My first Gen3 experience (finally!)
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 1:16 pm
This weekend at TWS I had the distinct pleasure to run a session in a Gen3 for the first time. Spec Racer Sports (Dave Perkins) has a beautiful black and blue SRF that they had converted. It was being rented for the weekend by Lee Romine. Mike, Lee, and Dave all agreed that letting me take the car out for a session would be ok, so I was all set.
We were a bit rushed so we weren't able to get the pedals all the way forward for me. This caused me some braking and shifting issues as my knee was hitting the steering wheel. Older test day tires meant that the car wasn't on rails, but it handled more than well enough to highlight the differences between Gen2 and Gen3.
So how was it?
It was awesome. Pure and simple. I didn't get out of the car thinking "the power difference is PHENOMENAL"... I got out of the car stating "it's a Gen2 that's been hyper-testicled" (Mike laughed at that visual).
By that I mean that it just (as others have stated) brings the car *to life* in a way that the 1.9 doesn't. The aural stimulus is so vastly better that I don't even have the words for it. I was never one of those "our 1.9's sound like asthmatic tractors" guys, but let me tell you... hopping out of the Gen3 and into my car the first thought that went through my mind was "omg now I know why everyone else complains so much".
I could definitely feel the difference in the weight out back. Mike described some required changes to driving style which, after promptly forgetting them while pulling on to the track, several laps in I found that I had naturally adapted to in order to get the car to do what I needed it to do. With good tires and a setup tailored to your individual driving style, my gut feel is that the car is just going to be a joy to drive. It's already a blast, but I think once dialed in it's going to just *be more racy* from the sense that it'll be more responsive to input, both steering and throttle.
Back to the power. Had I gotten out of the car thinking "the power difference is just phenomenal" I am certain that I would have also thought "and the balance has suffered for it". Instead, the power differential is noticeable and the power band is awesome. Mike said "try to keep it above 5000" so I did. I probably ran a couple of corners around 4800 in 4th gear and rolling from 4800 to 6600 the car demonstrated a rock solid power curve. It should be noted that I was running on the 3.85 (?) demo R&P as opposed to the standard one in our cars today. With that R&P, the on-track shift points were very similar to the 1.9.
Another huge difference... that flywheel. Man oh man what a different feel. I will say this - if you're not a rev-matcher in the 1.9, it doesn't punish you as the heavy (now that I know) flywheel doesn't allow engine RPM to drop as quickly. In this bad boy, you hit the clutch and the engine immediately drops to idle. It's really noticeable. This, imo, will put a higher premium on effective rev-matching so be working on it now if you want to optimize this new package! I freaking love it.
Based on some anecdotal evidence, I am thinking that the Gen3 will be perhaps 3.5 seconds per lap quicker at TWS, which is a LOT. With the 3.85 R&P the gearing is all the same as in the 1.9 (with a couple of "I could go either 3rd or 4th" corners). The standard R&P (can't think of the ratio) does change corner gearing and I think it might be faster at this track than the 3.85. Other tracks may be very, very different. TWS is all 3rd and 4th gear corners, very "swoopy" and rhythmic with no corners any where near 2nd gear in a Gen2.
So, after my first experience I'm at least as excited to get a Gen3 as I was before, if not more so. Mad Scientist Mike has truly improved the overall package while not sacrificing the essence of that spec racer feel and that is an achievement to be lauded. Well done, Mikey.
When I get back home I'll try to post a lap of my run in the Spec Racer Sports Gen3. Be excited, folks. This is a crazy fun car to drive.
Denny
We were a bit rushed so we weren't able to get the pedals all the way forward for me. This caused me some braking and shifting issues as my knee was hitting the steering wheel. Older test day tires meant that the car wasn't on rails, but it handled more than well enough to highlight the differences between Gen2 and Gen3.
So how was it?
It was awesome. Pure and simple. I didn't get out of the car thinking "the power difference is PHENOMENAL"... I got out of the car stating "it's a Gen2 that's been hyper-testicled" (Mike laughed at that visual).
By that I mean that it just (as others have stated) brings the car *to life* in a way that the 1.9 doesn't. The aural stimulus is so vastly better that I don't even have the words for it. I was never one of those "our 1.9's sound like asthmatic tractors" guys, but let me tell you... hopping out of the Gen3 and into my car the first thought that went through my mind was "omg now I know why everyone else complains so much".
I could definitely feel the difference in the weight out back. Mike described some required changes to driving style which, after promptly forgetting them while pulling on to the track, several laps in I found that I had naturally adapted to in order to get the car to do what I needed it to do. With good tires and a setup tailored to your individual driving style, my gut feel is that the car is just going to be a joy to drive. It's already a blast, but I think once dialed in it's going to just *be more racy* from the sense that it'll be more responsive to input, both steering and throttle.
Back to the power. Had I gotten out of the car thinking "the power difference is just phenomenal" I am certain that I would have also thought "and the balance has suffered for it". Instead, the power differential is noticeable and the power band is awesome. Mike said "try to keep it above 5000" so I did. I probably ran a couple of corners around 4800 in 4th gear and rolling from 4800 to 6600 the car demonstrated a rock solid power curve. It should be noted that I was running on the 3.85 (?) demo R&P as opposed to the standard one in our cars today. With that R&P, the on-track shift points were very similar to the 1.9.
Another huge difference... that flywheel. Man oh man what a different feel. I will say this - if you're not a rev-matcher in the 1.9, it doesn't punish you as the heavy (now that I know) flywheel doesn't allow engine RPM to drop as quickly. In this bad boy, you hit the clutch and the engine immediately drops to idle. It's really noticeable. This, imo, will put a higher premium on effective rev-matching so be working on it now if you want to optimize this new package! I freaking love it.
Based on some anecdotal evidence, I am thinking that the Gen3 will be perhaps 3.5 seconds per lap quicker at TWS, which is a LOT. With the 3.85 R&P the gearing is all the same as in the 1.9 (with a couple of "I could go either 3rd or 4th" corners). The standard R&P (can't think of the ratio) does change corner gearing and I think it might be faster at this track than the 3.85. Other tracks may be very, very different. TWS is all 3rd and 4th gear corners, very "swoopy" and rhythmic with no corners any where near 2nd gear in a Gen2.
So, after my first experience I'm at least as excited to get a Gen3 as I was before, if not more so. Mad Scientist Mike has truly improved the overall package while not sacrificing the essence of that spec racer feel and that is an achievement to be lauded. Well done, Mikey.
When I get back home I'll try to post a lap of my run in the Spec Racer Sports Gen3. Be excited, folks. This is a crazy fun car to drive.
Denny