Hi all.
I was lucky enough to have a test drive in Russell Savory's (motopower) yellow caterham with the RST V8 engine fitted and thought i'd post up to let you know how it went.
I flew down to drive the car at North Weald, and walshy picked me up at stansted. We arrived to a cold but dry, sunny day. Perfect for driving a car with no weather protection and especially one with 340bhp!!!!!!
Russell arrived shortly after. He had driven the car down, and explained how he still likes to use the car on the road.
Walshy took me out for a blast, to show me what the car and, more importantly, engine were capable of. And its certainly capable. He pulled away gently, looked across, smiled, then gunned the throttle. The car leapt across the concrete, and as the rev counter swept round to 10,250rpm, he banged the sequential gear lever back into 2nd, and it started all over again. then 3rd, then 4th. The acceleration didnt let up as he climbed through the gears, and was like that feeling of being in a powerful aeroplane taking off from a runway, where the thrust pushes you back into your chair until your doing 200mph and you take off. In fact, the feelings were so close, i could swear it felt like we were doing 200 mph and about to take off . By this time i was suitably scared by the constant surge well into triple figures, and also by the rapidly dissapearing airfield. After a few more laps, it was my shot.
My nervousness at driving such a powerful car showed as i pulled away and stalled. It was more to do with my nerves than the tractability of the engine, as i later found out, it pulls from tickover in any gear upto the limiter. My first shot in the car was spent finding the traction limitations of the caterham, as full power in 3rd gear at 90mph still had the tail end moving about, and i had to be gentle with the inputs to keep it on line. after 10 minutes i pulled back in, with the biggest grin i've ever had since passing my test.
Walshy took out another customer who is putting this engine into his racecar. He arrived back looking white as a sheet, after finding out just what to expect of its performance.
After breakfast, and a few tips from Mr Walsh ( which basically involved, dont be scared of it, enjoy yourself, and show it who's boss ) I went back out for a play, this time on my own. Being a bit more relaxed helped immensly. This time, when the rear end broke traction on the throttle, instead of backing off, i kept my foot in and nudged the car back on line. The feeling is of one continious powerslide, but its available in a straight line, in almost any gear. It turned into the most addictive, and satisfying game, where I had much more power than traction, and had to put it down as best i could. After years of driving a car where the corners were the most fun, all of a sudden, the straights seemed interesting again.
I had a look under the bonnet, and even to a technical numpty like myself, i could see the high standards the car and engine were built to. From my point of view, everything just worked, simply and well, as it had been designed. This is obviously important, as i want an engine i can trust to deliver mile after mile, rather than spend hours tinkering with it to get the most out of it.
When Russell left with the car, i was gutted. It was like an adreneline rush, that you crave time and time again. I cant thank Russle and walshy enough for letting my test the car. Its defiantely something i'd consider in the elise. I think it'll turn it into a proper supercar killer. Watch this space.
RST V8
I'm exhausted reading that. This is the best bit....
Anyway. How does this thing look in terms of reliability. Surely it cant be as reliably as a Honda for the HUGE amount of miles you'll do with it on track and on road. I thought the Elise idea got scrapped. Was Walshy not supposed to be racing one last year in america???
Agreed it would make a very very VERY impressive car. And if Tut says the Honda can be too much on the road, that would just be fun/dangerous/scary.
Impressive dramatic writingHe pulled away gently, looked across, smiled, then gunned the throttle. The car leapt across the concrete, and as the rev counter swept round to 10,250rpm, he banged the sequential gear lever back into 2nd, and it started all over again
Anyway. How does this thing look in terms of reliability. Surely it cant be as reliably as a Honda for the HUGE amount of miles you'll do with it on track and on road. I thought the Elise idea got scrapped. Was Walshy not supposed to be racing one last year in america???
Agreed it would make a very very VERY impressive car. And if Tut says the Honda can be too much on the road, that would just be fun/dangerous/scary.
The dramatic writing was for seloc's benefit, i just crossposted it here. 
reliability wise, the test mule caterham has done 20,000 miles with russell driving it on the road, and walshy thrashing it about the airfield and tracks. Its lasted well. The only thing it needs servicing wise is the valve clearances adjusted, ala motorbike style.
As for usability on the road, it has way more power than traction, but the challenge is in putting the power down. Its a real challenge to drive well.
As for me breaking it. the road spec engine goes to 10,250rpm, the race one to 12,500rpm, and its been tested upto 14,000rpm, so even i shouldnt be able to break it.
reliability wise, the test mule caterham has done 20,000 miles with russell driving it on the road, and walshy thrashing it about the airfield and tracks. Its lasted well. The only thing it needs servicing wise is the valve clearances adjusted, ala motorbike style.
As for usability on the road, it has way more power than traction, but the challenge is in putting the power down. Its a real challenge to drive well.
As for me breaking it. the road spec engine goes to 10,250rpm, the race one to 12,500rpm, and its been tested upto 14,000rpm, so even i shouldnt be able to break it.
That will be scary. Christ, i was out in the Elise tonight on the greasy roads and got wheelspin in 2nd off the throttle. And thats with 200bhp less
Sound like it could be reliable then. In general, warm up/cool down procedures and regular good quality oil changes are really all most engines (bike/car/v8 whatever) need to hold good power and give good reliability.
Sound like it could be reliable then. In general, warm up/cool down procedures and regular good quality oil changes are really all most engines (bike/car/v8 whatever) need to hold good power and give good reliability.
Last edited by gordon on Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hmmmmmm. It just theres reliable, and theres reliable. I mean, everyone knows a V tech will make good power and will do over 100k no probs. I know boys who work for Honda and they never EVER get any bother with them. But just how reliable can it be when they dont have the big ££ for R&D that a proven name like Honda has. I'm sounding like a Honda fan here, i'm not, i just like an engine that doesn't break. I'm just thinking that maybe 40-50k might be consitered reliable for an engine like that. Even if it's not the engine, what about the ancilliaries, drivetrain etc. Are they all up to coping with that kind of abuse and power for miles and miles. And feck me, you'll give it more abuse than anyone can, even Walshy.
Not slating the idea mate. I'm all for it. Just know how gutted you'd be if it all started going wrong.
But then again.......... you could have 20k miles of extremely enjoyable ultimate Elise under your belt by then.
I'm just thinking that maybe 40-50k might be consitered reliable for an engine like that. Even if it's not the engine, what about the ancilliaries, drivetrain etc. Are they all up to coping with that kind of abuse and power for miles and miles. And feck me, you'll give it more abuse than anyone can, even Walshy. Not slating the idea mate. I'm all for it. Just know how gutted you'd be if it all started going wrong.
But then again.......... you could have 20k miles of extremely enjoyable ultimate Elise under your belt by then.In fact. Just forget everything i said. Just had a look at the vids on the website
http://www.rst-v8.com/
Who cares how many miles it does. That is un fecking believeable.
http://www.rst-v8.com/
Who cares how many miles it does. That is un fecking believeable.
OK, so mr insurance has stuck his beak in and said its a no no for me for the V8. Too young. So honda it is then. At least i should be back on trackdays sooner this way, even if it is only with 210bhp ish.
To be honest, at least i will still have people to race with on trackdays, as it would have been too easy with 350bhp.
neil
To be honest, at least i will still have people to race with on trackdays, as it would have been too easy with 350bhp.
neil
