Castle Combe tips / advice

[HDi-Julian]

Hi,

Sorry in advance if this has been covered, I've searched and been through the usual Evo / Lotus On Track etc circuit guides.

Anywho, just curious as to peoples thoughts on where time is made up after initially getting a feel for the place and getting comfortable around there?

We're talking track days so no chasing 1:16's hero attitude, but everybody wants to go faster and just interested to hear peoples thoughts on where they picked up time themselves.

Thanks in advance and apologies again if this is in the wrong place or a duplicate of many, many posts before it.

cheers

[HDi-Julian]

Thanks for the replies, better responses than I could have hoped for to be honest, cheers

All makes good sense, I think I've got the classic problem of braking either too hard or for too long, more than required either way, stemming from a lack of balls and familiarity with both the car and the track, so hopefully I can take all these words of wisdom in and try and make more of an effort.

I did come a little close to finding the wall at Camp just before I fitted my LSD and was still largely leaving corners in One Wheel Drive mode, also locked the fronts at a bhp day in the sleet in Feb and had to take the chicken run beside bobbies through the tyres so I'm definitely appreciating what people say about Combes big and serious nature.

Thanks again for the input from everybody, always a big help to hear from people who are further along with all this

• Wellground, white/black Evo X? I can remember one with a Wellground sunstrip when I was working at a certain workshop in Warmley, Bristol probably 3/4 years back which shall remain nameless haha. I've seen it at Combe going VERY well, also

[HDi-Julian]

Haha too right, it's scary that some people can stay open for so long. Glad it's coming back out and EVEN faster soon though, good to hear, all the best with it

QBee, definitely a good shout, I'll definitely be going that route again next time, thanks Was night and day after my first session with an instructor at a BHP day last year.

Thanks again folks

[HDi-Julian]

Thanks Jonty, will try it out and see how it goes. Only squeezed a few sessions of low 1:23's last time amidst masses of 24's and some much slower laps with traffic as I'm pretty intent on giving people room and behaving like I'm supposed to on a trackday, so do need to up the pace a fair bit when there's room to play.

Fortunately it's only an old hatchback if the worst happens, just never want to delay anyones day by binning it. Thanks again folks

[HDi-Julian]

Wise words, thank you Seems to be a recurring theme that smoothness builds speed, so I can totally get behind that, seems a far better approach than just going balls out and forgetting or neglecting your abilities when it's just a day of fun at the end of it all.

First time out last year a lot of the folks seemed to be using it as a cheap test day which kept me on my toes with the massive difference in closing speeds haha.

As for timing, just a GoPro and going frame by frame on the laptop once home, so quite tedious and sadly no real way of knowing if I'm improving on the day itself besides just 'feel', but I understand circuits reasoning for no timing and do my best to respect it, despite how tempting Racechrono and the want to see real-time improvement may be...

[HDi-Julian]

Agreed entirely, it's pretty gnarly in the wet, we did a day up there in the sleet in February on Nankang NS2R's. Eye opening for sure.

Only managed a couple of sessions the other day, car didn't feel itself, still pulled well but lacked its usual urgency so took my Dad out for a few laps after checking there wasn't any oil or coolant escaping or anything else untoward that would cause problems for others. It promptly cracked the turbo and we pulled in and proceeded to smoke out half the paddock from oil creeping into the exhaust and burning, so off home before 11 o'clock

Couple of laps below if anyone is bored and has any pointers on what needs the most attention, although I'm sure the whole lot does Video only on Youtube to share with a few friends and get some advice.

Also noticed a PistonHeads sticker on the back of the black/yellow Atom in front while I remember.

Thanks again

Standard shonky Youtube video

[HDi-Julian]

v8bloke - I know your MGB! Have had the pleasure of watching you drive it at Combe a couple of times, very nice video as well, always helps seeing laps from people like you and Wellground who properly know their way around and have the talent I'm lacking, plus hearing from everyone else here, will check out some more of yours in a bit

Can definitely get on the power earlier, you're the second to mention it now I think you're totally right that it's a confidence thing, so better to build up as you say, hopefully work on it next time and then it'll get the diff working and tighten things up a bit as well as gaining some pace Was trying to get out with Dave da Costa as I've always wanted to but sadly the mechanicals stopped play this time.

Been a big help this thread, thanks

[HDi-Julian]

Good news, thanks QBee, glad it worked as, or better than, expected for you. Hopefully we'll have a similar experience Does seem an awfully big lapse before getting on it in the video, which is much easier to see in retrospect. Will work hard on it for sure, fingers crossed the car will last until an instructor is available next time

[HDi-Julian]

That's not a bad run at all from the TVR is it Five years worth of use that most road cars will never see and still going strong besides a failure that could happen to any car at any time and the fluid not being able to cope with the speed / enthusiasm, I'd be a very happy man if I could say the same, hope it continues its good service to you

Hoping our bad luck is out of the way for another year now so onwards and upwards