I thought that Atoms were fast?

[BioBanker]

In this video, you will see an Atom lapping Mosport, a track I frequent. He is lapping amongst a group of open wheel cars, which appear faster than the Atom.

He starts off by a couple 1:33/34 laps and then does a 1:31.

I LAP 1:35 IN MY NSX!!!!

His speeds are very similar to mine throughout the track. Im shocked that he isnt MUCH faster than that as Ive heard that Atoms are the scheite. Down the straight Im even faster, big ass wing and all, than this Atom.

Anyone have one? Driven one?

 

[fkong777]

Seems like a race. Wouldnt the Atom be limited to the engine size similar to that of the open wheel cars?

 

[docjohn]

Don't know about your atom but in general when my street car is faster around a track than a should be faster race car it is usualy because the driver is the limiting factor.There was a certain radical I was passing at the glen and lrp and as I learned later both drivers were beginners,scaring the crap out of themselves in it:biggrin:

 

[da3dalus]

Maybe hes got the crappy U.S. Spec engine?

 

[KooLaid]

Either your skills as a driver are considerably better than you figured, or the other guy sucks more than you figured.

 

[synergyaw]

Anyone have one? Driven one?

We have both UK and US model Atoms and our atoms are much faster then most of NSX.

3 factors: Spec, Driver and Setup.

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Well, they can be............sort of

There's only one configuration to the Mosport track, right? If so, and with a Pro Formula Mazda qualifying under 1.09, 1.31 does seem a tad slow. But like everyone else said, there's plenty of reasons for that, plus it's built to be street legal, so it's not a purpose-built race car. Even with that said, looking at World Challenge times, you're doing pretty well.

 

[BioBanker]

Re: Well, they can be............sort of

Yeah, but Im running a SC'd NSX, so while World Challenge times are about the same, anyone of those drivers could pull a second or two right out of the gate on me in my car. That's why I dont let them drive my car. Gotta keep the dream alive!!!

 

[NSXDreamer2]

Re: Well, they can be............sort of

it's funny sometime when we have this kind of situation, I "murdered" couple cool kit cars (ultima..etc..) as well on my local track. At the end of the day, they either come over and say hi to me, comment my good driving... or when I got back to paddock, other freinds comment how terrible the other driver was.

my buddy constantly beat me up in his miata, I just have to rationalize it that 1. he's a better driver than me, 2. He spent way more money into that miata than my nsx...

3 factors: Spec, Driver and Setup.

i say, here's my version: 3 Factors: 1.$$$ 2. Driver $$$$ 3. Setup (which takes time and more $$$$$)

 

[synergyaw]

FYI.

US Ecotec 300 hp SC motor atom only produce 217 whp on dynojet... BS....

UK Honda K NA 220 hp motor atom produce 208 whp on dynojet.

 

[john@johnhudakracing]

Discussed to great depth.

One word: Driver.

You can put many people in a Champ car, they still aren't going to lap all that much faster. Just because a car is capable of X:XX lap doesn't mean the driver can think a X:XX lap. Don't read too much into it.

Further as Ted mentioned; some setup/engineering compromises in street trim leave a lot sitting on the table for what they are relative to CSR's, Formula Mazdas, Stohr WF1's, Radicals, etc...

 

[ak]

What's the top speed you reach at the end of the straights? The atom driver seems to be pretty decent(catching up to the open wheel cars in the corners) but does not have much power esp at the top end and only reaches ~200kph.

 

[BioBanker]

I hit 215kph if I choose not to upshift into 5th and bounce off the limiter for awhile. If I want to push it and have a good exit out of the hairpin, Im about 230kph. The fastest I have personally gotten there is about 235kph.

For comparison, that SL65 got 250kph+ with a crap exit out of the hairpin before he got on the brakes way too early. I was in the 65 as a passenger and saw it myself. My friend, who is a pro driver, gets close to 250kph on the straight in his stock M6 with the crappy stock Conti's on it. Ive been in a 993TT with a prodriver who gets 250kphish also.

 

[stuntman]

I went a tick over 250kph at the end of the straight in an Mercedes E63 AMG :smile:

...awesome car when it has an aftermarket pneumatic suspension controller and RA1s :biggrin:

 

[BioBanker]

Yeah. I bet you'd be close to that in my car too Billy. You'd leave 5abc 10 kph faster than I forsure.

I'm never letting you try! I'd need to buy a new zr1 after!!!