An annoying evening at Brands Hatch

[crmcatee]

Popped up to Brands Hatch to catch the track day this evening.

Met up with some folks - Tony Hetherington, Vixpy, Garlick and a couple of others.

Amongst the regulars blasting round the track (pics to follow) Jaguar were demonstrating their latest offerings (all of which had a plethora of Supercharged badges on them) and PH had managed to blag some rides as passengers. Garlick kindly offered one to me and duly signed on - we joined the small queue for our rides. TonyH had been blasting round in the XKR and had came in and we were due to swap skid lids to enable me to go out. Just as I was about to get into the car I was stopped and advised I wouldn't get the ride. The reason - It was a nice day and I was in my shorts. Annoyed - oh yes.

Shortly afterwards I opted to head home prior to the end of the session - unfortunately I hadn't taken the Cobra instead opting for my normal mode of transport - my trusty Landrover 110 Defender complete with the roof tent. Access to the pit section of Brands is via a tunnel which I had driven through - 3.3.M high - the Landy total height is 2.4m. Well it may be 3.3m going in - but going back out is 2.2m. End result is that I was stuck there until the end of the track day. How bloody stupid is that.

Oh the Jag that 'broke down' had only had fuel starvation as it reached the end of the tank due to the dips in Brands.

Garlick - the last time I went up/down the A(M)74/M6 there were rozzer cam's on the bridges near the services.


Apart from that a lovely night out..

[GTIR]

At least you spent some quality time with PH glitterati.

Maybe next time don't wear shorts/drive Landy/get angry!

Sounds like you did enjoy it a smigen?

[Romanymagic]

Hey my evening involved crawling out of Blackheath one way system, down to the A2/A102, Kent bound was stop start all the way to Falconwood, managed to get some good progress with the bikes using the local turnoff lane but otherwise, naff! Your evening was def better my friend!

[rex]

Was also at Brands this evening. Did not get a chance to go in the Jags but they sounded very nice and did not hang about.

It was my first time around Brands and was excellent. Also got my first black flag . Had a big drift round Paddock Hill bend which sharpened the senses and got me noticed by the organisers. Have to say though they were very nice and the event was well organised.

Can't wait till next track day.

[Mobile Chicane]

'Track days' require arms and legs to be covered. Why should an informal evening be any different?

[speedychrissie]

crmcatee said:

track day
I wouldn't get the ride. The reason - It was a nice day and I was in my shorts. Annoyed - oh yes.

Have you been on trackdays before? This may come across as aggressive and I apologise for that, but isnt it obvious that shorts are not allowed for trackdays? On every trackday I have been to it has been very clearly stated both beforehand and on the day that legs and arms must be covered.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I was there too but didn't speak to anybody

Had a nice drive out anyway.

[collateral]

Shorts?! You utter savage!

[deviant]

speedychrissie said:

crmcatee said:

track day
I wouldn't get the ride. The reason - It was a nice day and I was in my shorts. Annoyed - oh yes.

Have you been on trackdays before? This may come across as aggressive and I apologise for that, but isnt it obvious that shorts are not allowed for trackdays? On every trackday I have been to it has been very clearly stated both beforehand and on the day that legs and arms must be covered.

I'm guessing the OP was not planning on being asked if he wanted to go out on track and as such did not prepare for such an event.

[crmcatee]

deviant said:

I'm guessing the OP was not planning on being asked if he wanted to go out on track and as such did not prepare for such an event.

Correct - I had went along to take some pics and meet up with folks - didn't expect to be going round and if folks had read the original post you would have read that only due to PH blagging were the rides available something I only found out about whilst there.

Next time I'll be prepared. The Jags did look and sound sublime.

[speedychrissie]

crmcatee said:

I had went along to take some pics and meet up with folks

Ah, right I see now. Yes re-reading your post I get that now, but I think I failed to pick up on that initially, and thought you went for the trackday to drive. Apologies.

