Lydden Hill

[e21Mark]

Myself and a few friends went down to Lydden Hill yesterday and I was surprised at just how poor the driving standards were, in the so-called ''intermediate'' group anyway. There also seemed to be a distinct lack of input from the marshals in helping quicker cars pass safely by using the blue flags.

Don't get me wrong, I know it's a track day and not a race, but there were several cars being deliberately obstructive, driving past track limits, constantly outbraking themselves and one guy was trying to induce oversteer in a fwd hatch by yanking the handbrake! He went off 3 times before finally beaching himself in the gravel. I believe there was also a collision at some point.

This is an example of the cars I'm talking about.



(taken from another thread)

[AlLondon]

Thats my photo

I stole it off Paul O Neil on Twitter anyway.
https://twitter.com/PaulONeill29


Was more like a race than track day, I complained and he said he would have a word with driver but the clerk honestly didnt think there was anything wrong. Really wish I had my camera on.

[e21Mark]

AlLondon said:

the clerk honestly didnt think there was anything wrong

Maybe he'd forgotten his glasses? or they'll wait till there's a more serious incident?

[e21Mark]

1 min 55 on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7G47r-UoGQ

[spurs coupe]

I agree that tehre were a few nutters out tehre yesterday Mark, however I think most were quite well behaved considering the weather. I've just watched this and everyone seems OK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEYnRvsJos

I'm at about 9.10 in the saxo.

I must say that there seemed to be a few issues with standard of driver and car speed and the grouping. In my last session the fella in the red talbot sunbeam shaped track car must have overtaken me 4 times, clearly in the wrong session.

There were 3 big crashes including the one that saw the track shut for quite sometime. I hope those in the white fiesta are OK. Whilst I appreciate it is an open track day, I'm not sure professional teams should be allowed to coach youngsters there in what are clearly very fast cars. The orange one was in my group a coule of times and was very fast.

All in all a good day out. But only when slow cars get out of the way and fast cars don't spin in front of you.

[wackojacko]

I've heard this about lyd a few times, if you're aware and hold back abit I'm sure you'd be fine, however I can see the frustration with people with st cars that don't care mixed in with people's pride and joy..... On the other hand they don't have a problem with oversteer aslong as you're not a danger to anyone .... Plan to do Lyd' next year so will see what's what.

[bikerstu]

Was there with the Car Saturday - decided not to go out in the end.

Saw some interesting stuff, a saxo hit a sierria, the punto above was clearly enjoying himself and the flying fiesta.

Quite good for photo's but i would have thought twice about going out myself!

[e21Mark]

As a circuit I think it's great, although it's tough on tyres. In the main it was fine but being a relatively short track, even dropping back means you'll soon catch slower cars. There was one guy in particular, driving a Fiesta I think?, who had obviously seen ''2 fast, 2 many gearchanges'' one too many times. Every time he reached a corner he was using the handbrake and trying to drift around the corners. He managed to go off 3 times in a single lap which takes some doing! Fortunately he got beached eventually. There's no shame in letting faster cars pass by safely but too many people were determined to stop anyone going by at all costs.

[bikerstu]

iquite like the circuit, i use Brands more nowdays though, its more or less the same price over the winter and better on the tyres. Plus they wouldn't stand for the sort of stuff i see at Lydden.

However when the saxo hit a mate of mine 2 weeks ago (same saxo that hit the sierria) they did chuck him out straight away - clearly to learn his lesson...

Which one were you out in Mark?

[e21Mark]

This is mine.

[bikerstu]

ahh i saw that on Sat. looked nice!

Looked like it went well aswell.

[lurch86]

e21Mark said:

1 min 55 on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7G47r-UoGQ

Thats my video with my Dad driving, as you can see he backed off alot earlier for that corner as he knew that the punto couldn't make that corner at the speed he was going, could have been alot worse.

There was quite a few idiots that day, and the track day in Sept as well actually, its not usually like that. This Saxo was the one that hit me on the September Track day that again hit someone on this track day... (Which I wouldn't of minded if he's come over and said sorry mate, but he didin't he just ran off)



Was driving very aggresivly and not letting anyone past. The marshels did black flag him instantly after he hit my car and kicked him out, so I really can't believe he came back 2 weeks after to hit another car! He did dissapear after that so maybe he was banned..?

Also you can see in the end of that vid the ambulance at the top corner after the Punto rolled on to his roof.

[AlLondon]

That saxo tried lunging me into the hairpin with two wheels on the the grass.
I went past him whilst he was driving out of the gravel.

I came in the lap after and went home, wasnt worth the time argueing. Just gonna stick to brands over winter. Forgot how rough on tyres Lydden was.

Was a liability!!

[lurch86]

Thats a shame it spoilt your day, you should of had a word with the old boy who runs it. He's a nice bloke and would of had a word with him if he'd known probably.

[andye30m3]

Just confirms what I'd already heard, that Lydden's own trackdays are not worth bothering with, which is a shame as I like the circuit.

If they continue to allow poor diving standards they'll end up with no one attending but the idiots crashing into each other.

[lurch86]

Its not always like that. Usually its fine. Dont let a couple of idiots stop you from going there... The bloke in the saxo will probably be banned now and the bloke in the punto wont be going again!

[AlLondon]

Single seaters out with normal road cars again.

I did point out to the clerk and the grid girl but didnt seem to bothered.

[e21Mark]

In the drivers briefing we were told that we were being given credit for being able to pass safely on either side, as opposed to just passing on the left. I think this was part of the problem as it was clear that some people just didn't bother using their mirrors. It's a shame but I'll think twice before going to Lydden again.

[wackojacko]

Sounds like that guy in the Saxo needs a 1/2" breaker bar across the back of the legs and a sturn talking to !

[bikerstu]

this is why I like Brands... no open wheeled single seater's - no dodgy overtaking and normally no accidents - to see two car on car incidents out or two trips both involving the same car tbh is nothing short of shocking!