First track day - at Castle Coombe - any advice?

First track day - at Castle Coombe - any advice?

Author
Discussion

Altrezia

8,590 posts

217 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
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Glad you enjoyed it!

So different to driving on the normal roads isn't it? I don't get the point of driving fast on the road anymore. =)

QBee

21,371 posts

150 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
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Altrezia said:
Glad you enjoyed it!

So different to driving on the normal roads isn't it? I don't get the point of driving fast on the road anymore. =)
Spot on sir. I have a 5 litre TVR and the temptation is to go everywhere at warp factor 7. Track days remove the temptation to lose my licence judge

RB Will

9,885 posts

246 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
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mrfunex said:
- My hands get extremely sweaty (ooh-err!) - may have to invest in gloves
Just on this note, its often not worth it unless you change to a felt/ alcantara covered wheel as well as the gloves have less grip on a plastic/ leather steering wheel than a sweaty hand.

Andy Bell

333 posts

145 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
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mrfunex said:
- Just because the car behind you looks like a standard Citroen Xsara, doesn't mean it's not a LOT faster than you!
such a great point and does cause lots of confusion at best of times.

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

197 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
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mrfunex said:
- The S2000 isn't as twitchy as reputation would suggest. As long as you're not a complete hooligan with it, it's got a lot of grip even on normal road tyres and plenty of drive out of the corners.
mrfunex said:
I found it easier to perfect the line if I left the car in 4th the entire time. Only on the last two sessions did I use 3rd for the slow stuff.
That's probably why...

mrfunex said:
I'm hooked!
yes It becomes even better once you get confident with the car and start going really fast biggrin

QBee

21,371 posts

150 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
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james_gt3rs said:
yes It becomes even better once you get confident with the car and start going really fast biggrin
yes

mrfunex

Original Poster:

547 posts

180 months

Tuesday 9th September 2014
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Cheers guys - there's a temptation to rush out and start upgrading stuff... I'm going to have a few more sessions and a bit more instruction first. I know I'm nowhere near getting the most out of the car - see the Nurburgring S2000 video on YouTube - wow...

I've owned a few quick cars so far, one was monumentally rapid, but the S is by far the most fun!


googleowl

380 posts

159 months

Monday 15th September 2014
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mrfunex said:


I was at this trackday too cool (red Focus ST / yellow wheels) and that was my mates in the stroen xsaras (standard except stripped, decent tyres and coilovers) and yes they were flying around wink it was a great day with a good mix off cars, loved the old Bentley that looked like he'd taken a wrong turning on the way to the shops biglaugh

Was my first time at combe and look forward to going back next year as it was a decent track just a bit hard on the tyres / brakes etc wink

mrfunex

Original Poster:

547 posts

180 months

Monday 15th September 2014
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That Focus sounded awesome! Lovely growl as you drove past the pits! What have you done to it??

googleowl

380 posts

159 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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mrfunex said:
That Focus sounded awesome! Lovely growl as you drove past the pits! What have you done to it??
Thanks smile

It's running a JAM-sport 360 package (RS turbo) with all the usual mods (intercooler / cold air intake etc) but the bit that makes the noise is the full decat non resonated Milltek exhaust thumbup

mgv8dave

826 posts

219 months

Friday 19th September 2014
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Nice colour combo the Red Focus and Yellow wheels, I have not seen one like that before.

Broomer

20 posts

124 months

Sunday 21st September 2014
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mrfunex said:
Cheers guys - there's a temptation to rush out and start upgrading stuff... I'm going to have a few more sessions and a bit more instruction first. I know I'm nowhere near getting the most out of the car - see the Nurburgring S2000 video on YouTube - wow...

I've owned a few quick cars so far, one was monumentally rapid, but the S is by far the most fun!

I do a few track days in my S2000 too, they're great fun aren't they!

I've played around with mine a little to get it feeling more how I want it to, but the main thing they need on track is some brake cooling.

I'm doing Penbrey on 27th of this month. biggrin

joe_90

4,206 posts

237 months

Monday 22nd September 2014
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mrfunex said:
Cheers guys - there's a temptation to rush out and start upgrading stuff... I'm going to have a few more sessions and a bit more instruction first. I know I'm nowhere near getting the most out of the car - see the Nurburgring S2000 video on YouTube - wow...

I've owned a few quick cars so far, one was monumentally rapid, but the S is by far the most fun!

May I suggest (had an s2000) the first thing to do is just the brake pads and fluid..
Also they are fine cars on the track, only span mine once (on an airfield) and did a number of track days.

And yes, the golden rule is anything can and will be quicker than you, no matter what you drive, so just don't try and keep up.. leave the ego at home.

Evangelion

7,924 posts

184 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
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Well we did say you'd get hooked!

Good point about the tuition, it's the best performance upgrade you can do, and the cheapest!

One more hint re Combe, when it rains there and the track is drying out, it can get greasy so beware! When I first drove in such conditions, I spun three times in my first session! If you do feel the car spinning, it's best to just let it go, then you'll end up on the infield where there's very little to hit. If you fight it, you could be heading towards the Armco on the outside.

cibble10

722 posts

125 months

Friday 26th September 2014
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I am considering a track day with my Boxster GTS when it arrives so have really appreciated this thread. Very little duplication, very gentlemanly, very helpful, very constructive, and no showing off at all with personal times or similar. Am I really on the PH site??? wink

micron750

845 posts

238 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
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Evangelion said:
Well we did say you'd get hooked!

Good point about the tuition, it's the best performance upgrade you can do, and the cheapest!

One more hint re Combe, when it rains there and the track is drying out, it can get greasy so beware! When I first drove in such conditions, I spun three times in my first session! If you do feel the car spinning, it's best to just let it go, then you'll end up on the infield where there's very little to hit. If you fight it, you could be heading towards the Armco on the outside.
What he says I've seen so many try to fight it and end with damage especially at Quarry!