[matt frost]

speedychrissie said:

crmcatee said:

track day
I wouldn't get the ride. The reason - It was a nice day and I was in my shorts. Annoyed - oh yes.

Have you been on trackdays before? This may come across as aggressive and I apologise for that, but isnt it obvious that shorts are not allowed for trackdays? On every trackday I have been to it has been very clearly stated both beforehand and on the day that legs and arms must be covered.

Not in a hardtop. I have never seen that enforced before, only in cars without a roof do you need arms and legs covered. I have seen people in shorts before with no issue.

[speedychrissie]

matt frost said:

speedychrissie said:

isnt it obvious that shorts are not allowed for trackdays? On every trackday I have been to it has been very clearly stated both beforehand and on the day that legs and arms must be covered.

Not in a hardtop. I have never seen that enforced before, only in cars without a roof do you need arms and legs covered. I have seen people in shorts before with no issue.

Out of the 9/10 trackdays I have been to I have only been to one where thar rule was not enforced! And even on that day the organisers made mention of it in the breifing but then said that because it was so warm they would allow shorts and t-shirts, but only for hard-tops. On other trackdays I have seen people pulled into the pits just to be told to roll down their sleeves.

[s.m.h.]

Goodwood enforce covered arms even in tintops. Is it only MSV that allow bare arms?

How many on here were on circuit for the evening and if so in what?

[crmcatee]

These are some of vehicles that were running last night.

September 2009 Track Evening

Having looked closed at the occupants of the cars - lots of short sleeves - even the Jag drivers are short sleeved.. C'est la vie.

[mattdaniels]

crmcatee said:

Well it may be 3.3m going in - but going back out is 2.2m. End result is that I was stuck there until the end of the track day. How bloody stupid is that.

Couldn't you have snuck down the "in" tunnel to get out?

[matt frost]

Both MSV and Circuit Days, the 2 organisers I use most, have never differed from the short sleeves are fine in hardtop's rule. They never go over whether shorts are ok but I have seen people in them before with no issue. They do say arms and legs need to be covered in cars without a roof though. Not calling you wrong, just sharing my experience with it. Must have been a jobsworth.

My funniest experience was a lady at Snetterton. Said we weren't allowed a small fire extinguisher in the car and said I couldn't drive without gloves. Never heard that before, anywhere. But after talking to the fire guy he said it was fine and she never questioned the gloves again. Strange though.

[zakelwe]

If it makes you feel better I wasn't allowed either because of my shorts. My shorts went down to below my knees too, rather than being 118118 stylee !

It seems rather a strange rule, I can understand it if you had to wear fire proof clothing but as you don't I doubt long trousers would give you much more protection, actually there is less to catch fire. OK, if it was pillion on a motorbike, that's a different story.

Rules is rules though.

Regards
Andy

[fergus]

speedychrissie said:

matt frost said:

speedychrissie said:

isnt it obvious that shorts are not allowed for trackdays? On every trackday I have been to it has been very clearly stated both beforehand and on the day that legs and arms must be covered.

Not in a hardtop. I have never seen that enforced before, only in cars without a roof do you need arms and legs covered. I have seen people in shorts before with no issue.

Out of the 9/10 trackdays I have been to I have only been to one where thar rule was not enforced! And even on that day the organisers made mention of it in the breifing but then said that because it was so warm they would allow shorts and t-shirts, but only for hard-tops. On other trackdays I have seen people pulled into the pits just to be told to roll down their sleeves.

Wait until you're tapped in a car that's on fire, then see how valuable even basic coverings are (shell suits excepted - you'll shrink wrap yourself ). An engine fire last year at the 'Ring would have a been a lot worse for me had it not been for the nomex clothing I was wearing. It will of course never happen to you or your car until the sudden moment when it does happen due to an unforeseen accident/incident. Take care out there folks!

[TrackdayBill]

If you speak to race control nicely they will organise for the marshals to temorarily shut the in tunnel for you to go out through.....