Poor performance in a drag race...

[tvrfreak]

This is from someone who has a Lamborghini SV...

"id have to use nitrous all the time! There is a story on another forum actually of a guy who just raced a Mclaren F1 in a 500hp 996TT and beat him. The Mclaren just roasted its tires and couldnt get traction."

I know that the guy who wrote this has a Ferrari 355 and Lotus Esprit as well, and I know he uses them all almost daily, so he is certainly credible. He has never been a fan of the McLaren--he claims you look stupid driving around sitting in the middle (and no, I don't agree with this one bit).

I also don't know if it was a traffic light drag race (that's what I am inclined to think it was) or street course or just an open stretch of highway It's such a shame to read about our favourite supercar not proving itself. Hopefully, the tyres were bald, the car needed a servicing, and the owner didn't know how to drive...still, it's too bad the McLaren didn't win. The car will spank anything in the right hands. They should have qalifying courses before handing you the keys to a car like this!

[Peloton25]

I'm certain that it takes a well trained right foot to properly use all of the McLaren F1s enormous power and transfer it through to the road without lighting up the rear tires. The Porsche would have obviously had the benefit of four wheels providing traction, which makes a bigger difference in a drag race situation. Also, once the wheels start spinning, if you don't back off and let them gain traction, they will never really stop spinning even as you continue up through the first few gears.

A fast car + inexperienced driver = slow car all the time.

>8^)
ER

[teflon]

Read all about it here:

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/sho...threadid=36270

The owner of this McLaren also owns an Enzo and he participated in the 360 challenge series. He has a fair amount of track experience.

Greg A

[McLaren F1 Guy]

Kennedy owns an Enzo? That I did not know.

Man some of those people on there are dumb. One guy said that was chassis #075, another said #019 is aubergine, little does he know chassis #019 doesn't even exist.
That guy was lucky to race Kennedy's F1. If I was kennedy, i would have smoked the guy in the TT. Thanks for the link, teflon, thats an interesting story

[Peloton25]

Yeah - we know the owner of that car very well.

From the story on that site, it just sounds like he didn't get a very good launch. That's the problem with street racing (among other things) there are just too many variables involved. Line them up at a track if you really want to find out which is faster. I think the 911 owner would have had a good race on his hands to 60mph if Dan had gotten it to hook up.

BTW: Among the mistakes that McLaren F1 Guy pointed out, someone needs to tell Gustav that the Swedish banker's car is not a real LM.

>8^)
ER

[fselldorff]

Peleton is right, it takes a lot of practice to get the power down without spinning the tires. It is impossible to push the pedal to the floor in first gear, you simply cannot do it without breaking loose. To get a quick run, you need to modulate the pedal in first, feeling for the max adhesion without going over. Even in second, on a perfectly dry road, breaking the tires loose simply requires a firm push on the accelerator pedal.

For the F1 fans out there, do not be discouraged. The driver of the F1 must have been a novice, I have had no problems with anything, including Porsche's. Don't let anyone kid you, there is NOTHING on the road that comes close.

N.B. You'd be amazed at the myriad of cars that pull alongside thinking they have a chance. I'd love to be back in the sixties racing for pink slips, I'd have a rather large collection of exotics by now.

[McLaren F1 Guy]

You've driven an F1? Theres no way you're frank selldorff

[Peloton25]

Originally Posted by McLaren F1 Guy

You've driven an F1? Theres no way you're frank selldorff

How do you know it's not Frank??

Give him a chance to prove himself right or wrong before you go calling him out like that. Don't be so quick to judge...

Anyway - I hope that really is Frank. It would be awesome to have an actual owner's perspective on the F1 here. Thanks for saying I was right too.

There must be something you could do to prove your identity if you care to. I would assume you'd have better things to do than post here, but maybe you're interested in participating. If so, we're happy to have you.

>8^)
ER

[fselldorff]

I have been watching the conversations on this board for some time now, it has made for some very interesting reading. Thank you all for showing so much enthusiasm and passion for the indisputably best road car of all time. I feel the same way. I am trully fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to own and drive this car. I am not worthy.

Even though there are numerous cars coming out that appear to close the gap, rest assured that a thorough comparison would only confirm the F1's place at the top. Without driving/owning a car for an extended period of time, it is impossible for anyone to understand the true magnificence of the car. I wish everyone could experience what I have for the past 3 years, so they would understand. I no longer try to explain what I mean, I just smile and let the doubters believe what they want.

