600bhp

Just watched mark higgings lap of the isle man tt he averaged 117mph and did the course in under 19mins16sec.just wondered what time it would be if charlie shaw had a go in his focus

nevsrevs

I have been thinking this, if you where to use a fully prept race car, not a standard ish subaru, could you beat the bike times?

600bhp

Watching mark higgins the subaru he drove was hiting 165mph in parts looks mighty scary but would be great see mr shaw taking the focus round

Sonic Boom

iTrader: (11)

It's about knowing the track too it's a serious amount of corners to remember.
Rich

ajamesc

Fastest bike lap is 17.06 by Bruce Ansty can't see a car topping that the race bikes are so fast they top 190 in parts

GVK.

Mark Higgins is from the Isle of Man too, so knows his way around pretty well.

Every year the TT is on there is a thread on Pistonheads where people are going on about cars that would be quicker than bikes.

When you think about it something like a single seater Hillclimb car/prototype sports car (Le Mans type thing) wouldn't have enough ground clearance/suspension travel for the bumps/bridges etc.

So really something like a WRC car but with more power would have the best chance imo.

But how close it would get to a superbike, I'm not sure.

stevieturbo

Dont forget, the Subaru used whilst modified, is still a standard car engine/gearbox wise.
The engine only has electronic tuning, no mechanical tuning work done.

Obviously has brakes, suspension, safety equipment added though.

I'm sure a really hot car would produce great times, but the race bikes are animals too. I doubt they'd ever let a proper race car around the circuit. Maybe Leob in the Pikes Peak car..

GVK.

Would a Time Attack type car be able to complete a full lap of the Island?



Don't think the front aero would last long...

stevieturbo

Time attack cars these days are built for fast wide open smooth circuits and getting heavily tailored towards that and only that

So in that spec, they wouldnt really be suitable just as much as a scrambler wouldnt be suitable.

But as most are based on saloon cars, there is no doubt they could be adapted to the bumpier roads and they could fly !

GVK.

Above pic was at Cadwell Park, its a track more suited to bikes, but cars obviously run there...

Vid

Says he did a 1:25, so checked the BSB lap record was by Leon Haslam at 1:26, but then remembered that the bikes have a chicane added to slow them down between Mansfield and the Mountain.

james kiely

iTrader: (5)

anyone who has driven the tt circuit will realise just how awesome mark higgins ,s lap of 117 is

gcfcos

When the bikes reach 200mph in some places can't see a car doing that on them roads. Fair play for anyone having a go though!

nevsrevs

you will never get a car to do the strait line speed of bikes, but corner speed will be better, having driven it and rode it, I think about this every year. if you got someone like mark in a faster suited car I think it can be done.... but it never will because bikes are the fastest things on the planet, full stop, no return.

gcfcos

Is there a video of someone driving round the tt circuit in a car? I'd love to see that

sridgett

you've got to find a mental car to beat the bikes time. I'm thinking group b rally car?

BigChuck

they should hold a car rally there or even a round of time attack on the circuit, im surprised they haven't done it really as the bikes bring a huge revenue to the island, i'd imagine cars would do the same.

ps i'd rather see andy gallacher do it in charlies focus, i think he'd get more out of it.

DAN400

iTrader: (3)

what sort of times do the superbikes do around the likes of brands hatch compared to the time attack cars?

ajamesc

Thing is the bikes don't exactly corner slow to be fair. You may have rode it but I'm guessing to no wear near the level them guys do. They take some of them corners flat in 5th and that's not exactly hanging about on a 1000

gjh

Ye to be fair those guys on the bikes don't half shift! Higgins lap time is awesome too. I do think it would be interesting to see a more modified car try it though, maybe a rally x car but with suspension modifications better suited to tarmac?

3i Jim

Is this the video where mark Higgins gets the Subaru out of shape at about 100+mph and nearly slams into a wall? He's car control is out of this world when you see the in car footage of him calmly wrestle with the steering wheel to prevent a serious accident. Awesome.

stevieturbo

That video was 2-3 years ago.

The recent video is from this year's TT, 2014. Same sort of deal though, but no mishaps this time lol

GVK.

gcfcos

Thanks for that mate, that was epic to watch, the blokes a bloody nutcase lol

lacey

Tony pond done a average of 100mph years ago in a very std rover fast back that's that only had slicks and a pipe ( for the Marshall's to hear him ) no cage or any other drives aids
That a good lap

GVK.

Yeah Rover 827. was impressive for back in 1990!!

It's Czech Mate

Pick any circuit and the ultimate car is always faster than the ultimate bike. Doubt we'll ever see it at IOM though. Higgins is a brave boy in whT is little more than a standard wrx

ede

Totally agree some sort off car event over there would be good

ede

Totally agree some sort of car event over there would be good