Monza & Mugello
Discussion
Got back from Italy a while ago so I thought I’d post a few pics and vids of Monza & Mugello as these aren’t the everyday circuits that you get to visit!
Monza is located in parkland in the city and access appeared to be somewhat restricted. How they get the masses in there on race days is a mystery to me. Once you do get in, my first impression was that the place seemed somewhat drab and slightly unkempt. Not at all what you might have expected from an iconic F1 circuit especially as the Gran Prix was there less than a month ago, and it’s certainly not the impression you get when watching it on TV. Nevertheless it was good to be at such an historic motorsport venue and to see 2 other Nobles (Barry K and Slipstream1985) as well as Graham (Hollowpockets) in his Sag.
I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of long straights – frankly I find them pretty boring most of the time. Even at Spa I regularly lift off and have a quick kip going up Kemmel straight, only to wake up and get back on it for Les Combes and all of the other interesting bits. Monza is the quickest track on the F1 calendar with 3 long straights and some pretty quick bits in between. So to be honest at the start I wasn’t sure that I was actually going to enjoy driving the circuit. It was fairly easy to learn, and it soon became clear that the only way to enjoy it was in fact to drive it flat out (or as near to flat out as you can, being a circuit newbie). To drive it in any other way would have simply made it a completely pointless track. Whilst not being that technically challenging the circuit demanded total and absolute concentration due to the high speeds and the closing speeds with slower cars, as well as good brakes! On the main straight in a standard powered Noble you are braking from over 150mph to 30mph in just over 200m – anyone with persistent brake judder would NOT like this circuit!
The place was so drab that I didn’t take any pics of the actual venue, but here is a bit of V-box footage courtesy of my good wife who, unbeknownst to me, hired one for me for the Italy trip.
Nothing particularly dramatic or heroic being done here especially with a passenger in the car, and the only culling going on was of flies and other insects(!) but the video does give a flavour of what it’s like going round Monza in a Noble.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail...
In contrast, Mugello, nestling in the Tuscan hills 300km to the south, was an absolute gem of a circuit, with flowing curves, the odd blind crest and many elevation changes.
Again here is a bit of V box footage – enjoy the scenery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jea4lR4Yip0&fea...
Driving standards were impeccable over the 2 track days and I completed 265 track miles using 500ml of oil and a tanker load of fuel! My personal preference was Mugello, but the high-power, point n’ squirt merchants would just LOVE Monza!
Next time we need to see a few more Nobs!
Monza is located in parkland in the city and access appeared to be somewhat restricted. How they get the masses in there on race days is a mystery to me. Once you do get in, my first impression was that the place seemed somewhat drab and slightly unkempt. Not at all what you might have expected from an iconic F1 circuit especially as the Gran Prix was there less than a month ago, and it’s certainly not the impression you get when watching it on TV. Nevertheless it was good to be at such an historic motorsport venue and to see 2 other Nobles (Barry K and Slipstream1985) as well as Graham (Hollowpockets) in his Sag.
I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of long straights – frankly I find them pretty boring most of the time. Even at Spa I regularly lift off and have a quick kip going up Kemmel straight, only to wake up and get back on it for Les Combes and all of the other interesting bits. Monza is the quickest track on the F1 calendar with 3 long straights and some pretty quick bits in between. So to be honest at the start I wasn’t sure that I was actually going to enjoy driving the circuit. It was fairly easy to learn, and it soon became clear that the only way to enjoy it was in fact to drive it flat out (or as near to flat out as you can, being a circuit newbie). To drive it in any other way would have simply made it a completely pointless track. Whilst not being that technically challenging the circuit demanded total and absolute concentration due to the high speeds and the closing speeds with slower cars, as well as good brakes! On the main straight in a standard powered Noble you are braking from over 150mph to 30mph in just over 200m – anyone with persistent brake judder would NOT like this circuit!
The place was so drab that I didn’t take any pics of the actual venue, but here is a bit of V-box footage courtesy of my good wife who, unbeknownst to me, hired one for me for the Italy trip.
Nothing particularly dramatic or heroic being done here especially with a passenger in the car, and the only culling going on was of flies and other insects(!) but the video does give a flavour of what it’s like going round Monza in a Noble.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail...
