Smart Car on the track - Streets of Willow Springs
Yesterday was a BLAST!!
I have been on the Streets course at Willow Springs in other cars before (Audi TT, 996 Turbo, 994 Turbo), but I have never had as much fun as I did in the Smart Car.
On the track with me were a Viper ACR, 2 Nissan GTR's, 2 M5s, an Audi R8, Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari F430 Stradale, Porsche 997 and 996 Turbos, Cayman S's, Lotus Elises, an M3, and more. Of these, I **** you not, the Aston Martin, a driver of the R8, the 997 turbo, all of the Caymans but one, the M3, 335i, Lancer EVO, had to get out of my way, or held me up. I'm talking about having to slow down from 70 to 40 because of them. Also, the GTRs, Ferrari, 996 Turbo, M5, and better drivers, had trouble getting away through the bends. They were astonished (I'm paraphrasing a days worth of "Kudos.")
Now, I had no chance on any type of straight away. That is no surprise. But the smart car is a CHAMP skating through the turns. I was immensely impressed with not only how well the car handled itself, but its potential for beasiality and how much damn fun it was.
The tires, could be wider, but they held up all day. I wasn't braking nearly as much as any other car, so those also held up all day with no problems. I was the only car to run all day. And this little bastard just LOVES being thrown to and fro through turns. (I can only imagine what a beast this can become with a stiffer suspension, a lower center of gravity, grippier tires, and some real power)
Now that I got it out of my system, I doubt that I will track a stock Smart that much more. But, me oh my, this was amazing, HOT DAMN!!
To those of you that helped me in the previous post ("Taking my Smart to the track, oh yes, yes I am"), thank you. To Alan Smithee - oh ye of little faith.
If anyone can tell me how to post videos and pics, they are highly entertaining. (I only have sideline shots - none on board, or inside another car on the track - sorry.)
Please share the name of the organization that ran the event. I want to be sure never to attend a track day (in one of my other cars) where drivers in dedicated performance cars are unable to stay ahead of a smart. As I stated in the other thread last week, it's a matter of safety.
To post pics, you can either upload them to a site and link it here or you can upload them to the gallery section of this site. To post videos, you can upload them to a site like YouTube then link it here. There is another section on how to do these things too. I look forward to seeing the photos and videos.
Alan Smithee, we said it before, we'll say it again. It is about the drivers, not the cars, especially on a tighter course like Streets where cars with big power and bigger weight can't use that extra power (ie M5's, Aston Martin's, etc). There are always different types of drivers going out and that is what different experience level run groups are for. There is no way that someone with zero track time but driving a 996 Turbo should be out on the track at the same time as a Spec Miata with an experienced race driver. The Porsche is going to be an obstruction that is unsafe. Seperate them out by experience into classes, then everyone still has fun and is safe. When in doubt, start in a lower class, for reasons such as vehicle (like the Smart here). Move up or down throughout the day to adjust for the correct COMBINED speed of the car and driver.
Not everyone going out to the track has prior experience. So they may be waaaay slower than what the car is capable of. It is a fact of life you have to deal with at Track Days where there is no competition, just people out driving to learn. And we all have something left to learn out there, whether we are able to admit it or not. Some just have more to learn than others.
Thanks for the lecture uberpanzer, but it wasn't necessary then or now. I have over a decade of track experience on all tracks in California and many others in the US and Europe, and racing licenses with various organizations. I also have 6k miles on a smart, so I am aware of what it is and is not capable of.
Gee, like we didn't already know that arrogance and superiority are alive and well in L.A. I'd quote jetfuel, but then I'd get whacked, so just shut up. Good for you, Chomister.
Running on track with slower cars drivien by attentive drivers who get out of the way is a pleasure for me, it does not matter if they are driving a GT-3 or a smart just as long as they are in control, attentive, and corteous.
Gladd you had a blast.
Hmm, I guess the "Smart" aspect does not necessarily apply to the driver as well.
Everyone else, yes, it was a blast. Highly entertaining. Highly recommended. Is anyone else interested in a SoCal Smart track day? (if we can get 20 - 23 cars on board it will only cost about $200/car)
here is the first clip:
Smart coming out of the last turn into the first straight away getting taken over by a Viper ACR and an M5. Its OK, I caught up in the turns.
ChosMister....... I was just now on the Canadian Club Smart Car website about an upcoming track event in August in Mission, B.C. I'd already signed up, but then I thought it would just be 'kinda pointless to try and treat a smartcar like a racecar. I mean, it only goes 90 mph tops! So I was thinking of canceling out........... until I read your post and saw the video. Now I'm thinking it might be a lot of fun after all! Thanks for the post! I enjoyed reading it.
I just happen to have a Road & Track here next to the computer. The Viper ACR has the highest skidpad rating of any car in their Road Test Summary at 1.12g, with the smart the lowest of any car at .72. You "caught up in the turns"? That's a video I'd like to see.
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