Generic Weekly Hotlap Challenge #130 – Snake bites black cat

Welcome to the thread for the Weekly Hotlap Challenge #130 – "Snake bites black cat" and the First Round of a new mini-series, The Anglo-American Challenge.

The Challenge:
Hotlap
Car: Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
Track: Black Cat County


After last week’s exercise in control and precision, here’s something quite different!
This is the second WHC outing for the brilliantly scary Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, last used in WHC10 – "Handle with Care.” So that’s far enough back to be fresh for almost everyone.

The Cobra, built by the British company AC cars had been around for some time when, in September 1961, American automotive designer Carroll Shelby wrote to AC asking if they would build him a car modified to accept a V8 engine, which Ford, to compete with Chrysler, had supplied him. AC agreed and exported painted, trimmed and completed cars (less engine and gearbox) to Shelby who then finished the cars in his workshop in Los Angeles by installing the engine and gearbox. It appears the cars may not have been “modified” though. After several revisions and an enormous amount of redesign and fettling Shelby produced the predecessor to our car, the 390 Big Block Cobra. Surprisingly, the steering rack was borrowed from the MGB while the new steering column came from the VW Beetle. Un-surprisingly and I laughed when I first read this - apparently Shelby’s test driver Ken Miles drove and raced the Mark II at Sebring and pronounced the car virtually un-driveable, naming it "The Turd".

So Shelby, with help from Ford, designed a completely new chassis and called it the Mark III. There was a standard model and a competition car, which is the car which we have in the game. S/C stands for “semi-competition. Into the Mark III, Shelby installed the most excellently named "side oiler" 427cubic inch V8 Ford FE engine with a single 4-barrel carburettor, producing a completely insane 485bhp and 465lbs/ft (626Nm) of torque, although Ford never released an official power rating for the FE 427.
I’m sure most of you know that 427 cubic inches is seven litres.
Hang-on, SEVEN LITRES??? In a car weighing just over a ton, on old fashioned tyres and with a chassis that flexes more than Teresa May in a Brexit discussion? And 465lbs/ft of torque? In comparison, around thirty years later, the McLaren F1 has only 10lbf/ft more! Let’s have a go then…

I know two people that have owned a 427 Cobra and both were the same sort of person. Strangely, they are also both called David and I am certain neither is on the AC forum. The first was a creative director at an ad agency I worked for in the 90s. He was a binge alcoholic, so fine most of the time but he would then completely disappear for a few days and he was certainly not what you would describe as reliable. At bonus time one year, he was given his cash and on the instructions of his wife was driven from the agency to a car dealership to collect the new family estate car. But he was distracted on the forecourt at the dealership and to his wife’s horror he arrived home in a red 427 Cobra! The second is a friend of mine, he’s the sort of person who arrives at the pub from work, respectable in his suit, but within two pints he will be naked to the waist and be seriously alarming the other clientele. Most unfortunately he didn’t have his Cobra long enough for me to have a go. He told me he was pleased to be alive and he had sold the car before it killed him. Every press on the throttle produced the most enormous acceleration, instantly followed by even more enormous fear!

We headin’ out to Black Cat County y’all (apologies,) and I know the Black Cats divide opinion, but there are some lovely corners and lots of room to avoid a massive accident, which is very, very easy in this car.
Err, have a look:
, (after the intro scroll to the 6mins mark)
and
https://www.turnology.com/videos/road-racing-all-videos/video-crashing-a-classic-ac-cobra-at-spa/
(This one looks a bit familiar and shows you don’t even have to try, jump to 1min 50secs)

Recommended pressure for the Vintage tyres is 43psi all round.


How to take part - Hot lap:
To enter, select Hotlap, choose the Shelby Cobra 427 S/C and the Black Cat County Circuit. Please setup the session as shown below:
Mode: Hotlap
Time of day: Free
Ambient Temp: 26 Degrees
Setup: Free
Controller: Free
Assists: Free
Stability: Free

To qualify for WHC you must have the ambient temp set to 26 DegC.

Deadline: Sunday 2nd June, (the day after the UEFA Champions League Final!) 2019 - 21:00 GMT.

You can run as many laps as you like and update your times as often as you like. It is all about taking part, testing yourself and enjoying Assetto Corsa. All Platforms are welcome.
To submit a time, pause the game and select 'session' from the menu and screenshot this page or take a photo of your screen and post it in this thread - Note all the information from the screen is required including temperature, mode heading and of course the car being used!
Please post video clips and share information in here as well, but without the session screen your time will not be included (placing the session screen in a video clip is acceptable).
Please use the following format to post your times:
Your time, to be shown as x.xx.xxx.
Your platform (PC Xb1 PS4)
The image or screen shot showing your time.
Your thoughts and comment

Please mark updated times with Improvement.

