RE: Ringside Seat: silly season

[J4CKO]

I can see why they would do this, it is a toll road after all and people are running effectively full on race cars on the same track as people out sightseeing in a Mini Bus or someone in an old Astra 1.3, the only qualification to drive aforementioned race car is having the inclaination and money to do so, to race, on a closed circuit (i.e. one where the public dont have access) with all these modifications you have to have a licence and all the other competitors are travelling at broadly the same pace in comparable vehicles.

Doesnt it just mean that if you have a car with all the devices mentioned you just attend a different day ?

[DonkeyApple]

Raify said:

No drifting! (unless you're driving the ring taxi).

I understood that the taxi drivers normally asked if you wanted to "go fast, or sideways?" before you set off.

Shouldn't be an issue. If there are 147 corners and it's E250 a 'drift' then the latter option is a mere E37,000 extra.

About £10K each if you get a couple of mates to join you.

[DonkeyApple]

J4CKO said:

I can see why they would do this, it is a toll road after all and people are running effectively full on race cars on the same track as people out sightseeing in a Mini Bus or someone in an old Astra 1.3, the only qualification to drive aforementioned race car is having the inclaination and money to do so, to race, on a closed circuit (i.e. one where the public dont have access) with all these modifications you have to have a licence and all the other competitors are travelling at broadly the same pace in comparable vehicles.

Doesnt it just mean that if you have a car with all the devices mentioned you just attend a different day ?

I would have thought that if you have a car built up for the track then there are plenty of track days at the Ring when you can have your fun and with the huge bonus of not having the slower cars around etc.

Likewise, the TF days are really for everyone and as most people just have normal cars it does seem logical to ensure that the majority of people are not effected.

When I first started going you had the odd seriously fast Porker or Viper running around at the same time and they were pretty intimidating in the way they were driven. The last few times I went, there were huge numbers of total dick's in pretend race cars and even more clueless holiday numpties. The two extremes don't mix well.

[GC8]

When I first went it was all trick Mk1 Golfs! From memory the barriers were on trailers and located on the new pits straight...

[DiscoColin]

Porkie said:

CupraAndy said:

Hummmm now im wondering if I can buy a GT3 RS - take it over for a weeks holiday and then sell it when I get back for what I paid...................

HAHA! Or just rent one but wheres the fun in that eh

You will be fully insured in the rental.

You won't be if you buy one in the UK.

However - if you rent one then the excess of that insurance is most of the value of the car. Buying the car, having suitable track day cover and doing an ATDO sanctioned track day instead of going for TF is the optimal solution

[CupraAndy]

Hi Dale,

How have things been on the ring now? Is it all open to the public? Is it as bad as we fear?

I will try and get some happy snaps up later on, but my door bars arent dash level, but they do run quite high. Harness, pop off wheel and seats I can lob rubbish ones on instead.

im tempted to give it a go when im over in Aug, and just peel off all the branding - and unbolt the aeros!

Thanks in advance,

Andy

[Dale Lomas]

Hi Andy, track is snowed in again, so we've not been able to trial the new rules... maybe some more solid news after Easter!

[bicycleshorts]

Dale Lomas said:

Hi Andy, track is snowed in again, so we've not been able to trial the new rules... maybe some more solid news after Easter!

This isn't good news... I'm meant to be going out at Easter, I guess we'll be trialing them

[CupraAndy]

Dale Lomas said:

Hi Andy, track is snowed in again, so we've not been able to trial the new rules... maybe some more solid news after Easter!

Thanks Dale,

I wrote this then proceeded to read your report on the ice lake! fail on my part but sounds like you had an awesome trip!

Hopefully it starts warming up and the track is back to normal soon. Im still getting the E36 upto scratch for the trip but in the back of my mind really hoping I can bring the cupra!

[bicycleshorts]

Dale - realise the track has only been open for a couple of days, but have you heard anything on the new rules? How strict are they being? We're due to head out this weekend.

Particularly worried about the rollbar padding rule.