Driving Observations & Intense Cycles!

Nomad laughs at curbs

The Nomad has been a fun car and I've now put 300+ miles onto her.  The driving dynamics are fun yet different from the razor sharp cars I am used to driving for fun.  

Acceleration: The acceleration is fast but not remarkable by standards set by Atom3S, Mono or Drakan.  It has Elise-like acceleration - maybe a bit quicker.  Honestly it feel fast enough, especially in the dirt where it will spin the rears easily.  On the freeway, the car has enough power to move along at 80mph.  It has terrible aerodynamics but is light enough with adequate power.  I like the balance.  The Nomad Sport that is coming next week sports the new supercharger which should be really manic!

Steering: The steering is fun and direct.  The tires make the steering a bit slower feeling but still plenty of communication and feel.  An observation from one off-road buddy is that the steering may be too quick for desert racing.  To be clear, the Nomad is NOT designed for desert racing.    

Handling: The Nomad turns in slower thanks to the fat off-road oriented tires.  You can feel the tire sidewall and even the tread block squirm.  The car rolls enough to unweight the inside tire during normal cornering.  The handling is predictable and progressive.  The shocks suck up most bumps nicely.  I've not played with the shock settings on these double adjustable Bilsteins.  On the dirt, giving the car some gas allows for a progressive over steer.  The hydraulic hand brake offers the same grin inducing effect.  Ride quality is great as the car is soft but still firm enough.

Brakes: The brakes are a bit soft though aggressive brakes are not desireable on the dirt as it is easy to lock up.  On the street they require some more heat to start working.  I need to check with TMI to see what exact compound are on this Nomad.  This model comes equipped with the Alcons - which I've had on my first two Atoms.  These calipers are first rate and pad selection is key.  Of course the fat tires on this car are also surely impacting brake feel.

Ride Height: Around town the car is great as I drive through rain gutters that I have to slow down for with our Lotus/Alfa/Atom/Mono/Drakan/etc.  This car mows down these obstacles with no issue.  Speed bumps are no longer a pucker worthy moment.  The car also sits high enough that you aren't staring at hub caps like some of our other cars.  I think visibility to other drivers is greatly improved.  The Nomad still demands a defensive driving style - expect that other drivers will not see you.

Other: I like the position of the hand brake - it is now between the seats.  The seats are fixed but easy to adjust with 4 bolts.  The side view mirrors are far better than the puny ones standard on the Atom3.  They sport integrated LED turn signals - which are bright, even in the CA sun.  The seat harnesses are still breaking in so tightening them is a bit of a pain.  I've not used the Warn winch yet but will need to try emulate that one scene from "The Gods Must Be Crazy".  

The chassis sides are designed to ease ingress/egress.  This allows your shoulder and arm to hang out from the car.  This is not very safe but it sure feels cool - much like a Caterham.  Just try not to drag your knuckles while driving and please avoid getting t-boned.  Safety zealots are going to have a field day moaning about this car - I say live your life and break free from the womb-like experience most modern sportscars offer.  

Intense Palmer M16

Intense ACV

TMI have installed a bike rack which prompted me to stop in and visit a local Mountain Bike company called Intense Cycles.  These guys are the Ducati of Mountain Bikes.  They have just launched a new bike called the ACV that is the mountain bike equivalent of the Nomad.  I learned that Shaun Palmer is working with these guys and has a signature model.  I used to ride a Sims

 snowboard and Palmer was one of their pros.  He raced mountain bikes as well as cars - Pikes Peak victory and a Toyota celebrity race at Long Beach.  Anyhow, I thought it would be cool to get his signature bike strapped to the top of the Nomad.  

  

Supercar Sunday - A Longer Road trip!

Supercar Sunday is held up in Woodland Hills which is about as far north as you can go in SoCal and still be in LosAngeles.  I had not attended this show before as well.  This event was an even longer drive at over 120 miles one way so would be a better test of the road trip worthiness of the Nomad.

200+ cars eventually appeared at this show along with hundreds of people.  When I first arrived there were less than 6 cars there.  My photog buddy - Art+Machines - was there bright and early.  He snapped a few shots during the magic hour.  Follow his Instagram for great shots of cars, women and more.  

Another friend Eric, showed up with his Atom3 - which was originally my first Atom3.  It was great to see him and then another buddy, Paul from Chemical Guys showed up with his Atom3 along with his girlfriend, Jen.  Three Ariels at one show is not something you will see at most car shows.  Eric loves these unusual sportscars and has a garage full of cool machines.  I suspect a Nomad will also make its way into his stable.

The Nomad was a huge hit.  I handed out another 50 brochures and spoke until I was almost hoarse.  It's a good thing I had a long drive back alone - to rest my voice!  The ride home was good thanks to proper driving gear.  I stripped down to a thin white, long sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, sunglasses and my trusty bucket hat.  

I am using my Atom seat insert to better fit in the Nomad seat.  As it turns out, the insert may be a bit too snug and race track focused to be a good road trip pad.  I think I will make an insert that gives me a bit more room.  Ultimate lateral support is not that critical on a road trip so it will be something I will have to get done to extend my comfort for even longer trips - which the Nomad is well suited for.  The seat is perfect for average to large drivers.  We've had guys as tall as 6'5" in the car.  The seat is very wide so Big & Tall folk will fit.

The pedals on the Nomad are the same as the Atom - race pedals.  They are close together which demand proper driving shoes.  Since I was attending a car show where I would be either standing or walking around, I chose to wear shoes that could work on the pedals and be comfortable.  Pure racing shoes are perfect on the pedals but horrible for walking/standing.  I've been wearing Piloti shoes for years as they bridge these requirements fairly well.  I've also found that some older shoes like Converse can also work well.

