Back from Folembray
Discussion
Cheers to Ted - top weekend as ever, you even arranged the weather again, must tell me who you call for that...
Thanks (and my most humble apologies) to Jonny and Helen at BaT for beating up the elise.
Firstly, my true sypathies to my fellow PHers involved in incidents, it was a harsh day for several friends out there, and it's never a laughing matter. Again I stress that nobody got hurt.
For my part I'm happy to talk about what happened to me, [see further down], but others will speak in their own time so until they do it's best left.
Anyway, on a brighter note
Flasher - lovey car sir, quite the business I am soooo jealous!
MikeE - caterhams are where it's at, proper real driving in fact, that passenger session has opened my eyes - [so a mondeo + a trailer it may well be!
].
Incorrigable - I couldn't have asked for a better co-pilot, a true gent who refused to stop grinning despite my best efforts to scare you to death. Not to mention your incredible car control on your first trackday - I take it the secret is to have owned a capri! More commitment mate
mungo - at last I meet the man. Top bloke.
So I figure these are the pictures that are going to come back to haunt me, so I figure I might as well be first to post them.
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/fol2003/flying.jpg
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/fol2003/parked.jpg
I was lucky, in that the damage doesn't seem to be major (buckled wheel, wingmirror, bent trailing arm, scuffs to paint as far as I know). And yes I'm going to go out and find someone brave enough to teach me to drive.
Superstition dictates that I was paying back some kind of karmic debt, for running over a suicidal moggy on the way to the track. (I'm still feeling guilty about it now
)
Logic suggests that I entered the corner at far too high a speed to make the turn.
I'm more of a logic man myself, but while I decide I'm tucking into a Desperate Dan size humble pie.
Chers all for a great weekend, take care and see you next time, if they'll let me back.....
>> Edited by mr_tony on Sunday 11th May 22:52
Thanks (and my most humble apologies) to Jonny and Helen at BaT for beating up the elise.
Firstly, my true sypathies to my fellow PHers involved in incidents, it was a harsh day for several friends out there, and it's never a laughing matter. Again I stress that nobody got hurt.
For my part I'm happy to talk about what happened to me, [see further down], but others will speak in their own time so until they do it's best left.
Anyway, on a brighter note
Flasher - lovey car sir, quite the business I am soooo jealous!
MikeE - caterhams are where it's at, proper real driving in fact, that passenger session has opened my eyes - [so a mondeo + a trailer it may well be!
]. Incorrigable - I couldn't have asked for a better co-pilot, a true gent who refused to stop grinning despite my best efforts to scare you to death. Not to mention your incredible car control on your first trackday - I take it the secret is to have owned a capri! More commitment mate
mungo - at last I meet the man. Top bloke.
So I figure these are the pictures that are going to come back to haunt me, so I figure I might as well be first to post them.
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/fol2003/flying.jpg
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/fol2003/parked.jpg
I was lucky, in that the damage doesn't seem to be major (buckled wheel, wingmirror, bent trailing arm, scuffs to paint as far as I know). And yes I'm going to go out and find someone brave enough to teach me to drive.
Superstition dictates that I was paying back some kind of karmic debt, for running over a suicidal moggy on the way to the track. (I'm still feeling guilty about it now
) Logic suggests that I entered the corner at far too high a speed to make the turn.
I'm more of a logic man myself, but while I decide I'm tucking into a Desperate Dan size humble pie.
Chers all for a great weekend, take care and see you next time, if they'll let me back.....
>> Edited by mr_tony on Sunday 11th May 22:52
Just to add my thanks to all those who made the weekend so special - the organisers, and most importantly, those who provided the spendid show during the day, and in the bar afterwards!
It was an an absolute pleasure to put names and faces to nicknames and opinions, and may I offer my commiserations to my fellow off roaders - no bones broken, so let's all be thankful.
