Toyota on Track
Discussion
Just been on one of those 'Toyota on track' days at Brands this morning -- I think I clicked on a button a few months ago...
You get a demo drive on the road in either a RAV4 or a Corolla (so far so dull) followed by a chance to try and defeat the electrickery of a Corolla T-Sport. Basically, this involves sidestepping off the clutch, slaloming round some cones with the foot flat on the floor in third, then braking hard and late to hurtle round a wet 'roundabout', flat in first trying get it to break away. I got a fair amount of understeer at this point (yes, really
) and lifted off suddenly to get the back end out. Sure enough, the back stepped round and suddenly we were pointing at the next bit of the course! Then it was nail it for a (yawn) test of the ABS.
After a silly 'park in the garage' time test, we got to hoon round Brands in a Celica or an MR2 with an instructor for three or four laps. I chose a Celica since it's way different from a TVR and it's actually quite a chuckable car -- for a front-driver.
We were well-treated, got a full English breakfast and there was no hard sell. Well, I enjoyed it and it was either that or sit in front of a PC all morning...
You get a demo drive on the road in either a RAV4 or a Corolla (so far so dull) followed by a chance to try and defeat the electrickery of a Corolla T-Sport. Basically, this involves sidestepping off the clutch, slaloming round some cones with the foot flat on the floor in third, then braking hard and late to hurtle round a wet 'roundabout', flat in first trying get it to break away. I got a fair amount of understeer at this point (yes, really
) and lifted off suddenly to get the back end out. Sure enough, the back stepped round and suddenly we were pointing at the next bit of the course! Then it was nail it for a (yawn) test of the ABS. After a silly 'park in the garage' time test, we got to hoon round Brands in a Celica or an MR2 with an instructor for three or four laps. I chose a Celica since it's way different from a TVR and it's actually quite a chuckable car -- for a front-driver.
We were well-treated, got a full English breakfast and there was no hard sell. Well, I enjoyed it and it was either that or sit in front of a PC all morning...
Hmm, sounds like a good craic. I have been on a couple of these, when they launched the MR-2 at Millbrook, and again at Brands, when they brought out the sequential box.
A good time, no hard sell, and a chance to try and make it around the track without spinning off, as I did the time before.
Not seen anything on the "On track" rectently, will have to go hunt down their web site again.
A good time, no hard sell, and a chance to try and make it around the track without spinning off, as I did the time before.
Not seen anything on the "On track" rectently, will have to go hunt down their web site again.
LOL - I reckon 2003 will be the first one I miss.
The girls that do the reception desk know me on sight now so it is looking pretty slim that I can blag my way in again. It helped knowing the project manager for the "on track" website but he has moved jobs...
Incidentally the T-sport version of the new Celica is easily one of the best cars Toyota have on the market now or for some time. A little sanitised but a fun drive. Giving it some welly around Brands Hatch was good fun, just a shame you don't even get a full hot lap...
Best bit was scaring the shite out of the passengers on the slalom course for the Avensis (this was last year actually). Supposed to take the whole thing at a constant 40mph - all the others in my car took it at 30mph. I entered the slalom at 45mph and exited at 55mph. It really made my day seeing them all go green - the *instructor* included. This years ESP demonstration was utter shite though - dodging hay bales and cardboard cutouts was pathetic. It also proved the car (new Corolla) is a bit of a deathtrap when it comes to trying to control the car in very low grip situations. The stability control system kept the car stable alright by making it impossible to turn - I have never experienced such massive understeer except on blackice. The instructor was yelling at me to 1) take my foot off the throttle (it wasnt on it to start with); 2) stop trying to brake (I had already done this as it was clear the system couldn't cope); and 3) reduce steering input (he could see I had already done this - so no excuses at all). I think he was worried I would stack it into the bank so I understand his exuberance and thankfully he didnt try to snatch the steering wheel.
The girls that do the reception desk know me on sight now so it is looking pretty slim that I can blag my way in again. It helped knowing the project manager for the "on track" website but he has moved jobs...
Incidentally the T-sport version of the new Celica is easily one of the best cars Toyota have on the market now or for some time. A little sanitised but a fun drive. Giving it some welly around Brands Hatch was good fun, just a shame you don't even get a full hot lap...
Best bit was scaring the shite out of the passengers on the slalom course for the Avensis (this was last year actually). Supposed to take the whole thing at a constant 40mph - all the others in my car took it at 30mph. I entered the slalom at 45mph and exited at 55mph. It really made my day seeing them all go green - the *instructor* included. This years ESP demonstration was utter shite though - dodging hay bales and cardboard cutouts was pathetic. It also proved the car (new Corolla) is a bit of a deathtrap when it comes to trying to control the car in very low grip situations. The stability control system kept the car stable alright by making it impossible to turn - I have never experienced such massive understeer except on blackice. The instructor was yelling at me to 1) take my foot off the throttle (it wasnt on it to start with); 2) stop trying to brake (I had already done this as it was clear the system couldn't cope); and 3) reduce steering input (he could see I had already done this - so no excuses at all). I think he was worried I would stack it into the bank so I understand his exuberance and thankfully he didnt try to snatch the steering wheel.
jimbro1000 said: LOL - I reckon 2003 will be the first one I miss.
The girls that do the reception desk know me on sight now so it is looking pretty slim that I can blag my way in again. It helped knowing the project manager for the "on track" website but he has moved jobs...
Incidentally the T-sport version of the new Celica is easily one of the best cars Toyota have on the market now or for some time. A little sanitised but a fun drive. Giving it some welly around Brands Hatch was good fun, just a shame you don't even get a full hot lap...
Best bit was scaring the shite out of the passengers on the slalom course for the Avensis (this was last year actually). Supposed to take the whole thing at a constant 40mph - all the others in my car took it at 30mph. I entered the slalom at 45mph and exited at 55mph. It really made my day seeing them all go green - the *instructor* included. This years ESP demonstration was utter shite though - dodging hay bales and cardboard cutouts was pathetic. It also proved the car (new Corolla) is a bit of a deathtrap when it comes to trying to control the car in very low grip situations. The stability control system kept the car stable alright by making it impossible to turn - I have never experienced such massive understeer except on blackice. The instructor was yelling at me to 1) take my foot off the throttle (it wasnt on it to start with); 2) stop trying to brake (I had already done this as it was clear the system couldn't cope); and 3) reduce steering input (he could see I had already done this - so no excuses at all). I think he was worried I would stack it into the bank so I understand his exuberance and thankfully he didnt try to snatch the steering wheel.
...and they didn't like the tyres making noises, strangley enough, when I tried to keep the T-Sport in its narrw power band up at 8k revs....
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff