Oulton Park 6th Feb - Focussed Events
Discussion
I'm heading over with a few mates. I know there is a large contingent of VAG (seat) boys going, they're all good, so should be a fun day!
It's my first outing in my Honda elise, so hopefully I won't be the one causing any stoppages
it's my 1st rwd car
, and I want to drive it home afterwards!
It's my first outing in my Honda elise, so hopefully I won't be the one causing any stoppages
it's my 1st rwd car
, and I want to drive it home afterwards! JamieMon said:
I'm going too - it is my first track day, but I'm really looking forward to it! Look out for what looks like a taxi going round the track at hopefully considerable speed... Its a c class merc with a little AMG badge on the back.. 
hoping its good for you but in belgium to wait in line 3 hours in the morning for 10 minutes sortie on the circuit and then the same in the afternoon is a society that dies. It's my charm from a visit to goodwood in my AMG with this society. sorry for that!JamieMon said:
I'm going too - it is my first track day, but I'm really looking forward to it! Look out for what looks like a taxi going round the track at hopefully considerable speed... Its a c class merc with a little AMG badge on the back..
Please excuse the low quality of the pics
The quality looks great to me!
Well it was a good day if a little short due to the foggy weather. Generally the AMG is no track day car, especially Oulton Park as it is pretty twisty where a nimble light car works best, not a relatively heavy high power motor. On the straights it was fine, but the fact that the track was quite slippy anyway and the bias to understeer, I was battling for grip a lot of the time, whilst looking in my rear view mirror at the scoobys, porsches and sometimes novas catching me up! Did you see the white J reg nova flying around? It didn't have huge power, but could corner at fully 10-15mph more than my car.
I did unintentionally irritate a guy in a Scooby at one point. He caught me up through cascades and I moved over to the right to let him pass whilst backing off a little. Clearly I didn't back off enough because he couldn't get past before the next bend. Sorry!
Anyway, it was good fun, the car is in one piece and it will be back to motorway cruising on Monday...!
Well it was a good day if a little short due to the foggy weather. Generally the AMG is no track day car, especially Oulton Park as it is pretty twisty where a nimble light car works best, not a relatively heavy high power motor. On the straights it was fine, but the fact that the track was quite slippy anyway and the bias to understeer, I was battling for grip a lot of the time, whilst looking in my rear view mirror at the scoobys, porsches and sometimes novas catching me up! Did you see the white J reg nova flying around? It didn't have huge power, but could corner at fully 10-15mph more than my car.
I did unintentionally irritate a guy in a Scooby at one point. He caught me up through cascades and I moved over to the right to let him pass whilst backing off a little. Clearly I didn't back off enough because he couldn't get past before the next bend. Sorry!
Anyway, it was good fun, the car is in one piece and it will be back to motorway cruising on Monday...!
Hmm...i thought (& i know they can't control the weather) the day was over subscribed & one of the worst track days i've done for a long time;
Over crowded
(General moan) Charging for second driver, passenger
Not letting people run with lights (it was a one stage dark...foggy) (Albiet i think this may be some thing to do with Oulton Park?)
No gentle use of a quick flash to pre warn slower cars
Way too many novices in one day, whats the point of asking about experience levels beforehand etc
At one stage i waited nearly 20 minutes in the que to enter the circuit (circuit open). I really feel paying a little extra & reduced numbers is a better mix.
PS my 1st ever track day was also in a (borrowed
) (from MB!) MB C32 AMG Saloon back in 2003!
Over crowded
(General moan) Charging for second driver, passenger
Not letting people run with lights (it was a one stage dark...foggy) (Albiet i think this may be some thing to do with Oulton Park?)
No gentle use of a quick flash to pre warn slower cars
Way too many novices in one day, whats the point of asking about experience levels beforehand etc
At one stage i waited nearly 20 minutes in the que to enter the circuit (circuit open). I really feel paying a little extra & reduced numbers is a better mix.
PS my 1st ever track day was also in a (borrowed
) (from MB!) MB C32 AMG Saloon back in 2003!As a spectator it was great to see such a variety on track. However I can certainly see where your coming from when saying it was too busy.
Few more here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelskas/sets/721576...
Few more here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelskas/sets/721576...
nastywej said:
Hmm...i thought (& i know they can't control the weather) the day was over subscribed & one of the worst track days i've done for a long time;
Over crowded
(General moan) Charging for second driver, passenger
Not letting people run with lights (it was a one stage dark...foggy) (Albiet i think this may be some thing to do with Oulton Park?)
No gentle use of a quick flash to pre warn slower cars
Way too many novices in one day, whats the point of asking about experience levels beforehand etc
At one stage i waited nearly 20 minutes in the que to enter the circuit (circuit open). I really feel paying a little extra & reduced numbers is a better mix.
I've never used FE before, but their prices does seems cheaper than other TDO's. However, overcrowding seems to be a general feedback on FE days. Personally, I don't think I'll be rushing to book with them.Over crowded
(General moan) Charging for second driver, passenger
Not letting people run with lights (it was a one stage dark...foggy) (Albiet i think this may be some thing to do with Oulton Park?)
