SPA FRANCORCHAMPS 25-27TH May...PORSCHE CLUB.BE
Discussion
The best three Track Days ever on THE GREATEST Circuit in the World bar none....wall to wall Porsche, everything more or less track orientated, madness prevailed a la European overtaking everywhere, you had to join in the fun and games or quickly be eaten....This was truly an event for the pure enthusiast, great seeing, the Krauts, Frogs, Dutch and the rest turn up mainly in their 64RS/93RS/96RS/97RS 800 participants a lot of Safety/Fire Car/Chopper...Those boys don't hold back...
carreraboy said:
The best three Track Days ever on THE GREATEST Circuit in the World bar none....wall to wall Porsche, everything more or less track orientated, madness prevailed a la European overtaking everywhere, you had to join in the fun and games or quickly be eaten....This was truly an event for the pure enthusiast, great seeing, the Krauts, Frogs, Dutch and the rest turn up mainly in their 64RS/93RS/96RS/97RS 800 participants a lot of Safety/Fire Car/Chopper...Those boys don't hold back...
A very good friend of mine was there in his red 993 RS...was crapping himself on a few occasions at ole Johnny Foreigners track etiquette!
....it was just like the Antwerp ring road on a Friday afternoon.
>Any observations (assuming you've been there before the changes) would be welcome.
La Source is now wider, so you will have to defend your line on entry...
Exiting La Source, you will carry more speed into Eau-Rouge, so there will be a bit more braking before turning right into Raidillon... Can still take Eau-Rouge flat out though...
Stavelot (curve at the karting track) now has a LARGE run-off. You should feel a lot more confident to carry speed and be aggressive through this critical curve which conditions speed through Blanchimont 1 and 2...
The new chicane is not difficult. It is shaped like a tight right-left chicane but:
1) The track is wide coming from Blanchimont. Defending line is critical under braking...
1a) PilotPaul advises to fully warm up brakes before being too aggressive there... I agree with him ;-)
2) There are odd changes of camber through the chicane and it is easy to de-stabilise the car...
3) Exit of the chicane has a wide run-off. I did not experiment with using run-off but it might be worthwhile...
I would definitely sacrifice line for defense on entry and then aim either for tight exit (off the rumble strip) or wide exit (in the run-off area)...
Other than that, no other changes. I have driven on the track for too many years to count...
La Source is now wider, so you will have to defend your line on entry...
Exiting La Source, you will carry more speed into Eau-Rouge, so there will be a bit more braking before turning right into Raidillon... Can still take Eau-Rouge flat out though...
Stavelot (curve at the karting track) now has a LARGE run-off. You should feel a lot more confident to carry speed and be aggressive through this critical curve which conditions speed through Blanchimont 1 and 2...
The new chicane is not difficult. It is shaped like a tight right-left chicane but:
1) The track is wide coming from Blanchimont. Defending line is critical under braking...
1a) PilotPaul advises to fully warm up brakes before being too aggressive there... I agree with him ;-)
2) There are odd changes of camber through the chicane and it is easy to de-stabilise the car...
3) Exit of the chicane has a wide run-off. I did not experiment with using run-off but it might be worthwhile...
I would definitely sacrifice line for defense on entry and then aim either for tight exit (off the rumble strip) or wide exit (in the run-off area)...
Other than that, no other changes. I have driven on the track for too many years to count...
PhilRS said:
>Any observations (assuming you've been there before the changes) would be welcome.
La Source is now wider, so you will have to defend your line on entry...
Exiting La Source, you will carry more speed into Eau-Rouge, so there will be a bit more braking before turning right into Raidillon... Can still take Eau-Rouge flat out though...
When I raced there before I realised that I didn't need to brake for Eau Rouge (that may change now), just a slight lift, but the exit was much better going way left of the white line i.e. not making a left turn when going up/cresting the hill. This carries much more speed up the steep inclince and then onto the long uphill straight, so makes a big difference to lap time. Also, in practise I saw a lot of people in my rear view mirror staying within the lines, then spinning into the left hand barrier at the top (wet track).La Source is now wider, so you will have to defend your line on entry...
