Bedford 30th March - Thumbs up for Javelin

[anorange]

My first proper car trackday yesterday in the CSL at Bedford with Javelin and I thought the day went really well - great value for £149, more track time than I knew what to do with.

I like the revised layout too, it's technical and gets rid of the mammoth braking zone (Bedford already has enough of those) and stop-dead chicane and endless hairpin that was there before. I wonder what difference the new layout makes to the laptime of the GT circuit.

[Humour]

+1 The weather held fine, just, and our shakedown went down like a dream despite a scary start.

We actually chatted for a minute or two as you pulled into the pits after a session. The CSL was looking mighty fine

from the boys in the Boston Green E36

Humour

P.S. The lap time is longer, as is the overall distance of the track. If you manage to go quicker than the old layout, either you or your car has had some major advances in speed I estimate the difference to be 3-5 seconds more than the old layout.

P.P.S. I should have asked for a ride whilst I had the chance, I was itching to hear the CSL on song. Got distracted by being my turn at the wheel.....lol

Edited by Humour on Tuesday 31st March 16:20

[rodgling]

Hmm, not sure I agree about the new layout. I liked that old fast-left with the tricky braking zone.

Yup was a good day on Monday, very very quiet and a good laugh at the end when the track got damp... had some entertaining moments towards the end. :-) I was there in the white 7 with black stripes.

[Humour]

Well I am on the fence on that one, on reflection.

Originally I hated the idea as I also enjoyed the challenge in the braking zone of the old layout after having the balls to stay flat out through the kink in a car not really ready for that.

However, having now driven the new layout and trail braking a little too hard (or late, take your pick) for the left hander and entering a bit sideways under braking then managing to gather it up and find the apex and exit I feel that the new chicane does present it's own challenges when pressing on.

The massive cones were a consistent distraction though, I did prefer the smaller cones in the afternoon.

[AshVX220]

Agreed, an excellent day, I always find Javelin to be good value for money. For the OP, don't expect every track day to be that quiet on track, there were probably just over half as many cars as normal for that circuit.

I actually prefer the new layout too, it's probably my driving but that very tight hairpin used be a struggle for me, I always felt I was going sooooo slow round it, after braking so hard for the right hander. My only disappointment is the new corners are a bit too far apart, I would have liked a nice close chicane like the ones at Combe. If you hit those right, you can still carry a lot of speed through and clipping each apex is great, you kinow you have it right when you can here the rumbling of each apex under the car as you clip the kerbing. But hey-ho, it's not something I'm overly critical of, I thought it was great. Looking forward to the next date that I do now, whenever that may be.