100mph average around the IoM TT circuit in a Rover Vitesse

[Mincey]

Ok, the record was beaten by a Subaru WRX some years later, but just watch a master at work here. Tony Pond takes a stock (yeah, right - where's the rear view mirror?) Rover 800 Vitesse around the TT circuit at an average of 100mph. It's lucky that he didn't try it in an ES or IS, as they'd a) never be fast enough or b) wouldn't handle well enough....
 

 

[peniole]

50 minutes ago, Mincey said:

It's lucky that he didn't try it in an ES or IS, as they'd a) never be fast enough or b) wouldn't handle well enough....

I see what you did there 😄

Did the commentator say at one point "I don't think the bikes would be going this fast later..."?

[peniole]

A couple of interesting tid bits to rub it in:

That car had a Honda sourced, transverse mounted, V6, the C27A

If it wasn't clear from transverse mounted, the death knell (or was it dead sentence) for that car was it was FWD! Terrible handling 🤣

[Mincey]

1 hour ago, peniole said:

A couple of interesting tid bits to rub it in:

That car had a Honda sourced, transverse mounted, V6, the C27A

If it wasn't clear from transverse mounted, the death knell (or was it dead sentence) for that car was it was FWD! Terrible handling 🤣

My father had a couple of 827's. The first introduced me to the concept of torque steer. Way back in 1990, upon returning home after celebrating getting my degree, despite being a bit worse for wear, I did see a note from Dad. It said "Well done, go to Silverstone tomorrow" with £30 in cash and the keys to his Rover. I was up at 4 the next morning (which was a struggle) to drive to the Friday F1 qualifying session. I'm glad that the Rozzers weren't out as I'm sure I'd have failed a breath test. Anyway, on the way home I was following a 3 litre Carlton down the Oundle bypass at a healthy rate of knots. A blue Esprit appeared behind me, and they were clearly in a playful mood. At an indicated 110mph (probably nearer 90) I bottled it and stuck my left indicator on. The Esprit flew past leaving me and the Carlton standing. Happy days. 

[peniole]

It's incredible how far FWD geometry has come along. I too remember the torque steer of old, even on sub 200hp cars. None of that now. I remember when ford came out with the revoknuckle for the focus RS, now that was a riot to drive. Never owned one, but got a go, put a smile on my face that one. Now Honda have done better with the Civic Type R. Owned the 1.5L turbo 4 door version, but toyed with the idea of owning one. Couldn't justify it as a daily driver and we already had a second car. 300hp through the front wheels and snatched the ring record for fastest production FWD drive car at the time. Styling was polarizing, but the drive was sublime. Test drive was incredible, and on the autobahn in Germany no less. All from a 2L 4 cylinder transverse turbo.

 

[Mincey]

That was awesome! It's lucky that it's Tuesday and my current wife is going out to choir rehearsal tonight. I may well fire my Playstation up, load Gran Turismo and go around the Ring a few times.

[Linas.P]

I can see you having too much fun here...

[Mr Vlad]

Gowd n Bennett. I've got that video on VHS which I've had when it first came out. Effin BRILLIANT. Git the DVD a few years ago too. That vitesse was standard. The mirror was taken off for safety reasons if I remember correctly. I particularly live the sound when the exhaust gave up half way round.

Oh did I once have the 2.7 vitesse? To bloody right I did. And it's 2.0 turbo cousin. Both cars handled superbly, yes torque steer but you had to know to overcome that. I had oh so much fun in those cars. Did I take either round the TT course? Unfortunately no But I did take their baby brother the 216 vitesse round and crikey s h a t myself approaching a left when I had no brakes!!!!!!!!!! luckily for me there was waste ground straight ahead which I stopped in just about. My front brake disks were glowing red hot. Oh happy days.

Excellent post Mincey 👍

[peniole]

Hi @Mr Vlad, that post was meant to be sarcastic, and relating to another thread 😁

Love superbly handling FWD cars, they take skill to drive.

[Mr Vlad]

Oh ok. Didn't realise. It was the terrible handling bit that made me react.

[peniole]

Sarcasm doesn't come through in writing sometimes, but @Mincey knew who I was teasing. I guess we were having too much fun. The tease was in response to being told in another thread that all FWD cars, including our own, are inherently bad handlers. Hence, the video(s) and you know the rest 😁

There's also another thread about flaming hybrid BMWs along the same lines, if you're interested.

[Mr Vlad]

Well I've just watched the DVD of the Rover Vitesse challenge 1990 where the great Tony Pond Did break 100mph lap. 102.195mph. And yes as Mincey stated that record got smashed many years later. Now compare the cars. The Rover. A Big 5 seater car with slicks a sports exhaust (a louder pipe so the marshalls could hear him, great excuse and true) and a roll cage and standard suspension. Now the specialist Subaru with 3x the power and basically a mega tricked out car. 3x the power and a much smaller car yet only 6mph faster. Testament to Tony Pond and his outstanding skill. It makes one wonder if TP drove the Subaru.