RMA trackday @ RAF Odiham, May 4th mon bank hol

[zs]

Can anyone offer some advice on this airfield circuit and tips on what to watch out for on RMA trackdays please? First time here and with this organiser... how do RMA compare to Goldtrack?
ps anyone else intending to be there (that's not signed up on the wiki sticky on this forum)?
Thanks

[S6PNJ]

Peter, what info are you looking for? I haven't done any Gold days, only RMA days but I can let you know what I think (all positive) but I've nothing to compare it with. What info do you want on the track?

Edited to add YouTube links

Skelta
Elise highlights
Aplina B10 me at 4:43 I think!
V6 Vectra showing a couple of the diverse cars (Hill climb mini and some orange 3 wheeler thing!)

and others - just Google it!

Edited by S6PNJ on Sunday 19th April 16:04

[angryS3owner]

I'm thinking of going assuming the warning light on my car isn't anything serious when I check it at some point this week.

The surface at Odiham looks really good and not like a normal airfield day IMO.

Anyone know if there is tuition available on the day?

[S6PNJ]

The surface is good (it's an active airfield after all!) There was some tuition on the Dec day but it needed to be booked in advance with RMA. Your best bet is to give them a call.

[zs]

S6PNJ said:

Peter, what info are you looking for? I haven't done any Gold days, only RMA days but I can let you know what I think (all positive) but I've nothing to compare it with. What info do you want on the track?

I'm curious about how well organised it is on the day: how well the rules are normally adhered to e.g. only overtaking on 1 side (if that is a standard rule with RMA), no hassling slower cars/ let faster cars by without hassle, no overtaking on corners.... some of the rules with goldtrack that were followed well on the day i tracked with them.
Having not had the event info pack yet, what's your best guess for the end time?? Hoping for a longish afternoon with the late light now ?? hoping no mist as seems to be regular at this airfield....!

[adamb]

It's a great circuit, but last time i went it totally destroyed my tyres and peppered my front bumper with stone chips..

[S6PNJ]

zs said:

S6PNJ said:

Peter, what info are you looking for? I haven't done any Gold days, only RMA days but I can let you know what I think (all positive) but I've nothing to compare it with. What info do you want on the track?

I'm curious about how well organised it is on the day: how well the rules are normally adhered to e.g. only overtaking on 1 side (if that is a standard rule with RMA), no hassling slower cars/ let faster cars by without hassle, no overtaking on corners.... some of the rules with goldtrack that were followed well on the day i tracked with them.
Having not had the event info pack yet, what's your best guess for the end time?? Hoping for a longish afternoon with the late light now ?? hoping no mist as seems to be regular at this airfield....!

Peter, RMA don't apply overtaking rules of one side only - they state (at the morning brief - compulsary) that faster cars can overtake slower cars ONLY if it does not affect the line of the slower car, ie you can overtake on either side but you can't affect the slower cars line. Overtaking on corners is ok as long as the above rule is applied. At a guess, I'd think the track time will end at roughly 1600-1700 (probably closer to 1700). They have professional marshalling staff and they are not afraid of black flagging for dangerous (or other) behaviour. I was black flagged last Aug after a spin as they saw my car go round a corner, there was a gap in time (when I span onto the grass), they saw me get out (to check tyres etc) and then get back in again - they thought I'd swapped drivers mid way through a lap so black flagged me! After a quick explanation, I was back on my way again, no issues!

Fingers crossed we won't have the mist we had in Dec, Aug was brilliant - remember sunscreen if you are topless (roof) or are wandering about the paddock. It's on top of a hill so anything mistwise that we do get should blow away fairly quickly.

[angryS3owner]

I've just heard back, there is still space so I'll almost certainly be there subject to checking my brakes later. I'll be the yellow road block annoying everyone

[zs]

S6PNJ said:

zs said:

S6PNJ said:

....blow away fairly quickly.

understood - sounds fine, thanks Phil. surprised there aren't many videos on the sites.. non on ph.tv either.

how strict are the organisers on noise control??...i'm thinking of refitting the entire OEM kit to mine after measuring the current system (not straight through!) on each side exit at
110db @ 1 mtr (~ 113db @ 1/2mtr) @ 3/4max rpm and
90db @ idle last year.

The ferrari in the B10 vid above sounds pretty raspy and i'm curious what yours might be reading??
Do you/anyone have any idea how and where they monitor the drive by levels and has anyone been evicted from previous events on noise grounds?
My OEM kit weighs significantly more than the present setup!
Thanks

[paul shoes]

I was there in december and my stradale had no problems with the noise, regarding overtaking Graham who runs RMA will not suffer anybody trying to spoil the day. I would recomend RMA every time

[Tuningsolutions]

paul shoes said:

I was there in december and my stradale had no problems with the noise, regarding overtaking Graham who runs RMA will not suffer anybody trying to spoil the day. I would recomend RMA every time

I second that. The best track day's I've been on, bar none. The Ring/Spa days are out of this world and I agree, Graham and co won't have anyone risking their top notch reputation.

[youngsyr]

I've just booked up in my black Evo VIII. Looking forward to it and if anyone else on here is going to be there, come and say hello - my name is Rob.

[BrightYellowTVR]

I am going to this one, attended Silverstone with RMA last Sept and it was very well run.

Cheers,
Jon

PS I heard they won't be testing for noise on Monday, but stated a 105db limit anyway, I guess to keep any seriously loud cars away. I have some extra silencers just in case

[bugeyewrx]

I've booked up on this day too

Say hello if you see me .... grey RX8 PZ

Martin

[youngsyr]

How did people think of the day, especially tyre wear and stone chips on?