A leader board is collated regularly. Unfortunately editing of posts gets locked on this forum so this post cannot be updated.

Weekly Hotlap Challenge Championship League
How it works:
1. Enter the Weekly Hotlap Challenge as posted every Sunday evening and you will be automatically entered into the league table.
2. Your ranking in the final standings, posted on Sunday evening, will earn you points, as follows:
Place Points: 1st 15 2nd 14 3rd 13 4th 12 5th 11 6th 10 7th 9 8th 8 9th 7 10th 66
3. Every player taking part in a WHC, but finishing outside the top 10 will get 4 points.
4. Every player who is in the table, (ie has entered a previous WHC) but does not play that week will get three points each week.
5. Players that join WHC after WHC#114 will be awarded 3 points retrospectively for every WHC missed. For example, if you enter WHC for the first time at WHC#124, your name will be added to the table, with 27 points, plus whatever you score in WHC#124.
6. Specialist Challenges will also feature throughout the season. These will be as monthly mini-series, for example Formula 1 February or Muscle Car Month, or nominated car types, for example the best driver in road cars. These events will be announced in the WHC Thread.

The updated Championship league table will be displayed in a new post in the Console Lounge, from time to time.
At the end of the year, the WHC before Xmas week, the winners will be declared -
* Championship podium
* Specialist Challenge Winners
* 1st place Contributor (the most Bonus points)
* 1st place Loyal Lapper (who has entered most regularly, most often, if there is a draw, Bonus points count, then Champ points)

