Donington Test Day! - Pics inside!
Discussion
A couple of weeks ago I was out for a drive with Matt (scissorhands), it was sunny, the roads were clear and we fancied a fun drive somewhere. Where better to head to than Donington Park - there is always something to see up there.
We headed up the A453 and saw various toys including an Aston Martin DB9 Convertible and shiny Porsche 996 Turbo - this was a good start! We drove into Donington and stopped to ask the security guy if there was anything worth seeing. He simply told us to listen to the noise and be kind enough to park somewhere out of the way!
We could hear something akin to the fury of the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. There were plenty of recognisable noises from some GT racing cars including a stunning Morgan Aero 8 and an ear popping 911 GT3! We meandered amongst the race trucks and the toy shop of a car park (Carrera GT, GT3 RS, Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari 550M and M3 CSL anyone?) and had a good look at the kit assembled in the various pit garages.
It would have been rude not to get a little closer so we strolled into the pit lane and got up close and personal with the action on the pit wall near the start/finish line. We were inches from some stunning cars including a Mosler M900, Ferrari 360 Challenge cars, mental Porsches 911s, single seaters and 2 of the new Ascari KZ1 customers cars! The testing got very serious when two Porsches decided to challenge each other and one ended up sideways on the main straight!
The action was stunning to watch and we were able to chat with mechanics and pit crew and rub shoulders with the test drivers. A great day and totally unexpected.
Here's a few photos from the day:
Car Park
Circuit
We headed up the A453 and saw various toys including an Aston Martin DB9 Convertible and shiny Porsche 996 Turbo - this was a good start! We drove into Donington and stopped to ask the security guy if there was anything worth seeing. He simply told us to listen to the noise and be kind enough to park somewhere out of the way!
We could hear something akin to the fury of the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. There were plenty of recognisable noises from some GT racing cars including a stunning Morgan Aero 8 and an ear popping 911 GT3! We meandered amongst the race trucks and the toy shop of a car park (Carrera GT, GT3 RS, Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari 550M and M3 CSL anyone?) and had a good look at the kit assembled in the various pit garages.
It would have been rude not to get a little closer so we strolled into the pit lane and got up close and personal with the action on the pit wall near the start/finish line. We were inches from some stunning cars including a Mosler M900, Ferrari 360 Challenge cars, mental Porsches 911s, single seaters and 2 of the new Ascari KZ1 customers cars! The testing got very serious when two Porsches decided to challenge each other and one ended up sideways on the main straight!
The action was stunning to watch and we were able to chat with mechanics and pit crew and rub shoulders with the test drivers. A great day and totally unexpected.
Here's a few photos from the day:
Car Park
Circuit
v15ben said:
BCA said:
How did a donutting smart lead you to go to donnington??
A certain PHer with a Smart Car enjoys donutting on the gravel car parks and roads around the circuit. All allegedly of course, don't tell the security guys 
Edited by scissorhands83 on Saturday 18th November 09:16
scissorhands83 said:
v15ben said:
BCA said:
How did a donutting smart lead you to go to donnington??
A certain PHer with a Smart Car enjoys donutting on the gravel car parks and roads around the circuit. All allegedly of course, don't tell the security guys Edited by scissorhands83 on Saturday 18th November 09:16
I prefer just wet tarmac/ grass. Actually, in its current state it'll probably be ok on dry tamac now...
allegedly.
BCA said:
scissorhands83 said:
v15ben said:
BCA said:
How did a donutting smart lead you to go to donnington??
A certain PHer with a Smart Car enjoys donutting on the gravel car parks and roads around the circuit. All allegedly of course, don't tell the security guys Edited by scissorhands83 on Saturday 18th November 09:16
I prefer just wet tarmac/ grass. Actually, in its current state it'll probably be ok on dry tamac now...
how the hell does your smart manage it on DRY tarmac even when my rubber were like slicks i still couldnt manage it!!
matt
allegedly.
smart for2 pulse all standard, back tyers are AVON 195/55/15R and standard bridgestones on the front, Maybe you could help as i want some more front grip for on the road any ideas how i can achive it? wider wheels/ narrower wheels? suspention? getting it re-mapped in jan i think been told its v.worth while!!! BCA where u live anyway? could meet up for some fun with the smarts if u fancy it?
Edited by scissorhands83 on Wednesday 22 November 14:13
Birmingham when im not at uni, nearby when I am... Car stays in brum.
