Bedford 11th October

[eightyone]

charltjr said:

I'll try to find one where I actually got a couple of clear/decent laps - it was busy and I had a lot of learning to do

I was going to try to cadge a PAX, but sadly the puncture stopped play.

Seriously considering giving the GT circuit a crack on the 10th November now........

The GT circuit is good, faster. Although I kind of like the little complex in the middle of the SEN. Sure the 10th will be a good day.

[z06tim]

Frimley111R said:

MJK 24 said:

slysly said:

GTR Parody:

Http://youtu.be/5JEr6QwKoJA

LOL!!

52,000 views already. It was only about 100 yesterday!

He's made it on to the Jalopnik Facebook feed:

http://jalopnik.com/worst-track-video-in-the-unive...

[itcaptainslow]

I give the McLaren owner credit-a very well written, balanced and articulated response!

[z06tim]

itcaptainslow said:

I give the McLaren owner credit-a very well written, balanced and articulated response!

I agree.

[Andy Bell]

z06tim said:

I agree.

I am trying to put my mind into his head if my Caterham was destroyed by this way of driving - never mind a car of that value. Well played sir.

[z06tim]

I'm still trying to decide how to respond to the MSV feedback email. The GTR/Macca accident should never really have been allowed to happen. And after watching that video i think it was only luck that stopped the same thing happening to my mate in his Megane.

[proalloy]

jon23 said:

Here ya go boys and girls skip to page four and it has a full low down from the maclaren owner

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/304793-r35-bedford-paro...

@proalloy the cars sound like animals and very well spec'd and equipped, sorry to sound cheeky any chance of a few passenger laps if we are at the next trackday together.

I presume you were the fella driving the pro alloy van in the bp garage as we pulled up in the blue mk1

Yes no problem at all- just come and say hello...
Not sure about the van we had two of them there on Saturday... I was in the one with the Lotus on the trailer!

[chri5 j t]

So after spending some time reading about the GT R driver track day vid across a few forums it would seem that I may have to come to terms with never having the opportunity to see said video.

If anyone can show me a link etc to the video I feel there may just be a chance to save the last little bit of my hair and would be forever grateful.

[anonymous-user]

tdjohn said:

charltjr said:

I have tons of video, but it's all very boring compared to the quick cars

Post it then

Here's some of it. Most of the rest is either really, really embarrassingly bad because I was on a huge learning curve or is after my rear tyres had completely gone to st which obviously made hard braking and turning in a bit..... entertaining.

http://youtu.be/uly6knuJIho

[Speedy300]

chri5 j t said:

So after spending some time reading about the GT R driver track day vid across a few forums it would seem that I may have to come to terms with never having the opportunity to see said video.

If anyone can show me a link etc to the video I feel there may just be a chance to save the last little bit of my hair and would be forever grateful.

Type 'R35 bedford' into google, third vid down (cooking a kebab)

[gruffalo]

charltjr said:

tdjohn said:

charltjr said:

I have tons of video, but it's all very boring compared to the quick cars

Post it then

Here's some of it. Most of the rest is either really, really embarrassingly bad because I was on a huge learning curve or is after my rear tyres had completely gone to st which obviously made hard braking and turning in a bit..... entertaining.

http://youtu.be/uly6knuJIho

Nice smooth few laps there.

[chri5 j t]

Speedy300 said:

Type 'R35 bedford' into google, third vid down (cooking a kebab)

Thank you, here's the link if anyone is interested. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=r...

[jon23]

@charltjr some nice laps there, improved on the last couple from the vid.

[routari]

charltjr said:

Here's some of it. Most of the rest is either really, really embarrassingly bad because I was on a huge learning curve or is after my rear tyres had completely gone to st which obviously made hard braking and turning in a bit..... entertaining.

http://youtu.be/uly6knuJIho

Neat lines, smooth driving and being courteous isn't 'really, really embarrassingly bad'. Considering the subject of the thread, and that track days aren't competition, I'd say this is the opposite of embarrassing. Not to mention, it looked pretty fast to me.


Quite honestly, in a non competitive environment, nobody but you really cares about your lap time. You may be embarrassed, but nobody else is even batting an eyelid or paying attention. They're too focussed on themselves.


The only reputation and respect you get from peers on a track day, is your conduct. That is pretty much all you're judged by. Nobody really cares if you're punching way above your weight. Nobody cares if you're the next Lewis Hamilton. And likewise, nobody cares if you're the next Taki Inoue either.


The only personality and image you create for yourself is how courteous you are, end of.


I've only done a handful of track days, but the only drivers I've ever respected, have been ones that play by the rules. Whether they're slower than me, and help me get by, or they're much quicker, and wait for the right moment to get by. These kinds of people are what put a smile on your face, and make the day more than just going around in circles. It makes the event a really enjoyable social experience, rather than just driving.
You're never more willing to give someone a genuine thumbs up than when you've seen them spot you a mile and lifted on the straight to let you by in time for the corner.
And likewise it's always nice to see a thumbs up from a someone that wasn't up your arse on the corner before the straight, and gave you room and confidence to brake hard and turn in, before they then come by on the straight.


The only drivers embarrassing themselves are the ones treating it like a race, like they're actually winning something, or think they're preparing for a role Fast & Furious movie.


There are too many variables on a track day to judge yourself against others with. You'll quickly find that it becomes far more about tyres than it is about engine for a start. That was what I first came away with, and it sounds like you have too.


I've spun, I've out braked myself, I've had to correct the car, I continue to make mistakes on every event I go to, but I've always always tried to 'be a dude' and not come across as aggressive, or hold people up. There are too many variables with tyres, and fuel levels, and everything else, to let a car coming past hurt your ego.


Would happily share a track and pit lane with a bunch of people like you.

Edited by routari on Monday 20th October 11:12

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the feedback, it's both unexpected and welcome.

I'm not doing myself down *too* much, I thought those laps were OK, it was some of the earlier ones which were a bit cack.

Then on the later ones I was frustrated because I felt there was a lot more to come but I just couldn't brake any later or carry any more speed through the corners because my rear tyres were doing their plasticine impression. I ended up just hooning it around for a laugh while not exactly hitting many apexes or carrying much speed, but still with a grin on my face

[routari]

That seems to work for me too!
But yeah, it's amazing how quickly you realise tyres, and sometimes brakes, are the limiting factor of your car, rather than ECU, or exhaust, or air filter and what not 😁
It's boring but tyres really are the most significant upgrade. It's just that we don't use them to their lateral potential on the roads.

[Frimley111R]

routari said:

It's boring but tyres really are the most significant upgrade. It's just that we don't use them to their lateral potential on the roads.

Agree. Sticky tyres on track make the biggest improvement I have seen to any car.

[slysly]

Unbelieveable as it may seem, but word on the grapevine is that the Nissan driver is due back at Bedford tomorrow for a second attempt at conquering all who challenge him! Avoid!!

[anonymous-user]

Word from MSV is that they've brought the marshalling back up to scratch, so that could be interesting.

[eracing2011]

My onboard lap on that day on a friends Westfied Seight;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MthVXQ1jr1Y&li...

Great fun!!! Particularly the last 3 corners