360 Challenge - driving help - perfect Ferrari experence | FerrariChat
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360 Challenge - driving help - perfect Ferrari experence

Discussion in 'Challenge/GT Cars/Track' started by rmarchjr, Apr 7, 2014.

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  1. rmarchjr

    rmarchjr Formula Junior

    May 21, 2012
    586
    North east, USA
    #1 rmarchjr, Apr 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hello everyone,

    Thank you all for your input on this form it has been an invaluable tool for me, and this is my first post - an observation and a question.

    I have just finished my 1st track event with a (new to me) 2001 360 Challenge car. I have been tracking a very modified 2005 996 GT3 for 4 years and also own a 2006 F430 - 3 pedal car.

    This weekend has has really blown my mind. I have always loved Ferrari cars and have nothing but good things to say about my 430, but there is truly nothing like driving a Ferrari built and professionally prepared car on the race track.

    None of the 14K miles I've added to the 430 compare to the 120 minutes I just experienced. It was amazing. The car did anything I asked with enthusiasm, its brakes never faded, both turn in and weight transitions (left/right - breaking to power) were flawless, most likely due to the excellent setup by - Jim McGee at Pocono Sportscar. And the sounds, OH MY, stock mufflers with the cats still on the car, in combination with speed and G-loads is something that I hope everyone gets to experience at least once. As a Ferrari owner for 1.5 years, I thought I "got it", nope, there is more under that beautiful rosso corsa skin then I imagined and it requires a race track to experience.

    The question - While on a racetrack what is the best way to use the F1 gearbox?
    I was surprised by the drive line shock when the car upshifted. It most surprised me that the car's suspension wasn't upset by it. I was keeping the accelerator floored and quickly tapping the upshift and it felt like a thud, like someone kicked the back of the seat fairly hard. Is that the correct way to use the shifter? This is much harder then the way I shift manually in my 430 or GT3. The car never moved off line but it seemed odd to me as "smooth is fast" One left hander was a pretty fast sweeper - entering it in 3rd and accelerating through 4 & 5 while pulling a decent lateral load. The thud felt more pronounced then in a F1 430 street car or 575 M street car.
    Is that normal? It must reek havoc on trans & motor mounts.
    What material are the transmission and motor mounts made of on the challenge car?

    PS. 1st modification will be to turn the volume up - debating on removing just the cats or cats & muffler...
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  2. E60 M5

    E60 M5 Moderator
    Moderator Owner

    Jan 2, 2006
    8,165
    Wash DC area
    Full Name:
    Robert
    #2 E60 M5, Apr 7, 2014
    Moved your thread here to the Challenge section, you will get some great advice from some great drivers here.
     
  3. RotarySwingGolf

    RotarySwingGolf Formula Junior

    Dec 24, 2011
    490
    Florida and Idaho
    #3 RotarySwingGolf, Apr 7, 2014
    I also have a 360 ch and a Modena 3 pedal and the challenge does shift brutally hard. Totally normal. And like you I love the race car! I prefer race cars to the street going brethren as they just seem slow and boring.
     
  4. alex550575430

    alex550575430 Formula Junior

    Jun 21, 2009
    427
    LOS ANGELES, CA
    Full Name:
    LIN ALEX
    #4 alex550575430, Apr 9, 2014
    Good to hear about it.

    I also have my F430 3 pedals car for the road, and 360 Challenge race car for the track. Great great fun cars to drive and race on. My 360 Challenge car looks much like yours with the updated 360GT front bumper, and a rear wing. Enjoy in good health!!!

    Cheers

    Alex
     
  5. nmercier

    nmercier Rookie

    Sep 25, 2010
    48
    New Hampshire
    Full Name:
    N. Mercier
    #5 nmercier, Apr 9, 2014
    I have 10+ years of Porsche Cup and GT3 track experience. My first impressions were very similar to yours with the up shifting and how hard it hits in the challenge car setup. It is normal and takes some getting used to especially if you own the car. You feel like something is going to break. The Porsche Cups, I still believe brake and turn in better then the Challenge Cars. Be thoughtful when you down shift with these cars because with the F1 you can use the clutch up quickly if you think that you are going to just bang down the gears on corner entry.

    The Porsche makes you think while these cars take that thought process away. These cars are more of a point and shot approach. I do have to say that nothing sounds better then a Challenge Car wide open.

    Have fun
     

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