Advice wanted - Oulton Park 24th August

[16v_paddy]

I'm just after a bit of advice/pointers for this track as it will be my 1st time there.
This isn't my 1st track day, I've been to Castle Combe twice and once to Bedford.
I'm just a bit nervous as I've seen a few videos of this circuit & it does look rather tight & intimidating in a few places so would like to know about any particular areas where a track day novice has a higher chance of coming unstuck.

I think my nervousness comes from a recent trip to Donington Park, been a spectator there many a time but never actually out on the circuit until recently as a passenger. I'd also never been on a track that has significant elevation changes and to be perfectly honest I pretty much st myself the 1st time we went through Craner Curves it took quite a few laps before I felt safe going through there at a decent pace. From the videos I've seen I think the start of the downhill bit into cascades will have a similar effect on me.

[E31Shrew]

Did a Formula Ford course there a few years ago. The only part that was a bit hairy was the final corner before the start / finish straight

[Steve H]

Druids is the point where people traditionally throw it off but there's plenty of other tempting opportunities!

Just take your time while you get a feel for the circuit and you'll be fine. Also get instruction mid-morning, it will transform the way you drive the circuit.

[GC8]

As above, Druids has claimed a number of lives and is far more of a danger than Lodge - Deer Leap...

Edited by GC8 on Sunday 21st August 14:43

[worldwidewebs]

Just get yourself booked in for some tuition. Not only will your driving improve, but you'll be shown the best lines round the circuit. It'll be the best £20 or whatever that you'll ever spend - in fact, if you don't knock a minimum of 5-10 seconds off your first laps I'd be amazed.

Oulton is the best circuit in the country imo - certainly on a different level to Donington.

[boxsey]

As said, instruction is a must for Oulton Park. Good instruction will calm your worries. Once you get into it, it's a beautifully flowing circuit. An instructor will show you where there is room that is not immediately apparent e.g. the exit of Lodge is unsighted - your instinct will be to try and keep the car tight to the right whereas an instructor will teach you to let the car move to the left and use all of the track so that it remains balanced and on the correct line for Deer leap.

There will be a buunch of us going. See you there.

[jackwood]

As has been mentioned above Druids is probably the trickiest corner. The main issue with it is that there is a marked difference in grip level at this corner. As you approach it you will see that there is a change in the Tarmac. The Tarmac through this corner has significantly less grip than the rest of the circuit, PARTICULARLY in the wet!! When the track is wet this corner is lethal. Even regulars at Oulton will considerably reduce pace through there in the wet. on the exit there is a nasty bump that unsettles a lot of cars just as you're putting the power on. Again, take that easy for the first few sessions.

Other place to be careful is island bend just on the approach to Shell Oils. It is very fast and there isn't much room for error on either side if you spin it there.

Other than that, enjoy it! It really is one of the very best circuits in the country.

[Fergusond]

I too find Oulton a bit daunting after Donington, I've tried it twice and never made a good job of it, its a fast track with some corners you need to commit to. So I'll be there in my old silver 911 (993) concentrating on my lines and braking points.

See you there, hope its fine!

David

[996TT_STEVO]

Just pin it!

[16v_paddy]

Thanks for the pointers guys I'm much better informed than I was a few days ago so I'm sure this will help make the day more enjoyable.

The weather is also looking like it'll mostly be dry as well so should be good I'll be in my clio & with a friend with his silver mk2 clio, what's everyone else driving so I know who to try & say hello to - if I get chance to do something other than drive & be paranoid about breaking something on my car

[boxsey]

We'll be the three Porsche 964s. Black, yellow and white (me). See you there Paddy.

[khm]

favorite track, take it easy, get to know where you're going as it is quite twisty, watch for the bump 3/4 way around druids or just keep to the right, go & enjoy - thats what it's all about

[Chris Wilson]

Druids. Great care needed, wet or dry. You should have a good handling car, but as others say watch for the bump on the way out, some cars are more unsettled than others, and in the wet it can cause unexpected reactions. You can see the revs jump and maybe hear the engine note change in my car about 42 to 44 seconds into the video, and it's very settled compared to other things I have driven round there. Just take it steady and treat the place with respect, there's not a lot of run off in places, and you can get a fair lick of speed up round some corners. Have a great day! http://www.chriswilson.tv/oulton.wmv

[GreigM]

I'll there as well in the Westfield - with a bunch of old guys in Porsches....you're welcome to a passenger ride (not that I'm fast or good, but seeing what others do wrong is often enlightening!!)...its a yellow westie with black stripes

[boxsey]

Chris Wilson said:

Druids. Great care needed, wet or dry. You should have a good handling car, but as others say watch for the bump on the way out, some cars are more unsettled than others, and in the wet it can cause unexpected reactions. You can see the revs jump and maybe hear the engine note change in my car about 42 to 44 seconds into the video, and it's very settled compared to other things I have driven round there. Just take it steady and treat the place with respect, there's not a lot of run off in places, and you can get a fair lick of speed up round some corners. Have a great day! http://www.chriswilson.tv/oulton.wmv

I was looking forward to watching that but after downloading it but both Windows Media Player and Real Player say that there is a codec missing. Any idea how to fix it?

[16v_paddy]

GreigM said:

I'll there as well in the Westfield - with a bunch of old guys in Porsches....you're welcome to a passenger ride (not that I'm fast or good, but seeing what others do wrong is often enlightening!!)...its a yellow westie with black stripes

That's very kind of you, I'll be sharing the driving of my car with a couple of friends so will try to grab a ride with you when they've got mine

[VARLEYHYD]

Enjoyed the day then paddy?

Thanks easytrack for putting on another great day !

Ferrari porsche caterfield atom Clio TVR jag audi ford to name a few

Plenty of track time as usual.

Thanks all forsharing a good disciplined day

Look forward to the next one

G

[16v_paddy]

Thoroughly enjoyable day

Apologies for causing the 1 red flag in the afternoon, it was me in the gravel at Druids I locked up & just couldn't scrub off enough speed to even attempt to take the corner.

[willmac]

It was my first time at Oulton and I had a fantastic day.

I must have been the slowest car on the track all day I reckon, and nearly wore out my right indicator bulbs !!
However, slight braking fault and limited driving skills aside I had a ball. Great track, some amazing machinery , but best of all some really great friendly people. Thanks to all for a memorable day.

[boxsey]

Yep, great day out with a really friendly crowd of track dayers. Stoppages were minimal and very quickly sorted out by the Marshalls. Hats off to them. Loved the new lights system that has replaced the flags. Felt like we were on a full F1 circuit instead of little old Oulton!

Here's a spycam video from my car that features a few of you. In particular the Ferrari - big thumbs up for him for taking it on track. Make sure you watch the end to hear the driveby noise!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCpPPUE_Asc

and a shorter vid of our little group of 964s at play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y3Y8mE8m0c