RE: PH Visits: Blyton Park Circuit
Discussion
sparkyhx said:
looks a nice driving track, but and this is a big but, there seems to little in the way of passing places that leads to frustration with faster cars and or people getting pushed into going faster than they feel comfortable and making mistakes. The direction doesn't help either as if you are passing someone on the left you are on the inside of the track possibly approaching fast on the bend in the wrong position on the road.
It looks a possibly dangerous track for a track day despite the run offs.
The track runs anti-clockwise and on Javelin Trackday events at Blyton we have overtaking on the right. Works very well. Also because cars are accelerating out of corners in lower gears compared to a race circuit overtaking is a much simpler operation. Hope that puts your mind at rest on that point.It looks a possibly dangerous track for a track day despite the run offs.
We occasionally have to have a word re watching mirrors but that can happen anywhere not just Blyton. Port Froid simply has to be treated with respect, it will bite. We find the same on airfields when the corners have no hard barriers to intimidate them drivers get braver.
RacingPete said:
Dan - Did that Audi suffer from lots of under steer coming out of the corners on the track surface?
Pete - I wanted to discuss that in the roadtest but ran out of words but, yes, I did find the front end somewhat lacking in bite. In R8s I've driven previously you could push through that with power and it would blend nicely into neutral or even oversteer which is why you'll have noticed me getting on the power early in that vid ... only to get more understeer. On that 2nd gear left at the track entry it'd settle into a bit of a drift but when I kept my foot in expecting a nice, progressive slide with my 30% of front driven torque to pull me straight like other R8s I've driven it just went into a huge and rather embarrassing tank slapper. More fool me for not catching it and there's only so far I can blame the tools at my disposal but it didn't feel quite as 'friendly' as others I'd driven. In fairness the tyres were fairly shot and it was very, very hot too so the track temp won't have been doing it any favours. That said it never seemed to have as much front end grip as I'd have liked, be that on turn in or exit. I'd like a go on fresh tyres before damning it completely though. Dan Trent said:
Pete - I wanted to discuss that in the roadtest but ran out of words but, yes, I did find the front end somewhat lacking in bite. In R8s I've driven previously you could push through that with power and it would blend nicely into neutral or even oversteer which is why you'll have noticed me getting on the power early in that vid ... only to get more understeer. On that 2nd gear left at the track entry it'd settle into a bit of a drift but when I kept my foot in expecting a nice, progressive slide with my 30% of front driven torque to pull me straight like other R8s I've driven it just went into a huge and rather embarrassing tank slapper. More fool me for not catching it and there's only so far I can blame the tools at my disposal but it didn't feel quite as 'friendly' as others I'd driven. In fairness the tyres were fairly shot and it was very, very hot too so the track temp won't have been doing it any favours. That said it never seemed to have as much front end grip as I'd have liked, be that on turn in or exit. I'd like a go on fresh tyres before damning it completely though.
I watched the video on silent at work, so didn't here the power - but was just watching the amount of lock you had to have on after the apexes, and sometimes you were putting more lock on post apex, it just seems there wasn't much front grip and the car was pushing through. I know the track looks tight but I would expect the steering to be winding off at the very least, and with nice four wheel drift be neutral-ish. I must admit the R8s I have driven seemed to be pretty neutral, but I have never pushed one on track to see what it really does at 10/10ths, so interesting to hear your comments.You're generous in your appraisal - I'd be tempted to say I was overdriving it somewhat! But it's interesting, I was watching an in-car I did with the GT3 RS 4.0 and you can just tell from the steering inputs that the car is just so much more balanced and I had much more trust in the front end and throttle. Different car, different day, different track so not necessarily a fair comparison but where in the GT3 you can feel every nuance of what's going on and the relationship between what you're doing at the controls and how that translates to the track I couldn't help thinking there was a layer of filtration going on in the R8. Under power out of that long left-hander sometimes it would hook up and drive from the rear with a nice neutral balance, sometimes it would pull from the front and others still you'd get the impression it was trying to decide where to send the power.
Which is a shame because, like I say, every R8 I've driven thus far has been quite keen to settle into easily caught, easily held and very flattering quarter of a turn of lock drifts should you so wish. This needed a bit of trail braking to really convince the nose to turn in, though it was better in the Sport mode for some reason. Not sure why as the suspension is fixed rate but it must have been something to do with the throttle sensitivity and/or torque distribution. And on the exit the transition from understeer to exit stage left backwards was very sudden!
Which is a shame because, like I say, every R8 I've driven thus far has been quite keen to settle into easily caught, easily held and very flattering quarter of a turn of lock drifts should you so wish. This needed a bit of trail braking to really convince the nose to turn in, though it was better in the Sport mode for some reason. Not sure why as the suspension is fixed rate but it must have been something to do with the throttle sensitivity and/or torque distribution. And on the exit the transition from understeer to exit stage left backwards was very sudden!
Great track and great host management.
Perfect track for all drivers inc novice - expert.
More vids
http://youtu.be/JODKHpLJP9E
http://youtu.be/mwdkaviwsC4
Perfect track for all drivers inc novice - expert.
More vids
http://youtu.be/JODKHpLJP9E
http://youtu.be/mwdkaviwsC4
A few from the Supercar Driver trackday. Great to have the facility nearby and no noise limits is another big plus!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mJFbA8gAOs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SreCJH1qQ-U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZg_kBpHxM0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mJFbA8gAOs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SreCJH1qQ-U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZg_kBpHxM0
RacingPete said:
I watched the video on silent at work, so didn't here the power - but was just watching the amount of lock you had to have on after the apexes, and sometimes you were putting more lock on post apex, it just seems there wasn't much front grip and the car was pushing through.
