Lotus S4S = 0, PT = 3

[ptimmerm@mashtun.JPL.NASA.GOV]

		Another Sundaty in LA

Note: this is _completely_ ficticious, as I would NEVER street race.

I had my new street 323 GTX out this weekend.  You might remember
me describing the car with the VATN turbo and the TEC II engine
management system, etc, etc.  Coming home from a gardening session
in the west San Fernando valley, Suzi and I came across a shiney red
supercar lurking up ahead.  When I came up near it at a light,
I saw it was a Lotus Esprit Turbo S4-S painted in a red so bright
that it almost hurt to look at it.  In the Lotus was a guy about
thirty years old and a rather stunning blonde.  Suzi and I were
still grubby from weed wacking, hot sweatey, and loaded down with
about a hundred pounds of fresh plums, and wearing dorky hats, 
but what the heck.  It was a bright sunny sunday afternoon, with 
three lanes going each way, heading north on Winnetka, I knew the 
road well, and I have never seen an S4-s before, and never had a 
car that might take one, so...

At the first light I launched lightly, seeing if he was taking the
bait, he fairly slammed first, so I followed suit, banging the rev
limiter and took it up through second and into third.  I gave away
three car lengths at the start, but quickly gained them back when
he fumbled for third after hitting his rev limiter hard, with a pop.
He was a few legths back on him just before braking for the light.
Cool, I thought, he's got nothing on me.  The VATN really works
to help create linear torque, giving an advantage down low.
Next time maybe I'll even try. He started dodging in and out of 
traffic to sneak up the road, even gaining a light on me.  I caught 
back up after going through two yellow in a row at a good speed.

The second light we both launched to save the clutch, but ran the
motors up to redline mercilessly, two highly turbocharged cars, 
sneezing, popping, and screaming down the street.  Quite a show.
The 323 has a short SS header coming of the wastegate, so on full
boost it really makes some incredible noises. I had him all the way 
this time, fair fight, but still quite similar levels of performance.  
I had a few percent only, but that added up to about 5 car lengths.

The third light, we each we fourth back in a line of cars, but I way 
on the outside, and he was in the middle lane.  Cars started turning
off to the right clearing my lane as I approached the light slowely
in second.  The light changed as I entered the intersection,
downshifting to first, standing on it, I chirped the tires across the
bumps in the road, and he jumped in right behind and gave chase.
We ran all the way up through fourth gear at 100 mph.  He pulled out
into the center lane as if to pass at about 75 MPH but was about
10 car legths back and not gaining an inch.  Suprizing, considering 
the poor aerodynamics of a hatchback.

Suzi, who is my regular navi was in dread of a child or car coming out, 
but the inside lane is faced with a block wall, and access in completely
limited on this strech of winnetka.  "Red Light!" screamed she,
wonder about our brakes.  I waited an extra two seconds before 
appling the clampers.  "Wow, that was a rush!"   After the light 
we continue up toward the 118 freeway.  Just before the freeay, 
he turned  off and took a back street.  I think he was tired of taking 
a beating.

Losing three straight with an $80K supercar against a litle japanese 
hatchback, eaily mistaken for a Hynudia must be embarassing!

Given the claimed 280 HP of the Lotus, I am beginning to question the
220HP the seller quoted for my car.  No complaints here!

Another weekend in LA, ho hum.  ;^/

Paul Timmerman
82 UrQuattro - For Sale
88 323 GTX Rally Car for Sale
88 323 Street car, NOT 4 $ale