Another observation is that staying hydrated is key as an open car, under a hot sun can be tiring.  Coconut water has become my go-to-drink and not just because it grows like a weed where I'm originally from!  No, the Nomad does not have cup holders but there are plenty of places to secure one...which is something I plan to do.

Cars&Coffee LaJolla, Nissan Design, Secret Car Club...

I woke up early to get to the Cars&Coffee event held in LaJolla.  They were hosting a Brexit themed show so I thought it would be appropriate to bring the Nomad to this event.  I had not been to this C&C LaJolla yet and my friend Dieter from HG Motorsport, who organizes the event, said he would reserve a spot for me in the restaurant!  I was not sure what to expect.  

I got on the road at 5am to get there to secure this coveted spot.  I was not disappointed!  We placed the car inside the outdoor seating area and it proved to be a sweet location.  Our Nomad brochures were snatched up quickly.  The Nomad is perfect for LaJolla and I can definitely see it becoming popular here.

For the trip down, I put in earbuds to listen to some music.  They were great as they masked the noise of an open car with fat treads.  I layered up to beat the 55-60deg F weather. The front radiator also delivers some hot air into the cabin that helps keep your warm.  Again the windshield is great and the headlights light up the way.  The roof mounted lights are exceptionally bright but of course for off-road use only.

Inside, front and center

cool crowd and cool cars

the rocks were begging us

on my way to the SCC

After C&C La Jolla, I met my friend Julien for a quick tour of the Nissan Design office in SanDiego.  Another friend Erik met us there and we checked out a very special car that was on display - it was small, light and sporty.  Julien and several of his colleagues are Rogue Collective and producing great automotive artwork - including pieces that we are selling: HERE.  

I parked the car onto some rocks in their parking lot so Erik could take some pix.  He also managed to get some rolling shots of the Nomad on our way to the Secret Car Club event in Rancho Santa Fe.  

 I always bring my bucket hat for any trip in an open car.  This was a requirement for me, along with gloves and a long sleeve shirt and pants.  My skin is no match for the brutal CA summer sun...which confuses most people when they see me - even Leno was wondering what was up with my get-up during his Drakan test drive.  I'm really looking forward to that Nomad bikini top.  Skin cancer is not on my wish list...but more miles on the Nomad, well that is very high on my list!

I parked the Nomad in my garage at home and it fit perfectly.  It really is quite small, taking no more room than a compact sedan or crossover.

Sector111 Meet & Greet

We hosted a party at the shop to show off the Nomad as well as our new Lotus shifter.  We had a bunch of our clients and friends show up.  Pizza, soda, table tennis, house music and artwork were in the mix...

My friend Rick brought over his Baja Bug.

Rick was impressed with how fast and nimble it was.

Boris says is has enough power and is looking forward to getting his...

Our ArtCar was on display along with the Nomad

Our friends at Rogue Collective came by with some original artwork and prints that they have made of our cars.  The work is excellent and a perfect addition to any man/woman cave.  We have prints available on our website: HERE.  Nomad artwork is coming soon...

Nomad West Coast Tour!

SEMA Garage Open House - First Road Trip!

SEMA was hosting an Open House at their Garage on the day the Nomad arrived.  We decided to drive it there - about 60 miles away.  I had Carlos and Joe do the honors along with trailering up a Drakan Spyder.  The car was a big hit and we were inundated with questions.  This event was a SEMA event for its members only with about 1,000 people in attendance.

The fuel tank on the Nomad is 13gallons - so we topped her off at the local station.  The car is happy running at 75-80mph.  The wind and tire noise proved to be loud enough to require ear plugs.  The windshield makes for a nice wind break.  TMI have been working on a small fabric roof (bikini top) for the Nomad.  This will be a welcome addition as the guys drove up with the hot CA sun beating them down.  The fuel mileage was around 22mpg on this trip. 

Delivery to Sector111

The Nomad Tactical arrived today at Sector111 on a transporter at 8am.  Thank you, TMI!  The rest of my morning schedule was wiped clean so I could 'work' with the Nomad.  Yes, this is a tough job...

The Nomad is a compact little machine.  It does not have a big footprint - similar to the cars we like: Elise/Exige/Atom/Mono/Drakan/4C.  It is light and the K24 Honda motor is nice and torquey.  Getting into the car proved to be a challenge initially.  The window to climb in is big enough for most people but you need to be flexible.  It took me two attempts before I got myself securely in the Nomad.  Once you are in, it is comfortable and a good fit.   

in our shop

happiness is...

For the first time in 16yrs, I turned right onto the dirt road...

The dirt road to Murrieta that I had never taken before proved to be..

...a twisty delight made especially for the Ariel Nomad!

The Nomad allowed me to take a road that I had never driven before.  This dirt road branches off at the beginning of DeLuz and I've ignored it for 16yrs with my sportscars -  I refuse to drive sportscars on dirt roads.  DeLuz Rd is one of my favorites and was documented by my friend Robert in this video. 

The ability to blitz a dirt road is one reason the Nomad will be a driving enthusiasts genre busting machine.  It allowed me to go enjoy a twisty road that I would never have normally ventured onto.  I also tried out the hydraulic hand brake for the first time.  It's a hoot, though goosing the gas is all that is required to break the rear end loose in dirt.

This country has plenty of dirt roads with no traffic or cops...are you starting to see the beauty of this pugnacious little machine yet?  Our beloved paved canyon roads will become more and more policed and clogged with traffic - so cars like the Nomad will gain us access to roads less traveled for fun and adventure.  I could not be more excited about the possibilities...