By Kiyoshi

Okay listers… Here's some data… Two autocrosses that the GGLC held back in 1991. All the cars that are listed were driven by seasoned autocrossers. The text or commentary is from un-biased individuals.

AUTOCROSS #1 *******************************

Europa SP (ASP) w/ Hoosiers 40.79 (nationally competitive car & driver)

Jon Rosner wrote:
This was a particularly good opportunity for me to compare Porsches consisting of new Carrera, old Carrera, and 911, 914-6 race, 914-6 street prepared and 914 to Lotuses, consisting of Europa (street prepared), Europa (modified stock), old Elan (street prepared), old Elan (modified stock), new NEW Elan, Eclat and Turbo Esprit.

Our fastest Lotus cars being the street prepared Europa, the slightly modified Europa, a Spyder chassised street prepared old Elan and the new Elan.

Of great interest to me was the M100 Elan, this was my first opportunity to see one on the track. Clearly it was the fastest of any stock Lotus or Porsche and was handicapped by the use of OEM compound tires, the Goodyear GS-D, with a treadwear rating of 180 (compared to the prevalent Yokohama A-008R at a rating of 25). Through the corners the Elan was just a balanced as the fast two Europas. I could see the car working both ends being amazingly neutral in the middle of the sweeper and then drifting all four, like Europas, as it powered out of the fast sweeper. In the chicane it rolled little and never put a wheel out of step.

AUTOCROSS #2 *******************************

Europa (ASP w/ Hoosiers) 44.66 (S McFall)
Super Seven (Vintage, vintage race tires) 45.04 (K Hamai)
Europa TC (street mod, Yokos) 46.17
Europa TC (street, Yokos) 47.03
Elan S3 (street mod, Spyder, Yokos) 47.56
M100 Elan (stock, OEM Goodyears) 48.95 (K Hamai)
Europa S2 (street, Yokos) 49.02
Elan S3 (street mod, Yokos) 49.07
Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo (Yokos) 49.94 (J Dyer)
M100 Elan (stock, OEM Goodyears) 50.30 (J Dyer)
Europa TC (street mod, Yokos) 50.37

Paul Haney wrote:
Summing up the feel of the new Elan on course, I'd say it's tight, firm, fast and controllable with no bad habits. The rear end seems to know what the front end is doing and vice-versa. I'm surprised at the lack of steering feedback from the front wheel drive. If you get a lot of lock on and hit the throttle, you can barely feel it. As John Miles said to me, "It's all of a piece."

Kiyoshi said I could take his Seven out on course if I wanted. My first thought was whether I could even fit in it but there was just enough room for my butt. The Seven is hard sprung and loud. It feels like a racecar. Shifting with the left hand is disconcerting, but I ran the entire course in 3^rd gear though so that was no problem. I quickly felt I could use the throttle to steer the car out of the corners. Kiyoshi has a Torsen limited slip differential installed. This device directs the most power to the fastest wheel so the outside rear wheel is driving and pulls the back end around. More throttle -- more slide. It gives you a controllable way to bring the back around in a slow corner. Press the throttle pedal and the engine growls at the same time the rear end slides around. It feels like your right foot is directly connected to you ears and your butt. Vrooom/Slide, Vrooom/slide. Direct, fast steering, a good view of the cones and great stick. Fun, fun, fun!

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