Part of Llandow has been resurfaced
Discussion
Looking forward to trying it out in February at the first car trackday of 2014 
Be great if we could have a good PH turnout, so get booking people: http://www.llandow.com/
Be great if we could have a good PH turnout, so get booking people: http://www.llandow.com/
Excellent! Standing by the tower you can see lots of suspension movement over that section normally, and a fair few lockups before the tower itself (myself included!), should help make that braking area a bit more predictable.
Now if only they could do the rest so the track was a bit easier on tyres!
Now if only they could do the rest so the track was a bit easier on tyres!
framerateuk said:
Excellent! Standing by the tower you can see lots of suspension movement over that section normally, and a fair few lockups before the tower itself (myself included!), should help make that braking area a bit more predictable.
Now if only they could do the rest so the track was a bit easier on tyres!
Its the Bus stop that rips the tires up, well that and all them folk that try and go fast through it. Now if only they could do the rest so the track was a bit easier on tyres!
If you wanna save the tires, Just need to concentrate on controlling the under-steer, just don't rush it !! this will improve your wear rate lots..
My angle on this is, from the straight, break heavy and hard into the bus-stop first left corner, clip the apex.. but keep turning and breaking into it. bring the car over towards the pit exit, then hold that speed and change direction, don't get caught up in trying to hit the first right apex, if the car runs wide let it.. you will then be looking for the second apex aim for it with out under steer in a nice smooth curve with gentle firm application of power, the exit out of the bus stop becomes quite fast.... however this can change your approach on the next few corners.
The corner leading to the back straight can be done flat out, i have managed this in my TVR chimera and few other fast cars, turn in early a lot earlier than you may think, and let the car almost "float/drift" around the corner, there is a little bit or run off that can be used if needed, but if you try this be warned if your committed to it don't chicken out half way trough!! it will go wrong... obviously you may have to lift off in some cars ...
How do you guys do it ?
. Earl Grey said:
Its the Bus stop that rips the tires up, well that and all them folk that try and go fast through it.
If you wanna save the tires, Just need to concentrate on controlling the under-steer, just don't rush it !! this will improve your wear rate lots..
My angle on this is, from the straight, break heavy and hard into the bus-stop first left corner, clip the apex.. but keep turning and breaking into it. bring the car over towards the pit exit, then hold that speed and change direction, don't get caught up in trying to hit the first right apex, if the car runs wide let it.. you will then be looking for the second apex aim for it with out under steer in a nice smooth curve with gentle firm application of power, the exit out of the bus stop becomes quite fast.... however this can change your approach on the next few corners.
The corner leading to the back straight can be done flat out, i have managed this in my TVR chimera and few other fast cars, turn in early a lot earlier than you may think, and let the car almost "float/drift" around the corner, there is a little bit or run off that can be used if needed, but if you try this be warned if your committed to it don't chicken out half way trough!! it will go wrong... obviously you may have to lift off in some cars ...
How do you guys do it ?
But the bus stop is the fun part If you wanna save the tires, Just need to concentrate on controlling the under-steer, just don't rush it !! this will improve your wear rate lots..
My angle on this is, from the straight, break heavy and hard into the bus-stop first left corner, clip the apex.. but keep turning and breaking into it. bring the car over towards the pit exit, then hold that speed and change direction, don't get caught up in trying to hit the first right apex, if the car runs wide let it.. you will then be looking for the second apex aim for it with out under steer in a nice smooth curve with gentle firm application of power, the exit out of the bus stop becomes quite fast.... however this can change your approach on the next few corners.
The corner leading to the back straight can be done flat out, i have managed this in my TVR chimera and few other fast cars, turn in early a lot earlier than you may think, and let the car almost "float/drift" around the corner, there is a little bit or run off that can be used if needed, but if you try this be warned if your committed to it don't chicken out half way trough!! it will go wrong... obviously you may have to lift off in some cars ...
How do you guys do it ?
In the Megane I avoid hitting the curbs and just try and get through as cleanly as possibly before getting power down on the exit.
In the Caterham I tend to be more aggressive by hitting the 2nd (the first curb on the right) and 3rd curbs and allowing the car to rotate slightly to line me up for the exit.
I've seen a few spins on there though so I'm always weary about entering it it too quickly in case I come across a car in the middle of the track!
Edited by framerateuk on Wednesday 29th January 11:41
framerateuk said:
But the bus stop is the fun part
In the Megane I avoid hitting the curbs and just try and get through as cleanly as possibly before getting power down on the exit.
In the Caterham I tend to be more aggressive by hitting the 2nd (the first curb on the right) and 3rd curbs and allowing the car to rotate slightly to line me up for the exit.
I've seen a few spins on there though so I'm always weary about entering it it too quickly in case I come across a car in the middle of the track!
The Caterham and like seem to be able to do this ok, ive driven a Stuart Taylor around before little 1.6 20v engine was awesome the suspension just soaks up the curbs.. its the FWD cars scrubbing that front tyre. In the Megane I avoid hitting the curbs and just try and get through as cleanly as possibly before getting power down on the exit.
