RE: Trackday Trophy -The Race
Discussion
Good write up, drive and congratulations on the result.
Standing in or should I say under the Paddock Grandstand I can testify how much water came down before and during your race. Having raced for 8 seasons I think I would have been slightly nervous with the amount of water and considering the number of new drivers I think everyone did a great job. To give everyone an idea of the amount of water I had a 3 inch stream of water flowing over my feet at one point!
Out of interest do you know how many of the field had raced before? I originally thought the series was aimed at drivers moving from track days to racing. I assumed there would therefore be a number of modified road cars and was surprised to see a number of established race cars. Whilst you all appeared to have fun I was left wondering aside from the pit stop and chance for a driver change how it differed to some of the other established tin top series.
Are you now tempted to get the car out in other series? Or happy with the number scheduled for this year?
Standing in or should I say under the Paddock Grandstand I can testify how much water came down before and during your race. Having raced for 8 seasons I think I would have been slightly nervous with the amount of water and considering the number of new drivers I think everyone did a great job. To give everyone an idea of the amount of water I had a 3 inch stream of water flowing over my feet at one point!
Out of interest do you know how many of the field had raced before? I originally thought the series was aimed at drivers moving from track days to racing. I assumed there would therefore be a number of modified road cars and was surprised to see a number of established race cars. Whilst you all appeared to have fun I was left wondering aside from the pit stop and chance for a driver change how it differed to some of the other established tin top series.
Are you now tempted to get the car out in other series? Or happy with the number scheduled for this year?
7 Sevens said:
Good write up, drive and congratulations on the result.
Standing in or should I say under the Paddock Grandstand I can testify how much water came down before and during your race. Having raced for 8 seasons I think I would have been slightly nervous with the amount of water and considering the number of new drivers I think everyone did a great job. To give everyone an idea of the amount of water I had a 3 inch stream of water flowing over my feet at one point!
Out of interest do you know how many of the field had raced before? I originally thought the series was aimed at drivers moving from track days to racing. I assumed there would therefore be a number of modified road cars and was surprised to see a number of established race cars. Whilst you all appeared to have fun I was left wondering aside from the pit stop and chance for a driver change how it differed to some of the other established tin top series.
Are you now tempted to get the car out in other series? Or happy with the number scheduled for this year?
Congratulations on the win, and to all of those taking part in their first race. I agree with the above comments on driving standards - very good considering the conditions. Standing in or should I say under the Paddock Grandstand I can testify how much water came down before and during your race. Having raced for 8 seasons I think I would have been slightly nervous with the amount of water and considering the number of new drivers I think everyone did a great job. To give everyone an idea of the amount of water I had a 3 inch stream of water flowing over my feet at one point!
Out of interest do you know how many of the field had raced before? I originally thought the series was aimed at drivers moving from track days to racing. I assumed there would therefore be a number of modified road cars and was surprised to see a number of established race cars. Whilst you all appeared to have fun I was left wondering aside from the pit stop and chance for a driver change how it differed to some of the other established tin top series.
Are you now tempted to get the car out in other series? Or happy with the number scheduled for this year?
So is this a true trackdayer to racer series i.e. Novice or is it going to be a free for all. By free for all I mean, you will end up with seasoned racers turning up and that may not be in the spirit of the series?
Personally I have thought of entering just for a laugh and have a two driver race but not sure how I would be welcomed having raced for the last 5 years.
Congrats on a great write up and performance. 
I`ve got my debut race next week and I can understand the nerves, I guess that you did many trackdays with the car prior to the race, I have done one, a half day last week, but can`t wait. I don`t for one minute think I will emulate your performance, 
hope the weather`s better at Brands on the 10th/11th April !
I`ve got my debut race next week and I can understand the nerves, I guess that you did many trackdays with the car prior to the race, I have done one, a half day last week, but can`t wait. I don`t for one minute think I will emulate your performance, hope the weather`s better at Brands on the 10th/11th April !
Thanks for the good wishes, really appreciate it. There was certainly an element of luck involved though, which I guess is all part of racing. I just wasn't going to give up when the wipers did!
Lots of questions which I'll attempt to answer. Entry fees were £299 - for about an hour and a quarter of track time. Sounds poor value compared to a trackday, but honestly, when you see the scale of the organisation and the complexity of running such an event that's an absolute bargain... because time racing is so different to a trackday. Same track, same car, but a TOTALLY different sensation.
