Just did my first track day - at last
Discussion
Having been talking and thinking about it for ages, and having spent out a not inconsiderable sum on buying and mildly fettling an old 944, I finally got the old girl out on the track.
Fantastic buzz, and a real eye opener!
I probably had the slowest car on the day, there were a few very quick machines, and some others which were well fettled lesser machines.
By the end of the day I was no longer the slowest and able to push myself and the car much harder. The bucket seat, or more particularly the harness were slowly but surely racked up tighter and tighter, leaving me to concentrate on driving instead of holding myself in place.
With an able assistant on the day (an older guy who has years of track experience and mechanics), we made the GAZ rear shocks slightly softer, which I thought would see me squirming about all over the show, but instead it made the front end much more direct and the back followed better rather than fighting the front - and I was able to go quicker again.
For some reason he timed a few of my laps (which I was unaware of), and was very excited to tell me that despite the old machinery and it being my first time out, I was producing near club times for the circuit (Mettet n Belgium)... So as you can imagine I came away grinning like a cheshire cat...
Anyway... Fantastic day, dont know why the hell I havent done it before, and cannot wait to try again...
Poor ol car is going to need new brake pads, new brake fluid, the cooling system refreshed and a good oil change too. Otherwise, she's ready to roll.
Fantastic buzz, and a real eye opener!
I probably had the slowest car on the day, there were a few very quick machines, and some others which were well fettled lesser machines.
By the end of the day I was no longer the slowest and able to push myself and the car much harder. The bucket seat, or more particularly the harness were slowly but surely racked up tighter and tighter, leaving me to concentrate on driving instead of holding myself in place.
With an able assistant on the day (an older guy who has years of track experience and mechanics), we made the GAZ rear shocks slightly softer, which I thought would see me squirming about all over the show, but instead it made the front end much more direct and the back followed better rather than fighting the front - and I was able to go quicker again.
For some reason he timed a few of my laps (which I was unaware of), and was very excited to tell me that despite the old machinery and it being my first time out, I was producing near club times for the circuit (Mettet n Belgium)... So as you can imagine I came away grinning like a cheshire cat...
Anyway... Fantastic day, dont know why the hell I havent done it before, and cannot wait to try again...
Poor ol car is going to need new brake pads, new brake fluid, the cooling system refreshed and a good oil change too. Otherwise, she's ready to roll.
A911DOM said:
Thanks chap - its just a standard 944 2.5 with some stickers and some funky suspension.
With having to be super sensible on the roads these days, being able to thrash a car and push the boundaries was a real 'release'.
Great fun!!!
I had the same feelings after my first trackday - made me really wonder why I didn't do one sooner.With having to be super sensible on the roads these days, being able to thrash a car and push the boundaries was a real 'release'.
Great fun!!!
It almost seems pointless driving fast on the roads now. It's just nowhere near as fun, and it really highlights just how awful the road surfaces are!
Car looks great stickered up aswell!
Slagathore said:
A911DOM said:
Thanks chap - its just a standard 944 2.5 with some stickers and some funky suspension.
With having to be super sensible on the roads these days, being able to thrash a car and push the boundaries was a real 'release'.
Great fun!!!
I had the same feelings after my first trackday - made me really wonder why I didn't do one sooner.With having to be super sensible on the roads these days, being able to thrash a car and push the boundaries was a real 'release'.
Great fun!!!
It almost seems pointless driving fast on the roads now. It's just nowhere near as fun, and it really highlights just how awful the road surfaces are!
Car looks great stickered up aswell!
Cheers! I liked it, but then was mildly concerned that I was making it 'look' racey without the necessary to back it up
and some of the other stuff on track on the day:
This was an immaculate and very attractive little red number parked up next to us in the pitts:
and from a different angle:
This outfit ran during the lunch break thankfully, as he was taking passenger rides, oh yes, none of your health and safety nonsence here!
and some seriously quick machinery
an unusual peugeot prototype car - 1.6 engine I believe, but weighed about as much as a fag packet:
and a very pretty older RS - there was certainly some moneys worth on track.
This was an immaculate and very attractive little red number parked up next to us in the pitts:
and from a different angle:
This outfit ran during the lunch break thankfully, as he was taking passenger rides, oh yes, none of your health and safety nonsence here!
and some seriously quick machinery
an unusual peugeot prototype car - 1.6 engine I believe, but weighed about as much as a fag packet:
and a very pretty older RS - there was certainly some moneys worth on track.
PabloTeK said:
That Pug sports car, I think that runs as a support race to the LMS? I remember seeing some footage at a training day with something like that...
Your car looks much better than that Seat!
Cheers Your car looks much better than that Seat!
Dwarfed my car too - and I didnt think a 944 was particularly small.
Not sure what series that Pug runs in, I know its a full on race car, and the driver etc were friends of my assistant on the day. I was very close to getting a Passenger ride in that thing but time got the better of us in the end and I had to have one last batch of laps on the day before daylight (or my brakepads) ran out
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