Silverstone 29th Nov
Discussion
What a day 
It was pretty wet all day, some rain at lunch meant there was never really a dry line, just a damp and greasy one. Lost of people sliding everywhere.
Good range of machinery... I was in an orange Caterham, a couple of other Caterfields, E30 M3, KTMs, Radical, mini-meet of GT3 owners club it seemed, a Focus (hire car???) and a selection of old Porsches 993s 964s etc. Also a Cayman, Clio, Megane, SLK, Exiges, Nissan R35 GT-R, couple of Fiat 500s and some E60 M5s.
All in all a good day, well organised. Whoever was in the Radical couldn't quite get their act together towards the end of the day and caused red flags twice in about an hour or so. Ah well
Someone (you know who you are!) almost T-boned me, they tried to overtake under braking into Brooklands, but I'd already turned in was heading for the apex (on a wide turn in) and saw them... they'd carried too much speed and were understeering towards me, luckily managed to get out of the way! Anyway they came and apologies afterwards for a slightly too optomistic move.
Towards the end of the day the Club straight had a river prety much running across it, a few cars were aquaplaning including mine, had a very scary moment as the car snapped sideways over it.
There was a lime green Exige that stuffed it into the pit wall after Woodcote, I guess they got a bit out of shape on the corner and couldn't catch it. Everyone fine apart from the car. This was definitely the trickiest corner of the day.
Certainly makes you keep your wits more about you than in the dry.
Thanks to the Goldtrack team for running a good day, I had a really good time.

It was pretty wet all day, some rain at lunch meant there was never really a dry line, just a damp and greasy one. Lost of people sliding everywhere.
Good range of machinery... I was in an orange Caterham, a couple of other Caterfields, E30 M3, KTMs, Radical, mini-meet of GT3 owners club it seemed, a Focus (hire car???) and a selection of old Porsches 993s 964s etc. Also a Cayman, Clio, Megane, SLK, Exiges, Nissan R35 GT-R, couple of Fiat 500s and some E60 M5s.
All in all a good day, well organised. Whoever was in the Radical couldn't quite get their act together towards the end of the day and caused red flags twice in about an hour or so. Ah well

Someone (you know who you are!) almost T-boned me, they tried to overtake under braking into Brooklands, but I'd already turned in was heading for the apex (on a wide turn in) and saw them... they'd carried too much speed and were understeering towards me, luckily managed to get out of the way! Anyway they came and apologies afterwards for a slightly too optomistic move.
Towards the end of the day the Club straight had a river prety much running across it, a few cars were aquaplaning including mine, had a very scary moment as the car snapped sideways over it.
There was a lime green Exige that stuffed it into the pit wall after Woodcote, I guess they got a bit out of shape on the corner and couldn't catch it. Everyone fine apart from the car. This was definitely the trickiest corner of the day.
Certainly makes you keep your wits more about you than in the dry.
Thanks to the Goldtrack team for running a good day, I had a really good time.
Was a great day, although slightly damp. (OK, f***ing wet!).
Some great cars to watch, the going was a little slippery, and that Fiat was piloted by a nutter, to see him charge into Copse was quite something.
I got some good pictures, although it was too wet for me to get too many.
A great day out.
Some great cars to watch, the going was a little slippery, and that Fiat was piloted by a nutter, to see him charge into Copse was quite something.
I got some good pictures, although it was too wet for me to get too many.
A great day out.
edb49 said:
Fer said:
I got some good pictures, although it was too wet for me to get too many
Cool - if they are online let me know the link please. 
Sounds like we're not a million miles away, we travelled up from Maidenhead.
I was out in the white 944 (without any stickers) and it was an education trying to get around some of the corners in the rain.
Glad you had fun - it was quite an eye-opener for me too.
Having never driven at Silverstone, and never driven the 944 in the wet, I had a few "moments". Thankfully I didn't put it into the kitty litter (or the Armco...or the pitwall) but it took 3 spins before I learnt how to spot the oversteer and catch the car!
In hindsight, worn road tyres were probably not the best idea given the condition...it was impossible to get any heat into them and I had very little grip regardless of suspension set-up, even as the track was drying towards the last half-hour of the day.
It was without a doubt a great day, but I'd like to properly learn the track in the dry and have the chance to drive it at "normal" (dry) speeds on "proper" (race) tyres!
If I got in anyone's way - my apologies!
Having never driven at Silverstone, and never driven the 944 in the wet, I had a few "moments". Thankfully I didn't put it into the kitty litter (or the Armco...or the pitwall) but it took 3 spins before I learnt how to spot the oversteer and catch the car!
In hindsight, worn road tyres were probably not the best idea given the condition...it was impossible to get any heat into them and I had very little grip regardless of suspension set-up, even as the track was drying towards the last half-hour of the day.
It was without a doubt a great day, but I'd like to properly learn the track in the dry and have the chance to drive it at "normal" (dry) speeds on "proper" (race) tyres!
If I got in anyone's way - my apologies!

