Oulton Park 23rd feb- my first trackday...
Discussion
Guys,
Have done a bit of a writeup from saturday- its quite long winded but promised the forum guys id do one.
Met some great people on sat and looking forward to doing another one soon!
The Build up…
I decided only a couple of days beforehand that I was going to do my very first trackday. Ive spectated at Oulton Park a few times now and from the first time I drove over the bridge and into the grounds, I knew I had to drive there one day.
Ive been promising myself for years now that I was going to do a trackday, but id always managed to find an excuse not to- these ranged from being able to afford to do one, through to having doubts about whether my car was ‘fit’ to be taken on track. What I mean by this is the niggling thoughts one has at the back of their mind when the are going to be tracking their pride and joy- what if the brakes aren’t upto it? What if its been too long since the last service…the list goes on…
So what was different this time? Well, for starters my car had just been serviced so I knew all was well in that department. Apart from the brakes. Id had some mintex 1144’s on order for about 3 weeks and one of the provisos for going on track was only if my new pads were fitted. They were- the day before, and bedded in for about 150miles (one of the benefits of a long commute!).
So, with the knowledge that my car was as fit an healthy as it could possibly be, out came the credit card and in went the booking…
Considering I only had 2 days to wait, I could barely sleep for the 2 nights running upto the event. Sat morn came and I was awake way before my alarm, and ready to go by 7.15. the tank had already been brimmed with v power the night before, and id invested in an electric tyre pump so was ready to sort the pressures before I went on track.
The potential show stopper…
The drivers briefing came and went, with only one thing ringing in my ears, and a nagging doubt in my mind…towing eyes. “No access to the track is allowed without a towing eye fitted.”
Off to the paddock we trotted- id already stripped the lining and parcel shelf out of the boot so knew it was empty. “where the heck is my towing eye?!” I asked my mate….
In my wisdom id parked next to the only other ST there- a very nice looking black one with a very helpful owner.
“where is our towing eye?” I asked…
“its in the little black bag in the boot- don’t you have one?!”
To cut a long story short, no, I don’t. The previous owner, in his wisdom, had removed it and I had never thought to ask…well, you don’t, do you?!
“oh s&*t”…
Luckily, the other ST owner kindly offered to let me use his when he wasn’t on track- so a big thanks to him. Also fortunate was that the sighting laps didn’t require you to have them fitted so we went out for 3 of these then headed back in to decide what to do next…
The day had originally been scheduled to be a sessioned event, but thankfully this was changed at the briefing to open pit, which gave me a window of opportunity to sort something without losing too much tracktime.
I won’t bore you with the details, but a phonecall to Cliff Dickinson & Son in Winsford helped immensely. The chap on the phone said it wouldn’t be a problem to sort me out with one- if they didn’t have one in stock, they’d get one out of the cars on the forecourt.
I really cant say a big enough thank you to these guys- they pulled me out of the dung on this one- cheers guys!
Out on track…
No sooner had we got back to oulton were we out on track and all I can say is WOW- what a very strange sensation!
The ability to drive on track in itself wasn’t too daunting- its wider than the road, smoother than the road, no hedges or dawdling pensioners around the corner…its all just, well, right.
Even the sight of a wrung out elise in your mirrors isn’t daunting- just indicate, lift off, and let them pass- all done with a friendly wave to show appreciation. Its an amalgamation of true petrolheads- lovers of driving, cars and appreciative of other who dabble in such circles.
Its also very hard to not drive briskly- even though you know its your first lap, first time on track, you are just drawn into the whole event- when shall I brake? Where is the apex? Its just so utterly immersing in every sense.
First impressions of my ST were promising- spearing up the straights, turning in with no drama, and, for the first time since ive had her, braking without a moments hesitation. Round and round we went, faster and faster, braking later and later, but something was still not quite right. I was still hesitant on the power, and a couple of times got some wobble under braking as I couldn’t quite seem to get her in a straight line for the corner…
Now, im no stranger to pushing on, so I knew, dynamically, what to expect from the ST. Bear in mind mine is far from standard though- Morego 290 upgrade and lowered, and also with a very useful front camber tweak to get rid of understeer. First impressions were very favourable though- no understeer and even when we got out of shape, either under braking or exiting a corner a bit too hot, a simple tweak of the steering, or a feather of the throttle was all that was needed. In short, I felt utterly confident driving the car right on the limit.
