For some hardcore gearheads, track days are undoubtedly some of the best days on the annual automotive calendar. Although auto racing is as old as automobiles themselves, the idea of taking your car to a circuit to drive on the track gained momentum in the late '90s. First as a province of the more wealthy than sense crowd, then gradually into popular events featuring various modified vehicles.As the popularity of high-performance driving events increased, so did the supply of purpose-built racetrack weapons. Over the years, enthusiasts have enjoyed fast yet lightweight track day sports cars that bear almost no restrictions on the designers. The BAC Mono and Ariel Atom dominated the segment for several years until Shinoo Mapleton introduced the Drakan Spyder. Considering this heartbreakingly gorgeous track car debuted in 2015, here are a few things everyone forgot about the Drakan Spyder.
10 The Drakan Spyder Is Made In The U.S.
Shinoo Mapleton, a mechanical engineer by trade, founded Sector 111 to sell Lotus parts, the BAC Mono, and the Ariel Atom in the U.S. market. After a while, Shinoo noticed a gap in the market: what's America's take on a street-legal track car?
Convinced that there was significant room in the market for an American-designed, built, and powered car, Sector 111 went to work to compete with the Mono and the Atom. And with several years of experience selling these foreign vehicles, Shinoo and his team aimed to deliver a model that was both easy to drive and cheap to run.
9 Sector 111 And Palatov Motorsport Collaborated To Build The Drakan Spyder
The first hurdle for Sector 111 was figuring out a design for the new track car, and the LLC D2 from Palatov Motorsport provided the most desirable platform. Palatov Motorsport, based in Portland, Oregon, designs and manufactures high-performance, lightweight automobiles, and they became the perfect company to bring on board for the project.
Palatov Motorsport engineered the Drakan Spyder's chassis and fitted the fantastic double wishbone pushrod suspension. Other features that Sector 111 incorporated in the final build include a DLT safety glass windshield, Fox Podium RC2 coil-overs, Hella Bi-Xenon and LED lighting, HRE forged wheels, forged Wilwood calipers, GiroDisc rotors, and MXS dash.
8 The Drakan Spyder Has An Unusual Design Structure
Since Sector 111 comprises mainly of engineers, the team contracted Zukun Plan, a close-knit studio of German industrial designers and mechanical engineers, to develop the race car styling of the Drakan Spyder. Besides Palatov Motorsport's D2, Zukun Plan's design was influenced by the Atom, 340R, BAC Mono, and X-Bow.
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In a regular car, you find body panels, doors, a trunk, and a ton of heat and sound insulation to quiet the engine and the road. However, the Drakan Spyder's unusual open-wheel and open-top design structure forego all the above to deliver a hardcore driving experience.
7 The Drakan Spyder Is Devoid Of Computer Interventions
Besides the minimalist design, the raw experience is further enhanced by the Drakan Spyder's manual transmission and a notable lack of computer interventions. Sector 111 excluded Traction Control, ABS, and other computer-assisted driver's aids found in regular cars.
As far as modern comfort goes, the Drakan Spyder boasts a pair of non-adjustable seats that admittedly get hot after several hours of driving. In all, driving the Drakan Spyder demand that drivers rely on their judgment and experience to make decisions on the road.
6 The Drakan Spyder's Bulletproof V8 Is GM-Sourced
Sector 111 decided to source the Drakan Spyder's engine from an American automaker, in keeping with the all-American theme. And since Shinoo had previously worked for General Motors, sourcing the 6.2-liter LS3 E-Rod motor was a no-brainer.
The GM-sourced V8 ticked all the right boxes, with obvious strong points such as reliability and serviceability. In addition, the bulletproof GM Performance Parts engine offered the performance standards that Sector 111 intended for the track car.
5 The Drakan Spyder Weighs 2,000 Pounds
With a soaking wet weight of just 2,000lbs, the Drakan Spyder is staggeringly light compared to what the auto industry considers 'small and lightweight.' The weight reduction starts from the Chromoly tubing chassis, further emphasized by light and thin fiberglass body construction with a honeycomb core.
The Drakan Spyder's light weight is also due to the lack of features such as a trunk, doors, and body panels that usually contribute a significant amount of weight. The only form of storage in the car is a fitted luggage compartment located at the front.
4 The Drakan Spyder Delivers Formula Car Performance
Sector 111 paired the LS3 engine with a Porsche 911 six-speed manual Getrag 96 gearbox to deliver 430hp and 424lb-ft of torque. The Drakan Spyder delivers a great 4.7 pounds per hp, suitable for a 3.2-second 0-60 time and a 165mph top speed.
Since the engine is mid-mounted behind the driver, the result is a rear-heavy 40/60 weight bias that allows drivers to stably and predictably swing the car's rear end. The car's exceptional performance is also courtesy of the 235/40ZR17 front tires and 315/30ZR18 rear tires that offer remarkable mechanical grip on the road.
3 The Drakan Spyder Is 50-State Emissions Compliant
By importing the BAC Mono and the Ariel Atom, Sector 111 quickly discovered that these cars would eventually fail emissions tests with the new regulations imposed on fuel economy. To avoid this pitfall, Sector 111 used home advantage to source a CARB compliant engine.
Besides its performance, the ICBM-friendly stock Chevy E-Rod LS3 proved an excellent choice for Sector 111. Since the Drakan Spyder undoubtedly passes one of the strictest regulations in the U.S, owners enjoyed the option of registering them in all 50 states.
2 The Drakan Spyder Is Track Ready And Street Legal
Because of the forward seat positioning, fairly massive manual brakes, manual steering, inboard shock absorbers, and the considerable tire limits, Sector 111 ensured that drivers were confident enough to push the Drakan Spyder to its limits. The track-ready Drakan Spyder comes with a full roll cage, quick-release Momo steering wheel, adjustable pedal box, and a six-point belt.
The Drakan Spyder's standard exhaust also meets sound restrictions on several tracks, including the notoriously restrictive Lime Rock Park and Laguna Seca. And since owners can register a Drakan Spyder as a specialty construction car, they can enjoy driving them on the streets.
1 Drakan Cars Sold The Limited-Run Drakan Spyder For $100,000
There's arguably a lot to love about the Drakan Spyder, apart from one thing; the first batch is all sold out. Sector 111 executed an initial 10-car production run, and as anyone would expect, these boutique sports cars sold out rather quickly.
Although $100,000 is a hefty price tag, enthusiasts that crave a purpose-built track day car that they could later drive home indeed have that kind of money lying around. Furthermore, the Drakan Spyder offers a lot more than its competition for a lower price.