I've nowhere near the experience of you or Dan, but I noticed that too (hard not to)...wondered if it was car, circuit or driver (no offence meant here Dan, this was third on the list). Sounds like a mix of 1 and 2...Definitely looks like a circuit for the Caterfields, MX5s and old-school hot-hatches though, but with that surface it could be rather entertaining...
...as long as you can get the nose hooked-up, eh?!?
Always nice to see more tracks appear as options.
This latest one looks rather bland and flat though. I'd not rush to it.
Perhaps I'm spoilt living near Oulton, and enjoying the Ring visits, but I couldn't see any reason to use Blydon unless you live near it. Other tracks like Cadwell have a reason to go that makes them different.
This latest one looks rather bland and flat though. I'd not rush to it.
Perhaps I'm spoilt living near Oulton, and enjoying the Ring visits, but I couldn't see any reason to use Blydon unless you live near it. Other tracks like Cadwell have a reason to go that makes them different.
JavTrack said:
The track runs anti-clockwise and on Javelin Trackday events at Blyton we have overtaking on the right. Works very well. Also because cars are accelerating out of corners in lower gears compared to a race circuit overtaking is a much simpler operation. Hope that puts your mind at rest on that point.
We occasionally have to have a word re watching mirrors but that can happen anywhere not just Blyton. Port Froid simply has to be treated with respect, it will bite. We find the same on airfields when the corners have no hard barriers to intimidate them drivers get braver.
Overtaking on the right would deffo help, TBH I've never done a track day on a anticlockwise track so just assumed the standard overtake on the left would be used.We occasionally have to have a word re watching mirrors but that can happen anywhere not just Blyton. Port Froid simply has to be treated with respect, it will bite. We find the same on airfields when the corners have no hard barriers to intimidate them drivers get braver.
I have experience going too fast into a bend on the wrong side of the track, when I did it while being overtaken, I ended up spinning mid corner cos I was going too fast for my position on the track/line into the bend - fortunately nobody hit me, but it wasn't nice.
Straights still look on the short side though - but the nice mix of bends looks interesting - I like slower technical tracks - I don't mind admitting I don't have the gonads for fast bends, but in slower technical sections I'm a lot better.
Scottie - NW said:
Always nice to see more tracks appear as options.
This latest one looks rather bland and flat though. I'd not rush to it.
Perhaps I'm spoilt living near Oulton, and enjoying the Ring visits, but I couldn't see any reason to use Blydon unless you live near it. Other tracks like Cadwell have a reason to go that makes them different.
I know what you mean, but at Oulton my fav section is Shell - through to knickerbrook - I'm fast on this secttion, but like I said I just don't have the nuts for Cascades, Island, Druids, and Lodge to do them justice.This latest one looks rather bland and flat though. I'd not rush to it.
Perhaps I'm spoilt living near Oulton, and enjoying the Ring visits, but I couldn't see any reason to use Blydon unless you live near it. Other tracks like Cadwell have a reason to go that makes them different.
I think thats why I liked Donington a few weeks ago - with the exception of Craner, I felt I could push myself without feeling downright terrified.
Edited by sparkyhx on Thursday 4th August 14:51
I will definitely be making a visit to Blyton soon, its fairly close to me too.
From the video's I seen, I think it could be improved if some kurbs are laid down on more of the corners (normal circuit kurbs, not upright jobbies).
You have to remember that this is a new circuit, hopefully the owners will listen to feedback and improve/change parts over time.
From the video's I seen, I think it could be improved if some kurbs are laid down on more of the corners (normal circuit kurbs, not upright jobbies).
You have to remember that this is a new circuit, hopefully the owners will listen to feedback and improve/change parts over time.
quite fun to read comments from people saying it looks bland and too narrow when they havent even driven it. i've got a 6l v8 lump with 500bhp and it was fine for that, no overtaking issues at all apart from one person who didnt use his mirrors and was flagged out of the way, same as happens at most trackdays with newbies.
give it a go, then post your comments, the track is quite a drivers cct and has some really quick bends which will push you and your car if its quick.
the only slight tweak it needs i feel is a wider pitlane take off lane, as cars going down it slow your entry into that bend if you are coming past, but other than that the surface is superb, i had loads of grip.
give it a go, then post your comments, the track is quite a drivers cct and has some really quick bends which will push you and your car if its quick.
the only slight tweak it needs i feel is a wider pitlane take off lane, as cars going down it slow your entry into that bend if you are coming past, but other than that the surface is superb, i had loads of grip.
We have been to Blyton twice and have booked two more days there. Everybody who attended the days really enjoyed the circuit and a good number of them are or did re-book to go again.
It is difficult to judge a circuit simply by a video...you need to drive it. Try it is is great fun.
Mike
It is difficult to judge a circuit simply by a video...you need to drive it. Try it is is great fun.
Mike
I went to an MoT day at Blyton yesterday in the '5 and it was absolutely cracking, plenty of interesting corners and a novelty going anti-clockwise. There were loads of RX8s there, so plenty of watching in the mirrors for them coming past on the straights. 
Oh, and the hospitality was fabulous.
Oh, and the hospitality was fabulous.
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