Exiting La Source, you will carry more speed into Eau-Rouge, so there will be a bit more braking before turning right into Raidillon... Can still take Eau-Rouge flat out though...
However, I just read in the regs that we are not allowed to have 4 wheels across the red & white kerb - where are the kerbs and will this mean I have to take the uphill bit as a left hander?
PhilRS said:
The new chicane is not difficult. It is shaped like a tight right-left chicane but:
1) The track is wide coming from Blanchimont. Defending line is critical under braking...
1a) PilotPaul advises to fully warm up brakes before being too aggressive there... I agree with him ;-)
2) There are odd changes of camber through the chicane and it is easy to de-stabilise the car...
3) Exit of the chicane has a wide run-off. I did not experiment with using run-off but it might be worthwhile...
This used to be a very sharp left-right to begin with - is it completely different now?1) The track is wide coming from Blanchimont. Defending line is critical under braking...
1a) PilotPaul advises to fully warm up brakes before being too aggressive there... I agree with him ;-)
2) There are odd changes of camber through the chicane and it is easy to de-stabilise the car...
3) Exit of the chicane has a wide run-off. I did not experiment with using run-off but it might be worthwhile...
996TT_STEVO said:
I just heard from good source that it was a bit of a free for all last week (don't think it was any secret anyway!), fuk hope the 6th/7th isn't like that!
He stated it was like they didn't give a shit and was just as bad as dodgems at the fare.
The Autotrack Days ay Spa will be tame in comparison from now on having tasted the Real Thing....Good or Bad, He stated it was like they didn't give a shit and was just as bad as dodgems at the fare.
The Frogs/Dutch/Krauts/Spanish/Swiss/Scando/Belgos etc just seem to have tha Fun Factor without any bullshit....I was running 115db flat out, taking and been taking on all three sides kept you alert with some clever boxing going on, learnt a lot....you had to adapt pretty quick...best Porsche Meet ever...
carreraboy said:
996TT_STEVO said:
I just heard from good source that it was a bit of a free for all last week (don't think it was any secret anyway!), fuk hope the 6th/7th isn't like that!
He stated it was like they didn't give a shit and was just as bad as dodgems at the fare.
The Autotrack Days ay Spa will be tame in comparison from now on having tasted the Real Thing....Good or Bad, He stated it was like they didn't give a shit and was just as bad as dodgems at the fare.
The Frogs/Dutch/Krauts/Spanish/Swiss/Scando/Belgos etc just seem to have tha Fun Factor without any bullshit....I was running 115db flat out, taking and been taking on all three sides kept you alert with some clever boxing going on, learnt a lot....you had to adapt pretty quick...best Porsche Meet ever...
Yeah was well organised! I was there with a customer in his 996 porca and I have to say the revisions to the track are for the worse! Really don't like the new wider track and the very tight bus stop. I guess this is what modern F1 does to classic old track 
At least it was only done to two corners!
Wall to wall with Porsche's, you can say that again, on my demo laps, I was 4 abreast on the run to les combe haha... Awsome sight so many Porsche though.
www.seanedwards.eu
At least it was only done to two corners!Wall to wall with Porsche's, you can say that again, on my demo laps, I was 4 abreast on the run to les combe haha... Awsome sight so many Porsche though.
www.seanedwards.eu
Edited by Sean Edwards on Friday 1st June 11:15
well, Belgians aren't known for their discipline on the road and they are even worse on the track. But I think it is actually good fun to overtake on either side, outbrake others, pass on the outside etc... rather than the clinical UK track days. At times, it was quite competitive but you do need to use your mirrors.
