Redline Track Attack Day
Discussion
Sounds naff? No, we had a great time. For those of you that missed it in the Track Days forum, Trackdemon (Steve), Tamago (Tien) and I went to Bedford Autodrome to take part in the Track Attack day for the paltry sum of £100. The day didn't get off to the best of starts, we assumed that spaces were limited to 50 tops with an open pit-lane. On arriving we were told there were over 100 cars and the day would start with 3 sessions of 20 minutes each. Bummer, reduced track time already.
The cars there seemed to fall into 3 camps. The first were owned by the readers of Breadline magazine. Maxed up Corsas, 106s, a few Skylines and so on. The second were the more serious souped up cars. These included a full on rally prepped Escort Cosworth pushing out over 500 bph (left me for dead on the straights), a similar spec Focus that had been converted to RWD and was running slicks and some very crap looking old Sieras that had been tricked up.
The final group were the more ‘upmarket’ cars. There was a Ferrari Tesstarosa (brave man), 3 Chimaeras, a TVR wedge 350, 3 or for Integra Type-Rs (the latest one on import only), Steve’s NSX, 8 or so VX220s, some Lotus Elise/Exiges, a GT40 replica (I assume it was a replica) a Noble M12, a track prepared Radical Tracksport and a road-spec JP1.
Everyone was friendly but the standard of driving was pretty varied. On the ducks-and-drakes sighting laps a Civic Type-R in front of me managed to spin. Don’t ask me how. Some of the Max-Power brigade were the worst offenders, overtaking under braking, driving right up your chuff and so on. A few people were black-flagged for being tw@ts and by the afternoon things had improved. Things really improved after a Clio owner managed to semi-roll his car, wrote it off and closed the track for 20 minutes. He was OK and it was a bit of a wake up call to some of the more exuberant participants.
As for the venue? Fantastic. Lovely smooth, fast tarmac and in interesting configuration with some very quick sections. I didn’t spend much time looking at the Speedo but I topped out at 125mph on the back straight and saw some fairly big numbers through some corners. The car performed faultlessly and I’m glad I upgraded the front brakes. Tireless performance through the day, even after 30 mins. on the track and loads of life left in the pads at the end. Saying that I still managed to out brake myself into a corner and span at around 50mph. The only other spin was coming out of the hairpin. Too much power and a trip across the grass. Great fun. The only issue was fuel starvation that made the car hesitate after the Pif-Paf left-right-long left. I was rather worried the first time it happened but it went away after I topped up with fuel. Tien had the same problem and the same solution worked for him too.
So, was it worth it? The early organisation and high numbers got the day off to a poor start, but the pit-lane was fully opened by 11.30 (track opened properly at around 10) and things got better from there on. Personally I had a fantastic time. Everyone was friendly and happy to talk about their cars. I had a few passenger laps in the Noble, which was fantastic. So quick and able to carry so much speed through the corners. Brakes were scary as well. Steve took me out in his NSX and managed to spin for me too (cheers mate!). I will definitely be going back to Bedford Autodrome, but in a smaller group with less Lax-Power boys.
Thanks to Steve for suggesting the event and roll on the next one.
Rob
The cars there seemed to fall into 3 camps. The first were owned by the readers of Breadline magazine. Maxed up Corsas, 106s, a few Skylines and so on. The second were the more serious souped up cars. These included a full on rally prepped Escort Cosworth pushing out over 500 bph (left me for dead on the straights), a similar spec Focus that had been converted to RWD and was running slicks and some very crap looking old Sieras that had been tricked up.
The final group were the more ‘upmarket’ cars. There was a Ferrari Tesstarosa (brave man), 3 Chimaeras, a TVR wedge 350, 3 or for Integra Type-Rs (the latest one on import only), Steve’s NSX, 8 or so VX220s, some Lotus Elise/Exiges, a GT40 replica (I assume it was a replica) a Noble M12, a track prepared Radical Tracksport and a road-spec JP1.
