New driver to Oulton Park

[mini saltire]

Hi Folks,

Totally new to all this so bare with me!! I have a BMW Mini Cooper and I race in the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup. It is my rookie season and things are not going great. We are at Oulton in 2 weeks and I was wondering if any one had any handy tips on the track as I have never been round before. Also I was looking for some set up tips as well. I have a lot of ballast to play with so an indication would be great!!

Thanks

[jacobyte]

I raced in the JCC last year. One of the races was at Oulton Park, where I managed to get on the podium, despite being punted off on the way there ( ). I also raced there in 1997 in FRenault and done plenty of trackdays there over the years.

Best of all - get the ubiquitous "Circuit Guide" to understand the general braking/turn-in/clipping/exit points, etc.

There's not really much to say other than make sure you test before you go, as it takes longer to learn than normal circuits. Many of the corners are unsighted and off camber, so tracktime and experience will shine through.

In the Cooper, you can take Island Bend flat, but you may need to build up to it. The first chicane - stay off the kerbs unless it's a banzai lap, as the CV joints break there - 5 people broke them over last year's weekend. Cascades - go in faster than you think, as you will understeer first, but the suspension compresses at the bottom to give you more grip, plus you can use loads of runoff there.

Good luck, and most importantly - enjoy it.

[mini saltire]

Thank you for that. I have booked some testing on Friday so I should have a good idea of what is what before qualifing.

[mikee boy]

Are you on the full circuit??

I raced there on the full circuit in a Locost last year and it was excellent. Make sure you walk the track before you drive it. The last corner before the straight (Deer's leap?) is a bigger turn than it looks, which is why most tend to overshoot on the exit. The undulations will also tend to throw the car out.

I did a search for an Oulton Park MPEG and watched it until I knew the track. Made it much easier to learn on the day.

[mini saltire]

Yes it is the full circuit. Do you know of any MPEG sites?

[mikee boy]

I just do a search through Google, but I seem to remember

www.jimbocam.com/index-laps.html

having something.

Also try

www.indexcomputers.co.uk/Gallery/Video/video.html



>> Edited by mikee boy on Tuesday 19th July 16:53

[GarrettMacD]

mini saltire said:

Yes it is the full circuit. Do you know of any MPEG sites?

I asked that very same question on PH a few months ago, and got this back...



PH'er GetCarter has one on his website under trackday vid's, it's the full Island circuit too

www.stevecarter.com/news/default.aspx

[Ian Lewis]

mikee boy said:

Are you on the full circuit?? I raced there on the full circuit in a Locost last year and it was excellent. Make sure you walk the track before you drive it. The last corner before the straight (Deer's leap?) is a bigger turn than it looks, which is why most tend to overshoot on the exit. The undulations will also tend to throw the car out. I did a search for an Oulton Park MPEG and watched it until I knew the track. Made it much easier to learn on the day.

Last corner is Lodge. The dip before the straight is Deers leap...keep to the right here...The Armco and Flag Marshal bite back.

Get to Oulton early and see if you can walk the track.

See you there.

Ian