I think we'd all agree that there were one or two places with room for improvement (directions that actually worked, and a map - that's spelt M A P - to the venue might have proved useful, as would a semi-competent kitchen crew!).
But whoever ordered up the weather deserves a truly heartfelt vote of thanks - especially given that we were greeted by that liquid British sunshine on the way home!
Once again, a top weekend and thanks to you all for making it so.
It was an an absolute pleasure to put names and faces to nicknames and opinions, and may I offer my commiserations to my fellow off roaders - no bones broken, so let's all be thankful.
I think we'd all agree that there were one or two places with room for improvement (directions that actually worked, and a map - that's spelt M A P - to the venue might have proved useful, as would a semi-competent kitchen crew!).
But whoever ordered up the weather deserves a truly heartfelt vote of thanks - especially given that we were greeted by that liquid British sunshine on the way home!
Once again, a top weekend and thanks to you all for making it so.
What was the matter with the kitchen crew? They were all smiles, and actually seemed to like English people - not to be taken for granted these days I can tell you.
Special mentions for making it fab (sorry I don't know the names as I was a little preoccupied (/scared!) to be gladhanding):
- AS One and driver. What a fab looking car! Flames and everything, looked right at home.
- 350C (Flasher?). I'm now very keen to have one of those. Beautiful (the car), and clearly one of the quickest.
- Silver Elise (no, not that one...). Must have sat on the wall watching you come round the last two bends about fifteen times, and every one was an object lesson in taking things very nearly too far. My heart was in my mouth. Priceless.
- Black Radical. Very fast indeed. Ballsy stuff.
- PistonheadsS4C: Petrolted? Black suit with red piping? Following those Elises in sideways? A real treat to watch, and what a sound from the barely-silenced V6.
- Ariel Atom (nice driver who nicked the funnel). Like nothing else. I do hope the car is okay.
- Porsche 944s2. Looked lovely, menacing, full of latent potential...
- BMW Z3, M3, a blue Caterham...Thanks for keeping me company when I started to think I should be trundling around the carpark at Leroy Merlin rather than mixing it with some frankly outrageous machinery. Disappointing not to see the Fiesta out there.
To everyone - thanks for your considerate, skillful driving. Hope to do it again soon. Oh, and can we go around the other way next time? My offside tyres don't look the same anymore.
edited to say:
- Dark blue, very sideways Chimeara with the new lights. Well done that man!
- The nice lady who lent Susie her helmet. Thanks very much indeed.
>> Edited by castex on Monday 12th May 09:12
Special mentions for making it fab (sorry I don't know the names as I was a little preoccupied (/scared!) to be gladhanding):
- AS One and driver. What a fab looking car! Flames and everything, looked right at home.
- 350C (Flasher?). I'm now very keen to have one of those. Beautiful (the car), and clearly one of the quickest.
- Silver Elise (no, not that one...). Must have sat on the wall watching you come round the last two bends about fifteen times, and every one was an object lesson in taking things very nearly too far. My heart was in my mouth. Priceless.
- Black Radical. Very fast indeed. Ballsy stuff.
- PistonheadsS4C: Petrolted? Black suit with red piping? Following those Elises in sideways? A real treat to watch, and what a sound from the barely-silenced V6.
- Ariel Atom (nice driver who nicked the funnel). Like nothing else. I do hope the car is okay.
- Porsche 944s2. Looked lovely, menacing, full of latent potential...
- BMW Z3, M3, a blue Caterham...Thanks for keeping me company when I started to think I should be trundling around the carpark at Leroy Merlin rather than mixing it with some frankly outrageous machinery. Disappointing not to see the Fiesta out there.
To everyone - thanks for your considerate, skillful driving. Hope to do it again soon. Oh, and can we go around the other way next time? My offside tyres don't look the same anymore.
edited to say:
- Dark blue, very sideways Chimeara with the new lights. Well done that man!
- The nice lady who lent Susie her helmet. Thanks very much indeed.
