2021 PVGP Grp. 4 Race, Polesitter SAAB Sonett V4, raw footage

[@podd372]

Great car on a brilliant circuit.

[@ArchmageNydia]

Was great to see you out there. One of my favorite cars, for sure, you were hauling ass around that track. I had absolutely no idea that that TR4 nearly flipped! I only saw the ambulance and tow truck. I hope the driver is OK. Thank you for posting!

[@StefanVapaa]

I didn't get to talk to him but I heard the driver of the TR4 was alright. Thank you for the compliments! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 😀

[@BetomOfficial]

Brilliant drive mate! The sonnet’s pretty nippy on the track with the right driver, and you did a bloody good job! Watched all 15 minutes!

[@StefanVapaa]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Sonett's are a great driving car when you know how to manage them. This one is particularly adept, especially at this course, since we've spent years setting it up specifically for this course.

[@blakechesbro3602]

Nice Drive...we really missed not being there.

[@StefanVapaa]

You were missed too Blake. Thank you.

[@mikecyc72usa]

Love your vids of Schenley. This is the only reason i would come out of retirement would be to race there. Likely in a woefully underpowered Triumph Spitfire or GT6, but Iam good at suspension setup.

[@Walter_Jr.69420]

Why is your car's suspension so soft?

[@StefanVapaa]

Excellent question! It has to do with the courses I primarily run this car on. Over the last several years I have run this car almost solely at this course (Schenley Park) and in vintage hillclimbs (the Hershey Hillclimb and the Mount Equinox Hillclimb). Those are all public roads, and often in rather poor condition. So there are a lot of bumps and a lot of road camber (crown) changes. The soft suspension works much better for those conditions because it allows the tires to maintain contact with the road. Notice how in the right hand turn after Panther Hollow Bridge I can run over the very poorly patched road surface and still maintain control? Many other cars had to avoid that patch by overslowing and driving around the outside. Not me, I could drive right over it just fine! A stiff car works well in only one situation, that of a billiard smooth dedicated race course. With a typical "race" stiff suspension on a road surface like Schenley Park, the tires lose contact or have overly compromised contact too often and the driver will struggle to maintain smoothness. Think about how a rally car is set up... The rougher the course the softer the setup. The smoother, the stiffer. Same concept. In fact, the Schenley Park course bears more resemblance to an asphalt rally special stage than any true road course I've ever run!

[@Walter_Jr.69420]

@@StefanVapaaFascinating! What type of coil overs do you use? I plan to some day race in PVGP, it has been my dream for as long as I can remember.

[@StefanVapaa]

@@Walter_Jr.69420 none! I'm using the original springs with 1 and 1/2 coils cut off. I have vintage (well, from the 80's anyway) Koni shocks. If I remember correctly, they are adjusted to their medium setting. There are plenty of tricks in this car, but the shock and spring package really isn't one of them. I'm glad to hear you're going to be joining us on the track someday! What car or cars are you interested in running?

[@Walter_Jr.69420]

@@StefanVapaa Original springs that's really cool!! I'm a huge fan of formula s, which is partly reason why I watch a lot of your videos. Something just hits different about the 2 stroke power, it is unique and different from all the other cars. I'm also very fond of 914's, and Elva Couriers. But to be honest, I wouldn't mind driving any of the average pvgp cars, I love all of them. I have never seen a rotary powered car in these races though, and if they'll allow it I think it would be very interesting to see how an rx7 sa or just a rotary swapped car would perform in schenley park!