A.Wang said:
Ah, so that was you then Rob! Awesome car and great bit of driving!
It's a bit cheeky, but I have to ask though - how much did the electronics kick in when you went round the outside of cars?
lol cheers!It's a bit cheeky, but I have to ask though - how much did the electronics kick in when you went round the outside of cars?

The electronics do help, but they won't save you completely. The car will slide quite a bit, before it diverts torque to the front and pulls it through.
I was struggling for grip, as the edges of the dunlops (medium track tyre) were worn, and car was understeering, then oversteering..
Great fun though!

Kurgen said:
I was struggling for grip, as the edges of the dunlops (medium track tyre) were worn, and car was understeering, then oversteering..
Great fun though!
I saw the tell-tale wobbles and know what you mean - one particularly memorable moment (from where I was sitting) was when you passed me out of Copse, and had a wobble before setting up for Maggotts. Great fun though!

It was very impressive to see you shoot pass in those conditions - made me wish I got some decent cut slicks...
As you said, great fun!
edb49 said:
Someone (you know who you are!) almost T-boned me, they tried to overtake under braking into Brooklands, but I'd already turned in was heading for the apex (on a wide turn in) and saw them... they'd carried too much speed and were understeering towards me, luckily managed to get out of the way! Anyway they came and apologies afterwards for a slightly too optomistic move.
I haven't done a punishment like that for many years. Oh how my hand aches!Melindi
gtdc said:
I haven't done a punishment like that for many years. Oh how my hand aches!
Melindi
There are so many possible responses to that I think I will behave myself and say nothing. That way I might get out on track again in the future. Melindi

(I was the one you were discussing Puncture Repair Kits with).
gtdc said:
edb49 said:
Someone (you know who you are!) almost T-boned me, they tried to overtake under braking into Brooklands, but I'd already turned in was heading for the apex (on a wide turn in) and saw them... they'd carried too much speed and were understeering towards me, luckily managed to get out of the way! Anyway they came and apologies afterwards for a slightly too optomistic move.
I haven't done a punishment like that for many years. Oh how my hand aches!Melindi

Hi guys,
Havn't posted on PH for ages, but the thread caught my eye.
I was the Mech running the little Abarth and the M5 Track taxi with my boss and driver Matt.
If you have some photos of the cars we'd would love to see them!
That was the 1st time we have run the Abarth ready for the new championship next year and what a great bit of kit it is!!!
As for the M5 the rain just means we get to slide around without killing the tyres as much!
Next time you see the Taxi come and say hi.
Regards LILmark
(Rees sport)
Havn't posted on PH for ages, but the thread caught my eye.
I was the Mech running the little Abarth and the M5 Track taxi with my boss and driver Matt.
If you have some photos of the cars we'd would love to see them!
That was the 1st time we have run the Abarth ready for the new championship next year and what a great bit of kit it is!!!
As for the M5 the rain just means we get to slide around without killing the tyres as much!

Next time you see the Taxi come and say hi.
Regards LILmark
(Rees sport)
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