|
BRUNTINGTHORPE The Radical day I am often used as 'official photographer' and so yesterday was spent at Bruntingthorpe, an old US airbase where B52s were based. Today it is a very secure facility (try escaping over the retractable metal points sticking up at the exit!) for storage of new vehicles prior to sale (how old is that new car really?), company lorries when not required, as well as being a race track. So down we went in the Volvo S60R. The day had been set up by Radical, a manufacturer of the two seater racing car that costs around �35,000. It comes either with 1300 or 1500 engines. The model being used yesterday was the 1300, a very mean beast itself. There were four others attending the day as well as Don, costing �150 each, refundable if a vehicle is purchased. They came in a BMW M3, from Preston, and a Ferrari, from Exeter. What a beautiful car the latter is. However, I understood that the it should reach 180 mph, and that the owner was dissatisfied in that it would reach only 170! The day was split up as follow: In turn, firstly one goes round with the proffesional, then one drives while he is passenger. If he is satisfied with ones abilities, then eventually one gets the chance to go solo for five laps. All succeeded in this, while I was taking many pictures. Finally, the professional goes out with each in turn to demonstrate how it is really done. Phew, what skill. Everyone was impressed. He even showed us a doughnut round a stack of tyres! Amazing skill to see a car spinning virtually just on one wheel. The tyres cost �110, by the way. Afterwards he informed me that he would have taken me! Why did he not mention that earlier? However, in between don using the Radical, he took the opportunity to try the Volvo again at this circuit. After three straightforward laps he coasted in with steam appearing from under the bonnet and a strange smell. The clutch had gone it was confirmed. RAC called, then the breakdown truck, and we had a lift back to Speeds, Mansfield, not in the way I had expected when I originally set off in the morning! Surely for a car with that weight and performance a very solid and reliable clutch assembly should have been used that would not breakdown when the car is using most of its potential. 
|
