Can TVR Save Us From The Computers?

We often talk about progress, about development and improvements in the car industry as new models are frequently released, each offering more technology and fewer CO2s than the last. But the mainstream car market seems so focused on computerising cars and simplifying driving, that it's almost forgotten about the real drivers amongst us. Either that or it doesn't care, focusing on the masses rather than the purists. 

Examples of this can be seen across the industry, with semi automatic gearboxes removing the need for that prehistoric stick poking through the chassis floor, electronic steering removing any real sense of feel from our hands, and engine noises playing through our speakers to 'add' to the sounds of ever duller engine notes. That's all fine in a car that's used to carry junior and his sister to school, but what about cars that are supposed to be used for driving, for fun? 

In comparison to their predecessors, this new breed of sports cars and hot hatches all have an element of involvement removed from them. Even though they might be quicker, cleaner and more efficient, I don't really want any of them.

What I want is to step back into time, to a time when cars were still in touch with their raw, highly engaging ancestors. Of course most car makers won't do that, with ever increasing global issues revolving around emissions and fuel. But I have found a solution, a way of experiencing that old school flavour and all involving drive modern cars have lost. The solution is, buy a TVR.

There are several reasons why you shouldn't buy one of course, but they're all rubbish and unimportant reasons. If you buy a TVR, a 5.0 litre V8 Griffith for example, you will not only experience immense neck snatching power, but also the brutal roar of the almighty lord himself each time you squeeze the throttle. That's pretty great value for money.

In the early 90s, semi automatics were a brand spanking new technology reserved only for cars like Nigel Mansell's Williams F1 racer. So TVR had only one option, to hand full responsibility of this violently powerful V8's gearing to you, the driver. With no computer to protect the gearbox, and no GPS to predict the gears for the road ahead (a feature enjoyed by today's Rolls Royce Wraith) as the driver, you are the brain, you are the tamer of this beast. Too heavy a right foot and you'll spin all 340 horses through the rear wheels, in turn sending you toward the nearest object and probably a fiery death. But what a way to go.

That's what I want, not the flaming death of course, but full control over my vehicle. I don't care how efficient and how precise today's electronics are, if I'm not in control of that vehicle, I'm not really driving it. I'm merely influencing it, as the computers still have the upper hand. It's for this reason cars like the Nissan GTR impress me, but don't excite me.

So as you can imagine I'm glad to report that TVR, the long troubled British car maker, are back. And the latest news suggests we should be greeted, or should I say violently exposed to, 2 new models, supposedly both keeping with the TVR philosophy we'd enjoyed before the company ceased production in 2006.

I really hope new owner Les Edgar honours this promise, ignoring pressure from our European neighbours to tame the horses. Forget the electronics Les, stick a proper old school gear lever in there and 500 horses to go with it. Be the savior of driving, the manufacturer for the purists. Make something scary. Pretty please.

Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps. Why you should pay it a visit this year

Spa, a track that needs no introduction. Eau Rouge, La Source, Hakkinen vs. Schumacher...they all spring to mind when we think of this great track. Well they do for me, a life long Formula 1 fan who favours the 'original' tracks of the F1 circus. Amongst these modern, 'car park' layouts (Mark Webber's words, not mine), there remain a few classic, tree lined circuits that enable Formula 1 to cling onto its roots - excuse the pun.

The F1 calendar has changed drastically in recent years, shifting a large percentage of its calendar East to new modern tracks, designed to encourage overtaking and induce mistakes. Few tracks remain where tarmac was simply laid where it was practical to do so, creating winding corners, natural dips and undulations. As a result, an increasing amount of Formula 1 circuits are arguably becoming rather indistinguishable. The racing is fantastic there is no doubt about it, but many of these tracks lack the character and individuality of Monte Carlo, the old Hockenhiem and Spa, to name a few.

Car park like run offs

With Hockenhiem's layout being trimmed of its frighteningly fast straights, it has lost a large part of what made it special. Monte Carlo remains largely true to its origins but if you don't fancy clinging to a tree, ticket prices can only be described as astronomical. So Spa, one of the last remaining classic gems of the F1 calendar, is also one of few that offers a far more affordable chance to experience Formula 1 in it's natural environment. For this reason, I think that F1 fans of new and old should all experience this great circuit in the flesh.

And there's another reason too. Because 2013 is the last year F1 will use the naturally aspirated V8s that have been raced since 2006. These engines, smaller descendants of the monstrous V10s of the late 90s and early noughties, sound especially epic through the forests of Spa. Last year I visited Spa for the GP, and was absolutely blown away by the presence of the world's most advanced motorsport on one of the world's most beautiful classic circuits. Its not the volume, or even the speed of these high powered machines that affected me most, although both were equally astounding. Instead it was hearing those V8s sing into the distance, through the dense forest that inhabits the track. This experience, is something I think all car fans should get a chance to experience. One that no other sport can match.

A BTCC fan might tell you that one lap of a race has more action than an entire GP. A Moto GP fan may tell you their motorcycles reach a higher top speed. But neither of them can come close to F1 when it comes to that hair raising feeling an F1 engine creates as it echoes through the trees.

A Force India spits a blue flame

Of course, modern Formula 1 cars create much more than just an engine noise. There's the gearbox, banging through the gears at inconceivable speeds. It's something you not only hear, but see with blue flames popping out of exhausts and most strikingly, something that you feel like a sharp bass line in your stomach. There's the sound of 8 cylinders switching to 4 as drivers come off the throttle, creating a harsh and aggressive note distinctive to Formula 1. On top of that there's the smell of burning rubber and cooked carbon brakes. The orchestra of a Formula 1 car is not done any justice on TV - try telling a conductor his band sounds best through your stereo lounge set up. Witnessing an F1 car up close is something very special, and witnessing it in the theatre of Spa is just fantastic. And this could be the final chance to hear the naturally aspirated orchestra we have now, before forced induction engines are released onto track in 2014.

Vettel & Schumacher pushing at Spa

Now I'm not saying the 2014 engines won't sound amazing, I have no doubt in my mind that they will. But forced induction has a habit of quietening things down. So I say experience the fantastic orchestra we have now. Stand at the end of Kemmel Straight and listen to those V8s scream towards you at 18,000 revs, before feeling the gearbox shove down the gears. Walk through the forest in the middle of the track during a busy practice session. You'll be amazed how you're surrounded by nature but can hear nothing but high revving technology.

Anyway, that's enough of me trying to describe the sound in plain old English. From here on I'll let the videos do the talking. Turn up your speakers...

Screaming V8s up Eau Rouge:

Along Kemmel Straight:

Banging down the gears into Les Combes:

And one to show off the speed and phenomenal downforce an F1 car generates through Eau Rouge:

But remember...videos do F1 cars no justice!