PCGB Track Day Silverstone - Monday 18th
Discussion
woollyjoe said:
Steve Rance said:
ChrisW. said:
Well give me a couple of hours to remind myself where the circuit goes, and I'm up for giving passenger rides ...
May also pick up a bit of local knowledge form the instructors !!
It’s easy. Flat everywhere. Don’t lift, don’t brakeMay also pick up a bit of local knowledge form the instructors !!
:-)
Yeah I was impressed to see some expensive things on track... I think there were two GT2 RS' as well as a Carrera GT. Also a lovely looking McLaren 675LT (who was very courteous and patient when I was going quite slowly on my first few laps 
)
We were also lucky to have sun, as my experience of Silverstone's microclimate is it's either hot, or rainy.
Sadly back to work today.
)We were also lucky to have sun, as my experience of Silverstone's microclimate is it's either hot, or rainy.
Sadly back to work today.
I had a great day, managed to shave a good few seconds off my times as the day progressed using the Porsche Track app (with an external antenna) and then going over the footage with Dino Zamparelli. He's a really good guy and it was great having him there.
Looking forward to the next one, any one going to Goodwood on the 8th August?
Looking forward to the next one, any one going to Goodwood on the 8th August?
So... having finally recovered... all i can say about yesterday is wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.
When i got up yesterday to head out the weather outside was in complete conflict to the weather forecast.... it was very wet.. and we were supposed to be expecting sun. Anyway... after some encouragement from my wife and reading that someone had seen 918 spyders in the Brackley area - I committed, jumped into the GT4 and made my way up to Silverstone.
59mins later i was at the circuit and followed in Number27 of YT fame in his Lotus Evora and another GT4 (White).
Cars were already on track for sighting laps. I hadn't actually booked.. was already sold out by the time i had decided - but thought i'd see if there were any no shows... and brilliantly - I was able to sign on, pay up and get briefed. I also bought a helmet from the Arai stand with my PCGB discount... went for an Arai GP-6S.
It was then straight out for my first laps! - I took instruction from Richard Ellis - Porsche Club Championship Race Winner.. he was great - patient, clear, and really helped me get dialled into the circuit, the lines and the performance envelope of the car.
Silverstone is a big circuit + long lap and initially a bit intimidating - but i soon got more comfortable.
Was going pretty well - and picking up speed and really really having a go... GT4 is such a great platform.
I did have a moment.. which i did correct and save... but it was a little bit heart in mouth..squeaky bum time....ChrisW had a first had view!! but it wasn't too bad according to him and i was in a tricky situation behind a slower car at the time which just threw me off at the end of that initiation run. I was also out of fuel so was worried about stopping on circuit. After that... discretion being the greater part of valour... had a cool down lap to get some more pick points from Rich and then it was back to the paddock to de-compress and get some fuel.
After a walkabout and chat, then went to refuel the car and myself with some lunch!
After lunch I went out for passenger laps with ChrisW in his tricked up GT4 - his suspension and brake setup is awesome... also he has the race harnesses fitted so was nice to be firmly in place in the 918 buckets.(might need to get mine fitted now!)
We completed around 10laps in about 35mins including to and from the paddock, warm-up and cool down laps.
All i can say is Chris can pedal, super fast and smooth and he is totally in tune with his car. Nothing came past us and we passed and dropped everything that was running at the same time as us including the so-called big-boy cars.
Just goes to show that all you need is the right tools in the right persons hands. My opinion is that unless you are a ninja master you don't really NEED more car than a GT4 - you can use all of the performance of the car and yourself - be fast, and be totally engaged and you are doing it all yourself. The new GT4 is going to need to be spectacular to best the current car... can't wait for announcements.
When we got back to the paddock, we caught up with the notorious D, had a chin-wag and he also showed us his new wagon and very nice it is too.. congrats.
