not a ferrari but radical

Nice timing. I just made a thread on Radicals going to Le Mans.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=11478
Not full of information but kind of interesting.

 

At least if you live in the U.K. As a race car, there are probably better buys out there, but they do a great job of marketing it as a track day car.

Gary

 

They're beautiful, but I've heard enough sad stories about the difficulty in obtaining major spares that I'd probably buy another one of the several sports racers out there. Just my 2 cents, never owned one, they certainly have fans here.

edit - take a look at the sports racer forum:

http://b16.ezboard.com/bdsrforum

 

I have a Radical SR3, and can tell you first hand it's the best bang for the buck I have found. A lot cheaper than tracking your street car. Especially if you sing up for the arrive and drive. Parts have not been a problem, they're pretty bullet proof anyway. The SR8 has been having some teething problems, but it's pretty much worked out.

The're a bit more than $60k. For $60k you get a bare bones car, that you'll probably get tired of running at the back of the radical pack and you'll end up putting about 10k into it to become more competitive.

You'll run circles around anything on the track during track days, and with the Radical Challege Series that being started around the US, it really gets exciting.

I went on my first ride in a Radical at Willow Springs and I was sold !

FYI at a track event at California Speedway, an SR8 lapped at within 3 seconds of Daytona Prototype Pole! Not bad considering the Daytona Prototype is driven by a pro.

PM me if you want more info, or check out:

www.radicalwest.com or www.radicalextremesportscars.com

If you're on the west coast and you're interested, call Laura and Radical West 714-779-0131, tell her Cyrus told you about it. She'll let you know when the next event is and set up a ride along. It would be great to have more people join the Radical Group. Great bunch of guys that like to have a good time.

 

Yes we do have these radicals on the road in the uk,they corner to quick you just can't catch them in anything,nice cars and getting cheap secondhand.

 

It should not be to hard to make one street legal in AZ as they will let you make anything street legal if it can get thru emissions.

 

So far there is only one that's street legal in the US. It's registered in NV. Forget about getting it registered in CA. Personally I wouldn't drive one on the street. Too low, not safe at all with the Bozos on the street.

 

I have to agree here in Phx you would have a dumb blonde bimbo in an H2 change lanes right on top of you

 

if you mean an alterantive to a radical. there is an ariel atom. basically the same idea. i only know of a few in the US though, i suppose they would have to be shipped from the UK

 

where do they sell the radicals used?

MM

 

cyrus,

Where can you run the SR3? Here is the problem as I see it. SR3 weights 1700lbs is very hard to see on the track when all the cars areoud you are vipers and vettes. You are way faster but you do have to pass them. So if you get hit by a 3000lb car you may as well get hit by a suburban. They are so fast that you are just lapping everyone and have few people to play with. Sometimes you can "race" is just a few So cal groups that I know of but are either mixed into a car group or a mixed formula group and again you are lapping everyone for example TCRA or AROSC. I don't think they are a good trackday car for these reasons. But maybe you can enlighten me. If you want more places to play with a sprots racer you really need to be in c or d spec or class with lots of other car types in these pospular classes and the SR# does not qualify here. And radicals are not the best choice (fastest) or the cheapest. I think D sports is domiated by the stohrs? But I could have my info wrong. Tell us about where you play...

 

MarkyMark, I think you're here in CA, I bought mine from Radical West, www.RadicalWest.com you can see what they have online, or contact them, they may have more than what's online. Ask for John Morris, let him know that you were referred by Cyrus.

 

Hi There FatBilly (c: I don't know where you're located. But here in CA, through the Radical West Arrive and drive, there are at least two events a month during the cool months, where there are at least 7 or 8 radicals.

Also, if you want to buy one, you must attend the Radical School at Spring Mountain, which teaches you a ton about the car and driving it.

Yes the touring car and regular car guys have trouble seeing you, but a) That's what drivers' meetings are all about, b) You run with the fast group, so the "assumption" is that they know what they're doing, and c) Cover your #$%, you're the one ultimately responsible for your own safety. It's FUN. We haven't had any issues, after a couple of laps everyone becomes very aware of the Radicals, you just have to watch it for a while.

We haven't had a problem. Many FChat guys were at the Scuderia Rampage and we didn't have any issues being on the same track.

Also, beginning labor day weekend, we are starting a Radical Race series, where it's only the Radicals, with trophies etc. We have about 15 Radical owners in our group, and every event there are a few more drivers that rent Radicals for the events.

As for the Stohrs, yes, they are faster, but also more expensive, and the support is not there. At Radical West's arrive and drive, the guys are awesome, they set up the car, transport it and are there during the weekends for support. Can't ask for more. If you want more power in a Radical you can opt for the SR8. You can read about it at:

www.radicalsportscars.com or www.radicalwest.com

We would love to have more Radical owners joining us !

 

Sorry but that's an assumption that will get you seriously hurt or killed. I've ran about six or seven FCA events a year between 1998 and 2003. I've run with at least four different regions in three or four different cars (some street and some race). The level of knowledge and skill varies tremdously to the point that I refused to run with some regions in their "red" groups.

Some regions have very strict rules about who can run in red group and what skill level is required. Other regions allow you to run red if you just put some race stickers on the car and sew some race patches on your Sparco.

Case in point is the Empire State Region in NY. Their red group is basically a "RACE" group. You can pass under braking and there are very few limitations on where you can pass. The cars that are typically seen in this group are all race cars drive by RACERS or people who have tons of experience at track days. Most cars are Challenge cars that are driven fast along with all sorts of crazy stuff like IMSA GTP cars, Trans Am Cars and once in while someone insanely fast in a modified street Ferrari.

Most people in the lower run groups don't even want to ask to be moved to the red group out of fear (an no I am not trying to be arrogant but trying to run a street 355 with a bunch of GTP cars is nuts).

Another group I know which will remain nameless allows anyone in Red group as long as they have done a few events or if they have a "race" car. Some people are of the thought that "..hey I have a Challenge car...I belong in red group". I've taken my wife out for rides in the 355 Challenge at some events and had her tell me that she felt unsafe out there the way some cars were driving.

As for seeing Radicals.....well the last two years I was running the 355 C there were plenty of events where cars didn't see my 355 at speed coming up on them so I'd doubt they'd ever see a car that is 6 or 7 seconds per lap faster and 2/3rds lower to the ground.

If the Radicals are driven fast in a slow group of red drivers, your courting disaster.

I have at least 30 hours in two different Radical SR3's if anyone wants to contact me.

Kind Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net