Bedford 29th Oct, anyone going?
Discussion
Is anyone on here going to Bedford Autodrome on Saturday 29th October?
I'm a total track day novice and am having an hours tuition there on the 29th in an MSV provided car. Won't be on track for too long but will hopefully pick up some knowledge of track day etiquette and if I get the bug the plan is to go shopping for a Clio 182 before next spring.
Is anyone going that might be kind enough to offer me some passenger laps so that I can see how it should be done and then I can maybe pick your brains with all the questions regarding track days that I'm bound to have.
I'll be driving up in a red mini cooper (belongs to OH and not allowed on track hence hiring an MSV car) so come over and say hi if you spot me or let me know on here if you're going and we can meet up in the pits.
Cheers in advance.
I'm a total track day novice and am having an hours tuition there on the 29th in an MSV provided car. Won't be on track for too long but will hopefully pick up some knowledge of track day etiquette and if I get the bug the plan is to go shopping for a Clio 182 before next spring.
Is anyone going that might be kind enough to offer me some passenger laps so that I can see how it should be done and then I can maybe pick your brains with all the questions regarding track days that I'm bound to have.
I'll be driving up in a red mini cooper (belongs to OH and not allowed on track hence hiring an MSV car) so come over and say hi if you spot me or let me know on here if you're going and we can meet up in the pits.
Cheers in advance.
Who is running the day. It says circuit days on Trackday list. I called to book and the girl didn't know anything about it!
If I can book on I will take you out and give you some pointers and some passenger laps etc etc. The staff at Bedford all joke that I have been there more than they have!
If I can book on I will take you out and give you some pointers and some passenger laps etc etc. The staff at Bedford all joke that I have been there more than they have!
Porkie said:
ahhh.... MSV are running it.
Novices only sadly. I called up and tried... soon as I said my name. They said 'no!'
They are also running a How fast day on the West circuit. So booked in for that at 2pm.
Will come over a bit earlier and come and say hello
I had hoped you would be going! I read many of your threads and admired your garage from afar. Despite your exotic cars it was your Clio I was hoping to see as a 182 currently tops my 'track car to buy this winter list' but I've never even sat in one. Novices only sadly. I called up and tried... soon as I said my name. They said 'no!'
They are also running a How fast day on the West circuit. So booked in for that at 2pm.
Will come over a bit earlier and come and say hello
Shame it's a novice day, didn't realise that. Fine for me as a novice but they'll be fewer experienced drivers to chat with.
I'm planning on hanging around most of the day so if you're there before lunch come and find me in the pits (quite tall, mid 30's billy no mates just watching) otherwise I'll find out where your event is and wander over to say hello. What is the how fast event by the way? Timed laps I'm guessing?
I'm taking my Cayman to the How Fast event.
I felt the itch to do something 'timed' after finding trackdays a bit unfulfilling since quitting racing in '09 after 15 or so years in one make racing. It feels odd doing it in my road car though. The last time I sprinted a road car was in 1989 in a Fiat 127!
I felt the itch to do something 'timed' after finding trackdays a bit unfulfilling since quitting racing in '09 after 15 or so years in one make racing. It feels odd doing it in my road car though. The last time I sprinted a road car was in 1989 in a Fiat 127!
I’m there for the whole day with my standard Corrado. This is my second track day (first one with MSV as well at Brands Hatch) so very much a novice as well.
Do you know what car will you be driving? At Brands Hatch they had Leon Cupra R and VX220 so I’ll be sure to check my mirrors and get out of your way!
Do you know what car will you be driving? At Brands Hatch they had Leon Cupra R and VX220 so I’ll be sure to check my mirrors and get out of your way!
Last time I did tuition at Bedford it was in a VX220 Turbo which was amazing, so fast and responsive, I left the day wanting to buy one.
On saturday I'll be in a Peugeot RCZ. Was surprised to hear they had swapped the VX's for these, not an obvious choice for a track day car. But the guy I spoke to at MSV said they were very capable and good fun. My initial reaction was disapointment, might be less of an experience in a more refined coupe than the buzzy, raw VX220 but guess I'll see on saturday.
I very much doubt I'll be doing much overtaking in the short time I'll have on track! I expect you'll be in my mirrors. I'll come over and say hello if that's ok, pick your brains a bit about your track day experience so far.
On saturday I'll be in a Peugeot RCZ. Was surprised to hear they had swapped the VX's for these, not an obvious choice for a track day car. But the guy I spoke to at MSV said they were very capable and good fun. My initial reaction was disapointment, might be less of an experience in a more refined coupe than the buzzy, raw VX220 but guess I'll see on saturday.
I very much doubt I'll be doing much overtaking in the short time I'll have on track! I expect you'll be in my mirrors. I'll come over and say hello if that's ok, pick your brains a bit about your track day experience so far.