I went out for a solo session of about 5 or 6 laps and then later with Richard again to get some more pointers and commentary on my progression throughout the day.. and thankfully there was some!. By the time i came back to the paddock that was 1630 and i decided after a final chat with ChrisW and some other PCGB guys that i'd quit whilst i was ahead and make my way home... the car was perfect all day and the drive home was really cool as well as i had a new feeling in the car... after driving so hard all day - even at 30 or 40% on the road you now have so much confidence in the ability of the car and also yourself.. actually makes road driving a bit more fun.
All in all - a fantastic day.... totally worth it, can't wait for the next one.
Special Thanks to ChrisW for the laps, advice and company, and the PCGB team that put together a brilliant event.
When i got up yesterday to head out the weather outside was in complete conflict to the weather forecast.... it was very wet.. and we were supposed to be expecting sun. Anyway... after some encouragement from my wife and reading that someone had seen 918 spyders in the Brackley area - I committed, jumped into the GT4 and made my way up to Silverstone.
59mins later i was at the circuit and followed in Number27 of YT fame in his Lotus Evora and another GT4 (White).
Cars were already on track for sighting laps. I hadn't actually booked.. was already sold out by the time i had decided - but thought i'd see if there were any no shows... and brilliantly - I was able to sign on, pay up and get briefed. I also bought a helmet from the Arai stand with my PCGB discount... went for an Arai GP-6S.
It was then straight out for my first laps! - I took instruction from Richard Ellis - Porsche Club Championship Race Winner.. he was great - patient, clear, and really helped me get dialled into the circuit, the lines and the performance envelope of the car.
Silverstone is a big circuit + long lap and initially a bit intimidating - but i soon got more comfortable.
Was going pretty well - and picking up speed and really really having a go... GT4 is such a great platform.
I did have a moment.. which i did correct and save... but it was a little bit heart in mouth..squeaky bum time....ChrisW had a first had view!! but it wasn't too bad according to him and i was in a tricky situation behind a slower car at the time which just threw me off at the end of that initiation run. I was also out of fuel so was worried about stopping on circuit. After that... discretion being the greater part of valour... had a cool down lap to get some more pick points from Rich and then it was back to the paddock to de-compress and get some fuel.
After a walkabout and chat, then went to refuel the car and myself with some lunch!
After lunch I went out for passenger laps with ChrisW in his tricked up GT4 - his suspension and brake setup is awesome... also he has the race harnesses fitted so was nice to be firmly in place in the 918 buckets.(might need to get mine fitted now!)
We completed around 10laps in about 35mins including to and from the paddock, warm-up and cool down laps.
All i can say is Chris can pedal, super fast and smooth and he is totally in tune with his car. Nothing came past us and we passed and dropped everything that was running at the same time as us including the so-called big-boy cars.
Just goes to show that all you need is the right tools in the right persons hands. My opinion is that unless you are a ninja master you don't really NEED more car than a GT4 - you can use all of the performance of the car and yourself - be fast, and be totally engaged and you are doing it all yourself. The new GT4 is going to need to be spectacular to best the current car... can't wait for announcements.
When we got back to the paddock, we caught up with the notorious D, had a chin-wag and he also showed us his new wagon and very nice it is too.. congrats.
I went out for a solo session of about 5 or 6 laps and then later with Richard again to get some more pointers and commentary on my progression throughout the day.. and thankfully there was some!. By the time i came back to the paddock that was 1630 and i decided after a final chat with ChrisW and some other PCGB guys that i'd quit whilst i was ahead and make my way home... the car was perfect all day and the drive home was really cool as well as i had a new feeling in the car... after driving so hard all day - even at 30 or 40% on the road you now have so much confidence in the ability of the car and also yourself.. actually makes road driving a bit more fun.
All in all - a fantastic day.... totally worth it, can't wait for the next one.
Special Thanks to ChrisW for the laps, advice and company, and the PCGB team that put together a brilliant event.
Edited by TDT on Tuesday 19th June 15:12
Edited by TDT on Wednesday 20th June 16:52
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