>> Edited by castex on Monday 12th May 09:12
Cheers to all ... it was good to see you.
635 miles, 5 tanks of fuel, 1/2 litre of oil, 276,458 bugs and another 5000 stone chips !!
If you want a day to remember then take a drive to Folembray and an afternoon session on track followed by a return to blighty that evening is splendid fun. Although a little taxing !!
Roof was off from 5am Saturday morning until we arrived home at 10:30pm !
635 miles, 5 tanks of fuel, 1/2 litre of oil, 276,458 bugs and another 5000 stone chips !!
If you want a day to remember then take a drive to Folembray and an afternoon session on track followed by a return to blighty that evening is splendid fun. Although a little taxing !!
Roof was off from 5am Saturday morning until we arrived home at 10:30pm !
Paul V said: Enjoyed our day trip over, thanks to Gavin for taking me round in the wedge, and Johno for the organising the ferry etc, didn’t take much persuasion to get you out on track
Well it had been a while
Needed to get it out of the system etc etc ... all I need to do now is sort out some brake pads and Dot5.1 so we haven't got to spend the first 50 miles of the trip home trying not to use what little brakes were left
castex said: What was the matter with the kitchen crew?
Not the restaurant crew, they were very nice! I was referring to the people backstage murdering delicious ingredients!
castex said:- Ariel Atom (nice driver who nicked the funnel). Like nothing else. I do hope the car is okay.
Excuse me... I borrowed the funnel and then offered everyone in the pit lane the full jerry can of fuel that I sadly no longer needed! (and I put the funnel back afterwards neatly too - well brung up, see!)
)P.S. Pikey's done the business with his photos as usual... www.pikeynet.com
I was sooooooooo sad to come home
great roads there and back, wonderful relaxed pace of life in the areas we were. Friendly natives, pleasant hotel too
track day was superb , what a fantastic little circuit .. can see why you guys travel all that way - one day not enough though and shame about the T2000 sound man at the pit wall
big thanks to Danny L-T - you can borrow the S for the next ones, it's gravel-friendly
Nice cars there, Alex's locost is a gem .. nice build sir. Ross's Cat Blackbird is soo pretty. yum.
The AS-One guys were terrific, hi to jeremy and Felix if they're on here - car looks great but you need more power teehee.
See you all next time?
great roads there and back, wonderful relaxed pace of life in the areas we were. Friendly natives, pleasant hotel too
track day was superb , what a fantastic little circuit .. can see why you guys travel all that way - one day not enough though and shame about the T2000 sound man at the pit wall
big thanks to Danny L-T
- you can borrow the S for the next ones, it's gravel-friendly Nice cars there, Alex's locost is a gem .. nice build sir. Ross's Cat Blackbird is soo pretty. yum.
The AS-One guys were terrific, hi to jeremy and Felix if they're on here - car looks great but you need more power teehee.
See you all next time?
I can't believe how quickly people are getting pics and videos up already!
To help put names to faces/nicknames, the silver Elise going sideways alot is mine, and the green one is Jimbo's (of Jimbocam.com fame). Sorry if I didn't put names to cars to faces myself, I'm a bit cr@p at remembering that sort of thing.
For those who asked "how to do it" etc. apologies if my replies were a little obfuscative (hey I learned a new word yesterday from this forum!) but there are several reasons for this:
(1) I'm not a qualified instructor so I don't feel I have the right to tell people how to drive (apart from SWMBO when she did a few sessions in my car and thoroughly enjoyed herself)
(2) To be honest I can't quite explain it myself and (3) Even if I could explain the technique the last thing I'd want to happen is to tell someone how to drive an Elise sideways and then watch them go out and put it in the wall. I've spent 3 years learning about driving my Elise on the limit at Bookatrack airfield days and trackdays in the UK and Europe and IMHO Folembray is not the circuit to start trying this stuff for the first time cos it bites if you get it wrong.