No gentle use of a quick flash to pre warn slower cars
Way too many novices in one day, whats the point of asking about experience levels beforehand etc
At one stage i waited nearly 20 minutes in the que to enter the circuit (circuit open). I really feel paying a little extra & reduced numbers is a better mix.
Great pictures 
you even got one of me
I was fairly happy with the way things turned out. Conditions were not ideal, and there did seem to be alot of novices on track. It was hidiously oversubscribed but I guess that's why it was cheap!
I had fun, and it was my first in a rwd car and I did enjoy it. I honestly thought I would bin it, but thankfully it's still in one piece.
That amg merc did shift on the straights
you even got one of me I was fairly happy with the way things turned out. Conditions were not ideal, and there did seem to be alot of novices on track. It was hidiously oversubscribed but I guess that's why it was cheap!
I had fun, and it was my first in a rwd car and I did enjoy it. I honestly thought I would bin it, but thankfully it's still in one piece.
That amg merc did shift on the straights
Well, as always, Oulton park was awesome - it never fails to entertain me and i was massively impressed with my car (the silver 130i). The damp track didnt favour rwd but with a slight change in driving style the car was great.
The day itself was, well, mixed. I liked FE's approach to the day; they certainly talked a good game. But there were a few areas which could have been better. They nearly ran out of helmets to hire, so a simple check in the booking process as to who needed one could have helped this. There were, most definitely, too many cars booked on. I managed to get around 60miles of track time which isnt very much at all - as a reference, i didnt even use a full tank of fuel (at 11mpg) whereas the last time i was there i used a tank and a half (also at 11mpg)
The general standard of driving was average at best. This wasnt helped by there being too many cars out there but based on the show of hands at the briefing of how many people were novices, either lots of people were lying or those who are seasoned track goers need to learn some ettiquite. I could name cars, but i wont, but there was hardly any easing off to let faster cars through and i think i got one or two "thank yous" for letting people through. very poor.
I also dont consider myself to be an expert, but i have had tuition at oulton and know, roughly, the right lines. Clearly there were some out there who had no idea, subsequently braking mid corner or not hitting the apex and then getting in your way on the straights, thnking they were ok.
That said, i did enjoy myself and learnt ever more about both my car and a wonderfully technical and demanding track. what i wouldnt give to be a racing driver!
Some good points from the day were a wonderful clear stint not long after lunch with a couple of clear laps to really nail the track. A great little jostle with the guy in the little seat arosa - what a belting car for the track and a great owner/driver too. The black megane R26.R which looked superb and went like stink. The plethora of seat cupras which were bloody fast on the straights and were clearly more than the standard bhp! The x-bow for its absurdity, pace and noise. Oh and a special mention to my very favourite corner, druids. Took me a good few laps to remember how to take it, but every time is epic.
All in all a good day. And for the price, great. Anyone with any pics of my family wagon, please do let me know!
The day itself was, well, mixed. I liked FE's approach to the day; they certainly talked a good game. But there were a few areas which could have been better. They nearly ran out of helmets to hire, so a simple check in the booking process as to who needed one could have helped this. There were, most definitely, too many cars booked on. I managed to get around 60miles of track time which isnt very much at all - as a reference, i didnt even use a full tank of fuel (at 11mpg) whereas the last time i was there i used a tank and a half (also at 11mpg)
The general standard of driving was average at best. This wasnt helped by there being too many cars out there but based on the show of hands at the briefing of how many people were novices, either lots of people were lying or those who are seasoned track goers need to learn some ettiquite. I could name cars, but i wont, but there was hardly any easing off to let faster cars through and i think i got one or two "thank yous" for letting people through. very poor.
I also dont consider myself to be an expert, but i have had tuition at oulton and know, roughly, the right lines. Clearly there were some out there who had no idea, subsequently braking mid corner or not hitting the apex and then getting in your way on the straights, thnking they were ok.
That said, i did enjoy myself and learnt ever more about both my car and a wonderfully technical and demanding track. what i wouldnt give to be a racing driver!
Some good points from the day were a wonderful clear stint not long after lunch with a couple of clear laps to really nail the track. A great little jostle with the guy in the little seat arosa - what a belting car for the track and a great owner/driver too. The black megane R26.R which looked superb and went like stink. The plethora of seat cupras which were bloody fast on the straights and were clearly more than the standard bhp! The x-bow for its absurdity, pace and noise. Oh and a special mention to my very favourite corner, druids. Took me a good few laps to remember how to take it, but every time is epic.
All in all a good day. And for the price, great. Anyone with any pics of my family wagon, please do let me know!
snorkel sucker said:
All in all a good day. And for the price, great.
Im not so sure. On reflection i think it was fortunate that most of the red flags were for minor incidents. Oulton Park, predictably dreadful conditions & over crowding could have created a big incident.
If you had to travel any real distance to the circuit or you're using a race team/paying for tuition going for an overcrowded track day does not give value for money.
& as for the Druids thread
?...Its a trackday...not a test or race. Someone will run out of talent & in a big way there...worse still end up bouncing back off the barriers into someone elses car.As i think you've gathered i'd give the day 3 out of 10 @ best!
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