The tuition…
My tuition session was booked for 12midday and I was so so nervous about it. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to learn, but id never done anything like this before, so I my stomach was in knots…
Into the car we got- I felt like a cocky berk as I disengaged ESP (I drive with it off on the road though)- and off we trundled onto track…
Well, I kid you not, I was rubbish. It suddenly dawned on me that I had not been making use of the cones for turn in points and apex’s and, coupled with my nervousness, I cant even recall what he was telling me to do.
I’ll now refer to specific corners, so for those who don’t know the track, have a gander at the layout and you will get the picture..
The first corner one comes to out of the pits is cascades. Now, first thing, this corner had caught me out- its at the bottom of a downhill section, you’ve just come out of a right hand bend and it takes you onto the longest section of the track, so you gotta brake hard, and get it right. On my morning laps, on about lap 3 or 4, I had come down the hill, got hard on the brakes only to get..nothing…the pedal went straight to the floor and I was heading straight, the backend wobbling. I managed to make the turn, but etched in my brain was the point of no return- id learnt the hardway where my braking point was.
Anyway, cascades came and went and we were spearing upto island. Its fast along here, nudging 100mph, and the left turn is deceptively sharper than you think. Its also where I got my first telling off and where I learnt possibly the biggest lesson in car dynamics that I have, or possibly ever will learn. My instructor wanted me to brake hard upto the cone on the right, then, once I got to it, turn in left on full power (in 5th). I couldn’t do it- my brain was telling me that the car was going to understeer off the track. So I lifted- not a lot but enough for him to comment that the car lurched. I’ll tell you later what happened when I didn’t lift…
Shell oils corner is ace- it’s a banked right hand hairpin and easy enough to get the right turn in and clipping point. I managed to pick this up quite well- I was turning in too early so once id corrected that I was able to nail my exit and really clip the apex and get on the power early (3rd) and spear up the straight with not a hind of wheelspin or understeer.
The next 2 hairpins are quite difficult to master, I thought. The instructor taught me that my turn in point was too early, but once id waited until after the cone, I was able to “straight line it” better. This was the only part of the track I never really gelled with- I always felt like I was losing too much momentum here and although I improved, there def still room for more.
I love knickerbrook. This has always been my fave spectating point and it was just as much fun driving it as it was watching it. The ST excelled here- it gave me the confidence to really put the power down early and spear up the hill. A couple of times I came in a little too hot but a feathered throttle just tugged the nose back in line and away we went. The torque of my ST really showed here too- the instructor got me to shift up early so by the top of clay hill I was in 5th and flying…
Druids. Words cannot express how much I love this corner- its just utterly fantastic and very technical. I had spent the morning struggling here. Coming up clay hill I had been too far left which meant that in the braking zone I wasn’t straight which lead to some VERY hairy entries. Im talking back end stepping out and, subsequently, I didn’t enjoy it prior to my tuition.
My instructor got me to lift evvvvver so slightly just past the summit of clays, which let me get right over to the left, hugging the grass, but giving me a straight line into druids. “keep in the middle of the track”- those words still echo in my head and boy are they right. By doing this (id shifted down to 4th at this point) it puts you in the right position to attack the second apex and really get on the power early. Get it right and you do nothing- you just power through, clipping the apex and then let your car drift to the left of the track and under warwick bridge. I carried more and more speed through there to the point where most cars in front were having to really get out of my way as I fired up the straight towards Lodge…awesome.
