Bedford - Monday 19th May, big off

Bedford - Monday 19th May, big off

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Discussion

Chr1sch

Original Poster:

2,585 posts

192 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
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Had my first trackday on Monday alas as a passenger, but an amazing experience and one that's reassured me of driving standards to a degree where I'd be willing to take my own car...

Saw a huge off about an hour in with a beautiful and tadtefully modded 06 m3 Cs being put on its roof!

Was it anyone on here? Glad to see that driver/passenger were ok but a very humbling reminder not to go to mad!

Overall Bedford (full circuit) seems like a great track for a newbie, I'm now off to buy a cheap trackday car!! (Clio 16v's were flying around all day long, c63 with a lunched gearbox less so...)

Cheers

Chris

tharriso

108 posts

124 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
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There's a vid on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unEONw5-x9s

I seen a Nissan 350z do the same thing and take out the pitlane armco a few years ago.

EmmaJ

4,525 posts

145 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
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yikes

That's quite scary considering Bedford is one of the safer tracks.

PetrolTed

34,424 posts

302 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
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Nasty.

I love Bedford but the location of that pit exit isn't great.


StoatInACoat

1,352 posts

184 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
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First half of that video brought back great memories of trying to lift the inside rear wheel on that bend and makes me want to sort my st out and go again. Second half yikes

boxsey

3,574 posts

209 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
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PetrolTed said:
Nasty.

I love Bedford but the location of that pit exit isn't great.
Scarey that the marshal was letting a car on to the circuit without realizing the M3 was heading towards them!

Chr1sch

Original Poster:

2,585 posts

192 months

Friday 23rd May 2014
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Yeah he missed the Nova by about 3 ft at best, very sobering, lovely car too

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Saturday 24th May 2014
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I've done Bedford many times and am amazed that that can happen.

For me, (chimaera with Triple 8s) going too fast round that bend means drifting 4 wheels across the track in a controlled fashion.

I can only assume he attacked the corner far too fast resulting in the rear braking away and instead of hanging on the brakes to control and slide to the "safe"outside of the bend, hung on to the throttle in a Cavalier way that resulted in almost taking someone else out!

Glad I wasn't in his way.

Hope he was black flagged whistle

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Saturday 24th May 2014
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boxsey said:
PetrolTed said:
Nasty.

I love Bedford but the location of that pit exit isn't great.
Scarey that the marshal was letting a car on to the circuit without realizing the M3 was heading towards them!
Chr1sch said:
Yeah he missed the Nova by about 3 ft at best, very sobering, lovely car too
The Marshall is there to check wristbands and count the number of cars on track.

It is up to the individual to ensure the exit is clear before joining the track, (which is very wide there).

Cars are always on the outside of that bend and generally stay there for a while before cutting across to the right to take the next left hand bend.




OT, hi Ted, did a sprint at Curborough yesterday, you should give it a go, 'twas a tight dicapline!

PetrolTed

34,424 posts

302 months

Saturday 24th May 2014
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smile I remember Curborough. Did visit some years ago for a Westfield event. Must be a bit full on in your Tiv!

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Saturday 24th May 2014
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PetrolTed said:
smile I remember Curborough. Did visit some years ago for a Westfield event. Must be a bit full on in your Tiv!
Certainly was.

They've lengthened the track with a crossover.

loads of tailslides but only a couple of spins.

resulted in one of the quickest times of the day although I couldn't touch a local in a Tuscan, he was epic!

brillomaster

1,241 posts

169 months

Saturday 24th May 2014
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i was there... in fact i distinctly remember it as we were waiting behind this BMW in the pit lane, as they'd got to the end of the pit lane, but then decided to faff around with harnesses... i suspect it might have been a passenger turned first time driver.

yeah its a tricky corner, with some experience it can almost be taken flat, but its got a bit a camber change on the exit, seen loads of people spin through there.

bassdirect

9 posts

144 months

Monday 26th May 2014
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Glad the M3 guys were ok! Other than that was a brilliant day. I was there in a white Clio 16v and a good few friends too.


16v_paddy

360 posts

191 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
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Was an impressive turnout for us Mk1 Clio owners biggrin Here's mine




and a few others






Chr1sch

Original Poster:

2,585 posts

192 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
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Clio's were massively impressed, i've been watching ebay ever since

The guy in the red one with black wheels was a nutter lol - seriously fast little car

There was a lovely dark blue 172 very low with williams wheels - was a stunner!

Felt sorry for the bloke whose wheel fell off!

Crippo

1,180 posts

219 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
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Here is my video of the day following David Yu of Evo Magazine around....Note I looked before pulling out of the Pits...its not difficult..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa4ia_l7Uic


Incidentally I heard that the BMW had an instructor in the car with him and the driver was being urged on but then bailed mid corner and lifted....also heard that the air bags didn't go off.

Chr1sch

Original Poster:

2,585 posts

192 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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Yes that rings true regarding the instructor, saw a guy who I believe was one just after the crash

Not sure about lifting, sounds pretty committed in the video and from what I can remember

I also seem to recall the passenger airbag went off...

Hope it was insured!

MPowerMark

712 posts

205 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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I was standing in the pit lane when this happened and saw everything. Saw a few cars nearly lose it coming onto the straight.

As for the C63 with the gearbox issues. You may be referring to me. I was in the black c63 with black alloys. There were two others, all facelift models that did not seem to be there in the evening. Suffering from a overheating MCT Gearbox like i was probably and decided to sod off.

Good day out though. The weather was perfect. Once Mercedes sort out the overheating issues on my car (not holding my breath) i will be back to Bedford for some more fun.

sumo69

2,164 posts

219 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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Mark - I hope you enjoyed the passenger ride in my GTR.

It was a good day but soured by this - gladly nobody hurt and very close to being much worse.

There was a very well known instructor aboard - perhaps he over estimated the drivers ability??

Anyone there on the day got any video or You Tube links showing my silver GTR??

David

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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I watched the video last night and it's pretty shocking! It goes to show that no matter how safe a circuit may appear, if you are sliding sideways there is a big risk of rolling when you hit a change in gradient or surface grip.