400Kg Sports Car
| In March 2007 I completed the build of my Fisher Fury R1 and I've enjoyed driving it on both road and track since. It is the most addictive and involving car I've ever owned and driven. The combination of noise, handling and performance is just intoxicating and I can't imagine life without it. Now that five years of ownership is looming, I have started to think about what could possibly replace it. Whilst there are faster, more powerful cars available, there are a few things about my Fisher Fury R1 that set it apart from many cars you can buy today, regardless of cost. This site aims to capture my inspiration, thoughts and designs for my next sports car. |
The first thing that makes it special in my view is its lack of mass. At 450Kg (including half a tank of fuel) the lack of mass and momentum means that the feel and involvement of the car is just amazing. This is one of the main characteristics of my Fisher Fury R1 that I want to keep and improve upon. The lack of mass is evident in everything the car does including accelerating, cornering, braking and changing direction. It is for this reason that I've set myself a target weight for my next car of 400Kg maximum.
The second thing that makes it special is that it is very low to the ground and has an exceptionally low centre of gravity. Because you also sit very low in the car, you feel very connected to the car under hard cornering.
The third thing is its very small size. You don't sit in this car, you wear it. Everything is in close proximity and it is much easier to judge your speeds, distances and apex of corners. You also simply feel closer to the action. The great thing about this car is that isn't faster than it feels. If it feels fast, it is purely because you are going fast. This is also one of its greatest safety features.
My Fisher Fury R1 was also the first bike-engined car I ever drove. I took a huge gamble on the basis of a few passenger rides and opted for a 2003 Yamaha R1 engine to power it. It was an inspired choice and one of the best decisions I made with this car. I'm the first to admit that it would be frustrating to live with on a daily basis but, in a fun, impractical sports car such as I have in mind, it is a brilliant choice. The combination of high power, extremely low weight and gorgeous engine noise is totally addictive. The R1 engine delivers ~160bhp when installed in a car, yet engine and gearbox weigh only 60Kg. For very little money you also get a 11,500rpm red-line and an integral 6-speed sequential gearbox. That's why I'm planning to use a motorbike engine again.
With my next car, I'm looking to build something similar but, also with many improvements. Something just a little bit more special and I would also make the move to a mid-engine layout. I made few compromises with my Fisher Fury R1 but, it was also far from being a 'money no object' exercise. I weighed every single component I put into the car, including switches, wire, fluids, etc. I know where I can save weight, add practicality, add reliability, add performance and make it even better looking too. So it is with this in mind that I've decided to design and build a car that could replace my Fisher Fury R1 from scratch. This website aims to document my thoughts and hopefully the build process.
If you've got any talents, products, services or advice that you think will be of interest, then please let me know. I went in at the deep end with my Fisher Fury R1 build and five years on, I'm still learning. The water has just got a little bit deeper. I'm particular interested in designers and design tools that can help me render and capture my plans.
You can also follow progress on Twitter: @lotuselises.