Lodge is, for a FWD car, evil. You are really leaning on your brakes into here, to the point where you can easily outbrake yourself and turn in with some serious tail out action. Even if you get it right, the ST just wants to scrub its power away on the cambered uphill exit. My instructor tried to get me to straighten the wheel sooner, but I couldn’t seem to grasp this. Instead I was forced into feathering the throttle until I could grip. I got better but I never felt like I nailed it.
Through Deer’s leap and upto old hall is a breeze and a chance for a deep breath. The ST’s power here showed, pulling up the hill with gusto and hammering along the pit wall. Im told that at full chat it sounded sweet- my hi flow cats and miltek zaust barking like a WRC car.
Old Hall is quite straightforward- its very hard on the brakes into it, change down into 4th and then make sure you hit the apex on the way out- I found myself fighting with the wheel a couple of times here but the smoother I was in, the easier it became.
The run down to cascades is a test of nerve. You aim for the left hand side of the track then drift across to dentons for the best line into cascades. Not once did I keep my foot in it until he told me to as I new my brakes were struggling here. I was more comfortable braking earlier and getting my line into lakeside better, powering through in 4th and aiming for the small strip of tarmac on the right of the track…
I’ll come back now to island, and what happened when I threw caution to the wind and kept my foot in it in 5th gear at about 80-90mph…
Firstly, the feeling of understeer builds, the car wanting to push wide for what seems like forever. But push past this and it settles- no drama, nothing. It just grips and turns in, schything through the bend, the feeling of lateral g-force pulling you out of your seat. Getting it right was a revelation and took a lot of nerve- not just because of the fear of leaving the track, but also because no sooner had you got past that, you were hard on the brakes for the hairpin once again. You don’t want to be braking from 100mph in anything less than a straight line…
The ST…
Having had my lesson, I spent the rest of the afternoon putting all this into practice. The ST was well upto the task and just lapped up the punishment. It never failed to turn in, it powered up the straights with enough attitude to keep most things honest and, eventually, it even managed to impress me with its braking abilities.
Sure, a better braking setup would be ideal, but im not kidding myself that this is a big car, with a lot of power and in this respect it performed very well indeed. It didn’t use a drop of oil, the tyres are hardly worn and it got several nods of respect from other petrolheads.
The only drawback was, yup, you guessed it, the mpg! I was never expecting it to do very well here, and it was actually quite fun to chase a low figure, but im sure it wont surprise any of you to hear that I managed…11mpg…yup, you read it right! :lol:
I cannot wait to get back on track- it was everything I expected it to be and more. It was quite expensive (rough maths equates to about £300 for everything) but it was just so utterly absorbing and addictive.
For any of you wondering whether the ST is the right car to track, Id say go for it. Obviously mine is far from standard but it never failed to entertain. Its predictable, fast, agile (for a big-ish car) and comfortable (you really do need good seats when you are on track and the recaros were spot on).
The whole point of the the day was for me to realise a dream. It turned out to be a whole lot more than that, including an education into driving dynamics, and im just so pleased I took the plunge.
Im afraid ive found myself a very expensive hobby…
Have done a bit of a writeup from saturday- its quite long winded but promised the forum guys id do one.
Met some great people on sat and looking forward to doing another one soon!
The Build up…
I decided only a couple of days beforehand that I was going to do my very first trackday. Ive spectated at Oulton Park a few times now and from the first time I drove over the bridge and into the grounds, I knew I had to drive there one day.
Ive been promising myself for years now that I was going to do a trackday, but id always managed to find an excuse not to- these ranged from being able to afford to do one, through to having doubts about whether my car was ‘fit’ to be taken on track. What I mean by this is the niggling thoughts one has at the back of their mind when the are going to be tracking their pride and joy- what if the brakes aren’t upto it? What if its been too long since the last service…the list goes on…
So what was different this time? Well, for starters my car had just been serviced so I knew all was well in that department. Apart from the brakes. Id had some mintex 1144’s on order for about 3 weeks and one of the provisos for going on track was only if my new pads were fitted. They were- the day before, and bedded in for about 150miles (one of the benefits of a long commute!).
