Goodwood 6.6.09 - absolutly spiffing what?
Discussion
It is a 105db day at Goodwood on 6.6.09 and if the weather is good it is set to be a good day. I love Goodwood, so civilized and calm, well organised and relaxed. The other thing for me is that I have previously done about 6 x track days at this venue and now feel that I know it well enough to really attack it hard and do it justice and I will also have the luxury of using a proper car too. It is more than likely that I will be campaigning a BMW M3 but there is an outside chance that I may have a 650bhp Ultima at my disposal, we will have to wait and see how the chips fall.
SimonV8ster said:
I've heard Goodwood is a bit of a scary place ? High speed and no real run off areas - whats it really like on track ?
Is it smooth or quite bummpy there ?
Smooth in parts. Bumpy in parts. Famous bump mid-first-corner. Very, very fast twice in the lap. Final couple of corners blend into one another is a very misleading way. I don't like the chicane at the end. Seems fiddly, somehow.Is it smooth or quite bummpy there ?
On balance I like it and it's relatively local to me as well.
Having been to the revival meetings for several years it's a circuit I'd always wanted to drive.
I did it with BaT in Feb on a glorious spring like day in my R300. I found it a bit boring after a while to be honest none of the corners are particularly technical only 1 corner to really worry about & that's Woodcote as it's at the end of a long fast straight & little run off if you are coming in too hot. Only 1 big off that day, an RX7 lost it out of Chicane & went into the wall opposite the pit lane entrance.
Don't get me wrong it's a lovely place & the marshalls & staff are very helpful & friendly, lunch in the paddock is very nice but pricey, all organic from the Goodwood Farm.
I did it with BaT in Feb on a glorious spring like day in my R300. I found it a bit boring after a while to be honest none of the corners are particularly technical only 1 corner to really worry about & that's Woodcote as it's at the end of a long fast straight & little run off if you are coming in too hot. Only 1 big off that day, an RX7 lost it out of Chicane & went into the wall opposite the pit lane entrance.
Don't get me wrong it's a lovely place & the marshalls & staff are very helpful & friendly, lunch in the paddock is very nice but pricey, all organic from the Goodwood Farm.
Goodwood is lovely - I always smile when people say they've done one track day and got the hang of it. It's much more technical than you think - and can lull you into a false sense of security - all the big corners can bite you back when you start to get too relaxed and think you know it.
Great track - very fast, and with the 105db days you get plenty of sapce on track without worrying about some half wit looming up behind you in the braking zones.
Great track - very fast, and with the 105db days you get plenty of sapce on track without worrying about some half wit looming up behind you in the braking zones.
croftsj said:
...only 1 corner to really worry about & that's Woodcote...
And THERE my friend is the false sense of security that you do not want to get into 
Granted, GW is not an overly technical track and can seem a little boring after a while but because it is a relatively fast circuit, a small error can have a catastrophic outcome so I find you must have your wits about you at all times
This will be my 7th visit to this track and it is only now that I feel confident enough to go as fast as I am able. My favourite bit of the track is Fordwater, it has taken me a fair while but I now have the confidence to take it flat and for me, that makes all the difference to completing a decent lap.
I am particularly looking forward to 6.6.09 as after being involved with doing the track thing for several years now I think that my ability and the car I now use are at last some kind of match and arriving at this stage is a very satisfying moment indeed.
I will be in a hastily prepared ( not toot though ) '94 BMW M3. It has big AP's, stiff Leda coil overs and SLICKS amongst a host of other enhancements. It is a bold statement I know but if I can muster the ability I am sure I will have a cohesive and rewarding package. I will be returning the day after for Supercar Sunday and so am looking forward to next weekend on more than one level.
) '94 BMW M3. It has big AP's, stiff Leda coil overs and SLICKS amongst a host of other enhancements. It is a bold statement I know but if I can muster the ability I am sure I will have a cohesive and rewarding package. I will be returning the day after for Supercar Sunday and so am looking forward to next weekend on more than one level. Good man Wayne, glad to see you've got a real taste for your local track.
Think I've been there 3 times now. All in the 964C2. First time, you'll remember Wayne, I couldn't get it at all.
