Donington Park 11-11-12
Discussion
Hi,
Well I have finally mangaed to upload some onboard video footage from Sunday!
A fantastic day and perfect weather through out the whole day too. There were quite a lot of Saab cars and the track was busy at times so could never really put any decent times down, think I mangaed a 1.17 which is not bad but was hoping for a 1.14 !
I have gone through Craner curves at 120MPH which is 4MPH faster than when I had a spin earlier this year.
Pretty happy with the car and looking forward to RS day next March. I have mangaged to do around 13 trackdays this year in the GT3 and feel like both the car and I have come on laods over the year now that the suspension is sorted and those Michelin Cup tyres are amazing. Drove to Spa did 400 miles around Spa over two days and drove back that was 1300 miles total, did a full day at Donington and I reckon I have another full day left in the tyres !
For those that are intersted here some video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ak5ySntHU0&sns... (better quality now!) Make sure you select the hd option in settings on youtube..
Thanks,
Mike
Well I have finally mangaed to upload some onboard video footage from Sunday!
A fantastic day and perfect weather through out the whole day too. There were quite a lot of Saab cars and the track was busy at times so could never really put any decent times down, think I mangaed a 1.17 which is not bad but was hoping for a 1.14 !
I have gone through Craner curves at 120MPH which is 4MPH faster than when I had a spin earlier this year.
Pretty happy with the car and looking forward to RS day next March. I have mangaged to do around 13 trackdays this year in the GT3 and feel like both the car and I have come on laods over the year now that the suspension is sorted and those Michelin Cup tyres are amazing. Drove to Spa did 400 miles around Spa over two days and drove back that was 1300 miles total, did a full day at Donington and I reckon I have another full day left in the tyres !
For those that are intersted here some video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ak5ySntHU0&sns... (better quality now!) Make sure you select the hd option in settings on youtube..
Thanks,
Mike
Edited by sportsandclassic on Thursday 15th November 06:24
Edited by sportsandclassic on Thursday 15th November 11:24
MrFreight said:
Hello
This is both an interesting and informative video on so many levels.
Firstly due to the difference in speeds of the various cars it would in my opinion have been better to have seperate sessions - as we all know with track days it's usually based on experience rather than speed so I think that's out.
Which leads me nicely to the following points - You seem to handle your car very well and judging by the evidence then so does the 911 Turbo Driver you were "Racing" with but in my humble opinion you were doing just that - RACING with the 911 Turbo - you could quite easily have lost it on at least one occasion in the video when you went over the rumble strips whilst trying to overtake the Turbo on the outside when at the same time overtaking slower cars - some of the slower cars were perhaps being bullied by the Turbo and possibly yourself and the tailgating evident by the Turbo was just not on - you did hold back whilst this was happening which I applaud you for - obviously some of the slower Drivers where not as experienced and thus perhaps didn't look in their mirrors (Happens in actual Race conditions all the time in both Qualifying and Race)
Racing and Timing is not allowed on Track days - you were obviously doing both and had I been an organiser of this event I would have Black Flagged the pair of you and had a word!
My points are made in a firm but sensible manner and are not intended to be inflamatory although i'm sure that's the way it will read!
Regards
MF
I don't see any timing ? I just was recording the event and when I got home just timed the lap on the TV ? As for racing I don't know what you mean
I was trying to get past the turbo but was 100BHP down and he just had it on the straights. Brilliant little battle. I have used Iphone 4S but somehow lost the quality on upload to youtube.
Mike
This is both an interesting and informative video on so many levels.
Firstly due to the difference in speeds of the various cars it would in my opinion have been better to have seperate sessions - as we all know with track days it's usually based on experience rather than speed so I think that's out.
Which leads me nicely to the following points - You seem to handle your car very well and judging by the evidence then so does the 911 Turbo Driver you were "Racing" with but in my humble opinion you were doing just that - RACING with the 911 Turbo - you could quite easily have lost it on at least one occasion in the video when you went over the rumble strips whilst trying to overtake the Turbo on the outside when at the same time overtaking slower cars - some of the slower cars were perhaps being bullied by the Turbo and possibly yourself and the tailgating evident by the Turbo was just not on - you did hold back whilst this was happening which I applaud you for - obviously some of the slower Drivers where not as experienced and thus perhaps didn't look in their mirrors (Happens in actual Race conditions all the time in both Qualifying and Race)
Racing and Timing is not allowed on Track days - you were obviously doing both and had I been an organiser of this event I would have Black Flagged the pair of you and had a word!
