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A car is only as good as the driver?

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2014 6:37 pm
by Darren C
I was at a car show last Sunday and a Chap walked by saying, “These cars drive like Sh*t.”
I immediately stopped him and asked if he’d ever owned one…..”No”
“So have you ever driven one?”
“No, I don’t need too they’re sh*t.”
“Sorry, I didn’t realise you were an expert” I said as he walked off.

This got me thinking.

Some times it’s as much about the car as it is the drivers skill, that makes a good drive.
Do any of you remember Tony Pond?
He drove a “stock” (apart from a roll cage and slick tyres) Rover 827 Vitesse in 1990 around the TT circuit to achieve an average 102mph. Not a car you’d associate with performance or handling.

So next time you walk past a non descript car and think to yourself, these are sh*t, it may just be your driving!



It took 30 years for this record to be broken (by 2mph average faster lap) in a Subaru Impezza, and watching the video, I’d feel safer in the Rover…….



Particularly when this happened


Re: A car is only as good as the driver?

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2014 7:15 pm
by Darren C
oops, 20 years not 30 :oops:

Amazing though when you compare the two cars, there's only 2mph in it.

Re: A car is only as good as the driver?

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2014 9:50 pm
by jerzybondov
That Rover video is epic. Subaru looks way more sketched out.

But you're right - it is all about the driver. I took a friend of mine who used to race touring cars to a track day at Brands Hatch in my Mini. He reeled in and munched this (I thought, well driven) 500bhp Skyline. Very, very impressive.

Re: A car is only as good as the driver?

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2014 10:07 pm
by bandit
I was there at the TT when the Subaru did that, as he came over 'Ago's Leap' it was not good, very lucky tbh

Re: A car is only as good as the driver?

PostPosted: Mon May 12, 2014 6:49 pm
by RobvdVeer
Maybe that's why mycar is so fast.. :)

Oh and don't ask an American about cornering, they have no clue. The only corner they can do at speed is the Indy 500.

Re: A car is only as good as the driver?

PostPosted: Mon May 12, 2014 11:01 pm
by dmc4087
I read the average speed of the Subaru as 113 compared to the Rover at 102 though. And there seems to be a debate as to how stock the Rover actually was.

Awesome achievement for both guys. That Subaru was veryyyyy lucky. Good driver at the helm though :thumbsup: