Snetterton Gold Track Day 12th October
Discussion
If you have read any of my previous posts you'll see that i'm quite a track day fan although this has been largly fed by passenger rides in a 968 and the odd other bit of kit while walking round the pit lane smiling while holding my helmet! (obviously the odd person feeling sorry for me). It peaked when I did palmersport sensation last year with leagleeagleboy and his son Harry who is my mate.
Well this all changed on wednesday when my best mate and I tracked a clio we co-bought. A 1993 Clio 1.8 16v that has had quite a bit of engine work done on by another friend who was a race-mechanic at Palmer Sport. After around 1000 road miles we were confident that there were no over heating problems and that she was ready to go.
Some work leading up to it involved an oil change, EBC brakes front and back (greenstuff) and a general check over (courtesy of my mates' dad - legaleagleboy).
So, the day finally arrived and it was decided that it would all kick off around 6.30 am with the journey from Northamptonshire to Norfolk. The car ran well there although I have to say that I had a bit of a nerve racking journey as I thought I would get the blame if it went 'bang' on the way there. I noticed all the temperature gauges were fine and it was running well.
We got there just before half 8 and quickly signed on and were given our number, 29. We got to the first briefing at around 9 and decided to go and get a bacon roll.
The nerves were mounting a bit as we saw the other vehicles that were there - as usual the normal array of 911's, elise's, nobles the odd caterham as well as the more exotic kit such as a 360 Modena.
We went out on the track with Harry driving first, the car went well and we gradually built up the pace. Brakes working well, car running great. Only concern was the tyres which were road tyres and fairly new which meant a lot of rubber to burn. I took over for the remainder of the first 30min session and all was well.
We had a lot of fun with an X plate Focus which we later learnt was a standard car other than triple 8 tyres which meant it was getting round corners quicker than some of the kit worth 10 times as much!
As usual we met lots of interesting people and the Clio held it's own on track. Never going to be the fastest car on a gold track day but quick enough and with handling that meant we were consistantly over taking 911's etc on corners as there were obviously less experienced drivers out there.
The circuit was ideal for our maiden run and as with every other 'first trackday' post has left us fed up with the realities of real life and eager for the next. We have now made a decision to sell the clio and try and get something even more race focused. With Harry at uni and myself having a company car a road going car isn't neccesary. Just hope we get a few more track days in before it goes - was so well set up and balanced the other critism was the tyres which can be sorted easily anyway.
Was anybody else there on wednesday - any thoughts or comments on the day?
If anyone wants more info on the clio feel free to e-mail me. Details in the cars for sale part of pistonheads.
Well this all changed on wednesday when my best mate and I tracked a clio we co-bought. A 1993 Clio 1.8 16v that has had quite a bit of engine work done on by another friend who was a race-mechanic at Palmer Sport. After around 1000 road miles we were confident that there were no over heating problems and that she was ready to go.
Some work leading up to it involved an oil change, EBC brakes front and back (greenstuff) and a general check over (courtesy of my mates' dad - legaleagleboy).
So, the day finally arrived and it was decided that it would all kick off around 6.30 am with the journey from Northamptonshire to Norfolk. The car ran well there although I have to say that I had a bit of a nerve racking journey as I thought I would get the blame if it went 'bang' on the way there. I noticed all the temperature gauges were fine and it was running well.
We got there just before half 8 and quickly signed on and were given our number, 29. We got to the first briefing at around 9 and decided to go and get a bacon roll.
The nerves were mounting a bit as we saw the other vehicles that were there - as usual the normal array of 911's, elise's, nobles the odd caterham as well as the more exotic kit such as a 360 Modena.
We went out on the track with Harry driving first, the car went well and we gradually built up the pace. Brakes working well, car running great. Only concern was the tyres which were road tyres and fairly new which meant a lot of rubber to burn. I took over for the remainder of the first 30min session and all was well.
We had a lot of fun with an X plate Focus which we later learnt was a standard car other than triple 8 tyres which meant it was getting round corners quicker than some of the kit worth 10 times as much!
As usual we met lots of interesting people and the Clio held it's own on track. Never going to be the fastest car on a gold track day but quick enough and with handling that meant we were consistantly over taking 911's etc on corners as there were obviously less experienced drivers out there.
The circuit was ideal for our maiden run and as with every other 'first trackday' post has left us fed up with the realities of real life and eager for the next. We have now made a decision to sell the clio and try and get something even more race focused. With Harry at uni and myself having a company car a road going car isn't neccesary. Just hope we get a few more track days in before it goes - was so well set up and balanced the other critism was the tyres which can be sorted easily anyway.
Was anybody else there on wednesday - any thoughts or comments on the day?
If anyone wants more info on the clio feel free to e-mail me. Details in the cars for sale part of pistonheads.
I'm surprised you didn't have any scarey moments on track braking using those pads.
While I think greenstuff are fine for road driving, they are scarey when any real heat is put into them. I had them for a short time on my car and after an eye-opening moment on a dual carriageway coming into a roundabout decided there and then to go for something that won't fade. Ferodo DS 2500.
Of course If I had triple 8 tyres on I could have simply pulled the handbrake and skidded sideways to a halt with plenty of room...
While I think greenstuff are fine for road driving, they are scarey when any real heat is put into them. I had them for a short time on my car and after an eye-opening moment on a dual carriageway coming into a roundabout decided there and then to go for something that won't fade. Ferodo DS 2500.
Of course If I had triple 8 tyres on I could have simply pulled the handbrake and skidded sideways to a halt with plenty of room...
Yeah I was up there instructing a female racer in an XR2, number 18 in the day. We were out in the same session as you.
That dickhead in the golf was really pissing me off, overtaking through corners because he couldnt wait until the straights.
We missed the last session as a rear wheelbearing gave up, but other than that she was doing reall well for her first go at Snett.
That dickhead in the golf was really pissing me off, overtaking through corners because he couldnt wait until the straights.
We missed the last session as a rear wheelbearing gave up, but other than that she was doing reall well for her first go at Snett.
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff