Radical Coming Out of Nowhere!

[ruim20]

Sorry but the 'record' wasn't done on a street legal car, not acording to Autoblog who can't even read what they wright. The runs at the ring where done with Dunlop racing Slicks. The last time i checked i had to have grooves on my cars tyres.

"As proof, Michael Vergers drove it down from the factory in England all the way to the vaunted German circuit, and within 24 hours, he had set the new record. The 6:48 lap time, a full eight seconds quicker than Radical's previous record, was verified by Germany's Sport Auto and England's Evo magazines using Dunlop racing slicks."

Even if this Ring circus act the car makers are pulling these days had any credibility the Radical can't be on the 'street legal' category.

[clutch-monkey]

you can drive with slicks on the road though? it's just not reccomended..

[ruim20]

you can drive with slicks on the road though? it's just not reccomended..

You can... but you shouldn't!

[Matra et Alpine]

You can't run slicks on the road in Europe.
THere MUST be a tread pattern and as a minimum it must be 1.6mm deep ( 3mm in some countries iirc )

[Guibo]

Seriously doubt Evo and Sport Auto would lend their name to any 'street-legal record' if the car in fact was on racing slicks. A statement from Radical on another forum says they used Dunlop Direzzas, which are not slicks. You can see the treaded tires in pictures on Autoblog's site (taken from Radical). I think this is a case of Autoblog misinterpreting Radical's press release:

"Dunlop have supplied us with brilliant, hard-wearing trackday tyres, indeed we've only used one set to both drive to the 'Ring, and set the record."

Trackday tyres != racing slicks.

Radical SR8LM sets new Nürburgring record at 6:48 — Autoblog


As far as road legality in the US, not sure if there has ever been a Radical legalized for road use (there are Radical racing series on tracks here, though). You can buy an Ariel Atom built in the US from imported parts, and once matched to a federalized drivetrain system, can be used on the road in some areas. Seem to recall one guy in Oregon needing a special permit that allowed use only to and from a track, but that was years ago.

[cargirl1990]

^i so want...

[P4g4nite]

While we're pushing the definition of a "road car" as far as it'll go, any chance of bringing a 962 out of mothballs?

[Ferrer]

While we're pushing the definition of a "road car" as far as it'll go, any chance of bringing a 962 out of mothballs?

Dauer?

[ruim20]

You can't run slicks on the road in Europe.
THere MUST be a tread pattern and as a minimum it must be 1.6mm deep ( 3mm in some countries iirc )

Yeah, i was trying to go for the "you can killl someone, but you shouldnt" It's a bit of a joke over here. , it's more of a realm of possibilities word play. You can do a lot of things, doesn't mean you should.

[RacingManiac]

Take times like the Gumpert or Radical or even Ariel and compare to a ZR1, GTR, 911 GT2, or even an ACR Viper, its very much apple to orange even if both categories are considered as "road legal" cars. I maintain the belief that if you have the know how and fabrication capability(note that I used the word fabrication, not manufacturing), and can find a driver with big enough testicular fortitude, you can create something "road legal" and go like stink around the Ring. For an OE to make a car, that comes off a line, making thousands a year, and have to pass all sorts of type approval process around the world, and make a time like they did, is an entirely different ball game. The stats is just as meaningful/meaning-less as any other performance stats as 0-60 or 1/4 ET, but its just another piece of info to put out there for the world to see. Germans are using it for years, and thanks to the advent of Gran Turismo or Forza, more people knows about it and the rest of the world's automakers are getting in on it....

[Matra et Alpine]

EXCEPT "thousands a year" removes most of the worlds sports cars

The main purpose of the 'Ring by manufacturers has always been to accelerate testing on real road conditions and to propose changes to fix any issues that arise.
They didn't "care" about the final times until manufacturers struggling to sell performance cars in Europe needed a headline to help them