Untold story of SPC #51 in 3/07 C&D article

[Excaliber]

I've also heard reports from Magazines about cars they WANTED to test, but were allowed pictures only. Heck I'd let them thrash mine, IF they were willing to pay for the damages. 15 minutes? OK, I'll take it!

[JUS BIT]

Sorry to hear about some of the issues with this Coupe, it's too bad that problems occured. The article probably would have went another way. But, problems can easily occur when you're beating up on a car. However, if you think your car is worthy of hard racing, then it needs to last, just like the others. As a 2 time participant at the Run-n-Gun, your car has to make it all 3 days through the events: Road Course, Autocross, and Drags. Some cars (and motors) can handle it, and some can't. It's a test of stamina as well.

15 minutes of fame can come without the car mags thrashing your car.

For example:
http://www.kitcarmag.com/toc/142_this_month/

http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh...type_65_coupe/

Best of luck getting her all put back the way she started...I hope things work out for the best.

James
JUS BIT

[rcweingart]

Just got back in town and have a moment to respond to "why," - because Peter Brock asked me. The car they had planned to use wasn't ready. I didn't build my car for the track, only the street. I was leaving for a vacation and didn't even have time to prep it for the track, namely, remove the restrictive velocity stack screens, put on the K & N air filters, and do something about the oil. Roush originally used the pan supplied by Superformance (which included my car) but has since designed and now uses their own proprietary pan which has better gating to minimize oil starvation in similar circumstances although an accu-sump or, better yet, a dry sump is the way to go for hard track use. Roush is rebuilding my engine with the new pan and the car should be finished around the end of April. Peter Brock stood up to have the pipes recoated and take car of the cosmetics.

[JUS BIT]

Glad to see the motor is getting fixed and I hope you are on the road again soon!

Best wishes,

James

[richardferguson]

A sorry tale, Ron. I love my car and that's good enough for me. Having read your story, I really don't need anyone else to love it. The only people lending cars to the press should be those trying to sell them.
I hope your car returns better than before. Wish I could get a Brock Coupe down-under, though regulations make it near impossible to fit a 351 or 427. Gotta be a way though....
Richard

[Dinobyte]

These magazines are not impartial...they have a vested interest in ensuring certain cars are looked upon more favorably.

Follow the money and you will see where their allegiances rest.

[Doug Axelrod]

The Noble M400 was not race-prepped; it was stock.
My two cents is that these cars are street/track cars and should do well in both without special preps. For example, I met a guy at Watkins Glen that just took his Z06 from track to track; nothing special, including his run flats.
This is not to say that the test drivers shouldn't monitor the oil pressure, temp, etc., and take appropriate action. Just that all these cars should be good to go onto the track out of the box.
Doug in Cincinnati
(late, beloved MkIII SPF1274, now M400#115)

[maxum_101]

sorry to hear all this... but bottom line is the SPF coupe is an amazing car we all know that. as for roush taking care of the engine.... A+ Mr Roush, it shows u take pride and care in your product. I am looking at getting a MkIII and I know ill be putting in a Roush engine for sure. and for Peter Brock, good on you for taking car of the owners car and putting back to the way it was..... this is what real people would do. and it is what they are doing, to me its outstanding to see that theses people go above and beyond.

rcweingart... hang in there the motor is coming back better then before with the new pan and such and mr brock is taking care of the body and pipes. any one who knows their spf coupes and what they do ... know that hands down this car is truly the winner, regardless of what was put in the mag.
look at it like this... your car will now has some history to it

again i tip my hat to roush and mr brock....

[Excaliber]

Doug makes an interesting point, a 'stock' such as typically supplied by the manufacturer type of car makes for a 'real world' test. It is either up to the task or it aint, as delivered.

[Dangerous Doug]

Note to self: Do NOT let magazine editors or movie stuntmen drive and/or rent my Cobra.

DD