400 or Elise S to Spa?

[Gm77]

So, A couple of us are planning on heading to Spa latter this year and I'm debating whether to take my Elise S CR, or start building brownie points to see if I can steal my wife's 400.

@Gashead1105 (Will) is coming with me in his Exige and I wouldn't want him having too much of an upper hand with power on those long straights. Having said that, I'm far more familiar in my Elise and I know Spa is not for the feint hearted. Plus, I'm not 100% that the 400 will make the sound test - it's 107dB on the static. However, the 400 is so much more civilised for getting there and back (not that that has ever really bothered me in the Elise).

What do people think?

[Bibs]

Both?

 

[PaulCP]

If you've already done Spa in your Elise it would be good to hear your comparison of the 400 at Spa.

I've not managed to drive Spa yet in my Evora but I went out as a passenger with Lee (CocoPops) in his Evora last year on a wet day and  I was surprised at how well his car handled etc on standard Pirelli Zeros. It was certainly up there in the "mix" Other TDs that we've done in the Evora prove that it is a very capable car on track in standard form so I would expect the 400 to be a further step up.

[Gm77]

3 minutes ago, Bibs said:

Both?

 

Are you offering to babysit?

[Bibs]

[Gm77]

18 minutes ago, PaulCP said:

If you've already done Spa in your Elise it would be good to hear your comparison of the 400 at Spa.

I've not managed to drive Spa yet in my Evora but I went out as a passenger with Lee (CocoPops) in his Evora last year on a wet day and  I was surprised at how well his car handled etc on standard Pirelli Zeros. It was certainly up there in the "mix" Other TDs that we've done in the Evora prove that it is a very capable car on track in standard form so I would expect the 400 to be a further step up.

I've never driven Spa so the Elise would probably be the safe/sensible option. This is the first time though where a track day sound limit gets close to the 400 output so there may not be that many opportunities in the future.

[CocoPops]

I'd take the 400 with out doubt.

[Bravo73]

I'm off to Spa for my first time in May so I don't know the details but if there is any sort of noise test then I'm pretty sure that the stock 400 would fail it. 

[Bibs]

It's mentioned in the first post, 107dB static.

Greg, have you tried measuring the 400 at ~5k rpm with a phone app? 

[JayEmm]

Surely no phone is going to be able to accurately measure the kind of decibels the 400 is producing?

I'd vote to take the 400, but you really don't want to get there and find out you're a spectator!

[Bravo73]

2 hours ago, Bibs said:

It's mentioned in the first post, 107dB static.

A quick Google seems to indicate that the limit at Spa is 105dB. 

So, a stock 400 is going to fail, hands down. Any word about the Motorsport mod, Bibs?

[Gm77]

2 hours ago, Bibs said:

It's mentioned in the first post, 107dB static.

Greg, have you tried measuring the 400 at ~5k rpm with a phone app? 

I haven't tried Bibs. I will try on the weekend though.

Has anyone measured a 400? I think I recall Jamie at B&C saying they registered 108dB at Goodwood, but I'm not sure.

The event is with Lotus on Track and I think I recall that it's at 4,750 revs so I did wonder whether, with careful throttle control, I could keep the valves closed. As someone pointed out though, it's a bit of a way to go to then get rejected.

The other concern was that there's no where in the UK I could gain experience of the 400 fully, as it will breach all UK track limits. My first time (excuse the term) would be at Spa!

[Bibs]

There are higher noise limits on test days in the UK but you'd be out with full on race cars, not my idea of fun.

I'll chase up Lotus to see if they have a solution yet. 

[Gm77]

Thanks Bibs

[JayEmm]

I was at a motorbike track day in Almeria last week @Gm77, it was awesome. Two great circuits back-to-back, one of which (Circuito Andalucia) would be perfect for something like an Elise. A real handling track.

And apparently the concept of noise testing is foreign to the Spanish - there was not a noise tester, or scrutineer for that matter, anywhere in sight. And the roads around the circuits were perfect Lotus territory too. LOT should definitely see about going there.

[Gm77]

12 minutes ago, JayEmm said:

I was at a motorbike track day in Almeria last week @Gm77, it was awesome. Two great circuits back-to-back, one of which (Circuito Andalucia) would be perfect for something like an Elise. A real handling track.

And apparently the concept of noise testing is foreign to the Spanish - there was not a noise tester, or scrutineer for that matter, anywhere in sight. And the roads around the circuits were perfect Lotus territory too. LOT should definitely see about going there.

You get about James - in a nice way!

[JayEmm]

I try! I was unfortunately not there to ride, but was supporting my dad who has just been at the World Superbikes in Aragon, in one of the support races.

As one of the circuits there was brand new, rather than sighting laps on bikes they did the first sighting laps in the cars. Quite bizarre. I got to drive a mercedes vito around a track with about 30 hire cars. Definitely a memorable experience!

[PaulCP]

Greg, if you want to find out what the static dB on your car is take it to Snetterton when they have a TD. You can get it tested there FOC.

Test is usually done at 3/4 max revs although some use 2/3.

[Gashead1105]

There's only one solution here Greg. Buy an Exige and complete the set (3-11 aside).

You know it makes sense...

[Gm77]

4 hours ago, PaulCP said:

Greg, if you want to find out what the static dB on your car is take it to Snetterton when they have a TD. You can get it tested there FOC.

Test is usually done at 3/4 max revs although some use 2/3.

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately that's about a 3 hour round trip for me (albeit better than a round trip to Spa with no action when I get there).

4 hours ago, Gashead1105 said:

There's only one solution here Greg. Buy an Exige and complete the set (3-11 aside).

You know it makes sense...

That's an idea Will. I saw an Exige a while ago that was painted in blue sprint colours. I think I'd have to copy that as it looked amazing.  Do you think the owner would mind?!?!?

[Gashead1105]

7 minutes ago, Gm77 said:

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately that's about a 3 hour round trip for me (albeit better than a round trip to Spa with no action when I get there).

That's an idea Will. I saw an Exige a while ago that was painted in blue sprint colours. I think I'd have to copy that as it looked amazing.  Do you think the owner would mind?!?!?

Not at all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

 

[JayEmm]

44 minutes ago, Gm77 said:

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately that's about a 3 hour round trip for me (albeit better than a round trip to Spa with no action when I get there).

Don't worry Greg I'll take it for you

[PaulCP]

47 minutes ago, Gm77 said:

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately that's about a 3 hour round trip for me (albeit better than a round trip to Spa with no action when I get there).

A nice morning drive then & you could enjoy yourself going across country

[Gm77]

46 minutes ago, JayEmm said:

Don't worry Greg I'll take it for you

Most kind James!

42 minutes ago, PaulCP said:

A nice morning drive then & you could enjoy yourself going across country

Not sure that reasoning would work at home!

[Bibs]

And you might miss X Factor!