Everyone was friendly but the standard of driving was pretty varied. On the ducks-and-drakes sighting laps a Civic Type-R in front of me managed to spin. Don’t ask me how. Some of the Max-Power brigade were the worst offenders, overtaking under braking, driving right up your chuff and so on. A few people were black-flagged for being tw@ts and by the afternoon things had improved. Things really improved after a Clio owner managed to semi-roll his car, wrote it off and closed the track for 20 minutes. He was OK and it was a bit of a wake up call to some of the more exuberant participants.
As for the venue? Fantastic. Lovely smooth, fast tarmac and in interesting configuration with some very quick sections. I didn’t spend much time looking at the Speedo but I topped out at 125mph on the back straight and saw some fairly big numbers through some corners. The car performed faultlessly and I’m glad I upgraded the front brakes. Tireless performance through the day, even after 30 mins. on the track and loads of life left in the pads at the end. Saying that I still managed to out brake myself into a corner and span at around 50mph. The only other spin was coming out of the hairpin. Too much power and a trip across the grass. Great fun. The only issue was fuel starvation that made the car hesitate after the Pif-Paf left-right-long left. I was rather worried the first time it happened but it went away after I topped up with fuel. Tien had the same problem and the same solution worked for him too.
So, was it worth it? The early organisation and high numbers got the day off to a poor start, but the pit-lane was fully opened by 11.30 (track opened properly at around 10) and things got better from there on. Personally I had a fantastic time. Everyone was friendly and happy to talk about their cars. I had a few passenger laps in the Noble, which was fantastic. So quick and able to carry so much speed through the corners. Brakes were scary as well. Steve took me out in his NSX and managed to spin for me too (cheers mate!). I will definitely be going back to Bedford Autodrome, but in a smaller group with less Lax-Power boys.
Thanks to Steve for suggesting the event and roll on the next one.
Rob
Good write up Rob!
After an uncoordinated start the day got progressively better.
I had a minor heart attack
after lunch as I was on track and noticed my oil pressure gauge maxed out at 90. Came back into the pits, checked the oil etc and all seemed fine, scratching my head when an S2000 owner asked me for a couple of hot laps in the Chim (hi Paul! 
)and I obliged gingerly at first... she was pulling as expected on the straights, so I think it is a dodgy sender which must have received a beating on the long sweeping curves.
Car booked into Austec for exhaust mods/MOT this Thurs so will get them to check the connections and if necessary, replace the sender.
For a moment there, I found out how a Tuscan S6 owner must have felt (!)
Some pics:
Rolled Clio - ouch!
naughty Cossie with NOS!
>> Edited by tamago on Monday 10th November 13:24
>> Edited by tamago on Monday 10th November 13:41
After an uncoordinated start the day got progressively better.
I had a minor heart attack
after lunch as I was on track and noticed my oil pressure gauge maxed out at 90. Came back into the pits, checked the oil etc and all seemed fine, scratching my head when an S2000 owner asked me for a couple of hot laps in the Chim (hi Paul! )and I obliged gingerly at first... she was pulling as expected on the straights, so I think it is a dodgy sender which must have received a beating on the long sweeping curves. Car booked into Austec for exhaust mods/MOT this Thurs so will get them to check the connections and if necessary, replace the sender.
For a moment there, I found out how a Tuscan S6 owner must have felt (!)
Some pics:
Rolled Clio - ouch!
naughty Cossie with NOS!
>> Edited by tamago on Monday 10th November 13:24
>> Edited by tamago on Monday 10th November 13:41
Here is the respective thread on the S2000 site:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2496588#post2496588
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2496588#post2496588
hi all - just thought i would echo other peoples post - great day overall and the weather even let the sun out in the afternoon
Good piccys esp the silver VX - thats mine!!
Day was better than i thought - not too many crazy's. I heard someone complaining about the LHD pug 405 and the black/red pug 205 got kicked out. The Clio crash was awful - i was about as close as you could get standing in the pit lane
I was behind a silver P reg Chimera for quite a few laps around midday - it was a bit worrying behind him in the twisties and then seeing the rear lighting up as we pulled out of the other side
He'd just leave me on the long straight, then, i'd reel him back in on the bends - but thats the VX all over
Whens the next one??
Good piccys esp the silver VX - thats mine!!