So, with the knowledge that my car was as fit an healthy as it could possibly be, out came the credit card and in went the booking…
Considering I only had 2 days to wait, I could barely sleep for the 2 nights running upto the event. Sat morn came and I was awake way before my alarm, and ready to go by 7.15. the tank had already been brimmed with v power the night before, and id invested in an electric tyre pump so was ready to sort the pressures before I went on track.
The potential show stopper…
The drivers briefing came and went, with only one thing ringing in my ears, and a nagging doubt in my mind…towing eyes. “No access to the track is allowed without a towing eye fitted.”
Off to the paddock we trotted- id already stripped the lining and parcel shelf out of the boot so knew it was empty. “where the heck is my towing eye?!” I asked my mate….
In my wisdom id parked next to the only other ST there- a very nice looking black one with a very helpful owner.
“where is our towing eye?” I asked…
“its in the little black bag in the boot- don’t you have one?!”
To cut a long story short, no, I don’t. The previous owner, in his wisdom, had removed it and I had never thought to ask…well, you don’t, do you?!
“oh s&*t”…
Luckily, the other ST owner kindly offered to let me use his when he wasn’t on track- so a big thanks to him. Also fortunate was that the sighting laps didn’t require you to have them fitted so we went out for 3 of these then headed back in to decide what to do next…
The day had originally been scheduled to be a sessioned event, but thankfully this was changed at the briefing to open pit, which gave me a window of opportunity to sort something without losing too much tracktime.
I won’t bore you with the details, but a phonecall to Cliff Dickinson & Son in Winsford helped immensely. The chap on the phone said it wouldn’t be a problem to sort me out with one- if they didn’t have one in stock, they’d get one out of the cars on the forecourt.
I really cant say a big enough thank you to these guys- they pulled me out of the dung on this one- cheers guys!
Out on track…
No sooner had we got back to oulton were we out on track and all I can say is WOW- what a very strange sensation!
The ability to drive on track in itself wasn’t too daunting- its wider than the road, smoother than the road, no hedges or dawdling pensioners around the corner…its all just, well, right.
Even the sight of a wrung out elise in your mirrors isn’t daunting- just indicate, lift off, and let them pass- all done with a friendly wave to show appreciation. Its an amalgamation of true petrolheads- lovers of driving, cars and appreciative of other who dabble in such circles.
Its also very hard to not drive briskly- even though you know its your first lap, first time on track, you are just drawn into the whole event- when shall I brake? Where is the apex? Its just so utterly immersing in every sense.
First impressions of my ST were promising- spearing up the straights, turning in with no drama, and, for the first time since ive had her, braking without a moments hesitation. Round and round we went, faster and faster, braking later and later, but something was still not quite right. I was still hesitant on the power, and a couple of times got some wobble under braking as I couldn’t quite seem to get her in a straight line for the corner…
Now, im no stranger to pushing on, so I knew, dynamically, what to expect from the ST. Bear in mind mine is far from standard though- Morego 290 upgrade and lowered, and also with a very useful front camber tweak to get rid of understeer. First impressions were very favourable though- no understeer and even when we got out of shape, either under braking or exiting a corner a bit too hot, a simple tweak of the steering, or a feather of the throttle was all that was needed. In short, I felt utterly confident driving the car right on the limit.
The tuition…
My tuition session was booked for 12midday and I was so so nervous about it. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to learn, but id never done anything like this before, so I my stomach was in knots…
Into the car we got- I felt like a cocky berk as I disengaged ESP (I drive with it off on the road though)- and off we trundled onto track…
Well, I kid you not, I was rubbish. It suddenly dawned on me that I had not been making use of the cones for turn in points and apex’s and, coupled with my nervousness, I cant even recall what he was telling me to do.
I’ll now refer to specific corners, so for those who don’t know the track, have a gander at the layout and you will get the picture..
