14th March - Bedford GT
Discussion
The morning was one of the worst I've had. Queuing 30mins to get on track yet the track seemed relatively empty. Said they had 85 cars booked and were limiting it to 40 on track but I only counted 16 at one point despite a massive queue in the pits. Hope it's not the shape of things to come.... A lot of people were not happy and rightly so.
Afternoon was great though, a lot of people left at lunch so managed loads of track time! Although on my final lap the lovely black CSL was pointing the wrong way in the tyre wall. Driver looked fine and hopefully car not ruined!
Afternoon was great though, a lot of people left at lunch so managed loads of track time! Although on my final lap the lovely black CSL was pointing the wrong way in the tyre wall. Driver looked fine and hopefully car not ruined!
See the new layout here, I can't link it.
http://www.palmersport.com/our-venue.aspx
I agree about the queuing btw, I've never seen queuing after the first hour or so of the day, and there certainly weren't 40 cars on the track at any one time.
The marshalls were also being extremely strict and unhelpful compared to last year. We left at midday and boought the tow car and shuttle into the pits during lunch break to load up everything, a Marshall tried telling us it wasn't possible until the end of the day, and then also said that they weren't able to start the afternoon session until the trailer had left the pits!
I've been going to Bedford for a few years and I've never experienced anything like today.
http://www.palmersport.com/our-venue.aspx
I agree about the queuing btw, I've never seen queuing after the first hour or so of the day, and there certainly weren't 40 cars on the track at any one time.
The marshalls were also being extremely strict and unhelpful compared to last year. We left at midday and boought the tow car and shuttle into the pits during lunch break to load up everything, a Marshall tried telling us it wasn't possible until the end of the day, and then also said that they weren't able to start the afternoon session until the trailer had left the pits!
I've been going to Bedford for a few years and I've never experienced anything like today.
Oh Behave said:
The morning was one of the worst I've had. Queuing 30mins to get on track yet the track seemed relatively empty. Said they had 85 cars booked and were limiting it to 40 on track but I only counted 16 at one point despite a massive queue in the pits. Hope it's not the shape of things to come.... A lot of people were not happy and rightly so.
Afternoon was great though, a lot of people left at lunch so managed loads of track time! Although on my final lap the lovely black CSL was pointing the wrong way in the tyre wall. Driver looked fine and hopefully car not ruined!
Just dropped it off at Elms, will have it check over fully on Monday. Pretty gutted but nothing terminal. Afternoon was great though, a lot of people left at lunch so managed loads of track time! Although on my final lap the lovely black CSL was pointing the wrong way in the tyre wall. Driver looked fine and hopefully car not ruined!
Was sorry to see the CSL in the wall too 
Glad to hear it's not a gonner.
The long wait to get on track was apparently because they were heavily limiting track numbers when it started to rain, also people kept joining the queue at the front which was bloody annoying. Apart from that one long wait I can't say I struggled to get out on track at all.
I really enjoyed the layout, to be fair it suited the Clio very well to have another tight-ish corner breaking up what would otherwise have been fairly dull in something low powered.
All in all I had a great day.
Clutch is juddering like a b
d now though....
Glad to hear it's not a gonner.The long wait to get on track was apparently because they were heavily limiting track numbers when it started to rain, also people kept joining the queue at the front which was bloody annoying. Apart from that one long wait I can't say I struggled to get out on track at all.
I really enjoyed the layout, to be fair it suited the Clio very well to have another tight-ish corner breaking up what would otherwise have been fairly dull in something low powered.
All in all I had a great day.
Clutch is juddering like a b
d now though....[quote=charltjr]started to rain, also people kept joining the queue at the front which was bloody annoying. quote]
I was thinking they should put cones or something more permanent to differentiate pit lane from the pits so then everyone would have to join from the back but maybe that would cause a back-up as people returned to the pits from the track
I was thinking they should put cones or something more permanent to differentiate pit lane from the pits so then everyone would have to join from the back but maybe that would cause a back-up as people returned to the pits from the track
Oh Behave said:
Thats good! How did you manage it btw? Back end step out as you were entering the straight?
Yeh back end came round, thought I was catching it but was carrying too much speed. Too fast and not enough talent. :-(Ps Sorry for any lost laps
Edited by JUPE777 on Saturday 14th March 20:47
Hey All
A friend and I were sharing the black Spire with HM logos on it.
Had a great day despite some disappointments with some drivers and the organizers.
I was told off a couple of times, apparently I passed some a little too enthusiastically, and if this is the case then I am sorry - no malice or red mist intended, I just simply got it a little wrong.
There was one time I was trying to pass too many people on the back straight and totally fluffed up the next corner, ruining the line for a white porche.... sorry! It would have hacked me off too!