Day was better than i thought - not too many crazy's. I heard someone complaining about the LHD pug 405 and the black/red pug 205 got kicked out. The Clio crash was awful - i was about as close as you could get standing in the pit lane
I was behind a silver P reg Chimera for quite a few laps around midday - it was a bit worrying behind him in the twisties and then seeing the rear lighting up as we pulled out of the other side
He'd just leave me on the long straight, then, i'd reel him back in on the bends - but thats the VX all over Whens the next one??
If Autocar did a similar one at a similar price between now and christmas, how many would turn up? I've had the option to do one from Palmersport but wanted to see how the Redline day went first. Steve (Trackdemon) and a few of the other guys here have been to our normal trackday season and will no doubt vouch for the quality of the drivers. Hands up please - I don't want to commit to a booking without some idea of numbers.
Ta
Stuart
Ta
Stuart
I would be interested!!
I was interested in the various Autocar days whereby a manufacturer would turn up with their current range. I recall the Noble day sold out v quickly.
The same for the Redline event, I think it sold out within 2-3 days of receiving the original email from Palmersport.
AND if you throw in a subcription to Autocar, that would be the clincher!
I was interested in the various Autocar days whereby a manufacturer would turn up with their current range. I recall the Noble day sold out v quickly.
The same for the Redline event, I think it sold out within 2-3 days of receiving the original email from Palmersport.
AND if you throw in a subcription to Autocar, that would be the clincher!
if you can get a Sat or Sun together for £100 we should be able to get another 8-10 VX's up for it.... Not the weekend of 13th Dec as we are all at Hethel for a Vauxhall paid trackday 
Now how good is that? 
Is thw "how fast" day the same as the www.howfast.com site
>> Edited by cheeky_chops on Tuesday 11th November 10:25
Now how good is that? Is thw "how fast" day the same as the www.howfast.com site
>> Edited by cheeky_chops on Tuesday 11th November 10:25
Hello Stuart, I'd be very interested in another Autocar organized event. Particularly if costs could be kept to a 'reasonable' level 
My only reservation with the redline day was the standard of driving and was actually better than expected - although I did have an 'issue' with a particularly aggresively / dangerously / stupidly driven 405Mi16. I can certainly vouch for the standard of driving with Autocar events having been on several - Autocar being what they are they have the clout to leverage some tasty manufacturers toys as well, I've driven a Noble, VXT, Focus RS throuh them.
Go on Stuart, lets get another day together - I'd like to try Bedford in the wife's Cooper S!
My only reservation with the redline day was the standard of driving and was actually better than expected - although I did have an 'issue' with a particularly aggresively / dangerously / stupidly driven 405Mi16. I can certainly vouch for the standard of driving with Autocar events having been on several - Autocar being what they are they have the clout to leverage some tasty manufacturers toys as well, I've driven a Noble, VXT, Focus RS throuh them.
Go on Stuart, lets get another day together - I'd like to try Bedford in the wife's Cooper S!
trackdemon said:
Hello Stuart, I'd be very interested in another Autocar organized event. Particularly if costs could be kept to a 'reasonable' level
My only reservation with the redline day was the standard of driving and was actually better than expected - although I did have an 'issue' with a particularly aggresively / dangerously / stupidly driven 405Mi16. I can certainly vouch for the standard of driving with Autocar events having been on several - Autocar being what they are they have the clout to leverage some tasty manufacturers toys as well, I've driven a Noble, VXT, Focus RS throuh them.
Go on Stuart, lets get another day together - I'd like to try Bedford in the wife's Cooper S!
You're only allowed in if you bring that NSX ;-)
Our Cooper S is getting the works treatment next week - can't wait.
GUYS GUYS...
All this talk just whets my appetite!
As an ARDS Instructor please talk to me about your track day requirements. In most cases I've been there and done that!
I am for anything that...
A. Gets more Tivs out on the circuits
B. Stops Tivs from being thrown at the scenery and getting us a bad name.
Best regs
Steve L
All this talk just whets my appetite!
As an ARDS Instructor please talk to me about your track day requirements. In most cases I've been there and done that!
I am for anything that...
A. Gets more Tivs out on the circuits
B. Stops Tivs from being thrown at the scenery and getting us a bad name.
Best regs
Steve L
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