My points are made in a firm but sensible manner and are not intended to be inflamatory although i'm sure that's the way it will read!
Regards
MF
I don't see any timing ? I just was recording the event and when I got home just timed the lap on the TV ? As for racing I don't know what you mean
I was trying to get past the turbo but was 100BHP down and he just had it on the straights. Brilliant little battle. I have used Iphone 4S but somehow lost the quality on upload to youtube.
Mike
AlexA911 said:
Mike .. just to let you know... I think you might have been more than 100hp down on the 997 turbo 
.. so you did very well to battle like that. 996 turbo was also big power and well setup but inexperienced track driver... first true trackday.
Do you know that 997tt then ? how much hp is it ?.. so you did very well to battle like that. 996 turbo was also big power and well setup but inexperienced track driver... first true trackday.Mike
jackwood said:
sportsandclassic said:
Through Craners to the bottom right hander.
Spun earlier in year at 116MPH !
So a steady 120 all the way through Craners? Or a peak of 120 through that section? Where were you when you looked at the speedo? Just trying to get a handle on which bit you were doing 120 at as I only looked at my speedo once during the morning just as I turned into the left hander section near the bottom of the hill. Spun earlier in year at 116MPH !
Mike
thegoose said:
A while ago I know (July 2011 in fact, not earlier this year as Mike said) but I can tell you exactly where we were when he did 116mph (I was in the passenger seat checking at the time) - just on the left hand bit at the bottom of the Curves....then pointing back up the hill, then at the grass, then the right way again, then the grass on the other side, then across the gravel and eventually coming to rest in the special two-car-sized piece of tarmac just beyond the outer kerb at The Old Hairpin (reserved for muppets I think) - I hadn't even noticed it existed until then.
120mph and those times are impressive though
WOW, thought it was this year! Time just flies when you are having fun.120mph and those times are impressive though
That "special" parking area at bottom of the curves is reserved for me
keep it lit said:
Brilliant! As I remember you also had a spin that day.....If your not spinning your not trying!
On a serious note that was the closest I have been to binning it.
Mike
keep it lit said:
sportsandclassic said:
As I remember you also had a spin that day.....
i did indeed... but look at the size of the fish i was trying to fry & you know who was at the wheel!!http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VltQ7F5WLxo
keep it lit said:
MrCooke said:
Craners is flat no matter what car you're in.
If you're not flat through Craners you may as well go home.
True fact.
possible in a good track prepped car on good rubber.. difficult in some big road cars on street rubber.If you're not flat through Craners you may as well go home.
True fact.
flattish in my gt3..
it's the mini reverse uk eau rouge.. love it every lap!
eta; given flat in a race car..
Edited by keep it lit on Wednesday 14th November 20:50
tjlees said:
MrCooke said:
tjlees said:
At an indicated 117-8 leptons my ariel atom 300 would start to slide on the craners. According to Uk circuit guide this should be flat out ... Yeh right ... Maybe if I'm a F1 car.
Craners is flat no matter what car you're in.If you're not flat through Craners you may as well go home.
True fact.
I can enter the craners at 125+ but I would be visiting that especial place for two cars followed by the pearly gates backwards in a ball of fire. Last time I was in a four wheel drift .... And still wasn't flat out ... Maybe I need slicks and aero... Or more talent.
keep it lit said:
sportsandclassic said:
cwin said:
sportsandclassic said:
What speed is that Craig... 75mph?
I'll have you a little bet,Your not as quick around Anglesey coastal in your GT3 than Danny in the little s
tter,,,,,
graemel said:
Flat through the Craners. Bragging rights only but very rare in reality. I doubt you'd achieve 1.14's Mike a 17 is good going IMO. The frustration of track days and the rules you have to abide by. I think you should step up a gear and get a competition license.