Do come and say hello; just look for the Chinese chap with the Corrado!
I got two sessions of tuition booked but feel free to jump on board if I got a spare passenger seat. (my mate may be coming as passenger)
RCZ has got the same engine as your Mini hasn’t it? Be good for you to compare the two cars! I think EVO mentioned RCZ drives quite well.
Never been to Bedford but youtube clips show there’re a couple of 2nd gear hairpins... my car’s 2nd gear is quite ‘notchy’ so not really looking forward to that.
Regards,
Kin
I got two sessions of tuition booked but feel free to jump on board if I got a spare passenger seat. (my mate may be coming as passenger)
RCZ has got the same engine as your Mini hasn’t it? Be good for you to compare the two cars! I think EVO mentioned RCZ drives quite well.
Never been to Bedford but youtube clips show there’re a couple of 2nd gear hairpins... my car’s 2nd gear is quite ‘notchy’ so not really looking forward to that.
Regards,
Kin
JAM35F said:
On saturday I'll be in a Peugeot RCZ. Was surprised to hear they had swapped the VX's for these, not an obvious choice for a track day car.
Mmmm. Just don't look to harshly at the brake pedal otherwise it'll stand on its nose. Had to do my ARDS in one - not a pleasant experience - especially for the instructor!wy906 said:
Do come and say hello; just look for the Chinese chap with the Corrado!
I got two sessions of tuition booked but feel free to jump on board if I got a spare passenger seat. (my mate may be coming as passenger)
RCZ has got the same engine as your Mini hasn’t it? Be good for you to compare the two cars! I think EVO mentioned RCZ drives quite well.
Never been to Bedford but youtube clips show there’re a couple of 2nd gear hairpins... my car’s 2nd gear is quite ‘notchy’ so not really looking forward to that.
Regards,
Kin
Cheers for the offer, I'll definately come over and say hello and if you do have a spare passenger seat at some point I'll gladly take it for a lap or two.I got two sessions of tuition booked but feel free to jump on board if I got a spare passenger seat. (my mate may be coming as passenger)
RCZ has got the same engine as your Mini hasn’t it? Be good for you to compare the two cars! I think EVO mentioned RCZ drives quite well.
Never been to Bedford but youtube clips show there’re a couple of 2nd gear hairpins... my car’s 2nd gear is quite ‘notchy’ so not really looking forward to that.
Regards,
Kin
Bedford is a good track, have only done the full GT circuit before but on saturday it is the SEN circuit, not sure which bits will be missed out. There are some great corners, couple of tight hairpins, a couple of kinks/ chicanes and a range of faster corners. Flows really well and not too big so you can easily pick up the layout after a few laps.
Not sure what engine is in the RCZ, the mini I'll be in is a bog standard cooper so won't be the same, (other halfs car, not my choice!) I'm guessing the RCZ uses the Cooper S turbo engine.
Anyway thanks again for the offer, see you on saturday.
A great day. It was my first How Fast event, and it was a great combination of trackday and competitive event. The staff at Bedford are very professional , and it is nice to be treated like a customer by an event organiser.
I did have one scary moment when a car braked hard for the pit entry just as I was aiming for that exact piece of road on the exit of the penultimate bend. I'd imagine that is a common problem on the west circuit, as the pit entry appears to be designed for the South West circuit where slowing cars would be well away from the 'racing' line.
I did have one scary moment when a car braked hard for the pit entry just as I was aiming for that exact piece of road on the exit of the penultimate bend. I'd imagine that is a common problem on the west circuit, as the pit entry appears to be designed for the South West circuit where slowing cars would be well away from the 'racing' line.
Edited by Redlake27 on Saturday 29th October 18:21
kent_phil said:
Will there for the afternoon session - been a long long week so decided at the last minute to have an afternoon of fun
Green Audi S3, you are welcome to a passenger ride.
Cheers,
Phil
Thanks for the offer, left this morning before you posted so have only just seen this. I saw your S3 in the car park, looked really nice, not seen one in that dark green before. Hope you had a fun afternoon. I had a good morning in the VX220 (rcz hadn't been delivered), instruction was good and I was pushed to the limit, over on a few occassions as I made a few mistakes and span 3 times. But there was plenty of room so no harm done and I learnt from my mistakes. I think I gave the driver of a silver boxster a heart attack as I was still spinning in the middle of the track as he came round the corner. Luckily he chose the right way to go round me!Green Audi S3, you are welcome to a passenger ride.
Cheers,
Phil
Had a passenger ride in a clio 182 which impressed me, Clio remains top of my track day shopping list.
Watched the how fast event for a while in the afternoon, looked fun if your more experienced. The matt orange GTR looked awesome as did some of the Time Attack Mini Coopers. Good fun day so hopefully I'll sort a car out over the weekend and get back on track proper in the new year.
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