Theo is a fellow Elise owner in Greece. He has been generious with information as he modifies his car for the track.
I agree with you on the principle that the Elise audience has become much wider now, and people who THINK they know how to drive an Elise or a car fast in general, find it very difficult to tame our beast JJJ. But that’s the beauty of it!
People seem to ignore how close an Elise is to a racing car and its driving behaviour, and assume that it’s just a light and hence quick car. But how wrong they’re! I believe the Elise is a mobile university of vehicle dynamics and every time you drive it, there’s a learning and examination session to pass or fail. Should the owner be enough competent, the car starts to unfold hidden chapters...
There are sometimes when I drive alone, where I feel that I have the company of a vehicle dynamics or suspension engineer who tell me what I’m doing is right or wrong! :) The car talks balk to the driver, and the only think it requires from its driver behind the wheel is to listen. Everytime you make a mistake, the Elise has either spoken before you did the wrong move or during that time. It never leaves you uninformed about what you’re doing...
I really don’t know if you feel like that, but that’s my story about the car, and wveryone who has shared my steering wheel, or my passenger seat agrees with my view...