Costs to prepare the car really depend on what it is that you are starting with, and how much you can do yourself. The 'Blue Book' was a lot easier to use than I expected, and the MSA were very helpful and just on the end of a phone. The series organisers (MSVR) also gave a lot of support, they were very mindful that we were all doing it for the first time and had offered tuition, a test day and access to the series scrutineer. I also did my test with them, another daunting challenge made really easy.
What needs doing on the car? Not much, I think, apart from the obvious wipers! Couldn't have been more pleased with it, otherwise. I'll be chucking the passenger seat back in it and it will be back out in Germany after Easter at the Nurburgring. It will be being used for instruction during the trackday on the 19th April, full laps of Nordsheife and GP circuit combined, like the VLN layout.
Hmmm, VLN. Wonder what the entry fees look like for that?
Lots of questions which I'll attempt to answer. Entry fees were £299 - for about an hour and a quarter of track time. Sounds poor value compared to a trackday, but honestly, when you see the scale of the organisation and the complexity of running such an event that's an absolute bargain... because time racing is so different to a trackday. Same track, same car, but a TOTALLY different sensation.
Costs to prepare the car really depend on what it is that you are starting with, and how much you can do yourself. The 'Blue Book' was a lot easier to use than I expected, and the MSA were very helpful and just on the end of a phone. The series organisers (MSVR) also gave a lot of support, they were very mindful that we were all doing it for the first time and had offered tuition, a test day and access to the series scrutineer. I also did my test with them, another daunting challenge made really easy.
What needs doing on the car? Not much, I think, apart from the obvious wipers! Couldn't have been more pleased with it, otherwise. I'll be chucking the passenger seat back in it and it will be back out in Germany after Easter at the Nurburgring. It will be being used for instruction during the trackday on the 19th April, full laps of Nordsheife and GP circuit combined, like the VLN layout.
Hmmm, VLN. Wonder what the entry fees look like for that?
I was taking part in the race in the red and gold Ginetta with my partner (race partner that is!) Gary Patterson, you can see us on one of the u tube videos as you scorch past us at Clearways! I can testify that the conditions were atrocious with torrential rain and hailstones right at the very start of the race, the Ginetta is an open topped car without a proper windscreen and no wipers and so I could not see a thing, especially if a car was in front of us, (Eventually all of them were!) I was soaked and bloody freezing and could not see the apex's of left hand corners at all, but appart from that we did manage to finish, albeit last!
I did have one slight spin up at Druids when I missed the throttle changing down and two or three cars went past me there, the others just picked us off one by one but it did give everyone practice in overtaking, some of them twice!
There were some very fast cars out there and some very brave drivers as Paddock hill bend was a river and it was no better going down into Graham Hill Bend, I pushed it as much as I dared on the new tyres we had fitted but did not wish to spin off in our first race and not finish.
The standard of driver was incredible in such conditions, particularly the Ginetta Junior, if a standard car is only a 1.4 litre actually qualified in third position against much more powerful M3's and Clio's etc.
Unlike you, I am not praying for rain at Snetterton, I'd quite like it sunny and hot please!
I did have one slight spin up at Druids when I missed the throttle changing down and two or three cars went past me there, the others just picked us off one by one but it did give everyone practice in overtaking, some of them twice!
There were some very fast cars out there and some very brave drivers as Paddock hill bend was a river and it was no better going down into Graham Hill Bend, I pushed it as much as I dared on the new tyres we had fitted but did not wish to spin off in our first race and not finish.
The standard of driver was incredible in such conditions, particularly the Ginetta Junior, if a standard car is only a 1.4 litre actually qualified in third position against much more powerful M3's and Clio's etc.
Unlike you, I am not praying for rain at Snetterton, I'd quite like it sunny and hot please!
Looks as though some serious machines were there. Did anybody drive their car to the track from home, race and then drive back home again?
Would love to hear from somebody who did this to know your experiences and what(if anything) you did when you got to the track preparation wise. I think that would stem interest if people get an idea of the comparisons from a track day to this format.
Seems like a great idea but I cant help but feeling like has been mentioned in another post that there is a lot to be done before you can compete and it could cost a fair bit if your starting with a blank canvas.