The first corner one comes to out of the pits is cascades. Now, first thing, this corner had caught me out- its at the bottom of a downhill section, you’ve just come out of a right hand bend and it takes you onto the longest section of the track, so you gotta brake hard, and get it right. On my morning laps, on about lap 3 or 4, I had come down the hill, got hard on the brakes only to get..nothing…the pedal went straight to the floor and I was heading straight, the backend wobbling. I managed to make the turn, but etched in my brain was the point of no return- id learnt the hardway where my braking point was.
Anyway, cascades came and went and we were spearing upto island. Its fast along here, nudging 100mph, and the left turn is deceptively sharper than you think. Its also where I got my first telling off and where I learnt possibly the biggest lesson in car dynamics that I have, or possibly ever will learn. My instructor wanted me to brake hard upto the cone on the right, then, once I got to it, turn in left on full power (in 5th). I couldn’t do it- my brain was telling me that the car was going to understeer off the track. So I lifted- not a lot but enough for him to comment that the car lurched. I’ll tell you later what happened when I didn’t lift…
Shell oils corner is ace- it’s a banked right hand hairpin and easy enough to get the right turn in and clipping point. I managed to pick this up quite well- I was turning in too early so once id corrected that I was able to nail my exit and really clip the apex and get on the power early (3rd) and spear up the straight with not a hind of wheelspin or understeer.
The next 2 hairpins are quite difficult to master, I thought. The instructor taught me that my turn in point was too early, but once id waited until after the cone, I was able to “straight line it” better. This was the only part of the track I never really gelled with- I always felt like I was losing too much momentum here and although I improved, there def still room for more.
I love knickerbrook. This has always been my fave spectating point and it was just as much fun driving it as it was watching it. The ST excelled here- it gave me the confidence to really put the power down early and spear up the hill. A couple of times I came in a little too hot but a feathered throttle just tugged the nose back in line and away we went. The torque of my ST really showed here too- the instructor got me to shift up early so by the top of clay hill I was in 5th and flying…
Druids. Words cannot express how much I love this corner- its just utterly fantastic and very technical. I had spent the morning struggling here. Coming up clay hill I had been too far left which meant that in the braking zone I wasn’t straight which lead to some VERY hairy entries. Im talking back end stepping out and, subsequently, I didn’t enjoy it prior to my tuition.
My instructor got me to lift evvvvver so slightly just past the summit of clays, which let me get right over to the left, hugging the grass, but giving me a straight line into druids. “keep in the middle of the track”- those words still echo in my head and boy are they right. By doing this (id shifted down to 4th at this point) it puts you in the right position to attack the second apex and really get on the power early. Get it right and you do nothing- you just power through, clipping the apex and then let your car drift to the left of the track and under warwick bridge. I carried more and more speed through there to the point where most cars in front were having to really get out of my way as I fired up the straight towards Lodge…awesome.
Lodge is, for a FWD car, evil. You are really leaning on your brakes into here, to the point where you can easily outbrake yourself and turn in with some serious tail out action. Even if you get it right, the ST just wants to scrub its power away on the cambered uphill exit. My instructor tried to get me to straighten the wheel sooner, but I couldn’t seem to grasp this. Instead I was forced into feathering the throttle until I could grip. I got better but I never felt like I nailed it.
Through Deer’s leap and upto old hall is a breeze and a chance for a deep breath. The ST’s power here showed, pulling up the hill with gusto and hammering along the pit wall. Im told that at full chat it sounded sweet- my hi flow cats and miltek zaust barking like a WRC car.
Old Hall is quite straightforward- its very hard on the brakes into it, change down into 4th and then make sure you hit the apex on the way out- I found myself fighting with the wheel a couple of times here but the smoother I was in, the easier it became.
