Snetterton 300 - Tuesday 17th May

[Paul_M3]

Anybody going to Snetterton next week on the MSV day?

I've been to Snetterton a few times, but it will be my first time on the new 300 circuit.
From reading peoples reports so far it seems like the improvements have been well received by everyone.

[silverthorn2151]

Well, what a brilliant day that was.

Notwithstanding a few issues we had with the Radical like ride height, new suspension settling, wiring melting because the exhaust wrap came off etc etc etc.

Our first time on the 300 and once into the groove and run in a bit.....new gearbox and Quaife....it was fabulous.

And if anyone can tell me the line to take around Coram into Murrays I'd be glad to hear.

But a word about the day itself.

Thought MSV did a great job. Good briefing, long, but not labouring anything. And why doesn't everyone give out the bands as you sit there rather than that scrum at the end??????

Pit lane was good and clear, few red light but they told us what was going on and they weren't lengthy stoppages.

Part of the success was due to the drivers there as well. There were some seriously quick cars with very high closing speeds. Everyone seemed switched on and I'm not aware that it was an issue at all. Most of those were race cars and bearing in mind the debate in some other threads it was good to see them run close with slower machines without issue.

It was a well run, efficient and smooth day all round and Snetterton justs gets better and better as a track day venue.

We did the sighting laps in a Range Rover. The new surface felt as smooth in a Radical as it did in the RR.

[Paul_M3]

I pretty much agree with all of that. Thought it was a very well run day. I didn't see any queues in the pits apart from stoppages either. Track never seemed too busy to me.

Funnily enough, you were right behind me in the Range Rover for the sighting laps. I thought "That's a strange car to take on a track day"

I too struggled with the line through Coram. I think it's a very tricky corner as you want to carry the speed longer, but have to brake while turning unless you go out wider then tighten up to brake in a straighter line.

Unfortunately the last red flag of the day was caused by me. Coming down the pit straight I felt a vibration, and just before the first corner my front left tyre burst. Glad it didn't happen 30 seconds earlier while I was on the limit round Coram. It may have been a bit more of an issue then!

[silverthorn2151]

Ouch, that sounds painful. That would have been horrid around Corum. I had a rose joint fail at Bruntingthorpe recently around a right hander there going pretty fast. Now that was squeaky bum time!

My chum hasn't had the RR for long and that was the first time he had used it in 'sport' mode. I suspect it was doing 5mpg at the time!

We were sharing a garage with the chap throwing the CLS AMG around during the morning. He was having a great time and it was like a rocket away from Murray down the pit straight. He was grinning like a mad thing not caring about tyres and brakes....and never have I smelt hotter brakes.

Great day.

[Paul_M3]

Yeah, I saw the CLS AMG going around.
I thought at the time that it was a big old bus to be chucking around, and that the brakes must have taken the hammering of their lives.
It did sound fantastic as it accelerated (quickly) past the pit wall.

[chormy]

Just makes me sick being stuck out here and my broken MGC going nowhere fast. I found the only way for Coram is to straighten up and head for the begining of the red/white mark otherwise the weight is all over one side and the brakes just lock.

[Paul_M3]

I've just uploaded a video of one of my laps from the day.

I was using my phones Racechrono software with an external GPS sensor and a Bluetooth OBD reader to get my revs. It's the first time I've done this and used it to create a graphic to put over the video. For all free software, I think it's quite good.

The lap itself is very untidy, the car being unsettled through Palmer, and completely crossed up coming out of Oggies.

Unfortunately I didn't have the OBD reader connected all day, and this is still one of the quickest clear laps, despite a few big mistakes.

(The graphic is clearer if you watch the video in full HD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmVFK3EmQ3s&fea...

[Pentoman]

Did anyone see an old Lotus Elan race car on this day, red with White stripes? If so, 'twas my father, mucking about by the sounds of things.

[Paul_M3]

Pentoman said:

Did anyone see an old Lotus Elan race car on this day, red with White stripes? If so, 'twas my father, mucking about by the sounds of things.

Yeah, I remember that car. Looked good, sounded good, and seemed to be going pretty good from what I saw.

I'm not sure I was ever out on track with it, but it seemed to be flying down the pit straight.

[silverthorn2151]

Pentoman said:

Did anyone see an old Lotus Elan race car on this day, red with White stripes? If so, 'twas my father, mucking about by the sounds of things.

It was absolutley flying!

Great to see it. We were debating what engine it had, but didn't get round to calling down and asking him.

[Pentoman]

silverthorn2151 said:

Pentoman said:

Did anyone see an old Lotus Elan race car on this day, red with White stripes? If so, 'twas my father, mucking about by the sounds of things.

It was absolutley flying!

Great to see it. We were debating what engine it had, but didn't get round to calling down and asking him.

Glad that it was! He said it went well, and he mentioned a CLS, a GT3 and 3-series that he enjoyed running with but I only briefly spoke with him. I can answer the question about the engine because I do know, it's the standard 1.6 8-valve twin cam, albeit rebuilt with a bit of tuning. However apparently the tuning has to be within certain limits, i.e. you still have to use old-school points ignition. The carbs are biggish webers, I know that because I bought them for him from a PH member years ago. Anyway from the last time I saw it on the dynoI think you're looking at 170bhp plus. I've tried it once, at combe, it was fairly interesting, the scary thing being the tyres which are a really weird fake old-fashioned tyre, designed to replicate the tyres from the olden days. So it was fairly squirmy with nothing like the feel of a car on modern tyres. I tried to drift it out of the first right hander at castle combe, but it was rather snappy! He seems to have learnt it faiirly well though now and is enjoying racing it. Hope that info helps give an idea about it.

Edited by Pentoman on Saturday 28th May 13:26