Hangon this sounds like it's turning into a lecture, that's not what I intended!
I'm more than happy to give passenger rides and did a few yesterday although a couple of people asked me at about 5:25pm when it was too late to take them out.
I think I've matched up some in-car footage with one of the clips on HairyMoments. I think this:
www.hairymoments.co.uk/videos/elisesilver2.avi
Looks like this from the inside:
www.bookatrack.com/g2/mattd/332/1389.PitsLetGo.mpg
Don't try this at home kids. You won't find "let go of the steering wheel" in any driving instruction manual.
Anyway enough waffling, just to say it was another truly fantastic day and next time lets all go round wearing appropriate name badges so we know who everyone is
To help put names to faces/nicknames, the silver Elise going sideways alot is mine, and the green one is Jimbo's (of Jimbocam.com fame). Sorry if I didn't put names to cars to faces myself, I'm a bit cr@p at remembering that sort of thing.
For those who asked "how to do it" etc. apologies if my replies were a little obfuscative (hey I learned a new word yesterday from this forum!) but there are several reasons for this:
(1) I'm not a qualified instructor so I don't feel I have the right to tell people how to drive (apart from SWMBO when she did a few sessions in my car and thoroughly enjoyed herself)
(2) To be honest I can't quite explain it myself and (3) Even if I could explain the technique the last thing I'd want to happen is to tell someone how to drive an Elise sideways and then watch them go out and put it in the wall. I've spent 3 years learning about driving my Elise on the limit at Bookatrack airfield days and trackdays in the UK and Europe and IMHO Folembray is not the circuit to start trying this stuff for the first time cos it bites if you get it wrong.
Hangon this sounds like it's turning into a lecture, that's not what I intended!
I'm more than happy to give passenger rides and did a few yesterday although a couple of people asked me at about 5:25pm when it was too late to take them out.
I think I've matched up some in-car footage with one of the clips on HairyMoments. I think this:
www.hairymoments.co.uk/videos/elisesilver2.avi
Looks like this from the inside:
www.bookatrack.com/g2/mattd/332/1389.PitsLetGo.mpg
Don't try this at home kids. You won't find "let go of the steering wheel" in any driving instruction manual.
Anyway enough waffling, just to say it was another truly fantastic day and next time lets all go round wearing appropriate name badges so we know who everyone is
Where did I put the takingabow smily
castex said: - Dark blue, very sideways Chimeara with the new lights. Well done that man!
- The nice lady who lent Susie her helmet. Thanks very much indeed.
although not as sideways as that silver elise (or Jimbo for that matter) And I'll pass on your thanks to Mrs Inc for the lid
What an abso-bloody-lutely top top top weekend, so good to put more nnames to faces. Really wanted to speak to everyone but didn't have enough time
Special mentions
Ted and Johnny - Top organisation
Leadfoot - Sorry for forgetting your name about a million times
Jimbo - Sorry for spinning when I took you out as a passenger
Mrs Carzee - Sorry for spinning when I took you out as a passenger
Graham - Sorry for spinning when I took you out as a passenger
Alison - Sorry for nearly spinning when I took you out as a passenger
Jimbo - thanks for the passenger ride
Mr Tony - No thanks for the passenger ride
what you need is more commitment mate 
Bonce, it was the BaT elise, though it looks spectacular, the damage is rather more to my pride, confidence and bank account rather than to the car as far as I understand.
Still now I know where the limit is on that hairpin in an elise, can I borrow yours next time
Fiesta was 'exectutive' transport to and from track. (and easily outpaced flashers T350 thing all the way back to Calais )
>> Edited by mr_tony on Monday 12th May 11:19
Still now I know where the limit is on that hairpin in an elise, can I borrow yours next time
Fiesta was 'exectutive' transport to and from track. (and easily outpaced flashers T350 thing all the way back to Calais
) >> Edited by mr_tony on Monday 12th May 11:19
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