The run down to cascades is a test of nerve. You aim for the left hand side of the track then drift across to dentons for the best line into cascades. Not once did I keep my foot in it until he told me to as I new my brakes were struggling here. I was more comfortable braking earlier and getting my line into lakeside better, powering through in 4th and aiming for the small strip of tarmac on the right of the track…
I’ll come back now to island, and what happened when I threw caution to the wind and kept my foot in it in 5th gear at about 80-90mph…
Firstly, the feeling of understeer builds, the car wanting to push wide for what seems like forever. But push past this and it settles- no drama, nothing. It just grips and turns in, schything through the bend, the feeling of lateral g-force pulling you out of your seat. Getting it right was a revelation and took a lot of nerve- not just because of the fear of leaving the track, but also because no sooner had you got past that, you were hard on the brakes for the hairpin once again. You don’t want to be braking from 100mph in anything less than a straight line…
The ST…
Having had my lesson, I spent the rest of the afternoon putting all this into practice. The ST was well upto the task and just lapped up the punishment. It never failed to turn in, it powered up the straights with enough attitude to keep most things honest and, eventually, it even managed to impress me with its braking abilities.
Sure, a better braking setup would be ideal, but im not kidding myself that this is a big car, with a lot of power and in this respect it performed very well indeed. It didn’t use a drop of oil, the tyres are hardly worn and it got several nods of respect from other petrolheads.
The only drawback was, yup, you guessed it, the mpg! I was never expecting it to do very well here, and it was actually quite fun to chase a low figure, but im sure it wont surprise any of you to hear that I managed…11mpg…yup, you read it right! :lol:
I cannot wait to get back on track- it was everything I expected it to be and more. It was quite expensive (rough maths equates to about £300 for everything) but it was just so utterly absorbing and addictive.
For any of you wondering whether the ST is the right car to track, Id say go for it. Obviously mine is far from standard but it never failed to entertain. Its predictable, fast, agile (for a big-ish car) and comfortable (you really do need good seats when you are on track and the recaros were spot on).
The whole point of the the day was for me to realise a dream. It turned out to be a whole lot more than that, including an education into driving dynamics, and im just so pleased I took the plunge.
Im afraid ive found myself a very expensive hobby…
What a fantastic write up. I really felt like I was there. Sounds like you went to a great day and had a great time.
Shall look forward to the 2nd instalment.
Melindi
www.goldtrack.co.uk
Shall look forward to the 2nd instalment.
Melindi
www.goldtrack.co.uk
Nice write up. With respect to bedding in pads, the 150 miles of normal driving won't really have done a lot. A more reliable way is to go out and do half a dozen hard brakes from 60 to 10 without locking up the wheels. Each time allowing a couple of minutes normal driving between to let them cool. Then do the same from 80+ to 20. It sounds like you were bedding them in on the early laps by the way they got better in the later sessions. 
yes, ive heard mixed stories of how to bed in pads- i did do a couple of harder stops on the friday, but as you say, i did a lot more on sat morn!
was very impressed with them though- very progressive. I think the next time i track it i will look at uprating my brake fluid and maybe fit some braided lines as i rekon a little more confidence under braking would drastically help
was very impressed with them though- very progressive. I think the next time i track it i will look at uprating my brake fluid and maybe fit some braided lines as i rekon a little more confidence under braking would drastically help
Nice article about bedding in pads for you here:
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedinstock.sh...
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedinstock.sh...
Excellent write up, really good descpription of the course and the day. The instructor is just so uselful in helping you go faster.
ST did sound nice from the pit wall, I think someone in our group will have some videos to post up, keep looking on you tube.
I am looking forward to the next one now
Nick
ST did sound nice from the pit wall, I think someone in our group will have some videos to post up, keep looking on you tube.
I am looking forward to the next one now
Nick
cheers guys!
the brakes did get a bit of a workout after my tuition i must admit. Tell you what though, they are just superb now- i think i must have well and truly bedded them in!
Its one of those anal things but i would have liked to have heard what mine sounds like at full chat- i do have one vid but the sound isnt too great- Nick, your elise however, you CAN hear!
Cant get on youtube at work but will try and take a look at some point...
the brakes did get a bit of a workout after my tuition i must admit. Tell you what though, they are just superb now- i think i must have well and truly bedded them in!
Its one of those anal things but i would have liked to have heard what mine sounds like at full chat- i do have one vid but the sound isnt too great- Nick, your elise however, you CAN hear!
Cant get on youtube at work but will try and take a look at some point...
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