Weekly Hotlap Challenge History

1. Mugello - Praga R1 Posted by John Gordon 3rd Oct, 2016 (Console Lounge P55)
2. Imola - Mercedes SLS GT3
3. Brands Hatch GP - RUF RT12 Posted by GravelTrap 19th Oct 2016 (Console Lounge P54)
4. Magione - Lotus 2 Eleven
5. Silverstone International - Abarth 500 Assetto Corse
6. Zandvoort - Pagani Huayra
7. Nurburgring GP (GT) - Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI
8. Spa - BMW M3 GT2
9. Vallelunga Club - KTM X-Bow R
10. Barcelona - Moto - Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
11. Silverstone 1967 - Lotus 72D
12. Nordschleife - Porsche 911 Carrera S
13. Black Cat County - Ferrari LaFerrari
14. Monza Junior 1966 - Alfa Romeo GTA
15. Redbull Ring GP - Lamborghini Gallardo Sl
16. Zandvoort - Ford Escort RS1600
17. Imola - Mazda Rx-7 Spirit R
18. Brands Hatch GP - Lotus Exige V6 Cup
19. Monza - Ferrari FXX K
20. Barcelona - Moto - Ferrari 488 GT3
21. Mugello - Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV
22. Silverstone GP - Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 2017
23. Nurburgring Sprint GT - Toyota AE86 Tuned
24. Magione - Maserati Levante S
25. Spa - Lotus 98T
26. Vallelunga - Classic - Porsche 935/78 "Moby Dick"
27. Nordschleife Endurance Cup - M235i Racing
28. Silverstone 1967 - Maserati 250F T2 12C
29. Red Bull Ring National - BMW 1M Posted by HavanaB0B, 1st May 2017 (Console Lounge p28)
30. Zandvoort - Lotus Evora GX
31. Barcelona GP - Lotus Exos 125 Stage 1
32. Brands Hatch Indy - Toyota Supra MKIV Time Attack Posted by by Graveltrap 21st May 2017 (Console Lounge p25)
33. Black Cat County Long - Lamborghini Countach
34. Imola - Mercedes Benz 190E Evo II
35. Monza - Chevrolet Corvette C7R
36. Nurburgring Sprint GT - BMW M3 E30
37. Magione - Mercedes SLS AMG
38. Spa - Porsche 917/30 Spyder
39. Silverstone GP - Nissan GT-R Nismo Posted by Hugo Catarino,9th July 2017 (Console Lounge p21)
40. RedBull Ring GP - Alfa Romeo 4c
41. Brands Hatch GP - Audi R8 LMS Ultra
42. Highlands Long - Ford GT40
43. Vallelunga - Lotus GTE Carbon
44. Zandvoort - Porsche 911 Turbo S Posted by Graveltrap 13th Aug 2017 (Console Lounge p19)
45. Nordschleife - Ferrari 312T
46. Mugello - BMW M3 E92
47. Black Cat County - Short - Ford Mustang 2015
48. Imola - Maserati MC12 GT1
49. Silverstone 1967 - Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0
50. Barcelona Moto - McLaren 570S
51. Magione - Mazda Miata NA
52. Spa - Ferrari F40
53. Vallelunga - Corvette C7 Stingray Posted by Moodyryder 23rd Oct 2017 (Console Lounge p14)
54. Brands Hatch GP - Tatuus FA01
55. Highlands - Lotus 3 eleven
56. Nurburgring GP (GT) - Toyota Celica ST185 4WD Turbo
57. Monza 1966 Full Course - Ferrari 312/67
58. Nordschleife - Porsche 962 C Short Tail
59. Zandvoort- Nissan 370Z Nismo
60. Silverstone GP - McLaren F1
61. Vallelunga Classic - Ferrari 250GTO
62. Imola - Lotus 98T
63. Highlands Drift - P4/5 Competizione
64. Mugello - Lamborghini Aventador SV
65. Spa - Porsche 911R
66. Black Cat County - Lotus 2-Eleven GT4
67. Barcelona GP - Ferrari SF70H
68. Nordschleife Endurance & Highlands - Porsche 917k
69. Zandvoort - Lotus Exige Scura Posted by Hugo Catarino 25th Feb 2o18 (Console Lounge p7)
70. RedBull Ring National - Maserati Alfieri
71. Laguna Seca - Audi Sport quattro S1 E2
72. Brands Hatch - Mclaren P1
73. Imola - Porsche 911 RSR
74. Nurburgring GP - Ferrari F2004
75. Barcelona Moto - Lamborghini Huracan Performante
76. Silverstone 1967 - Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
77. Magione - BMW 1M Stage 3
78. Highlands Long - Mazda 787b
79. Black Cat County - Toyota GT86
80. Spa - Toyota TS040 Hybrid
81. Vallelunga Classic - Nissan Skyline R34 V-Spec
82. Mugello - Ferrari 458 GT2
83. Silverstone International - RUF R12 R AWD
84. Highlands Long - Audi R18 e-tron quattro 2014
85. Monza - Pagani Zonda R
86. Nordschleife - Lotus 3-eleven
87. Zandvoort - Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4
88. Redbull Ring GP - Mercedes Sauber C9
89. Brands Hatch - Lotus 25
90. Highlands Short - Abarth 595 SS
91. Nurburgring GP (GT) - Audi TT Cup
92. Monza 1966 - Road Course - Porsche 908 LH
93. Vallelunga - BMW M3 E30 Gr.A 92
94. Laguna Seca - Alfa Romeo Mito QV
95. Nordschleife - RUF Yellowbird & Ferrari F40
96. Barcelona GP - BMW Z4 GT3
97. Highlands Drift - Ferrari 458 Italia
98. Spa - Lotus Type 49
99. Zandvoort - Porsche 911 GT1-98
100. Silverstone - Nissan GT-R GT3; Brands Hatch - Lotus Exige V6; Vallelunga - free car
101. Mugello - Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
102. Silverstone National - Mazda MX5 Cup or Abarth 500 Assetto Corse
103. Highlands Short – Ford Escort RS1600 Posted by Totall Wrytoff 11th Nov 2018 (Console Lounge p2)
104. Black Cat Short – Porsche 917/30
105. Monza 66 Junior Course – Ferrari F40 S3
106. Magione – Toyota Supra MkIV
107. Brands Hatch Indy 5 lap race - Porsche 911 GT3 RS
107. Nurburgring Sprint - Porsche 911 GT3 RS
108. Nordschleife - Abarth 595SS
108. Laguna Seca 5 lap - McLaren F1 GTR
109. Brands Hatch - Ferrari FXX K
110. Highlands – Lamborghini Muira P400 SV
111. Imola - Scuderia Glickenhaus SCG 003C
112. Vallelunga Club – Lotus Exos T125
113. Highlands Drift - Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
114. Barcelona Moto - Maserati 250F 6 cylinder
115. Silverstone GP – Ferrari F138
116. Laguna Seca – Lotus 72D
117. Red Bull Ring GP - Ferrari SF15-T
118. Spa Francochamps – Maserati Quattroporte GTS
119. Zandvoort – Toyota AE86
120. Silverstone National – BMW M3 E92 Step 1
121. Silverstone 1967 – Ford GT40
122. Nurburgring GP - Porsche 919 Hybrid 2016
123. Highlands Drift Circuit – Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder
124. Nordshleife Endurance – Porsche 962C Long Tail
125. Red Bull Ring National - Audi R8 V10 Plus
126. Imola – Ferrari 330 P4
127. Monza 1966 Road Course - Pagani Huayra BC
128. Mugello – Ferrari GTO
129. Vallelunga – Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

 

Correction to the above, "I know two people that have owned..." should, of course, read "...who have owned..."

