Bedford 11th October

[z06tim]

jon23 said:

I was in the blue mk1 golf if any one has any pics

Another super looking car there Jon. It's great to see what a wide selection of "toys" everyone has.

[F355spider]

Pics here Jon http://www.msvtphotography.com

Loved the retro toys, must bring my S1 turbo out of hibernation

[NDT]

jon23 said:

Also anyone get the full low down on the Nissan gtr and maclaren crash? from the damage I suspect gtr was in the wrong.

Suspect you're right.
Think a number of people got a little tired of being overtaken mid-corner by the GTR.

Edited by NDT on Monday 13th October 22:06

[petkar]

Am i missing something or have a couple of posts been removed in relationship to the incidents?Im interested as i go to Bedford fairly often so would like to know what caused the incidents.
thanks

pete

[NDT]

petkar said:

Am i missing something or have a couple of posts been removed in relationship to the incidents?Im interested as i go to Bedford fairly often so would like to know what caused the incidents.
thanks

pete

I was there but didn't see either incident so would also like to know more details.

Have to say the GTR and a couple of M3s were being driven pretty tttishly - enough to make me think again about going on track.

When you're used to being on a track on your own it's unnerving to have some idiot planting themselves on your back bumper mid-corner - and totally unnecessary as most people were pulling over nicely on the straights to let quicker cars through.

[z06tim]

NDT, I agree. It's a shame some of these drivers weren't more considerate. Also, I don't know if the organisers were enforcing any of the no over-takes on corners, or on the right, because I saw a lot of this, plus some other general stupidity, like some-one very late braking for the pits when some-one behind is clearly accelerating hard on to the straight. In fact generally a lot of people just getting too close and not leaving any room for error.

I would much rather do a track day with a known group, but all clubs/forums I belong to wouldn't get enough interest. I'd be happy to pay a fair bit more to have less people and more common sense.

[gruffalo]

It seems to me that there are more incidents at Bedford than at most other locations, is this just my perception or is there some reason behind this?

Thankfully it seems that most days I have been on at other circuits are quite damage free and I have never seen a car on car issue but of late there have been several posts about some quite serious incidents at Bedford.

[Dakkon]

The M3 / Caterham I think was just unlucky, the M3 had mechanical failure down the straight and failed to slow and unfortunately took out the Caterham, the GTR / McLaren incident I did not see, the GTR was being very agressive though earlier in the day, I saw him running very close to the back of an E30 who he clearly thought was too slow.

[NDT]

z06tim said:

Also, I don't know if the organisers were enforcing any of the no over-takes on corners, or on the right, because I saw a lot of this, plus some other general stupidity, like some-one very late braking for the pits when some-one behind is clearly accelerating hard on to the straight. In fact generally a lot of people just getting too close and not leaving any room for error.

Nice 'Vette by the way!
I don't think they were enforcing it.
I mentioned it to a marshall who said he'd heard the same thing from a number of drivers and had had a word with the repeat offenders. Had a word, but not actually done much more than that.

z06tim said:

I would much rather do a track day with a known group, but all clubs/forums I belong to wouldn't get enough interest. I'd be happy to pay a fair bit more to have less people and more common sense.

I'm with you on that one.

[Porkie]

gruffalo said:

It seems to me that there are more incidents at Bedford than at most other locations, is this just my perception or is there some reason behind this?.

I don't think that's the case at all.

[jon23]

I feel part of it was down to msv, if it was a javelin day I believe a lot wouldn't of happened. a lot of times it was drivers but I feel there was lack of blue flags and marshalling.

The gtr incident could of been avoided by pulling him to one side on his driving and having a word, he blocked the pits and marshals stood there speaking to him in the middle stopping anyone coming into pits, they should of taken both drives to one side moved the car and had a word with them instead of letting the crowd build up.

Excellent day but poorly marshalled.

We go bedford most of the time so will be looking out for you lot next time.

[z06tim]

Likewise Jon. I'm sure we will be back there again in the Spring.

[gruffalo]

Porkie said:

gruffalo said:

It seems to me that there are more incidents at Bedford than at most other locations, is this just my perception or is there some reason behind this?.

I don't think that's the case at all.

OK it is just the way it seems to me having read about the various Bedford incidents on here and comparing to my experience of days I have done over the years at other circuits.

