AML Only Vmax event 13th May

[M5MarkM]

Anyone else from here going on this at Kendrew Barracks tomorrow (13th)?

[paulrog1]

Whats going on at Kendrew Barracks tomorrow,?

I'm an electrical engineer for an MOD contractor and Kendrew is one of my sites. It used to be called RAF Cottesmore when it was flying the old tornados and has a huge runway.

[M5MarkM]

paulrog1 said:

Whats going on at Kendrew Barracks tomorrow,?

I'm an electrical engineer for an MOD contractor and Kendrew is one of my sites. It used to be called RAF Cottesmore when it was flying the old tornados and has a huge runway.

Vmax/Auto Vivendi do events there a few times a year under the VMAX200 banner. They've organsied a top speed event with Aston Martin tomorrow, Gaydon bring along a bunch of cars and we get to cane them down the run way instead of our own cars..... I'll get some photos tomorrow if nobody else going

[Longers]

I only live a couple of miles away so would be interested in having a look at this.

Found the VMAX website (http://www.vmax200.com/) but today isn't mentioned at all...

Where is more info available, how do you apply/sign up, etc? Probably too late for today but useful to know for the future.

Cheers,
L'rs

[M5MarkM]

Longers said:

I only live a couple of miles away so would be interested in having a look at this.

Found the VMAX website (http://www.vmax200.com/) but today isn't mentioned at all...

Where is more info available, how do you apply/sign up, etc? Probably too late for today but useful to know for the future.

Cheers,
L'rs

Tomorrow is the public, paid for event where anyone can come. Today is just for AML customers so only Astons, I'd try calling your dealer and ask for an invite. They are opening the runway for people to drive their own cars at 14:30 for 1 hour.

[AdamV12V]

Arn't events and people still limited to meeting in groups of 6 at the moment, and even from next week it's still only 30 people max.

Could be an expensive day out!

[Longers]

M5MarkM said:

Tomorrow is the public, paid for event where anyone can come. Today is just for AML customers so only Astons, I'd try calling your dealer and ask for an invite. They are opening the runway for people to drive their own cars at 14:30 for 1 hour.

Thanks for that.

It'll be interesting powering down the runway in the heavy hailstorm which has just left here and headed in the direction of Kendrew...

[RB99]

I spent five years living and working there when it was RAF Cottesmore. The motorcycle club used to organise track days (for charity, obviously). Such great times....

[huntsen]

A propos of nothing much, I was a QFI at Cottesmore in the early 70s, teaching experienced pilots the intricacies of flying the Canberra.
One of my supernumerary duties was Station Flight Safety Officer, with responsibility for safety on the airfield. I remember spotting some children on the runway from my quarter and taking my Alfa out to shoo them off. This entailed a Vmax run up the taxiway on the way back. About 135mph, I think.
We never drove on the runway because of the risk of FOD (foreign object damage) from anything that might fall off or out of the vehicle.

[M5MarkM]

We got really lucky and not a drop of rain all day, but was a VERY strong head wind in the afternoon, the differance in wind changed the DBS running at 194mph to 185mph. The poor DB11 V8 felt like it had hit a top speed limiter at 155!

3 by Mark Maddox, on Flickr

2 by Mark Maddox, on Flickr

1 by Mark Maddox, on Flickr

[MarkM3Evoplus]

DBSS is gorgeous!

Just show tests like 0 - 300KMH are so weather dependent. I bet a small headwind can add 10 -15 seconds to a run on lower powered cars

[Jon39]

Glad you enjoyed the event.
Thank for posting the photographs.

I note all five Aston Martins in view, have black front apertures, black wheels and no identifiable number plates.
Perhaps someone decided the corporate look for today.

Edited by Jon39 on Friday 14th May 14:24

[JonnyCJ]

Slightly related - at 19 I was junior QS for a co installing a fire fighting ring main at Upper Heyford in 1986 (Top Gun year). We had to cross the runway from time to time and if something was taking off or landing, you had to give it time to go past.

One day an F1-11 came in to land, so I sat there in my 1973 Lancia Fulvia waiting for him to go past and as the pilot taxied past me, he flipped his mirrored visor and gave me a thumbs up.

I don't think I'll ever experience anything as cool again.

[cayman-black]

Thanks for the pictures Mark, look as if it was a great day.