First GT2 Trackday experience
Discussion
So am back and survived the first trackday in the GT2. What a up and down day! As the trackday was at Castle Combe I thought right sod getting up at 5 am I'll stay, if you ever get the chance to stay at The Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe then do it, the place is stunning and at 105 quid instead of 300 plus for the room I had it was excellent value, great food and 1.5 mins literally from the track.
Arrived at the circuit and as my limited experience of trackdays is Goodwood, Brands Hatch and Silverstone I was thinking this would be similar.....what a shock I was in for. So off I went on the intro laps no major probs except thought hang on this is a bit bumpy to put it mildly! Back to the paddock, get fully strapped in with harnesses and crack hat and off we go. 5 laps later I am back in the car park completely hacked off! why have I bought such a crap trackday car, all it does is jump around and step out, the track is hideously bumpy and quite narrow with very little run off area, I want my nice friendly confidence inspiring 968 ClubSport which my mate has driven down back again!
Said mate then proceeded to tell me to shut up and go out again on my own and relax, he used to race 911's so I tend to listen to him, eventually agreed that having spent 70k it was prob a good idea to try again and that yes I had bought it rather than a turbo as I wanted a challenge....
5 laps later and I was a changed man, let the car wriggle around, have confidence that it was not going to throw me in a tyre wall at the first corner and when its twitching on the limit just keep it fairly nailed and it was absolutely mind blowing!!!!!!! I thought hey this is OK but doesn't seem that much quicker..yeah, right, one look at the speedo and I was gobsmacked at how much speed I was carrying. By another 7 or 8 sessions of 5-7 laps my tyres were completely blistered and the car was just one massive understeering go-kart but while the tyres lasted it was worth every penny. For all you doubting thomas's of the GT2's handling then go out and track one for a day as I was so happily surprised by its handling, the way it understeered generally very controllably and when the back did come out 2 or 3 times it was not tough to control it. I am not raving here about my talents as have got so much to learn but I am now totally in awe of the car abd what it could do. I took a chap out who had a TVR Tuscan S or something with 350 plus BHP and he was totally blown away with it, the problem is that you become very used to it very quickly. I can now see why people like Guy get their cars modded so much as they do.
Will now probably stuff it at Brands in 2 weeks time!!
Sorry for the longest post in the history of posts but am still completely hyper and have been home for 6 hours!!!
Back to Spain tomorrow for 10 days in a Renault Megan Scenic...great.
Arrived at the circuit and as my limited experience of trackdays is Goodwood, Brands Hatch and Silverstone I was thinking this would be similar.....what a shock I was in for. So off I went on the intro laps no major probs except thought hang on this is a bit bumpy to put it mildly! Back to the paddock, get fully strapped in with harnesses and crack hat and off we go. 5 laps later I am back in the car park completely hacked off! why have I bought such a crap trackday car, all it does is jump around and step out, the track is hideously bumpy and quite narrow with very little run off area, I want my nice friendly confidence inspiring 968 ClubSport which my mate has driven down back again!
Said mate then proceeded to tell me to shut up and go out again on my own and relax, he used to race 911's so I tend to listen to him, eventually agreed that having spent 70k it was prob a good idea to try again and that yes I had bought it rather than a turbo as I wanted a challenge....
5 laps later and I was a changed man, let the car wriggle around, have confidence that it was not going to throw me in a tyre wall at the first corner and when its twitching on the limit just keep it fairly nailed and it was absolutely mind blowing!!!!!!! I thought hey this is OK but doesn't seem that much quicker..yeah, right, one look at the speedo and I was gobsmacked at how much speed I was carrying. By another 7 or 8 sessions of 5-7 laps my tyres were completely blistered and the car was just one massive understeering go-kart but while the tyres lasted it was worth every penny. For all you doubting thomas's of the GT2's handling then go out and track one for a day as I was so happily surprised by its handling, the way it understeered generally very controllably and when the back did come out 2 or 3 times it was not tough to control it. I am not raving here about my talents as have got so much to learn but I am now totally in awe of the car abd what it could do. I took a chap out who had a TVR Tuscan S or something with 350 plus BHP and he was totally blown away with it, the problem is that you become very used to it very quickly. I can now see why people like Guy get their cars modded so much as they do.
Will now probably stuff it at Brands in 2 weeks time!!
Sorry for the longest post in the history of posts but am still completely hyper and have been home for 6 hours!!!
Back to Spain tomorrow for 10 days in a Renault Megan Scenic...great.
book yourself into a track day at bedford... www.fastrakdays.com have porsche only evenings which are fantastic - next one is 9th june. only 30 odd cars on a 4 mile circuit!!! if you get into trouble the runoff is like a fairway too! The understeer can be removed by fitting Corsas or Cup tyres or by having the suspension adjusted for more camber up front. Probably best left as it is for a while to learn the car though.
You realise it's fast when you notice that even when just exploring the cars power and handling you find you are overtaking pretty much every car on track with ease.
yes am definately going to have some proper instruction, i would love to do bedford but am away again so can't do the 9th june, will keep an eye out.
I have just been inspecting the tyres at the back and they look like orange peel on the outer 1.5 inches, I assume that thats what is called blistering, will they be completely shot for 1 more trackday? I know its a tough one without seeing them....
Promise will be very sensible at Brands as last thing I want to do is get too confident.
Also final question, cheap trackday wheels so I can put some proper tyres on?? any suggestions anyone.
Final final question does anyone know of anyone who would be interested in my 968 ClubSport???
I have just been inspecting the tyres at the back and they look like orange peel on the outer 1.5 inches, I assume that thats what is called blistering, will they be completely shot for 1 more trackday? I know its a tough one without seeing them....
Promise will be very sensible at Brands as last thing I want to do is get too confident.
Also final question, cheap trackday wheels so I can put some proper tyres on?? any suggestions anyone.
Final final question does anyone know of anyone who would be interested in my 968 ClubSport???
mikeknivett said:
Final final question does anyone know of anyone who would be interested in my 968 ClubSport???
You can place a free ad here on the PH classifieds section:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?p=1&s=111
Good luck with the sale.
DAZ
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