| Sneaking into the group of small but incredibly fast | | | | The car is clothed in an elegant and simple body with a |
| sports cars is the Brooke Double R. It was launched a | | | | tiny wraparound windshield, and cycle-type fenders - it |
| while ago, but has been updated and improved by a | | | | looks just like a racing car for the sixties. The |
| couple of experienced engineers, and this lovely and | | | | headlamps are concealed, and you raise them up |
| tiny car is now in production. You get tremendous | | | | manually. All nice and simple. |
| acceleration and cornering for your money. | | | | Cockpit like a racer, too |
| Performance is sensational, and depends how much | | | | The cockpit is also simplicity itself - absolutely not a frill |
| power you want. The most powerful Brooke Double R | | | | in site! You sit behind a small Momo steering wheel, |
| - 300 bhp - has a claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.2 | | | | with a flattened bottom rim section, and a big |
| seconds, while 260 bhp will get you to 60 mph in less | | | | rev-counter set in an instrument binnacle off to one |
| than 4 seconds, and all the excitement that goes with | | | | side. The gear lever is on the opposite side to normal - |
| that performance. To match it you will need a Noble | | | | like on those old racing cars - which is to the right on |
| M400 or Porsche 911 Turbo. | | | | right-hand drive cars and vice versa. |
| Clearly, the Brooke Double R is a real firecracker. The | | | | There is a neat pedal box with floor mounted pedals - |
| fact that the top speed is only about 155 mph - the | | | | as on the best cars - and a simple moulded seat. |
| same speed that many a supercar is limited to | | | | You can have either a very low windscreen, or a |
| electronically - is not what it's about. It is acceleration, | | | | slightly taller one. Both are still low with no room for |
| braking and cornering that gives the real thrill of driving | | | | wipers - they are really wind deflectors which you look |
| fast, and you will get it here. | | | | over. Choose the lower one, and you will want a |
| Most of these open wheelers have front engines, but | | | | helmet on at speeds over 75 mph, despite the twin |
| the Brooke Double R has a mid-mounted 2.3 liter | | | | headrests. |
| Cosworth Ford engine, which develops 190, 260 or 300 | | | | Cosworth-Ford up to 300 bhp |
| bhp according to your choice. It is just like a mini | | | | In choosing a Cosworth- Ford engine Brooke has gone |
| version of a mid-engined racing car, just made a bit | | | | for quality and ease of obtaining parts needed for |
| wider to get two people in. | | | | servicing. Cosworth provides a range of tuned Ford |
| Optimum weight distribution | | | | engines, modified to give the necessary durability for |
| To get near ideal weight distribution, the engine is | | | | the power output, and as they are four-cylinder in-line |
| mounted fore and aft instead of crosswise. With the | | | | units they are compact. |
| engine mounted across the frame in unit with its | | | | The base model comes with 190 bhp, then you can go |
| transaxle, you get at bit too much weight at the back. | | | | to 260 bhp at 7,500 rpm with 200 lb ft (271 lb ft) torque |
| On the other hand, with the engine in front of the | | | | at 6,100 rpm, or you can go for all-out power with the |
| transaxle, you get better weight distribution and a | | | | 300 bhp unit. |
| slimmer body - which is what the guys that designed | | | | Suspension and steering are on classic lines, with |
| the Brook Double R wanted. | | | | double wishbones front and rear, of airfoil section |
| Five-speed transaxle | | | | because they need to slip through the air, with |
| To make this work, they had to find a good transaxle | | | | aluminum alloy suspension uprights. Coil springs and |
| at a realistic price. Brooke has opted for a Renault | | | | adjustable dampers are fitted front and rear. |
| five-speed unit, as a six-speeder would have cost a lot | | | | Buy a Brooke Double R with 190 bhp and you will |
| more. You might think a six-speed box was obligatory | | | | spend about $50,000 (£27,995) but if you want |
| these days, but this is not the case for road use. With | | | | a manic, likely-to-lose-your-licence 300 bhp version you |
| five well-chosen ratios you can get the same | | | | will need to fork out around $70,000 (£36,995). It |
| performance as with six-speeds, which often have too | | | | will help if you live where there is plenty of sunshine |
| high gearing on the top two or even three ratios. | | | | and not much rain! |