Thankfully I have never been at a day where there has been any car on car action or even many making contact with the barriers including some tightish circuits like Castle Coombe and CadwellPark.

I suppose I must give Bedford a go some day.

[giger]

I went to Bedford with MSVT earlier in the year and it was great. Good briefing and it was made clear what the rules were. I enjoyed it so much that I had it pencilled to go on Saturday, but by all accounts this session filled up well in advance so I couldn't get a place. As a result I am thinking of going next month and would interested to know more about the incidents, based upon my previous good experience with MSVT.

It does sound like the GTR driver was in the wrong - overtaking mod-corner on a track day?! Feel sorry for the McLaren guy, he's probably been scared for life.

Anyone got any pics?

[Steve H]

jon23 said:

I feel part of it was down to msv, if it was a javelin day I believe a lot wouldn't of happened. a lot of times it was drivers but I feel there was lack of blue flags and marshalling.

The marshalling is the same with any TDO - it is provided by the circuit. The difference you can get is how the TDO chooses to deal with poor driving - that will vary from one to another.

Not aimed at anyone in particular but if you were on this day (or any trackday) and were not happy with driving standards but did not go to the organiser with specific issues then don't bother shouting about it on the forums afterwards; the idea that you don't want to be a tell-tale can be left in the playground.

Tell any TDO which car was the problem and what it did, in sufficient detail that it becomes hard for the driver to deny everything, and virtually all of them will deal with it but they do need the feedback from the drivers to know what's going on. Some TDOs still drive on track, during their trackdays but many don't so it makes a big difference if you can keep them informed.

The amount that the marshals will get involved with driver standards varies from one circuit to another, I'd say at Bedford they won't be as inclined to pull drivers for breaches of rules or etiquette as they would at (say) Cadwell or Oulton but in almost any case the decision to pull a driver in will go via the TDO anyway.

Edited by Steve H on Tuesday 14th October 18:17

[jon23]

I only say about blue flags as 7 of the 9 trackdays the past year and a bit have been javelin and they where st hot on there flags, weather or not it makes a difference it being the gt circuit. They always checked bands before track entry too.

I myself should of said to marshals a few times but once in the pits and calmed down it was forgotten.

Think it's more down to people not understanding track etiquette.

Anyone got any more booked or last one of the year for some?

[F355spider]

jon23 said:

I only say about blue flags as 7 of the 9 trackdays the past year and a bit have been javelin and they where st hot on there flags, weather or not it makes a difference it being the gt circuit. They always checked bands before track entry too.

I myself should of said to marshals a few times but once in the pits and calmed down it was forgotten.

Think it's more down to people not understanding track etiquette.

Anyone got any more booked or last one of the year for some?

Am at Silverstone this Monday and Rockingham on 8th November. Working hard at it, i want by Ards license

I have a Speciale arriving in Feb, looking forward to getting the most out of it.

Edited by F355spider on Tuesday 14th October 19:04

[anonymous-user]

Definitely want to try and fit another one in this year, but I'm not sure funds will allow it

I'm not sure I saw a single blue flag all day at Bedford, and I was definitely the slowest car on the track. That said, I did take a lot of care to get out of people's way.

[polly_x]

I was there on Saturday in my white S1 Exige. Had a great day and do quite a few at Bedford where they are generally very well organised and marshaled. The driving standards from some were generally lower on Saturday I agree and those incidents very unfortunate.

Not sure but I think the SEN circuit layout seems to make marshaling harder for them as the 2 main "close to the circuit posts" where they tend to flag and warn people are on the west circuit.

I would not let Saturday put people off though as every other day I have done at Bedford has been excellent. Talking to the staff I think they were a bit shocked by the behavior of some. I came off the circuit into that massive group of people that were having the debate on the GTR/Maclaren incident and have to say I've never seen anything like that at any track day!

[petkar]

I must say that from what i have seen from the track days i have done at Bedford (MSV and javelin)the standard of stewarding etc has been faultless in my eyes and without them we wouldnt be able to enjoy our cars as we do on track, so i take my hat off to them all and to be honest this goes for the other tracks i have done too but you are always going to get the odd Stirling Moss turn up and think he is king of the track and bugger anyone else
I still maintain that Bedford is the safest track that i know of but this happened on my last track day there earlier in the year :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unEONw5-x9s
i believe the bloke had an instructor in the car but i cant confirm that im afraid

Pete