What was frustrating was the couple of drivers that saw us, but just plain and simply refused to move over, once for nearly a lap (white E63 estate), eventually I passed with two wheels 1" from the grass (off the track) and 1/2" from him.
just not necessary! The next time I gave up and pulled into pits for a bit. Otherwise everyone was great and it is a shame we had to park in the far parking lot, because I would have liked to walk about the pits and have a chat or two.
Had a lot of fun
Oh and OMG, HOW MANY CARS on that track day?
Bring on the next one
Gareth
A friend and I were sharing the black Spire with HM logos on it.
Had a great day despite some disappointments with some drivers and the organizers.
charltjr said:
people kept joining the queue at the front which was bloody annoying
Yes! Totally agree. this cheesed us off too. Its just discourteous, but hey ho, I guess we need to give the benefit of the doubt, perhaps they were not aware of the que.I was told off a couple of times, apparently I passed some a little too enthusiastically, and if this is the case then I am sorry - no malice or red mist intended, I just simply got it a little wrong.
There was one time I was trying to pass too many people on the back straight and totally fluffed up the next corner, ruining the line for a white porche.... sorry! It would have hacked me off too!
What was frustrating was the couple of drivers that saw us, but just plain and simply refused to move over, once for nearly a lap (white E63 estate), eventually I passed with two wheels 1" from the grass (off the track) and 1/2" from him.
just not necessary! The next time I gave up and pulled into pits for a bit. Otherwise everyone was great and it is a shame we had to park in the far parking lot, because I would have liked to walk about the pits and have a chat or two.
Had a lot of fun
Oh and OMG, HOW MANY CARS on that track day?
Bring on the next one
Gareth
We had a great day - were in the black BatCat.
Didn't really have any issues (apart from 1 long queue in the am). Tbh we don't worry too much about having to wait to pass and certainly wouldnt fall out with people about it!! Had a great couple of laps swapping places with a very quickly driven and awesome sounding Cayman.
Followed the CSL earlier in the day - looked very loose on the rear, was something broken?? Fingers crossed your back up and running soon.
Good chat to a few in the pitlane which always makes it more fun.
See you all next time. Just a bit warmer please!!
Didn't really have any issues (apart from 1 long queue in the am). Tbh we don't worry too much about having to wait to pass and certainly wouldnt fall out with people about it!! Had a great couple of laps swapping places with a very quickly driven and awesome sounding Cayman.
Followed the CSL earlier in the day - looked very loose on the rear, was something broken?? Fingers crossed your back up and running soon.
Good chat to a few in the pitlane which always makes it more fun.
See you all next time. Just a bit warmer please!!
McSam said:
Has anyone got any onboard footage from this?
I'm interested to see what's happened to West. The map linked to above looks very odd and I hope it's wrong..
I`m there next Monday, so I was looking myself. I'm interested to see what's happened to West. The map linked to above looks very odd and I hope it's wrong..
The flat in 5th left, before the tricky braking and the right, then loooong left onto the main straight has gone, now been replaced by a slower left > right > left.
Apologies for the really bad `Ms Paint`..
Found this incar, watch from from 1 minute onwards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDdDV74h1HY
I've got a buttload of onboard footage, just not been through it yet.
If anyone wants to see what their car looks like pulling away from a slowcoach just ask and I'll see if I've got you
I was behind a green and yellow MX-5 with a PH smiley on it for a while, got some good video of that, until it selfishly buggered off into the distance too
If anyone wants to see what their car looks like pulling away from a slowcoach just ask and I'll see if I've got you
I was behind a green and yellow MX-5 with a PH smiley on it for a while, got some good video of that, until it selfishly buggered off into the distance too
On the whole I thought it was a good day, there was one long queue in the morning made worse by people pushing in at the front.
But the afternoon was very free flowing, felt like people had left early?
There was a red Cayman who was driving like a tt but on the whole I thought the driving was pretty good.
But the afternoon was very free flowing, felt like people had left early?
There was a red Cayman who was driving like a t
t but on the whole I thought the driving was pretty good.Had a good day myself other than the que to get on track and people pushing in. Also the White C63 AMG estate driver, wow he lacked driving ability and track day etiquette.
Here's a bit of onboard footage in my m135i, I have more yet to upload. Please ignore my spin at the beginning due to me failing to remeber tyres are cold after you haven't driven on the track for an hour!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T7iNME3Vl3w
I managed a 2min 59sec lap which was good, think I could of gone a little quicker without all the traffic.
Matt
Here's a bit of onboard footage in my m135i, I have more yet to upload. Please ignore my spin at the beginning due to me failing to remeber tyres are cold after you haven't driven on the track for an hour!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T7iNME3Vl3w
I managed a 2min 59sec lap which was good, think I could of gone a little quicker without all the traffic.
Matt
Edited by Hepsta on Monday 16th March 13:25
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