredibly fun, lively car to drive. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The rear engine location of the 992 Cup means that there will be less weight shift to the front tires during threshold braking compared to a front engine and even mid-engine car. Your braking points will be much later in the Cup vs. the Challenge Car. I suspect you will quickly adapt to the Cup's ability to rotate into a corner with a little throttle-lift oversteer. The rear engine placement then allows you to get onto the power more quickly than the Challenge car due to all of the weight on the rear tires..."Fast in...fast out!"
I don’t mind at all. I purchased the car through Karl Leonard, a racer from Ireland who is very well known in Porsche circles. He sells a lot of cars coming off race season and had a low hours 992 available. I’d been looking for a 991.2, but this one, albeit pricier, is a much improved car. I see them on track along with the other Cups, so was already sold on the increased performance The car is a 2023, low hours. But, in Europe they run without TC or ABS. So I am having Karl add those while he’s prepping the car. All in, I’m a bit shy of $290k plus shipping and import duty. There aren’t (hardly) any 2023s in the US, prices for low hours cars are at a premium for the 22s and older.
I’ve got a 2009 F430 that was my dream car. I was finally able to get one at 58 years old. The thought of flogging it around a track and tearing up the CCB’s just doesn’t work for me. I go to Willow Springs once every couple of months with my Pro Formula Mazda track car. Image Unavailable, Please Login The brake rotors and pads are still expensive, and it’s a carbon fiber tub so I feel fairly safe in it. If I happen to spin off the track into the dirt, it’s unlikely to suffer any damage, unlike my 430. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
There are all various levels of tracking, all the way thoughracing. Ive taken my BBI to the track several times. I did so simply because other than during covid there is not anywhere to really use the car, at least for nay duration. Id imagine the BII laptime is piss poor, and the brakes not really up to track work. I also wasn't leaning hard on the car, just having fun with some brisk driving for 10 or so laps. car loved it. As a general rule for myself i think any modern twos eater "sportscar" has to be able to really hack it on track, because that's where you can really use the car in the 21st century. Its why I think Gt3s are so excellent, fine and fun on road, can dance on track when you really want to use it.. for a road car the track can be treated as a really fast road, ie road course. Going past that if one is really into it, then a dedicated track car is good proposition. Depending on orgaizer you can have open track all day. Its equivalent to testing or qualifying for races. While not racing its certainly jousting. the benefit it you're not stuck to a race schedule, budget or timing (ie days and days). All depends what someone wants to get out of it. IMO if you really want to use and enjoy your fast car, in the USA the track is the place.
I just got a 992 Turbo S to go with my F8 Tributo. Getting a roll cage and harness installed next week. I guess I'll find out if it's harder to drive than the F8 soon enough! Image Unavailable, Please Login
What's the point of a fast car if you don't track it? These cars are so fast these days the only way to responsibly explore the limits is on a racetrack. If you're not doing that it's just for show...which if that's your thing, great. But to me these cars were MEANT to be driven on track. I did 12 track days in my F8 and it is absolutely exhilarating. I have so much time to find at the track and I am enjoying every second trying to find the seconds!
Beautiful cars! If you enjoy tracking so much, consider a factory race car, like the 992 Cup. Seeing a lot more of them doing HPDE, they are a major step up safety wise (and they feel like a race car) from even the 992 GT3-RS. I would say the driving styles are different. The Ferrari is better balanced with its mid engine and no sway movement in hard straight line braking. I have had my F8 out, it’d incredibly fast but limited by choice of street tires and I can’t see me not having an incident sooner or later. Would be interested to hear your thoughts as someone who will have experienced both types of cars.
