Castle Combe Resurfacing

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I am at Combe on Friday with MSE, it will be interesting to see what the new surface is like, I believe 2/3rds of the circuit has been resurfaced. It will be wet this Friday, I wonder if there will be more grip in the wet, could it be worse than the old tarmac

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I think its been laid in the last few weeks, wasn't done on the 7th Feb anyway. Its pretty new.

Found this clip on YouTube from a few days ago. Shows the work looks nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfklSpmxDHs

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Hi David, I was too late to get in on the BHP, waiting for the car to be fixed. It is likely to be wet so, hopefully we will all be cautious.

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Yep come and grab me. I am testing a new gear position sensor on the box, so as long as it all goes well, you are most welcome.

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joe_90 said:

Excellent thanks.. Fingers crossed we will get away with the weather.. I will be up in the afternoon.. (kids drop of to school etc) in the morning.

What are you running now, 600ish? + sequential box right?

570 + sequential Which could prove interesting on newly laid tarmac in the wet.

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joe_90 said:

Indeed.. the weather is perfect now.. I keep looking out my office window.. :-/
Hopefully they are wrong, I suspect the morning may be wet, then hopefully dry in the afternoon.. It does dry up quick, I think you were there last year in the fog (shut all morning), it was bone dry at the end.

Yes I was there that day, turned a bit icy and dry at the end, properly slippery.

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graeme4130 said:

There's also a massive solar farm in the middle of the track now, so be careful of sunny reflections blinding you

I don't think the sun will be troubling us tomorrow.

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OMG!!!! it's scary slippery in the wet. Talking to someone at Merlin Motorsport, they mixed diesel in with the tarmac to make it pliable enough to roll it smoothly. Don't get me wrong, It's a stunning looking job. But I have never driven on something that slippery, a bit lime a skid pan when very wet. The oil lays on the surface at the moment, it will clear. But the worst thing is that it's unpredictable. Brake hard entering the Esses as it was drying and it would slow down, off the brakes, then there was a patch that was releasing more oil as you turned it and the back would come round. As it dried it was better. It is billiard table smooth at Avon Rise which will encourage some drivers into entering Quarry too fast, it's a double edged sword that one. The bumps made you think about reducing speed. Any crashes at Quarry will be bigger and more expensive.

In conclusion, it will be a big improvement. It will take time to settle in and be at its best. But I WAS NOT impressed by the Solar farm and the lack of run off on the infield. That WILL end in tears for some people. Race days will be a bit interesting.

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To add to my last. It was not totally dry when I left. Almost, but the tyres screech like hell on it A couple of race cars were spinning their wheels all the way from Old Paddock and down through Hammerdown leaving long black lines. I have no idea what it will be like bone dry, but I think grip will be better as the months come on. At the moment, be very careful, it can bite. Everyone today respected it.

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Great to meet you too. I am almost sorted with the bloomin' gearbox, next time eh

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joe_90 said:

Anyways.. here is a sort of lap.. What is of note, is the 3 ft max high armco on the infield at Tower.. its not far off the circuit and would I suspect act as a launch pad.

http://youtu.be/FO7pUjsNygo

It really is that smooth now, but that video was later in the day when it dried out. It was nothing like that when it was wet. It will be superb when it's settled down.