In contrast, Mugello, nestling in the Tuscan hills 300km to the south, was an absolute gem of a circuit, with flowing curves, the odd blind crest and many elevation changes.
Again here is a bit of V box footage – enjoy the scenery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jea4lR4Yip0&fea...
Driving standards were impeccable over the 2 track days and I completed 265 track miles using 500ml of oil and a tanker load of fuel! My personal preference was Mugello, but the high-power, point n’ squirt merchants would just LOVE Monza!
Next time we need to see a few more Nobs!
Great that Rob, Monza does look a bit boring but has to be done! Did you have a look at the disused Scalextric high speed banking?
Mugello looks challenging & entertaining like Zandvoort which is my 2nd favourite track after the Ring.
Do you think the trip will be reprised again next year?
Mugello looks challenging & entertaining like Zandvoort which is my 2nd favourite track after the Ring.
Do you think the trip will be reprised again next year?
Rob, that sounds even more incredible incorporating Imola as well, I'm definitely going on next years trip plus via Turin looking at Italian Job sites including the Lingotto, old Fiat factory with the track on top. Perhaps recuperate at the Ring on the way back!
How long did it take to get to Italy I'm assuming Monza first & was it a convoy or just make own way there?
How long did it take to get to Italy I'm assuming Monza first & was it a convoy or just make own way there?
monza had a different challenge. how late can you brake. Comming round the parabolica in 4th and starting to pass a nissan skyline (ROUND THE OUTSIDE) shows just how capable the noble is however reaching max speed accross the finish line did mean lifting off to save the engine on the long straights. Late braeing became my aim and the 200 meter board was the rough limit only the ferrari challenge cars and caterams were braking any later. The tvr group we were with were all braking arround 300 meters!! and the noble was monstering them on the way out of the tight chicanes. Some of the tvr group are said to have 450bhp plus and my standardish Nob just walked away from them. No good pics from the track but some from our other driving follows.
shaunsmith said:
Rob, that sounds even more incredible incorporating Imola as well, I'm definitely going on next years trip plus via Turin looking at Italian Job sites including the Lingotto, old Fiat factory with the track on top. Perhaps recuperate at the Ring on the way back!
How long did it take to get to Italy I'm assuming Monza first & was it a convoy or just make own way there?
I have to confess that I left the road trip to the youngsters, and just tootled 10mi down the road to my nearest On-Time Autos depot where the car was transported down to Italy! As you can see from Mark's pics a road trip could be pretty epic though, and I think there were about 20 or so cars in their convoy. How long did it take to get to Italy I'm assuming Monza first & was it a convoy or just make own way there?
slipstream 1985 said:
monza had a different challenge. how late can you brake. Comming round the parabolica in 4th and starting to pass a nissan skyline (ROUND THE OUTSIDE) shows just how capable the noble is however reaching max speed accross the finish line did mean lifting off to save the engine on the long straights. Late braeing became my aim and the 200 meter board was the rough limit only the ferrari challenge cars and caterams were braking any later. The tvr group we were with were all braking arround 300 meters!! and the noble was monstering them on the way out of the tight chicanes. Some of the tvr group are said to have 450bhp plus and my standardish Nob just walked away from them. No good pics from the track but some from our other driving follows
Good to meet you Mark(albeit rather briefly!)and the pics look stunning - almost makes me wish I'd driven down! As you can see from the vid of Monza I was braking from around the 200m mark as well; looking at the V-box data I reckon I could have left it for another 25-50m without too much difficulty. But always best to drive well within limits first time out! RobP said:
shaunsmith said:
Rob, that sounds even more incredible incorporating Imola as well, I'm definitely going on next years trip plus via Turin looking at Italian Job sites including the Lingotto, old Fiat factory with the track on top. Perhaps recuperate at the Ring on the way back!
How long did it take to get to Italy I'm assuming Monza first & was it a convoy or just make own way there?
I have to confess that I left the road trip to the youngsters, and just tootled 10mi down the road to my nearest On-Time Autos depot where the car was transported down to Italy! As you can see from Mark's pics a road trip could be pretty epic though, and I think there were about 20 or so cars in their convoy. How long did it take to get to Italy I'm assuming Monza first & was it a convoy or just make own way there?
That lot would be epic with Imola as well...
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