I managed to remove around 2mm of tread from my N/S front Yoko A048 and the N/S back didn't fair much better. Perhaps I was getting the power on a bit early in some of the corners, but another driver in his GT3 managed to split one of his rear tyres where the tread joins the sidewall.

I was deliberately tyring to avoid following other cars but still managed to pick up stone chips, including one in the windscreen that I assume could be an MOT failure. Two other drivers I talked to had done the same.

Apart from one or two other issues it was a very enjoyable day and a good circuit though, but with the tyre wear and stone chips I'm not sure I'd go back.

[angryS3owner]

I went along but didn't go on track as there was no way I was getting up in time for the briefing after the night before and only made it along about 12 in the end.

I think I saw your car, black Evo with tape on the front - did it help with the stone chips?

I've got some pics I'll post up when I get home (no idea which are any good), I somehow managed to fall asleep yesterday trying to sort them out

[Tim S]

youngsyr said:

How did people think of the day, especially tyre wear and stone chips on?

I managed to remove around 2mm of tread from my N/S front Yoko A048 and the N/S back didn't fair much better. Perhaps I was getting the power on a bit early in some of the corners, but another driver in his GT3 managed to split one of his rear tyres where the tread joins the sidewall.

I was deliberately tyring to avoid following other cars but still managed to pick up stone chips, including one in the windscreen that I assume could be an MOT failure. Two other drivers I talked to had done the same.

Apart from one or two other issues it was a very enjoyable day and a good circuit though, but with the tyre wear and stone chips I'm not sure I'd go back.

Hi Rob - I presume it was you I met at the Shell station on the M3? I was in the black 350Z.

I didn't have any tyre wear issues perhaps because I was on normal road tyres (Falken 452) which meant I couldn't push too hard in corners. I was conscious of not scrubbing the fronts too which has happened to me before on track, and the Z being quite lardy can push front tyres over onto their sidewalls in corners which obviously I wanted to avoid.

I was actually pretty pleased with how the tyres held up.

I haven't checked the front of the car for chips but didn't notice anything untoward on the day. Might have just been lucky, or might not have noticed yet.

I'd go back as I thought the circuit suited the 350Z well, and it's only half an hour's drive for me.

[youngsyr]

angryS3owner said:

I went along but didn't go on track as there was no way I was getting up in time for the briefing after the night before and only made it along about 12 in the end.

I think I saw your car, black Evo with tape on the front - did it help with the stone chips?

I've got some pics I'll post up when I get home (no idea which are any good), I somehow managed to fall asleep yesterday trying to sort them out

Yep, mine was the one with the tape. Evos are notorious for picking up stone chips as they have a very upright front end to fit the intercooler in. The tape did help a bit (I even picked one or two stones out of it after the first session).

[youngsyr]

Tim S said:

youngsyr said:

How did people think of the day, especially tyre wear and stone chips on?

I managed to remove around 2mm of tread from my N/S front Yoko A048 and the N/S back didn't fair much better. Perhaps I was getting the power on a bit early in some of the corners, but another driver in his GT3 managed to split one of his rear tyres where the tread joins the sidewall.

I was deliberately tyring to avoid following other cars but still managed to pick up stone chips, including one in the windscreen that I assume could be an MOT failure. Two other drivers I talked to had done the same.

Apart from one or two other issues it was a very enjoyable day and a good circuit though, but with the tyre wear and stone chips I'm not sure I'd go back.

Hi Rob - I presume it was you I met at the Shell station on the M3? I was in the black 350Z.

I didn't have any tyre wear issues perhaps because I was on normal road tyres (Falken 452) which meant I couldn't push too hard in corners. I was conscious of not scrubbing the fronts too which has happened to me before on track, and the Z being quite lardy can push front tyres over onto their sidewalls in corners which obviously I wanted to avoid.

I was actually pretty pleased with how the tyres held up.

I haven't checked the front of the car for chips but didn't notice anything untoward on the day. Might have just been lucky, or might not have noticed yet.

I'd go back as I thought the circuit suited the 350Z well, and it's only half an hour's drive for me.

Yep Tim, that was me. I think the problem was me putting the power on early in the corners.

I knew at the time it wouldn't be great for them, but it's so tempting to get the power on early out of those wide corners and the Evo is pretty good at powering out of them. I would have thought the longer chicane on the back straight (not the tyre bail one) would have worn them the most, but it was the N/S that seemed to suffer more, so maybe it was the corner coming onto the straight that did it.

One of the guys I knew down there described the straight as "Whacky Racers" and that's exactly what it reminded me of one I came around there one time and went 4 abreast coming onto the runway with the 993 shape raspberry 911 RS, the ariel atom and another car. All four of us just blasting down that straight at full throttle!

Edited by youngsyr on Tuesday 5th May 13:21

[zs]

BrightYellowTVR said:

I have some extra silencers just in case

you didn't need them (i heard!) ...but didn't see you on track...?..
just my 3rd trackday and enjoyed the layout. was surprised how few cars there were on track at any one time and just 4-5 of us left at 1600. brilliant no worries feeling on the main straight...so wide, but not an end chicane and the drop beyond to brake late for!.. pretty good surface in the light rain we had to. few hours of in car vid to sort now....anyone else recording?

Edited by zs on Tuesday 5th May 21:35