Donington 26th February
Discussion
Had a great first trackday yesterday in the 205 with my brother.
Got there early and track was very wet and greasy. Matt got a good bit of oversteer in Redgate, but caught it! Then in session 2 (my first!) I got a bit over keen into the old hairpin, and the back went (with no warning, just snapped) - tried to catch it, over corrected and fishtailed off to the grass! Managed to get it going again, and finished the session with a few nervous laps!
The car was extremely snappy in the wet - the back end just going with no warning, consquently we were the slowest thing on track by miles for those first sessions - not wanting to push too hard! There's very little weight over the rear end, and it needs new shocks, so I guess that might help!
From the third session onwards, it felt like a different car - the track had dried out and there was a lot more feedback of how much grip you had. There were loads of cars out yesterday - and it looked like the more experienced groups were overbooked, as there were some cars in the novice group which were way faster than anyone else (I'm thinking of a 911GT2 and M3CSL in particular, which were really flying).
Our penultimate session (in which Matt was driving) was cut short because a guy in a VX220 had an off (looked like he was with the folks in the minis - hope he got it sorted okay, bet he was gutted), but we managed to last the rest of the day without incident!
We were still not particularly quick out there but had great fun. Met up with a guy from cliosport who was driving the black clio DCi - and definitely seemed to prove that driver skill is far more important than power!
Some of the minis were looking great (which reminds me I must finish mine that's been an ongoing project for the past 12 years!) and going really well - spotted one holding on to the back of the yellow exige for a while...
After a full day of thrashing, the 205 didn't miss a beat, and ran brilliantly (and it's still the same shape, despite my best efforts!).
All in all, we had a great day out, and are definitely going to be booking some more track time soon!
>> Edited by browno on Monday 27th February 08:48
Got there early and track was very wet and greasy. Matt got a good bit of oversteer in Redgate, but caught it! Then in session 2 (my first!) I got a bit over keen into the old hairpin, and the back went (with no warning, just snapped) - tried to catch it, over corrected and fishtailed off to the grass! Managed to get it going again, and finished the session with a few nervous laps!
The car was extremely snappy in the wet - the back end just going with no warning, consquently we were the slowest thing on track by miles for those first sessions - not wanting to push too hard! There's very little weight over the rear end, and it needs new shocks, so I guess that might help!
From the third session onwards, it felt like a different car - the track had dried out and there was a lot more feedback of how much grip you had. There were loads of cars out yesterday - and it looked like the more experienced groups were overbooked, as there were some cars in the novice group which were way faster than anyone else (I'm thinking of a 911GT2 and M3CSL in particular, which were really flying).
Our penultimate session (in which Matt was driving) was cut short because a guy in a VX220 had an off (looked like he was with the folks in the minis - hope he got it sorted okay, bet he was gutted), but we managed to last the rest of the day without incident!
We were still not particularly quick out there but had great fun. Met up with a guy from cliosport who was driving the black clio DCi - and definitely seemed to prove that driver skill is far more important than power!
Some of the minis were looking great (which reminds me I must finish mine that's been an ongoing project for the past 12 years!) and going really well - spotted one holding on to the back of the yellow exige for a while...
After a full day of thrashing, the 205 didn't miss a beat, and ran brilliantly (and it's still the same shape, despite my best efforts!).
All in all, we had a great day out, and are definitely going to be booking some more track time soon!
>> Edited by browno on Monday 27th February 08:48
Hi Everyone!
Was a great day, thoroughly enjoyed it! I was in a Silver Mk1 Golf, which I shared with my brother. We alternated the Intermediate sessions throughout the day. It was his first trackday, and he did really well!
Shame there were no other VWs there.
Was anyone on here with me in the Intermediate group?
Was a great day, thoroughly enjoyed it! I was in a Silver Mk1 Golf, which I shared with my brother. We alternated the Intermediate sessions throughout the day. It was his first trackday, and he did really well!
Shame there were no other VWs there.
Was anyone on here with me in the Intermediate group?
I second that, the right-left onto the pit straight were a nightmare in the first novice session, I was very lucky not to collect an MR2 when I spun (apologies again if you're reading this).
Otherwise great day all round. The GT2 was awesome, shame about the reckless antics of the maroon Sierra Cosworth...