I personally dislike the new chicane, but at least they left the important corners, Raidillion, Pouhon and Blanchimont as is/was
PS I happened to be Sean's customer. Money well spent. I thought I knew the limits on my car until he took over the wheel for a few laps battling it out, my old MK1 against what must have been a tuned 996 Turbo (seemed to have MUCH more power than a 997 GT3RS), fighting for 5 laps to get past until he managed to push the other guy to make an error. You wouldn't be allowed to have such fun in the UK
I personally dislike the new chicane, but at least they left the important corners, Raidillion, Pouhon and Blanchimont as is/was
PS I happened to be Sean's customer. Money well spent. I thought I knew the limits on my car until he took over the wheel for a few laps battling it out, my old MK1 against what must have been a tuned 996 Turbo (seemed to have MUCH more power than a 997 GT3RS), fighting for 5 laps to get past until he managed to push the other guy to make an error. You wouldn't be allowed to have such fun in the UK
Edited by maximu5 on Friday 1st June 11:26
Edited by maximu5 on Friday 1st June 17:37
996TT_STEVO said:
carreraboy said:
996TT_STEVO said:
I just heard from good source that it was a bit of a free for all last week (don't think it was any secret anyway!), fuk hope the 6th/7th isn't like that!
He stated it was like they didn't give a shit and was just as bad as dodgems at the fare.
The Autotrack Days ay Spa will be tame in comparison from now on having tasted the Real Thing....Good or Bad, He stated it was like they didn't give a shit and was just as bad as dodgems at the fare.
The Frogs/Dutch/Krauts/Spanish/Swiss/Scando/Belgos etc just seem to have tha Fun Factor without any bullshit....I was running 115db flat out, taking and been taking on all three sides kept you alert with some clever boxing going on, learnt a lot....you had to adapt pretty quick...best Porsche Meet ever...
Nice carrerboy, bet that was fun, not! Did you get out of it ok?
Yeah Tom, he would not let us past would he... I am too used to UK track days and having to be cautios when overtaking, not in Belgium I have learnt! You can overtake, inside, ouside, backwards and over the roof if you need too!!! I am always careful when driving someone elses car though, would hate for someone like carrerboy to loose me in the mirror and turn in!
www.seanedwards.eu
PS, what about Eau Rouge, how can you forget about that corner Tom?!
Yeah Tom, he would not let us past would he... I am too used to UK track days and having to be cautios when overtaking, not in Belgium I have learnt! You can overtake, inside, ouside, backwards and over the roof if you need too!!! I am always careful when driving someone elses car though, would hate for someone like carrerboy to loose me in the mirror and turn in!
www.seanedwards.eu
PS, what about Eau Rouge, how can you forget about that corner Tom?!
Des,
If you push on the pedal on the right you will go faster!
Managed to get the 996TT to spin off at Pouhon. Would not let me though the Vanker!
Now which way to go? Right or Left. Left it was. Same thing next lap. Chasing a 993RS. He was drifting it through the first turn so I nailed him on the exit.
I even passed some numpty mid Pouhon in the Sport section. First for me. Normally they are fully committed.
I had no problems with other drivers whatsoever and this is my 3rd year there.
I once did a Autotrack day at Spa and never again! Nobody new the lines and I got hit at Les Combes by an optomistic Caterham mid corner!
PCSF is the best organisation bar none. Puts PCGB to shame! I waited for over a month for a valuation before going and was phoning bloody Steve Kelvin as I was boarding the ferry to get him to get the finger out!
Still no notification from my insurers! Well I am off to join the PCSF!
Bye Bye Des!
If you push on the pedal on the right you will go faster!
Managed to get the 996TT to spin off at Pouhon. Would not let me though the Vanker!
Now which way to go? Right or Left. Left it was. Same thing next lap. Chasing a 993RS. He was drifting it through the first turn so I nailed him on the exit.
I even passed some numpty mid Pouhon in the Sport section. First for me. Normally they are fully committed.
I had no problems with other drivers whatsoever and this is my 3rd year there.
I once did a Autotrack day at Spa and never again! Nobody new the lines and I got hit at Les Combes by an optomistic Caterham mid corner!
PCSF is the best organisation bar none. Puts PCGB to shame! I waited for over a month for a valuation before going and was phoning bloody Steve Kelvin as I was boarding the ferry to get him to get the finger out!
Still no notification from my insurers! Well I am off to join the PCSF!
Bye Bye Des!
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