The double apex Madgwick entry had me almost heading in the grass under braking to get a late turn in (a little like getting on the access road at Paddock), Fordwater had me bottling it at I lifted every time and then struggled to get the speed back on the run down to No Name. At No Name you kind of head almost off the track as you brake at the lat minute. St Mary's (due to my early turn in) had me skipping and drifting almost on the grass on the exit. The next series of corners Lavant, I was struggling on my first trip, trying to set a constant radius through the whole thing I was pusing the car more and more, but the rear was stepping out mid corner, so again I lost speed down to Woodcote.
Woodcote is another ballsy corner where you eye can be taken with the tyre wall rather than the line. And the final chichane was just a blur of pedal activity, that some times found the right gear speed and line.....and others not!!
But!!
After a couple of recent trips and a stiffening of the front ARB between them, I now find more confidence and the car is on limit through Madgwick, flat through Fordwater, late into St Mary's taking a nice slice of curb in the dry and then controlled on the throttle through lavant with the car just braking it's nose away at it clips the grass on the exit.
Woodcote for me still is the big corner. I find taking a wheel of curb on the infield side means I can get on the power and run on to the exit curb at it's last section ready to slam on the anchors and flatten the chichane.
Early power out of here and the lap is complete!!! And you come on the straight waving at the crowd with your inside front wheel!!!
All the best with it wayne - sorry I can't make it
Think I've been there 3 times now. All in the 964C2. First time, you'll remember Wayne, I couldn't get it at all.
The double apex Madgwick entry had me almost heading in the grass under braking to get a late turn in (a little like getting on the access road at Paddock), Fordwater had me bottling it at I lifted every time and then struggled to get the speed back on the run down to No Name. At No Name you kind of head almost off the track as you brake at the lat minute. St Mary's (due to my early turn in) had me skipping and drifting almost on the grass on the exit. The next series of corners Lavant, I was struggling on my first trip, trying to set a constant radius through the whole thing I was pusing the car more and more, but the rear was stepping out mid corner, so again I lost speed down to Woodcote.
Woodcote is another ballsy corner where you eye can be taken with the tyre wall rather than the line. And the final chichane was just a blur of pedal activity, that some times found the right gear speed and line.....and others not!!
But!!
After a couple of recent trips and a stiffening of the front ARB between them, I now find more confidence and the car is on limit through Madgwick, flat through Fordwater, late into St Mary's taking a nice slice of curb in the dry and then controlled on the throttle through lavant with the car just braking it's nose away at it clips the grass on the exit.
Woodcote for me still is the big corner. I find taking a wheel of curb on the infield side means I can get on the power and run on to the exit curb at it's last section ready to slam on the anchors and flatten the chichane.
Early power out of here and the lap is complete!!! And you come on the straight waving at the crowd with your inside front wheel!!!
All the best with it wayne - sorry I can't make it
i love the track at Goodwood, have drivien it now a couple times. very fast track with little error allowed. like the above, st mary's is my favourite corner.
it may not be challenging however to get it right out there is hard and takes a while to link all up together.
Alonso visited the track and was reported in saying that it was one of the fastest and most dangerous tracks he had ever driven!
it may not be challenging however to get it right out there is hard and takes a while to link all up together.
Alonso visited the track and was reported in saying that it was one of the fastest and most dangerous tracks he had ever driven!
SimonV8ster said:
B*llocks - sold out now 
Sure there was places last time I looked !!
Hi Simon Sure there was places last time I looked !!Not sure if this is any use to you, but I was booked onto this day myself with my Exige S, but my car has just gone to Lotus with engine problems & it's doubtful it will be fixed for this saturday. I've just called Kate, the track planner at Goodwood, and advised her of my situation and they are now trying to find someone to fill my spot.
If you give Kate a call on 01243 755060 you may be able to take my place on the day.
Alex
Edited by Alexbturbo on Monday 1st June 14:39
Well, what an excellent day!
The weather looked a little dodgy but stayed dry and warm-ish
Behaviour on track was exemplary
There was tea and cake at three
And just to top it all off my new track dog, Spot II, was quick as hell and did not miss a beat all day so I was well pleased
Roll on 26.7.09 as if all goes well I hope to be back at my favourite track in something quite awe inspiring - my 650bhp Ultima GTW, fingers crossed 'eh
The weather looked a little dodgy but stayed dry and warm-ish
Behaviour on track was exemplary
There was tea and cake at three
And just to top it all off my new track dog, Spot II, was quick as hell and did not miss a beat all day so I was well pleased
Roll on 26.7.09 as if all goes well I hope to be back at my favourite track in something quite awe inspiring - my 650bhp Ultima GTW, fingers crossed 'eh
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