Porsche Gt3 at Spa at Easter weekend
Porsche Gt3 at Spa at Easter weekend
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sportsandclassic

Original Poster:

3,774 posts

248 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Hi,

Well I returned to Spa race track for my second visit and little did I know I was in for a very different weekend compared to when I first went in October last year.

The whole trip from start to finish was mainly standing around and waiting.... First off the Chunnel crossing had a 2 hour delay. Then we got to the hotel and went for some food, which later turned out to get the best of me as I spent the next day pretty much in the bathroom, lets just say it was coming out both ends!

The weather on Sunday was not good, snow all morning and track was not open till lunch time. I managed 6 laps and called it a day as the bathroom was calling and more snow coming down! So more waiting around in hotel.

Monday was better bright sun but very cold, track was open at 9am, I had already found the closest toilet to the pits! . I was not on the ball this time and only really had the iphone cradle on windscreen from using it as sat nav holder so turned video on and got some footage. Second video is me getting it all wrong!

Back to the crossing and more delays as train was delayed, we did get there 2 hours early in the hope we would get an earlier crossing but no such luck!

Not my best work but a trip back in 1 piece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02_ygpDKaA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aenfx9uGk9Y

Mike

ClarkPB

832 posts

230 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Looks like fun was had none the less!

I'm still waiting to see some decent pics of your car with the RS wing as I'm still contemplating it at some point smile

BubblesNW

1,711 posts

213 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Nice spin, at least the buttock clenching would have been useful.

Note to self - need to get to Spa.

marky911

4,433 posts

249 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Nevermind Mike, at least you had the road trip and got a few laps in. I know very little about Spa apart from it looks very fast. I hope to get out there one day but it won't be this year.

If I ever go you can tell me where not to eat. wink

boxsey

3,579 posts

240 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Has it got a bruise on the rear now Mike? Think I heard a little bit of contact as you came to a stop.

sportsandclassic

Original Poster:

3,774 posts

248 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
boxsey said:
Has it got a bruise on the rear now Mike? Think I heard a little bit of contact as you came to a stop.
No contact, think that was something moving around as we were actually a full car width from wall.

Gibbo205

3,572 posts

237 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Mike

Spa looks awesome, what kind of top speed you hitting as it seems very quick!
Shows GT3 can really corner quicker than lardy GTR!

How much would you say including everything the trip cost you with fuel etc?

Did you stall after the spin or touch the wall? Hope car is ok!

sportsandclassic

Original Poster:

3,774 posts

248 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Gibbo205 said:
Mike

Spa looks awesome, what kind of top speed you hitting as it seems very quick!
Shows GT3 can really corner quicker than lardy GTR!

How much would you say including everything the trip cost you with fuel etc?

Did you stall after the spin or touch the wall? Hope car is ok!
Hitting 155MPH top speed. Gt3 can handle its own with all this big HP stuff around.

Not sure on the cost of things. Try not to think about it or probably would not go!

Roughly......

  • Hotel £210 for two nights
  • Crossing £105
  • AA breakdown recovery £55
  • 5 tanks of fuel to get there and back plus fuel at the circuit +/- 5 tanks a day for me...
  • Set of tyres £1100 (will last both days plus travelling and get one day out of the rears when back home)
  • Food/drink £120
  • Trackday for both days £600.00
Sure there is other stuff I have missed.

Mike

Vixpy1

42,699 posts

294 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Somehow managed to miss you mike, I'm afraid I was rather not with it as I was also suffering from both endism, before I even left England.

Will be back in October

rallyeman

540 posts

205 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Afternoon Mike,
I hope yr toilet duties are reduced by now frown
Shame about the weather, still these lads road trips are a great laugh, and track driving is just a bonus.
In hindsight I'm glad I turned the offer from a fellow 911uk member of two days at Spa (mon&tues) followed by two trackdays at the Ring (wed&thurs) inclunding Tunnel for free. But only owning the GT3 for a week and ten year old tyres, a snowy Spa, would not have been the best place to learn.
I've heard the Ring has more snow than Spa.

Edited by rallyeman on Thursday 4th April 19:03

Martian O

2,734 posts

192 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
On a side note Mike, rather than keep paying ~£55 for breakdown recovery, why not join the ADAC which covers all of Europe at a cost of ~£79 (or ~£99 for you and spouse) for the year. This also covers UK breakdowns, including home-start etc, all they do is relay your call and send out the AA.

And they are the only recovery company who don't charge you to recover your car if you crash on the 'ring! eek

There are many extra benefits, they even reimburse you for the phone call if you are outside of their freephone area or from a mobile!

www.adac.de

rallyeman

540 posts

205 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
Martian O said:
On a side note Mike, rather than keep paying ~£55 for breakdown recovery, why not join the ADAC which covers all of Europe at a cost of ~£79 (or ~£99 for you and spouse) for the year. This also covers UK breakdowns, including home-start etc, all they do is relay your call and send out the AA.

And they are the only recovery company who don't charge you to recover your car if you crash on the 'ring! eek

There are many extra benefits, they even reimburse you for the phone call if you are outside of their freephone area or from a mobile!

www.adac.de
Good call, Martin. I end up spending a small fortune, on covering a few days, here and there over the year, with RAC.
Another thing I need to sort is a French toll road Tag.

fergus

6,430 posts

305 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
rallyeman said:
Good call, Martin. I end up spending a small fortune, on covering a few days, here and there over the year, with RAC.
Another thing I need to sort is a French toll road Tag.
+1 for ADAC. (You need "ADAC Plus" for European cover)

French telepaege pass (english site): https://www.saneftolling.co.uk