You've got the aggression and then the gloves are off. Spinning the car is not because you are trying to hard. It is because you have not yet grasped the finite balance of pushing just enough and pushing to far. That takes time. Ade, Fiorano, Goose and Steve Rance would all agree I think. To finish first. First you have to finish.
Watching the video you have got the ability. You just won't hone your skills doing track days with lots of stters out there.
Hi, thanks for the comments. You've got the aggression and then the gloves are off. Spinning the car is not because you are trying to hard. It is because you have not yet grasped the finite balance of pushing just enough and pushing to far. That takes time. Ade, Fiorano, Goose and Steve Rance would all agree I think. To finish first. First you have to finish.
Watching the video you have got the ability. You just won't hone your skills doing track days with lots of s
tters out there. First off I have uploaded a better quality video here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ak5ySntHU0&sns... .
I am quite happy with the track day thing at minute as I have no obligation nor vested interest to have to participate in a race meeting. With family and work commitments I may struggle with the racing thing too. Maybe in a few years to come when I have both the time and experience to give it a go..? (Or maybe if Hartech need a stand in ?
)The reason I spun out at Craners was down to a few things and one was some badly valved/sprung KW V3 dampers and springs, also I was slightly off the line and lifted when I thought it was going to go off the track. Since then I have replaced all the suspension and upgraded a lot of areas on my car, done more track days and lots at Donington but always held back at Craners due to this earlier spin. No matter how much I wanted to push through my foot would not press that go faster pedal! So maybe not got the aggressiveness you mention? Since this spin I have actually been off the line again at same point and did slightly panic thinking this is going to spin again, BUT it held on as I did and we both continued out of Craners not the kitty litter, I put this down to mainly the suspension as again I did lift for a moment. It has taken at least 7 track days at Donington to be able to hit 115MPH through craners but on Sunday something just changed and I knew I was going quick (not flat) as it all just felt right.
On a side note both keep it lit and my cars are well sorted GT3 cars and I was fortunate enough to have tuition from thegoose and keepitlit so had some good starting experience. (Keepitlit probably wishes now he never helped out as we are both neck and neck now! But to blow his trumpet he probably still has the edge, I will forward my paypal account details so you can pay me the £20 you promised if I said you were better than me..
)Hope to see more of you all out at circuits next year and using these cars where they perform and reward the driver time and time again like mine does now. Just don't ask how much it cost's to keep a Gt3 in tip top condition as if I was not lucky enough to have my own business and skill set to do all of the work myself (except paintwork) then I would probably struggle.
Thanks again for the comments.
Mike
jackwood said:
But come on Mike, you are slightly obsessive about your car.
As one of your customers you know how much I have spent on my GT3 this year, and yes there have been a couple of bills (clutch being the biggest by far and would have needed doing regardless of track work) but relatively speaking I don't think the car has cost me that much to keep it going this year. I have run standard PS2 tyres all year that obviously don't have the levels of grip and longevity on track that your Cups give, but they last well and work plenty good enough on track. I run OEM dampers and disks and Pagid pads. It really doesn't have to cost a fortune.
Are you having more fun than me? I doubt it. If anything there is a bit of perverse pleasure in running a near-stock car and pushing yourself to keep up with the modified boys. Ok so I am probably going to lose ultimately but I'll have a bloody good laugh trying! Mainly because I'll be sideways virtually everywhere :-)
Hi Jack,As one of your customers you know how much I have spent on my GT3 this year, and yes there have been a couple of bills (clutch being the biggest by far and would have needed doing regardless of track work) but relatively speaking I don't think the car has cost me that much to keep it going this year. I have run standard PS2 tyres all year that obviously don't have the levels of grip and longevity on track that your Cups give, but they last well and work plenty good enough on track. I run OEM dampers and disks and Pagid pads. It really doesn't have to cost a fortune.
Are you having more fun than me? I doubt it. If anything there is a bit of perverse pleasure in running a near-stock car and pushing yourself to keep up with the modified boys. Ok so I am probably going to lose ultimately but I'll have a bloody good laugh trying! Mainly because I'll be sideways virtually everywhere :-)
just wait till you have owned it another 12 months and you start needing transmission work, suspension refresh... wanting to mod the car a bit further. It all creeps up on you
or is it just me !They cost as much as you want them to cost unless you have a serious mechanical failure.
Mike
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