Would love to hear from somebody who did this to know your experiences and what(if anything) you did when you got to the track preparation wise. I think that would stem interest if people get an idea of the comparisons from a track day to this format.
Seems like a great idea but I cant help but feeling like has been mentioned in another post that there is a lot to be done before you can compete and it could cost a fair bit if your starting with a blank canvas.
Richard Hardie said:
I was taking part in the race in the red and gold Ginetta with my partner (race partner that is!) Gary Patterson, you can see us on one of the u tube videos as you scorch past us at Clearways! I can testify that the conditions were atrocious with torrential rain and hailstones right at the very start of the race, the Ginetta is an open topped car without a proper windscreen and no wipers and so I could not see a thing, especially if a car was in front of us, (Eventually all of them were!) I was soaked and bloody freezing and could not see the apex's of left hand corners at all, but appart from that we did manage to finish, albeit last!
I did have one slight spin up at Druids when I missed the throttle changing down and two or three cars went past me there, the others just picked us off one by one but it did give everyone practice in overtaking, some of them twice!
There were some very fast cars out there and some very brave drivers as Paddock hill bend was a river and it was no better going down into Graham Hill Bend, I pushed it as much as I dared on the new tyres we had fitted but did not wish to spin off in our first race and not finish.
The standard of driver was incredible in such conditions, particularly the Ginetta Junior, if a standard car is only a 1.4 litre actually qualified in third position against much more powerful M3's and Clio's etc.
Unlike you, I am not praying for rain at Snetterton, I'd quite like it sunny and hot please!
Interesting - what spec is your G20 (engine-wise)? What tyres do you run? Do you run ballast at all or just put it in a certain class as is? I used to race G20s, in the G20 cup, way back.I did have one slight spin up at Druids when I missed the throttle changing down and two or three cars went past me there, the others just picked us off one by one but it did give everyone practice in overtaking, some of them twice!
There were some very fast cars out there and some very brave drivers as Paddock hill bend was a river and it was no better going down into Graham Hill Bend, I pushed it as much as I dared on the new tyres we had fitted but did not wish to spin off in our first race and not finish.
The standard of driver was incredible in such conditions, particularly the Ginetta Junior, if a standard car is only a 1.4 litre actually qualified in third position against much more powerful M3's and Clio's etc.
Unlike you, I am not praying for rain at Snetterton, I'd quite like it sunny and hot please!
slimboyfat said:
Looks as though some serious machines were there. Did anybody drive their car to the track from home, race and then drive back home again?
Would love to hear from somebody who did this to know your experiences and what(if anything) you did when you got to the track preparation wise. I think that would stem interest if people get an idea of the comparisons from a track day to this format.
Seems like a great idea but I cant help but feeling like has been mentioned in another post that there is a lot to be done before you can compete and it could cost a fair bit if your starting with a blank canvas.
It was a really good experience and I'd recommend anyone who is thinking about doing it to just go for it! I'd only done 2 track days before (donny and bedford) and there was some good advice on the test day 2 weeks prior where you got to practice starts 2 at a time and then a mini grid of 6....having 22 on there was a big difference though as you were much closer to the other cars.Would love to hear from somebody who did this to know your experiences and what(if anything) you did when you got to the track preparation wise. I think that would stem interest if people get an idea of the comparisons from a track day to this format.
Seems like a great idea but I cant help but feeling like has been mentioned in another post that there is a lot to be done before you can compete and it could cost a fair bit if your starting with a blank canvas.
I was driving the MR2 (number 77) and it was driven to/from the track. The only changes that were made to it when we got there were different wheels/tyres (brought in another car) as the ones fitted are not eligible for the series (too wide) and firming up the suspension.
Comapared to everyone else there we seemed to be under equipped (others had trailers, van's, mini marquee's etc), under powered (115bhp/tonne) and we only have road tyres (t1r's) which in the end took us up the field a bit in the wet as we qualified 20th but I was running in 7th at the pitstop and we finished in 11th. Saying this though I don't see what else we needed to actually take part.
I see from the videos that we were not the only ones being held up by the blue civic.....there didn't seem to be any blue flags for it and my co-driver Steve seemed to suffer quite badly trying to lap it.
Still.....27th June at Snetterton can't come soon enough for me!
Just for info a complete race conversion of an MR2 is £2k + Vat by Rogue. Having spoken to a few about costs this is quite cheap.
Leon
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