European hill climbing in American cars

[PR3D4TOR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OGzTdtDHEw

Didn't know U.S. cars were that popular over there, and doesn't Clarkson always tell us how American cars can't handle the twisty stuff? 

[RTHolmes]

... 0m30s kinda proves him right 

[ozrocker]

... 0m30s kinda proves him right 

Oh yeah?
Here's a quality, safe, English "turner"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8


                                                                                                                                        Oz                                                                                                         

[RTHolmes]

[jeep00]

I did some hillclimbs locally a bunch of years back, raced up Mt. Ascutney, part of the New England Hillclimb Association. Great fun, great people. Had Dan Rutan in the group too.
Ironically, I used a European car, my DD Audi 4000s.

[RTHolmes]

that must have involved heroic amounts of wheelspin and understeer

[jeep00]

that must have involved heroic amounts of wheelspin and understeer

A whole lot of shifting, for sure. 
And understeer, not so bad because it is a hillclimb, a little off the throttle and a light tap on the brakes and the front dips in nicely, turn in hard when the front dips, shift and mash the throttle and push it through the turn. I loved that car.

Bob

[RTHolmes]

yup, drive FWD at anything over 7/10ths and you have to learn the art of trailbraking pretty quick

[jeep00]

yup, drive FWD at anything over 7/10ths and you have to learn the art of trailbraking pretty quick

Mine was the Quattro, so even more so. Same engine, heavier car. Should have caught that with the wheelspin comment, mine would only chirp on takeoff if I really hammered it. I had fun though. Go figure the system, it was a stock class, so lots of things were "modifiers" to break up stock classes. Ultimately, I was in the same class as the Dodge Neons. They tore me up. I wasn't last though, but it took really hammering on the car. But, it took it great. Saw more Neon's getting worked on than I ever did to my Audi. 

[RTHolmes]

ahhhhh ok a quattro, so you'll appreciate my amusement at the idea of a fwd 80 hillclimbing

my dad had an 80, it was like driving a steam loco even in the dry - only 50% throttle until it got moving. you'd think with all that weight slung out infront of the axle it would at least have some traction ...

[jeep00]

ahhhhh ok a quattro, so you'll appreciate my amusement at the idea of a fwd 80 hillclimbing

my dad had an 80, it was like driving a steam loco even in the dry - only 50% throttle until it got moving. you'd think with all that weight slung out infront of the axle it would at least have some traction ...

 
Yeah, they were something.

But back for the OP, they DO have this stuff over here, and they DO run American cars in it. Hell, my father in law ran his 1989 Grand Voyager Turbo (oops, his was the Canadian one, even had a metric speedo....um, the van, not him.....ewwww....) and a Dodge Shadow.
But I wouldn't say Clarkson is wrong, I am sure the rigs in those runs you saw were not US or even original spec suspensions.

[RTHolmes]

beasting its way up Shelsey Walsh (with a pretty decent time):

[jeep00]

beasting its way up Shelsey Walsh (with a pretty decent time):

(Image removed from quote.)

THAT is a lovely automobile. 

[PR3D4TOR]

beasting its way up Shelsey Walsh (with a pretty decent time):

(Image removed from quote.)

Very nice! 

[PR3D4TOR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76aiCMKRI_g&NR=1

Even when you have a great handling car it's not a guarantee you won't screw up.