RAF Marham Track Day - It's Back - 26/27 Sep 15

RAF Marham Track Day - It's Back - 26/27 Sep 15

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MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Hi folks,

A brief note at this stage - not only am I back at Marham now, but also the circumstances and timing is right such that we can run another RAF Marham Track Day. The Team here have worked hard at getting all the key approvals to do so - which we now have as of today.

Lots of work to do to make it happen and apologies for the notice, but it will be held on 26 and 27 Sep 15 (yes, that's right, this year).

Some detail follows - much more detail/explanations will come out soon - but given the time to go to the event, I just wanted to get knowledge of it out there quickly and spreading from here to other forums that have been before, so please spread the word but don't ask lots of questions just yet please!

I am sure that those who have been before will offer knowledge, encouragement and confirm to those who haven't that they are superb weekends, offering huge driving fun, a great atmosphere and that the great majority of the relatively modest entry fee boosts the coffers of RAF and local charities.

Broadly, it will follow the usual format; attend one or both days, more than one driver allowed per car, "helpers" allowed but no spectators; personal and car details will be needed and if they aren't booked/advised beforehand you won't get in; food, shelter, loos and other useful facilties; open pit lane sessions, cars only. The track layout will be a new one because we are restricted in the areas we can use this time - same length as before though and predominantly good tarmac except for the crossing of one of the runway thresholds which is concrete. It will still be that nice blend of something for everyone with a long, fast straight and a couple of shorter straights, all joined up by corners ranging from good fast sweepers with radius changes, through wiggly bits to a slow hairpin. For any drifters amongst you, I'm sorry, but no drifting permitted this time.

It would be helpful if someone would volunteer to co-ordinate PHEA attendance and, similarly, if you're letting other forums know someone from those - please let me know contact details.

As I said more to come soon. All the best for now, hope you like the idea of re-visting Marham, and hope to see you there.

MG Mark


MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Hi Ian,

Grateful and thank you. And, as always, look forward to seeing you again - it's been a while.

Mark

MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Ian,

Sorry just noticed the reference to the old coordinator role - forgot to mention that we will try and get the website running, but with all the other tasks to get on with, we may have to revert to the old way if we dont have the capacity to do so - will let you know asap.

Mark

MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Thursday 13th August 2015
quotequote all
Confusions of language.....

Driving a car on the track? - there is a charge, which is £X for the car including the first driver and £Y for each additional driver.

Not driving a car on the track? - there is no charge for helpers.

MG Mark

MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
p200msd said:
B'stard Child said:
I think.....

1. it was because it was hard to tell who was going to drift and who wasn't on the approach to a corner so caused some complaints

2. FOD (Smoking tyres down to cords and tread blocks and carcases getting shed)

Probably more down to 2 than 1 I reckon
It's a combination of the 2 above, and also....

3. Our insurance frowns upon it quite severely and

4. If we deliberately damage the taxiway surface we will be banned from holding any future events whatsoever.

Sorry guys!
All of those are valid and play into it - the other and most pressing reason is that most of the surfaces are becoming tired (most were last surfaced about 16 years ago, with a 15-year design life - I know 'cos I managed the project). Their age/condition means that the friction coefficient is close to its limits now for our normal daily use of them. Drifting would create significantly more wear, hence getting permission to use it has involved some compromises.

MG Mark

MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Wednesday 9th September 2015
quotequote all
Folks,

The numbers currently actually booked do not look great at present - only about 20 cars in total, some of which are for one day only.

So, for those who have booked already, thank you. For those still wanting to come but not yet booked then please do so as soon as possible. Spread the word amongst other forums and mates too please.

MG Mark

MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Friday 18th September 2015
quotequote all
Folks,

All going well with the organisation side of things.

There's plenty of capacity, so please continue to get the word out to others and encourage participation.

For anyone intending to come but not yet booked, remember that the shutters come down at midnight on Sunday!!

MG Mark


MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Saturday 26th September 2015
quotequote all
An excellent day for everything today - weather, track, drivers, cars and a fantastic job by the whole Marham team.

Good to see old friends and new faces alike, with fun being had by all, amidst the usual friendly atmosphere and driving that made it all go smoothly.

Many thanks to all and hope that tomorrow gies well too.

MG Mark

MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Monday 28th September 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all the comments folks.

Yes, it took a little persuasion to get the senior management to let us run the event again - but it was worth it in so many ways, many of which have been mentioned already. The fact that we flew the first aircraft out at the planned time this morning, without having to rebuild chunks of the airfield first, means that we should be able to do it again. Thank you for your understanding, particularly about the main runway crossing, and the behaviour on track which all contributed to that.

Glad that the new track layout and reverse of direction each day went down well, particularly as it was the first time that we haven't been able to use the main runway. Anticlockwise had its own challenges and, yes, the afternoon going clockwise flowed better and was generally quicker. General feedback has all been good, with a few ideas to do more tweak it a bit here and there. Tyre wear was probably less than usual because less of the track was run on concrete - that's the real rubber killer. And I'm sorry, but I can't do anything about the frontal gravel rash, it seems to just be a characteristic of the surface.....and how closely cars follow.....

Late March or early April will most likely work best for the next one and we'll keep you posted

All the best,

Mark

MG Mark

Original Poster:

611 posts

218 months

Tuesday 29th September 2015
quotequote all
B'stard Child said:
April please - give me a chance to get the proper track car finished over winter - don't make me use the Merc again..............
You'll be telling me next that you're taking Christmas Day off from working on it....

Mark