- 24,344
- Midlantic Area
- GTP_Duke
Second enduro in my recent series was the New York 200 miler. Again I auditioned several cars, including the NuGTO and the Silverado SS concept truck (!) before settling on the Opera S2000, which I'd never driven.
I suspected the little S2000 would give up a lot of top end to the brawny GTs that appeared in the lineup (old and new Vipers, a Corvette, and two TVRs) and it did, definitely proving itself the slowest of the bunch on the loooong Broadway straight by a large margin. Luckily for me, though, that's only half the track. I was able to easily make time back on the gridded section between 7th Avenue and Columbus Circle.
I started from 6th, dodging all manner of massive Vipers, the somewhat pokey Corvette, and the loose cannon TVRs. I managed to pass cleanly in the twisties, then get re-passed like I was on a rented mule on the long front straight. Every time around, however, I was able to keep a little of my ground, and around lap 6 I passed the 350C for 2nd. That just left the Cerbera in the lead and wailing mightily.
I reeled him in slowly but surely, eventually passing him for the first time in the lead on lap 10. For the next few laps we traded the lead numerous times as we each played to our strong card on different portions of the track. I was also calculating my pit intervals... 12, 14, 15... around then I decided I could probably get 19 good laps out of the S3s so I planned on a 4-stint race. I was in the lead by 8 seconds or so when the Cerbera pitted out from behind me on lap 18, and I knew the race was mine. I went in for my first stop on 19, giving him back the lead for a little. I kept the lead during my second pit on 38.
And so it went, another lonely race where my competition was never far behind but always out of sight. I did have some fun with lap traffic, but with the Cerbera a little slower and on a shorter pit interval, I knew it was mine. Nevertheless, until that last extra pitstop he made, he was very consistent behind me - surprising in that evil-handling car. The AI 350C didn't get any more out of his brakes than I did when I auditioned it, either. Numerous times I saw him cannonball off the end of a straight directly into the wall.
Pits again on 57; I was also trying to run really consistent and clean laps. I crossed the line on lap 76 at 2h:18':36.668" with only the Cerbera on the lead lap a little over a minute behing me. The Viper GTS was 1 lap down, and everybody else 2 or more laps off the pace.
I was awarded an unimpressive 250 kcr (150kcr less than the GV enduro, for half an hour more racing?!) and an uninspiring '71 Charger (never was my favorite).
Opera S2000 in the NY200:
Total ET: 2h:18':36.668"
MOV: 1':05.xxx" TVR Cerbera
Fast Lap: 1':44.892" (must have been drafting)
Avg Lap: 1':49.430" including pits
[edit] The Opera S2000 proved itself to be a very willing dance partner. Gentle on tires and with the perfect heat cycle - rears going away just slightly before the fronts - it was very easy to manage for almost 2 hours and 20 minutes. Braking was solid (not like those ferbludged TVRs) and with only a slight tendency to plow if held too long. Only once did I really whack anything, though I did have a fender scrape or two when it turned in a little more crisply than I expected or else a curb hop made it wash out a little on exit. It's a car that will definitely spoil you with subtle and pleasant driving characteristics.
I suspected the little S2000 would give up a lot of top end to the brawny GTs that appeared in the lineup (old and new Vipers, a Corvette, and two TVRs) and it did, definitely proving itself the slowest of the bunch on the loooong Broadway straight by a large margin. Luckily for me, though, that's only half the track. I was able to easily make time back on the gridded section between 7th Avenue and Columbus Circle.
I started from 6th, dodging all manner of massive Vipers, the somewhat pokey Corvette, and the loose cannon TVRs. I managed to pass cleanly in the twisties, then get re-passed like I was on a rented mule on the long front straight. Every time around, however, I was able to keep a little of my ground, and around lap 6 I passed the 350C for 2nd. That just left the Cerbera in the lead and wailing mightily.
I reeled him in slowly but surely, eventually passing him for the first time in the lead on lap 10. For the next few laps we traded the lead numerous times as we each played to our strong card on different portions of the track. I was also calculating my pit intervals... 12, 14, 15... around then I decided I could probably get 19 good laps out of the S3s so I planned on a 4-stint race. I was in the lead by 8 seconds or so when the Cerbera pitted out from behind me on lap 18, and I knew the race was mine. I went in for my first stop on 19, giving him back the lead for a little. I kept the lead during my second pit on 38.
And so it went, another lonely race where my competition was never far behind but always out of sight. I did have some fun with lap traffic, but with the Cerbera a little slower and on a shorter pit interval, I knew it was mine. Nevertheless, until that last extra pitstop he made, he was very consistent behind me - surprising in that evil-handling car. The AI 350C didn't get any more out of his brakes than I did when I auditioned it, either. Numerous times I saw him cannonball off the end of a straight directly into the wall.
Pits again on 57; I was also trying to run really consistent and clean laps. I crossed the line on lap 76 at 2h:18':36.668" with only the Cerbera on the lead lap a little over a minute behing me. The Viper GTS was 1 lap down, and everybody else 2 or more laps off the pace.
I was awarded an unimpressive 250 kcr (150kcr less than the GV enduro, for half an hour more racing?!) and an uninspiring '71 Charger (never was my favorite).
Opera S2000 in the NY200:
Total ET: 2h:18':36.668"
MOV: 1':05.xxx" TVR Cerbera
Fast Lap: 1':44.892" (must have been drafting)
Avg Lap: 1':49.430" including pits
[edit] The Opera S2000 proved itself to be a very willing dance partner. Gentle on tires and with the perfect heat cycle - rears going away just slightly before the fronts - it was very easy to manage for almost 2 hours and 20 minutes. Braking was solid (not like those ferbludged TVRs) and with only a slight tendency to plow if held too long. Only once did I really whack anything, though I did have a fender scrape or two when it turned in a little more crisply than I expected or else a curb hop made it wash out a little on exit. It's a car that will definitely spoil you with subtle and pleasant driving characteristics.