I have a 599cc pulse/passion hybrid with a few tweaks, still run standard wheels and tyres (175's at the back) but goes very well now.
Not up for any convoy/ b-road blat stuff as I drive like miss daisy following a HUGE accident in my previous smart (which was completely standard, suspect either a blow out or aquaplaning, but it scared me enough to not want to take the mick in it!)
More than happy to meet up and chat about the cars/ play about with them at somewhere like donnington/ any clear area. Also dont mind doing accel runs etc etc... just no convoys.
Edit: I run 145's at the front and these are meant to produce terminal understeer, not something I've had much difficult with I must admit... but in answer to your question, yes there are plenty of ways to improve things up front, esp on a mk5 onwards car. What tyres are you running at the front out of interest?
I have a 599cc pulse/passion hybrid with a few tweaks, still run standard wheels and tyres (175's at the back) but goes very well now.
Not up for any convoy/ b-road blat stuff as I drive like miss daisy following a HUGE accident in my previous smart (which was completely standard, suspect either a blow out or aquaplaning, but it scared me enough to not want to take the mick in it!)
More than happy to meet up and chat about the cars/ play about with them at somewhere like donnington/ any clear area. Also dont mind doing accel runs etc etc... just no convoys.
Edit: I run 145's at the front and these are meant to produce terminal understeer, not something I've had much difficult with I must admit... but in answer to your question, yes there are plenty of ways to improve things up front, esp on a mk5 onwards car. What tyres are you running at the front out of interest?
Edited by BCA on Wednesday 22 November 14:41
hi BCA im not sure will check 2nite as dont have car today all i know is they are standard, but when i attended a smart meet at donnington they all thought my wheels were aftermarket!!! my car was made to order from merc as a demo so for a pulse its all silver, with 3spoke alloys you can see a pic of it on the midlands forum under the topic of OAKERTHORPE MEET 29/08/06 its the only smart there!!!
matt
matt
Yeah, they are optional extra smart wheels, prob 175 up front from the looks of things. Saw a very similar car at a smartclub trackday a couple of years ago, was easy work through the twisties - but I couldnt keep up on the straights. Im convinced theres a technique to driving these things, especially on track - where you can really get the best of them.
From the looks of your car, I'd say your tyres/ wheels are fine, you probably ought to look at suspension next, I'd suggest a bilstein streetline kit would do nicely (brabus suspension, wihtout the price tag) - and I'd suggest you dont get it done at the garage you use.
Likewise, the remap - dont go there for that either, its far too harsh - pm me offline if you want to know more... there are a few other tricks, but im yet to try them. They are used on the hillclimb smart to good effect though (I know the owners) so I may end up trying them soon, after I get some new wheels and tyres!
edit: Love the interior, I used to have the same on my old Smart... which is odd as im sure they were phased out for the later cars... Still got most of my old smart at home in my bedroom in bits.
I may have replaced it, but I miss the old car at times, it handled a little better than the later cars IMHO.
From the looks of your car, I'd say your tyres/ wheels are fine, you probably ought to look at suspension next, I'd suggest a bilstein streetline kit would do nicely (brabus suspension, wihtout the price tag) - and I'd suggest you dont get it done at the garage you use.
Likewise, the remap - dont go there for that either, its far too harsh - pm me offline if you want to know more... there are a few other tricks, but im yet to try them. They are used on the hillclimb smart to good effect though (I know the owners) so I may end up trying them soon, after I get some new wheels and tyres! edit: Love the interior, I used to have the same on my old Smart... which is odd as im sure they were phased out for the later cars... Still got most of my old smart at home in my bedroom in bits.
I may have replaced it, but I miss the old car at times, it handled a little better than the later cars IMHO. Edited by BCA on Wednesday 22 November 18:17
My brothers B'day on saturday and the smart is off the road atm (alternator problem/ something to do with it atleast...)
Will have to sort something.
I know what you mean about it being a bugger, I now have all black/ dark blue and I must admit, the quality of it all is light years ahead of my last interior... it never really looks too messy either, which is good, because im amazingly lazy.
(alternator problem/ something to do with it atleast...) Will have to sort something.
I know what you mean about it being a bugger, I now have all black/ dark blue and I must admit, the quality of it all is light years ahead of my last interior... it never really looks too messy either, which is good, because im amazingly lazy.
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