More on the Noble M400

September 28th, 2006
Posted by Travoli in General Comments
More on the Noble:
Here is a page of large M400 pictures. The first 5 are my chassis, just arrived from South Africa. The second set with wheels on the ground is what it will look like in a few days. I’ve asked for the red seat centers to avoid a total black/black Darth Vader look. I decided to keep the wheels silver also, for the same reason. I’ll get a second set for street use, at which time I might go black with these wheels.. producing a look like the last picture on the page. It’s from a car currently for sale on ebay.

A Chassis has Arrived

September 27th, 2006
Posted by Travoli in General Comments

Wow! I’ve been slack. Thanks for the IM’s telling me to get back to work. Glad a few people check this thing out. Most of you know I ordered a Noble M400. The stomach butterflies I used to get at the start of an autocross run aren’t there anymore.  Time to scare myself on a real track or two. So, what fits my needs and personality?

Lee Noble is someone I look up to. He loves cars.  He loves driving cars. What better career than to make cars? And good ones too. Ever heard of the Ultima GTR?  Check out this video. Lee started Ultima. Lee also helped develop the McLaren F1 (McLaren used three Ultima chassis in development of the F1). And the list goes on… With all of that experience, what would be better than to launch a car company named after himself? The M-10 came first. Although successful in small numbers, it never really took off.  That all changed with Lee’s next car, the M-12 GTO, followed by the M-12 GTO 3R with refined steering and a larger, more powerful Ford Duratec powerplant. And finally, the M400 with more power, refined interior, suspension, steering and new side air ducts. The "400" stands for 400hp per tonne of weight.

I’ll stop babbling on about specs. I went to the 1GRacing website and watched Jeremy Clarkson call the older M12 GTO his favorite drivers car. I went to 1GRacing last month and test drove the red Xbox 1-lap of America M400 (stock). It sold itself. Today the chassis arrived. The motor was ordered. The installer secured. An SA2005 Simpson helmet is being shipped. In a few more weeks I should be driving it home from Ohio.

I’ll probably post better video links later. 1G is a good place to start.