Otherwise great day all round. The GT2 was awesome, shame about the reckless antics of the maroon Sierra Cosworth...
It was my first time at Donnington yesterday and was very enjoyable. I had a couple of brown trouser moments when it was damp but kept in on track.
Last thing wifey told me before she left was "Keep out of the way of the nutter in the maroon cosworth"
I'm glad somebody else noticed.
Alan
Last thing wifey told me before she left was "Keep out of the way of the nutter in the maroon cosworth"
I'm glad somebody else noticed.
Alan
Agreed - guy in the cossie was driving like a loon.
Photographers website is www.dephoto.co.uk
They weren't up earlier today though... am looking forward to looking through them...
Photographers website is www.dephoto.co.uk
They weren't up earlier today though... am looking forward to looking through them...
Yes it was slippy the first time out. I was driving the white Honda Integra DC2 with red crosses on the lights. My first time on track with it, and my driving got progressively faster as the day went on. The minis and the 205 were quick on the corners, and courtious letting me through when I caught them up on the straights. I thought the driving standard in our group (novice) was great, although I can't remember how many times i was taken by that CSL and GT2!(although they looked and sounded ace) My car was a bit slippy when the track was damp, but when it had dried out, the car was flat, grippy and adjustable in the corners - my favorite was Goddards, hard braking, down through 4th and into 3rd, throw it in with a dab of brakes to get the stance correct and on the first apex nail the throttle and hit the vtec cam as the car straightens with the curb. Great!
I started off being overtaken by a few cars, but as my experiance grew, I was pulling away from the MR2s and VX220s by the end of the day. My brakes had faded quite badly by late afternoon, so I headed back home to Derby with my brother in the black EK4 Civic and my dad in the fire spitting red Triumph TR4.
I started off being overtaken by a few cars, but as my experiance grew, I was pulling away from the MR2s and VX220s by the end of the day. My brakes had faded quite badly by late afternoon, so I headed back home to Derby with my brother in the black EK4 Civic and my dad in the fire spitting red Triumph TR4.
Michael R said:
Nice one! Series 2 Elise, black, novice group. Any photos will be rewarded with passenger rides at next event!
I'll have a look through my mate photos aswell but will need his ok before i send them. drop me a mail if you want the full size pic.
>> Edited by seaton on Monday 27th February 17:44
joesnow said:
The minis and the 205 were quick on the corners, and courtious letting me through when I caught them up on the straights. I thought the driving standard in our group (novice) was great, although I can't remember how many times i was taken by that CSL and GT2!(although they looked and sounded ace)
My brakes had faded quite badly by late afternoon, so I headed back home to Derby with my brother in the black EK4 Civic and my dad in the fire spitting red Triumph TR4.
Thanks for that - I was a bit paranoid about getting out of the way for faster folks! Didn't want to get in the way too much!
TR4 looked and sounded great - spotted it out in the final novice section...
Seaton - I was in the red F-reg 205GTi in the novice group if you've got any photo's it'd be great to see them!
Hi Guys,
I'd like to express my enjoyment aswell. It was my first time on a track and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I took my civic vti, and went with my brother (JOESNOW - ITR), and father, in the red fire-spitting TR4. It took me a while to try and fit in with the faster cars - I'm sorry if i held anybody up! But, I was soon taking the corners a lot quicker, and using up the track better with plenty of drifting. I can second the comment about everyone being really pleasant and courteous on track. It's certainly something I'll be trying again.
Beetle
p.s. seaton, if you have any pictures of us three i would really appreciate it. thanks.
>> Edited by beetlebloke on Monday 27th February 20:41
I'd like to express my enjoyment aswell. It was my first time on a track and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I took my civic vti, and went with my brother (JOESNOW - ITR), and father, in the red fire-spitting TR4. It took me a while to try and fit in with the faster cars - I'm sorry if i held anybody up! But, I was soon taking the corners a lot quicker, and using up the track better with plenty of drifting. I can second the comment about everyone being really pleasant and courteous on track. It's certainly something I'll be trying again.
Beetle
p.s. seaton, if you have any pictures of us three i would really appreciate it. thanks.
>> Edited by beetlebloke on Monday 27th February 20:41
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