BMW White Mountain says no Atom,no solo.

[ATOM-NH]

Thanks for the welcome Mark.

I'm certain that your ass is safe for the foreseeable future - at least from any threat I could pose.

JT

[breakaway500]

It really is all about being on track that draws me back. Where else can I test to see if my modifications have helped or hurt performance? A nice byproduct is I am learning to be a better driver.COM is full of very talented people and the wealth of knowledge I have learned in such a short time has been key to my advancement. I am sure you will benefit from their expert advice as well. Observe,listen and ask LOTS of questions!

[cuda6666]

I really don't understand the resentment toward the Atom other than having to compete against one.

To be completely honest, I probably would have resented the Atom if it had ended up in my class (SPB) last year. For me, it's not about being outclassed. It's about competing against off-the-shelf street racers as opposed to "real" street cars that have been painstakingly modified for performance. I felt the same way about STIs when I was looking to purchase a Subaru. The STI was just too obviously an "off-the-shelf" racer. I chose the Legacy because what I enjoy is taking a car that looks slow on paper, and then putting a lot of work into it and surprising people

I also felt the same way about the first '60s muscle cars (like the GTO) because suddenly, any rich highschool kid could come out of a showroom with a ready made street rod that could outrun the 32 Ford hot rod that the next door neighbor and his son had built from scratch.

I guess it just depends on one's approach to the sport. I happen to enjoy the process of developing a track car. But, now that I think of it, I'm sure Mark has had to do tons of development work on the Atom as well. So, never mind, just chalk it up to sour grapes

[breakaway500]

Frank,you will find a stock Ariel Atom,as delivered is NO faster than your modded Legacy.Matter of fact,slower. You might think the Atom would be faster,but until I modified my stock Atom with better suspension,better brakes,and wider low mass tires,I would not have even placed in the top 2 in SPB.

Facts......

November,2008 at NHMS:

PB class...801 Mark Stellato 1:22.423 1:21.597 1:22.552 1:21.597 3-Atom2

SPB class... 603 Ted Drotleff 1:17.593 1:17.013 1:16.995 1:16.995 1-T Subaru Impreza WRX STi
67 Frank Perron 1:20.573 1:21.085 1:20.974 1:20.573 2-T Subaru Legacy GT

My Atom2 was stock,on BFG-R1 rubber,on stock width wheels. No suspension mods,no brake mods,no engine mods.

When more stock Atoms start to show up at COM events,you will understand that they need to be modified just as much as any street car to be FAST.

Anyone remember the stock Atom2 that ran at Lime Rock with COM a few years ago? I don't know if he ever ran a time trial with the car,but those of you who ran with that car on track know how many times you passed him.

The Atom has potential,like any street car,but until it is properly equipped,is no more a threat on track than any other high performance sports car.


You have nothing to fear,but fear itself!

[cuda6666]

Mark. You are being too modest. If you drove a "stock" Atom today at NHMS with your current level of driving skill, I believe you would handily grab the track record for SPB. Don't underestimate the importance of the "software" that sits in the driver's seat.

[breakaway500]

Thanks,Frank! That's the best compliment I have received in years! I don't know about running a 118 in a stock Atom3 on street tires..but I would be willing to try...
As you are well aware,modding your own car makes it something you wear..and if it is familiar,you tend to push the limits with more confidence.
I am still learning the Atom and have enjoyed every step.This coming year should be very exciting!

[chaos4NH]

Any of you who will not be at Devens on April 3: Please come up to NHMS fopr their Fan Day open house and support your club! We will be displaying our "wares" in the middle garage from 900AM to 400PM.0/we hope to bring some of those competitive roundy-round guys into the COM world.
Enter through the South entrance, they will direct people where to park. Expecting a tiny crowd of 2,000! Weather in the 70's with plenty of sunshine per order of Sam Webster, as usual.
My crew can enter through the main entrance, your names will be on a list there.

[breakaway500]

Sam,PLEASE don't use up all your credits this early in the year...

[Stynger]

Any of you who will not be at Devens on April 3: Please come up to NHMS fopr their Fan Day open house and support your club! We will be displaying our "wares" in the middle garage from 900AM to 400PM.0/we hope to bring some of those competitive roundy-round guys into the COM world.
Enter through the South entrance, they will direct people where to park. Expecting a tiny crowd of 2,000! Weather in the 70's with plenty of sunshine per order of Sam Webster, as usual.
My crew can enter through the main entrance, your names will be on a list there.

Hijacker

[chaos4NH]

Any of you who will not be at Devens on April 3: Please come up to NHMS fopr their Fan Day open house and support your club! We will be displaying our "wares" in the middle garage from 900AM to 400PM.0/we hope to bring some of those competitive roundy-round guys into the COM world.
Enter through the South entrance, they will direct people where to park. Expecting a tiny crowd of 2,000! Weather in the 70's with plenty of sunshine per order of Sam Webster, as usual.
My crew can enter through the main entrance, your names will be on a list there.

Hijacker

Oh well! All for the Club!

