Analyzing and Driving the NASA/Elan NP01: The Ultimate Affordable Prototype

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An AIM MXL2 dash and a locked AEM Infinity 8 ECU are standard equipment.  The Infinity has the engine control parameters locked but the user has full access to all data logging functions. NASA chose the Infinity for its reliability and cost effectiveness. The pull handle on the far left is the neutral and reverse lockout. The knob next to that is for pedal box balance bar adjustment. The shifting is sequential with no lift to shift programing.  The right hand screen is for a rear camera monitor that acts like a rearview mirror. 
A Wilwood set of hydraulic cylinders, balance bar and pedal box is used.  What we like is that the foot box is roomy and the pedals are mounted a normal distance from each other.  Some pure race cars have the pedals so close together that you need to get used to that.  On the NP01 everything feels right. 
Normally if this was your car, you would have a custom molded seat insert but since I was a media hack, I had to make do with odd bits of foam stuffed behind and under me.  I am pretty short so that when I sat in the car I ended up staring at the sky.  The Elan crew attempted to make the car driveable for me but I wanted to be courteous to my fellow media drivers and didn't want to take up too much track time just for my comfort. Unfortunately I could not see well and had to crunch forward and force my body into position which was really difficult to do while trying to drive fast. A week later my neck still hurts. This is not the cars fault at all and I noted that the cockpit is exceptionally roomy and comfortable.  I suffer from pretty bad arthritis from breaking my back and I have a hard time getting into some race cars.  With its generous door opening size, I did not have a problem getting in and out with the NP01 much to my surprise. It might be really important for middle aged drivers with bad backs and big guts.
I can say that compared to a racing sedan, the NP01 is very easy to drive.  The sequential no lift to shift dogbox is wonderful and it is gonna be hard to get back to driving a syncro box after making delicious F1 noises with this!  The car is very smooth riding and had no bump steer or other annoying handling traits. The car had the optional cockpit fresh air blower which kept things nice and cool. The 185 hp engine in the 1450 lb chassis felt just right to me, not crazy scary fast but plenty fast enough to be real fun.  The car is actually a lot faster than it feels, it seems like you are not going too fast but the car is so capable the sensation of speed is lower.  The StopTech brakes are so good, I found myself stopping hundreds of feet before the turn when using my normal landmarks and having to get back on the gas, duh. 
The NP01 I drove had a sight amount of understeer and slightly slow turn in.  This could easily be adjusted out and I think the cars were set up like that intentionally so journalists would not wad them. I was way to uncomfortable to even think about trying to explore the cars real limits. But I feel that the car would be a total sweetheart to drive at the limit. I did notice that the car tended to drag the splitter a little under hard low speed corners and under hard braking with bumps.  A bit of adjustment would easily cure that as well.  Due to the cars super low ride height we were warned to stay off of the curbs and it was hard to resist the urge to do that because the ride was so smooth.  Since I primarily used to race production based sedans and GT cars, my only other experience with a purpose built race car was a Club Ford open wheeler and the Supersport.  The NP01 is way better than that Club Ford and although the Supersport was slightly faster, the handling and brakes of the NP01 was much better. Now the Supersport I drove was a very early pre production car and there have been huge improvements but I absolutely love the NP01.  It's like a well set up go kart but a lot more comfortable. 
Later, a real driver, Randy Pobst got behind the wheel and put down some hot laps. Randy said that that he could not feel what the rear tires were doing and was getting some oversteer on corner exit.  The Elan guys made a simple adjustment and Randy came back with a smile.  
Randy was visibly much faster than any of us.  One the car was set up to his liking (which was quickly done with a fast adjustment) he was raving about it.

Although I was not able to drive as fast as I wanted to due to not being able to properly sit in the car, I was able to get a good enough impression that I am trying to figure out what I have to sell to try and get me one of these!  I would die to drive one that is set up for my somewhat odd short arm and leg, long torso stiff body.  A few minutes with a bead seat kit will do it. I feel that the NP01 is hands down the best value in racing.  Although the initial cost might seem high, it is still cheaper than trying to develop your own car and the long term operating costs and your labor costs will ultimately be much less. 

Oh what to sell.

 

Sources

NASA Prototype

Elan Technologies

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