PH @ Spa & the Ring

[4wheel drifter]

simonpac said:

Sorry, didn't get to run with you guys. I was supposed to be there for both days. The first, Wednesday, being a present to my dad who did most of the driving till he stuffed it at the exit of Eau Rouge. He totally missed the entry, span at the apex on the hill, forgot to lock the wheels up with the brake and decided the barrier was the best place to slow the car down. Not nice being a passenger, especially when I'd been gesticulating a whole lap for him to back off as he was driving like a loon for his experience. Why, why, didn't I send him in to the pits to cool off. Oh well hindsight eh. Only up side, won a load of dosh at the casino that night which will pay for a few suyspension pieces. Dad managed to take out the front nose, rear body work, side pod, all the right side suspension, a few brake lines, rear wing and uprights on my once lovely black Radical SR4. Sympathy please!

I sympathise!! I happened to be looking at the pit monitor at the time it happened - Im glad you explained how he managed to hit the barrier that far off the line, I feel easier now. Had a leery 360 in Exige myself at the adverse camber right hander (Bruxelles?) but managed to miss everything and kept brakes on!

[LeeP-CS]

Hey all,

I was at Magny Cours, Spa and Nurburgring. Notice quite a few of the cars there. Roo - I saw you guys at Spa and then Friday at Nurburgring. I was in a party of 4: me in the red Stripey Megane, a blue Imprezza STI, Blue escort cossie and a yellow Seat Leon.

We had a superb time - wish we could have stayed for the full weekend but funds were DEFFO running low towards the backend.

Only the Leon had issues - turbo coming away from the engine 3 times and half way around the ring its water pump gave in. Nitemare.

Looks like you had as much fun as we did. I looked out for you at Spa in the afternoon - I'm wanting a Megane Trophy and was dying to hitch a ride from you. Maybe next time ...

Regards

Lee

[bad_roo]

That Trophy was the most fun, especially with the Dunlop Formula-R tyres on it. A real giant killer, even on a quick circuit like Spa. We took to hanging around the pit lane stalking Ferraris in it. The guy in the F40 looked rather disgruntled when he got overtaken.

Wass that the same Cossie that decided to go for an unmanned excursion in the paddock?

>> Edited by bad_roo on Wednesday 27th July 14:04

[LeeP-CS]

That would be the one, aye! Hydraulic handbrake - he knew it would lose the pressure as it cooled down. Made the mistake of not leaving it in gear. He was so so lucky! It could have been a hell of a lot worse had the kerb not been there. That lovely pole hanging over the straight could have been a new bridge!

Yeah, the 360 Spider was being hunted by Steve in the scooby - always fun taunting Ferrari's and the like.

What you think to the Porshce cup (orange wing mirrors - insane or what?).

The tyres on the Trophy were pretty sweet. Your car or that of a Magazine?

[ze_shark]

bad_roo said:

We took to hanging around the pit lane stalking Ferraris in it. The guy in the F40 looked rather disgruntled when he got overtaken.

While I can conceive the fun of overtaking Ferraris in a Clio, you may misinterpret their driver's disgruntled faces. I could not care less who overtakes me, but I do care about the risk of being taken out in the process. Thought about the consequences of taking someone off because you missed your breaking point or spun ?
Don't mean to patronize, but the primary purpose of these trackdays is to have fun, and a good recipe for fun is to make sure that everyone drives their cars back home in one piece.

[bad_roo]

Very true. Couldn't agree more. I also feel that when a car appears in your rear view mirror on the track, it's there because - and this may come as a bolt out of the blue to some - it's faster than you are and common courtesy dictates that you let it by.

While the day was impeccably organised by Goldtrack, the standard of courtesy on the track amongst some of the drivers was sorely lacking. To be honest, I was shocked and disappointed. When a driver treats you with a lack of respect, it's only natural that you derive a certain enjoyment from subsequently seeing them fall off (as long as no damage or injury results from it).

[tail slide]

bennno said:

With rain assistance I managed to do a 720' spin in the Monaro, but remained on the narrow track throughout, narrowly missing armco on both sides!! Phew, still I got a cheer from the spectators. Bennno

Narrow 'ring ... huge Monaro .... 720 =

You earned that cheer Sir! I provoked the TVR into a 360 out of Brunchen, which felt quite enough, thank you.

Glad we didn't join the statistics...

[tail slide]

Bad Roo...

A black M3 lunged up my inside at Spa while committed in a long corner drift in the Exige hire car. Nearly gave my passenger a heart attack, but I had to hold the line & he backed off without spinning.
NOT clever.

[bad_roo]

LeeP-CS said:

me in the red Stripey Megane

These things are faster than speeding bullets.

[LeeP-CS]

hehehe - cool!
Bit of fun eh? Any more pics?

Lee

[gtdc]

I saw him do it too. My brain was going.... that can't be happening... that bloke doesn't drive like that...click... I signed his dad on this morning... that's Christmas knackered then...

[bad_roo]

gtdc said:

I saw him do it too. My brain was going.... that can't be happening... that bloke doesn't drive like that...click... I signed his dad on this morning... that's Christmas knackered then...

gtdc - am I right in thinking you're the blonde lass who asked my boss if he had a Burberry helmet for his Evo? If so, that caused many sniggers amongst the boys.

[4wheel drifter]

I was also in the Track Club Exige at Spa, two things:

When I was entering the Bus Stop flat in 5th; about to brake, a Radical came past - fair enough , but it would have been nice to have known he wanted to pass me first. Split second later as I hit the brakes another Radical came past - yes obviously they can brake later and quicker, but hell, how does he know what I'm going to do? To top that a blue Porsche came past as I am turning in! They were clearly racing.

Secondly - and believe me I love track driving, especially Spa - it was observantly stated in the pits that there was to much "testosterone around today". We all need to temper the adrenaline and thrill with remembering the basic rules of Track Days - otherwise go out and get a competition licence and go racing. I am happy to help anyone who wants to do that as I have raced for 15 years. Just don't have me off on a Track Day!

[tail slide]

4 Wheel Drifter
Also enjoyed your revealing piece on Clio handling - always found them interesting. I gather the Mk2 is less 'beastly', but probably less fun on track!

[ze_shark]

Posted pics of Spa 07/21 & the Ring on 07/22 at http://zeshark.blogspot.com

[tail slide]

Very thorough write up, Ze Shark. How do you find the time?!

[=J=]

tail slide said:

Bad Roo... A black M3 lunged up my inside at Spa while committed in a long corner drift in the Exige hire car. Nearly gave my passenger a heart attack, but I had to hold the line & he backed off without spinning. NOT clever.

3 words here have taken my interest - "Exige hire car".

Please could you let me know how to sort this out ?

Thanks,

J.

[stringer_m]

J the Exige is one of our cars www.track-club.com

We have a range of cars from a 205GTi right up to a Radical SR3 1500 Supersport.

We provide a range of service from you collect and tow to full arrive drive.

We operate as a club but also provide access to the cars for day hire to non-members. We also try to maintain a presence at most Goldtrack and RMA days where we typically take 2 or 3 cars from the fleet and provide them for session hire (15 or 30 mins).



>> Edited by stringer_m on Thursday 4th August 09:28

[4wheel drifter]

Yes, its called Track Club.

Here is a link:

www.track-club.com/index.htm

[bad_roo]

Mat Becker from Lotus was out with us at Spa. He'd done a lot of work developing the Exige S1 and wa giving the car the once over. I thought it was pretty priceless when one of the guys asked him if he'd ever driven an Exige.