 

2.35.288
PS4

Couldn't resist a quick go this evening, shakedown style, till I ran out of fuel and spun off.
ABS on, all stock except two clicks longer on the gears, that may not be the best, one click may be better.
The shocking fact is the car drinks a litre of fuel every 1.3km, so budget for five litres per lap!!

 

Can't wait for a go in this, one of my most loved cars in AC.

Don't be scared guys, just watched the two videos and the first is just a mechanical failure so nothing to worry about in AC
The second is just simple driver error, I knew he was gone as soon as he failed to straighten steering when running from kerb to astro; once you get onto that astroturf you can't leave steering angle on like that in such a thing as the cobra. Easy to recreate that crash by doing that same mistake in AC of course, but the Cobra won't do that to you unless you make it happen, she is very compliant and actually very easy to drive once you get the knack of catching it. Would be a very different matter in the wet mind you, hopefully one day the Kunos gods will deliver a game including weather and classic road cars!

I will return with a lap time soon, just need to have some food first. Have fun out there guys.

 

2:45:592 PC



First attempt so hopefully more to come. Not really knowing the track probably doesn’t help, at least that’s my excuse for now.

 

mmm isn't she lovely! looks like whoever finished the paintwork also spent a lot of time polishing the floor in the showroom lol



Always a pleasure to return to this car

First two laps went pretty well, no crashes so far...

2.33.359 Leif PC




Edit:

Just did one more lap with less fuel and corrected PSI:

Improvement


2.31.056 Leif PC





OK last go for now:

Improvement


2.30.513 Leif PC

 

Improvement
2.33.640
PS4

Still all stock apart from transmission, final drive, now one click longer.
I lost a chunk of time managing a tankslapper for what felt like hours, on the uphill right-hander that heads up to the arch. Probably about 3 secs looking at LeiF's excellent time!

 

only fooling around and doing mid 2.4xs but - who needs mad max?

 

2.31.847-XB1

 

Improvement
2.30.639-XB1

 

2:35.893
PC


Cobra really sticks on corners where you expect it to sail off into the abyss. So much weight on the front end and good weight transfer under power.

 

Improvement
2.32.694
PS4

I tried a lower, stiffer set-up, which made the tight double corner at the start easier but I didn't notice much difference around the circuit. The improvement came from more accurate driving!

 

Current standings:

1- 2.30.513 LeiF PC
2- 2.30.639 Mustang 500 XB1
3- 2.32.694 Total Wrytoff PS4
4- 2.35.893 Biner PC
5- 2.45.592 Peggy11 PC

 

2.29.156 pc






This is my favorite car in ac. It is a beast, and it's so much fun to try and control this thing. I used Labbe's tune for zandvoort but I set the brake bias two clicks back to 64. You might be able to tell how many laps it took for me to get the brake bias right by looking closely at t1 lol. I also put enough fuel for 3 laps. I think I changed the gearing to go 250kmh too.

 

Oh.....so we don't have to start braking at the big red "Point Brake" signs . Kidding aside, after pushing this little beastie around the track as fast as I could, I can barely imagine trying to carry more speed! Thx for video, HeyZuesss..well done.

 

Real ChaosChris xb1 posting 2.43.138

Holy moly
That is terrifying! Like bambi on ice. Is that what tvr s are like as I always aspire to one but if they have that torque kick ..
great combo as always but it’s a challenge just to get it round on the tarmac!!
I little abs would be nice and a touch of tc but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Gonna enjoy trashing this car a few more times in search of a second or 2!!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

2.34.782
Xbox

Finally had a chance. Had to hide the controller from the kids... Great ride in the country. Because of the little time and to get a clean lap had to cheat and put some stability. My target for this week is match this time without it.

 

Improvement
2:34.480

Found 1.4+seconds by going into the first tight corners after the long starting straight a wee bit too fast and had to really work the work the downshift quickly (H shifter in use!)...the result of which was to barely survive the subsequent RLR turns and popped out the other end unscathed and with over 1 second gained in that one combination of curves. That put the wind in the sails and managed to keep the ghost in the mirror for the rest of the run. I learned the rhythm of that turn sequence...you can't mechanically go through those sequential corners...it has to flow like linking turns in downhill skiing. As Martha Stewart says: "It's a good thing".

 

this car deserves more attention but ACC is on the way. this week is only time for one or two serious attempts. ACC.... i am cooooming

 

Current standings:

1- 2.29.156 Pretend racer PC
2- 2.30.513 LeiF PC
3- 2.30.639 Mustang 500 XB1
4- 2.32.694 Total Wrytoff PS4
5- 2.34.480 Biner PC
6- 2.34.782 Emmanuel Tubbiolo XB1
7- 2.43.138 ChaosChris XB1
8- 2.45.592 Peggy11 PC