As part of my responsibility as owner, I feel I need to share this wonderful car with as many people as possible. I love giving rides, rewarding those with the gumption to ask. If I can conveniently do it, I'll take anyone and everyone. It's fun watching the reaction as people climb out of the car. Noone can prepare themselves properly for a quick run in an F1. On more than one occaission I've had to stop to let people out (grown men) who couldn't handle it.

For this same reason, I am making myself available to this forum so that you can get the perspective of an experienced owner. I would love to continue to share this incredible car with those who appreciate it, like me.

Frank Selldorff
(007, 068 and LM03)

[teflon]

Originally Posted by fselldorff

...For the F1 fans out there, do not be discouraged. The driver of the F1 must have been a novice, I have had no problems with anything, including Porsche's. Don't let anyone kid you, there is NOTHING on the road that comes close.

Why do you think he is a novice? He's had his F1 on track, and as I said, he also owns an Enzo. Money doesn't buy skill or experience, but he has raced for several years in the 360 challenge series, so he is no stranger to the track and high speed driving. People make mistakes and since we haven't heard from him, we only know half of the story.

Greg A

[tvrfreak]

Greg,
now that I know who the owner was (thanks for the link), I can tell you that his performance in the Ferrari challenge was mediocre at best. He may even be decent, but he's certainly not a great driver. And even if he was, the smallest misjudgment of the rates at which to feed in the throttle and let out the clutch would be almost impossible to overcome in a block-long drag race.

I have also heard from several sources that the car is one of the most abused McLarens out there.

I drove the 600+hp GT2 that was in the Gumball Rally, and it was almost as quick as my motorcycle. It got up to 160 very quickly, and pulled hard up to 185 (that's when I backed off--the car was still pulling fairly hard). I am sure it could go over 200. I bet an AWD Porsche TT is pretty close up to 150--I raced against one in France and I wasn't able to gain on it (I didn't fall back either, mind you!). That time, I was in a TVR with the Red Rose mods.

If the TT got the better start, it would stay ahead of a McLaren for at least a block or two. Up to 200mph, I would bet on the McLaren. Around a track, I would bet on the better driver.

[teflon]

tvrfreak,

you're welcome for the link.

I didn't want to admit it, but my argument was rather weak. At least half of the field in the challenege series shouldn't be allowed on any track. Did you see the saturday race @ the USGP last year? It was awful. Three cars were trying to pass each other going into turn one while a yellow was being waved. They were about to approach two cars stopped on track at turn two. They weren't invited back after that weekend's showing.

Did you drive Lonman's GT2? If you did, there is video of him driving 208 mph and also beating an F50 from a stoplight drag.

I agree w/your other points. I have driven a TT and they are super easy to launch. Around a track, the better driver is almost always faster.

Greg A

[tvrfreak]

It was a guy named Rob Kenworthy, but yeah, I think he goes by Lonman on the bulletin boards. The car was silver, had a British flag on the roof, and Brit license plates that said 1 CPU.

The guy is certifiably nuts. He insisted that I drive all night because he was drunk out of his mind (what do you expect from a Brit?) and couldn't get enough of our empty highways (what do you expect at 2am?) and he loved to read off the speeds 130,135, 140, 148, 155, etc.

BTW, Rob told me he used to own a McLaren before, as well as a couple of TVR Cerberas. And that he's getting a Pagani roadster. I have verified that he owned the TVR Cerberas, and I have seen plenty of footage of him and know enough about him not to doubt his driving stories (but then, you should hear the stories about me)! So I have no reason to disbelieve that this guy also owned a McLaren. In fact, he even told me the name of the dealership where he traded it in for the Porsche (plus some cash back). I have long forgotten the name of the dealership, though!

I read in the paper that Rob got arrested within 15 minutes of setting off on the first leg of the Gumball the next day. And on some board, after the Rally was over, he posted that he didn't care for the cotton jumpsuits that he was forced to wear in Louisiana jails--he was suggesting that they have some silk stuff for his next visit! Quite a character--I think he's the closest to Chris Dawes that I have met recently.

That was a fun night. If you're out there and reading this, Rob, thanks for letting me put your car through its paces.

[teflon]

yep, that's Lonman.

Greg A

[Stratoraptor]

Originally Posted by teflon

t At least half of the field in the challenege series shouldn't be allowed on any track. Did you see the saturday race @ the USGP last year? It was awful. Three cars were trying to pass each other going into turn one while a yellow was being waived. They were about to approach two cars stopped on track at turn two. They weren't invited back after that weekend's showing.

i think now would be a good time to post this picture...