In the Caterham I tend to be more aggressive by hitting the 2nd (the first curb on the right) and 3rd curbs and allowing the car to rotate slightly to line me up for the exit.
I've seen a few spins on there though so I'm always weary about entering it it too quickly in case I come across a car in the middle of the track!
Edited by framerateuk on Wednesday 29th January 11:41
I like cutting it nice and close to that cone 
Or missing the corner entirely and ending up in the "Oh ****!" lane
Hope you guys have a good day, my Caterham's in for it's service this weekend and the Megane still isn't repaired after someone took out my door and rear quarter on a roundabout in November!
Or missing the corner entirely and ending up in the "Oh ****!" lane
Hope you guys have a good day, my Caterham's in for it's service this weekend and the Megane still isn't repaired after someone took out my door and rear quarter on a roundabout in November!
So! Went to Llandow yesterday for a bit of testing, and the first time the car has seen a race circuit. As many know I vitrually sold the car on two occasions, (still waiting for the previous owner to buy it), but what a hell of a waste to never drive it in anger after nearly 2.5 years building it. So the BM finally had her cherry popped
Weather promised to be utter toss, in the end apart from being very (very) windy and some sharp showers, the day was manageable. A dry line even started to appear around Nook bend - shame it didn't start earlier in the bend as I could never bear to take it flat all the way through.
Early on, did one sighter lap after rushing changing over the tyres in the rain to the worn 888's I have and dropping the front suspension down a couple of cms from what I have on the road. Straight off I can hear some scraping, so come straight in. Can't see what the issue is, doesn't seem to be any rubbing, so out for another 3 laps. Bang. s
t - what was that 
Come straight in, seems wobbly, try and inspect the car only to find I've lowered it so much I can;t get the jack under, and it's sodding raining cats and dogs! No garages at Llandow
Guy next to me in an X5 (cheers!) asks if I want to borrow a low trolley jack - which I didn't know existed! I give the front a good look, then wonder why the mudflap is dragging on the ground... check other side, no mud flap. Hmmm. Take a front wheel off, and oh dear. The coilover collar has gouged the wheel... so back up the suspension goes a couple of cms! Need a couple of wheel spacers then - I remember seeing this advice but the problem is you get conflicting advice, and can never hold it all in.
After this calamity - I thought quite honestly ah well I don't really know what I've been doing over 2.5 years, the thing was bound to break - I go out for a few more runs. Before lunch I'd sorted the tyre pressures up to 25psi cold (probably should have gone a bit higher as it was a freezing day), and the handling was much improved. After lunch I put in a few more runs, gaining more confidence with the car and really getting a feel for it. In hindsight starting on a slippy track was probably not such a bad thing.
So, car is going off the road soon. Finally have a cheap car cover as water is leaking into the cockpit Will see what the next few months bring, but yesterday was fantastic I'm still grinning :P :P 
8)
Early vid getting used to the car - crap camera position sorry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88orotzwkyc&fea...
Weather promised to be utter toss, in the end apart from being very (very) windy and some sharp showers, the day was manageable. A dry line even started to appear around Nook bend - shame it didn't start earlier in the bend as I could never bear to take it flat all the way through.
Early on, did one sighter lap after rushing changing over the tyres in the rain to the worn 888's I have and dropping the front suspension down a couple of cms from what I have on the road. Straight off I can hear some scraping, so come straight in. Can't see what the issue is, doesn't seem to be any rubbing, so out for another 3 laps. Bang. s
t - what was that Come straight in, seems wobbly, try and inspect the car only to find I've lowered it so much I can;t get the jack under, and it's sodding raining cats and dogs! No garages at Llandow Guy next to me in an X5 (cheers!) asks if I want to borrow a low trolley jack - which I didn't know existed! I give the front a good look, then wonder why the mudflap is dragging on the ground... check other side, no mud flap. Hmmm. Take a front wheel off, and oh dear. The coilover collar has gouged the wheel... so back up the suspension goes a couple of cms! Need a couple of wheel spacers then - I remember seeing this advice but the problem is you get conflicting advice, and can never hold it all in.
After this calamity - I thought quite honestly ah well I don't really know what I've been doing over 2.5 years, the thing was bound to break - I go out for a few more runs. Before lunch I'd sorted the tyre pressures up to 25psi cold (probably should have gone a bit higher as it was a freezing day), and the handling was much improved. After lunch I put in a few more runs, gaining more confidence with the car and really getting a feel for it. In hindsight starting on a slippy track was probably not such a bad thing.
So, car is going off the road soon. Finally have a cheap car cover as water is leaking into the cockpit
Will see what the next few months bring, but yesterday was fantastic I'm still grinning :P :P 8)Early vid getting used to the car - crap camera position sorry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88orotzwkyc&fea...
Edited by cookracing on Sunday 2nd February 21:57
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