[betelgeuse]

Facts......

November,2008 at NHMS:

PB class...801 Mark Stellato 1:22.423 1:21.597 1:22.552 1:21.597 3-Atom

The fact that you were slow doesn't mean anything. I've seen zo6 vetts run 1:30s at NH. Does that mean they should be put in SSC?
The rule is the potential of the car. Not the driver.
Even you said it uses the best of everything. No compromises. It was designed and built for the track first. Then they put some lights on it so people could call it a road car.
I put ALOT of money into my car over the winter. I did it to try to beat the high powered Subaru's. Not to get my ass kicked by a 300hp go cart.
I think the Atom belongs in FP even in stock form.
Greg

[cuda6666]

Greg. I said "a lot of work" not necessarily "ALOT of money" (which I don't have) Actually, I probably would have a lot of money if I hadn't spent it all years ago making the Cuda go fast...It was worth it, though, so go for it!

[breakaway500]

That 1:21 was the potential of the car in stock form. Car and Driver just did a track test of quite a few sports cars at VIR,including a new Atom3 (which actually does make 300whp) The Atom3 was not even in the top three.So much for potential. The Atom does use the best designs possible.It makes no compromises for comfort,but certainly does for cost.This does NOT make it a race car any more than a ZO6, a ZR-1,an M3 BMW, a GT3 Porsche,or a Lamborghini,which all use the best components possible. Would you consider all those "race" cars as well? If your goal is to beat the Subarus by pouring ALOT of money into your car...I wish you the best of luck.You seem to have a very closed mind about car design,and I am glad you don't make the rules for COM.It takes a lot more than adding lights to make a car street legal in the USA.
I am sorry my little street car can kick your ass,but such is life! I chose the Atom because I saw the potential to modify it into something unique and fast for a lot less money than a "real" race car. And,by the way,my car,an Atom 2 (with a stock Cobalt-SS drivetrain)dynoed at a mere 225whp. This year,I will have a little more on tap. After all, you never know what a COM member might be up to...

[betelgeuse]

That 1:21 was the potential of the car in stock form. Car and Driver just did a track test of quite a few sports cars at VIR,including a new Atom3 (which actually does make 300whp) The Atom3 was not even in the top three.So much for potential. The Atom does use the best designs possible.It makes no compromises for comfort,but certainly does for cost.This does NOT make it a race car any more than a ZO6, a ZR-1,an M3 BMW, a GT3 Porsche,or a Lamborghini,which all use the best components possible. Would you consider all those "race" cars as well? If your goal is to beat the Subarus by pouring ALOT of money into your car...I wish you the best of luck.You seem to have a very closed mind about car design,and I am glad you don't make the rules for COM.It takes a lot more than adding lights to make a car street legal in the USA.
I am truly sorry my little street legal car can kick your ass,but such is life! I chose the Atom because I saw the potential to modify it into something unique and fast for a lot less money than a "real" race car. And,by the way,my car,an Atom 2 (with a stock Cobalt-SS drivetrain)dynoed at a mere 225whp. This year,I will have a little more on tap. After all, you never know what a COM member might be up to...

From the Ariel Atom website,

"The Ariel Atom 3 is a unique and limited hand built, HIGH PERFORMANCE motor vehicle.............. Ariel Atom 3s are built and sold by TMI Auto Tech, Inc. for THE PORPOSES OF OFF ROAD/COMPITITION USE (i.e. organized or private track days; slalom; solo 1 events; etc.) Ariel Atom 3s are NOT CONSIDERED TO BE FEDERLIZED, PRODUCTION VEHICLES and do not necessarily meet applicable FMVSS criteria. Therefore, Ariel Atom 3s are NOT AVAILABLE with 17-digit VIN or PIN numbers................"
From the COM rule book.

-FORMULA PREPARED
"FP is for high performance purpose built race cars............"

I rest my case,
Greg

[breakaway500]

That is the usual legal disclaimer for most any kit car or custom built car today,and is even used when selling "racing only" parts. TMI was supposed to amend that disclaimer months ago to reflect the Atoms ability to be legally registered today on public roads in many states,including California.However,it appears to still be on their website inaccurately (with the same misspellings) Imagine that,inaccurate information on the web! Like Hell,you say! Ok..let's play devils advocate..
If the Atom is truly not a street legal registerable car,then every person driving one on the street (hundreds of them)are illegal,even though they have gone through all the legal steps in their states to do so,and even insurance companies are offering coverage for an inelligible road vehicle.
So,surely someone is wrong. Could it be the State Registry..and the Insurance companies,and the State inspection stations are all wrong...or could it be the TMI site information is incorrect?
The title they just gave John in N.H. stated the Atom IS a street legal vehicle,or he would have never been able to get it registered,insured,and inspected. Same goes with the ones sold In California.Or the ones sold in Arizona. Not to mention mine has a valid motor vehicle title in Vermont,and the other one I own has a valid Florida motor vehicle title. The information on the TMI site is old and in error. Misinformation is not fact just because it is on the web.