1st track day done....bloody good fun

[jimbo_h]

Guys I posted up a while ago about a track day at beford autodrome.

Well today was the day and I gotta say I was a tad nervous about it. The usual doubts like will I smash my daily into a hundred bits? will I be the slowest thing out there? what parts on the car will be sh!t on track?

Upon arrival (arvo session only) I stood and watched the end of the am sess', plenty of nice motors on track. Exiges, caterham superlights, vx220ts, loads of porsches, jag XKR, honda NSX, M3s, GTRs plus the usual hot hatchs (Clio sports, VW GTI, cooper s, megane r26). Gotta say it looked like fun, couldn't wait

Breifing session over we went for 2 sighting laps then into the pits, helmet on and out for my first stint. It went ok but I didn't feel like I was getting the most out of my car. Back into the pits I go, this time to collect an instructor (organised beforehand). Now this is where I started to get a whole heap quicker, braking so much later, on the gas sooner, even just turning the steering wheel more!!

Now Rob (Mr instuctor) was only in for 3 laps but my £25 was well spent. While going around we were chatting on what I should invest my money in to go faster, he said leave the brakes alone (apart from new front discs, classic EBC warp'age), get some stiffer springs (rolled too much with quite a bit of rubbing) and get some new wheels with 2nd hand track day only slicks This I like the idea of. I'm never gonna be able to get any more bhp so I gotta get 'round the bends better.

When Rob jumped out he did say the motor handled very nicely and had overtaken quite a few cars it shouldn't have (yes, I was chuffed).

After I'd let the brakes cool down, had a chat with a few of the fellas there, back out I went. Very slippery now, lots of fun. Once the vid' is done uploading I'll post it, keeping up with a GTR (R33) was brill, all my time was made up under braking and though the bends, I had no hope on the straights (went past a few tasty bits whilst doing so)

Some pics of the day, vid coming soon

ok, so I need some suggestions on what springs to get (I've got eibach pro street s coilies at the mo', good for road use, not good for track). U reckon I can get away with just uprating the springs?

I had a great day, one I'm cetainly now planning on repeating

 

[Chris_a_73]

I'm heading over to the Bedford Autodrome on May 18th (PM session) in our Mk2 Golf GTI. Should be a good laugh, never been to the Autodrome before, only done Brands Hatch and Silverstone GP

 

[jimbo_h]

its a good track, u can really push ur motor there as there are only a couple of places where if u go off u'll wreck it (both under braking). If you go off on a bend u just end up in the grass.....

 

[Poverty]

nice one mate, enjoyed the write up!

Cupra brakes are awesome as std!

 

[hubbly_bubbly]

Wow those are some awesome pictures! Track days are the most fun you can have in a car with your clothes on!

Down here in South Africa we just had a track day on the highveld. We gathered about 20 Seats for the day of which 7 participated. There were 5 McLaren MP4-12Cs with a Ferrari 458 Italia and 599GTB too, some Porsches, BMs, Mercs the lot! Was great sharing the track with those super cars!

Here are some vids of the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKcR9wlb40I&feature=youtu.be

http://youtu.be/nY67HEMPmfU

http://youtu.be/6LKV9ip-4kE

 

[hon_n_gem]

^ Videos look quality mate.

Pics of your track day look awesome! Car looks brilliant mate!

Was thinking about doing this one day, how much was it if you don't mind me asking?

 

[jc_boc]

Fantastic write up mate and love the pics of your motor on the track!

 

[AndrewJB]

Jimbo next time you go out il come with you in the LCR

Never wanted to take the FR out because of the knocking suspension worried something might break, but.... Alex has informed me that your downpipe has been knocking which could be whats causing my knocking noise!

 

[LeonCR]

looks like an amazing time, i have heard its the best circuit to start on

 

[Bignod00]

Mate, really glad you had such a good experience and this has just made me even more determined to get out on track and have some fun!

Sorry I had to let you down this time but if you fancy doing it again then give me a shout as I'm only up the road so will be sorely tempted!

 

[Chris_a_73]

Was thinking about doing this one day, how much was it if you don't mind me asking?

Not sure about the OP but mine is £119 for an evening session at Bedford (5:30-8 I think).

 

[hon_n_gem]

^ that sounds pretty reasonable, although I imagine car costs are a bit (going through tyres, petrol etc!).

 

[Faceless]

ok, so I need some suggestions on what springs to get (I've got eibach pro street s coilies at the mo', good for road use, not good for track). U reckon I can get away with just uprating the springs?

Do your current Coilovers offer adjustable rebound?
As the majority of decent coilovers kits offer adjustable height + rebound.

You could perhaps set these up for a harder ride (less bounce).
Better then on the track, but would become alot stiffer on the road!

Pictures look GREAT, but I'm confused... a TDi FR with NO DPF... yet NO smoke!?

I've had track day experiences in various supercars, Ferrari, Lambos, Aston Martin etc - but never taken my own car out there. Sounds alot of fun.

Plus as you highlighted, perhaps pickup a spare set of light alloys fitted with slick track tyres, which would also make alot of difference too. Get to the track early and get them on. You can pickup a 12V Wheel wrench for not alot of money too. Speedy changeover.

 

[jimbo_h]

Wow those are some awesome pictures! Track days are the most fun you can have in a car with your clothes on!

Down here in South Africa we just had a track day on the highveld. We gathered about 20 Seats for the day of which 7 participated. There were 5 McLaren MP4-12Cs with a Ferrari 458 Italia and 599GTB too, some Porsches, BMs, Mercs the lot! Was great sharing the track with those super cars!

Here are some vids of the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKcR9wlb40I&feature=youtu.be

http://youtu.be/nY67HEMPmfU

http://youtu.be/6LKV9ip-4kE

that track looks superb! nice and twisty! great vids

^ Videos look quality mate.

Pics of your track day look awesome! Car looks brilliant mate!

Was thinking about doing this one day, how much was it if you don't mind me asking?

was £79 for the afternoon (2-5pm), I also had some tuition (£25) and I insured my car (£65)

Jimbo next time you go out il come with you in the LCR

Never wanted to take the FR out because of the knocking suspension worried something might break, but.... Alex has informed me that your downpipe has been knocking which could be whats causing my knocking noise!

whos Alex, any why has he been driving my car and how is that causing a knocking on your car......u gotta get ur LCR out on track, it'd be great fun

Mate, really glad you had such a good experience and this has just made me even more determined to get out on track and have some fun!

Sorry I had to let you down this time but if you fancy doing it again then give me a shout as I'm only up the road so will be sorely tempted!

defo gonna do at least another one this yr, will post up the dates I find

^ that sounds pretty reasonable, although I imagine car costs are a bit (going through tyres, petrol etc!).

costs for the day as above, running costs....tyres not much wear (although the damp/wet conditions probably helped).....fuel cost, well I went through approx 1/2-2/3s a of tank, so thats about £40, £50 tops. The biggest cost will be what I now want to do to the car!

Do your current Coilovers offer adjustable rebound?
As the majority of decent coilovers kits offer adjustable height + rebound.

You could perhaps set these up for a harder ride (less bounce).
Better then on the track, but would become alot stiffer on the road!

Pictures look GREAT, but I'm confused... a TDi FR with NO DPF... yet NO smoke!?

I've had track day experiences in various supercars, Ferrari, Lambos, Aston Martin etc - but never taken my own car out there. Sounds alot of fun.

Plus as you highlighted, perhaps pickup a spare set of light alloys fitted with slick track tyres, which would also make alot of difference too. Get to the track early and get them on. You can pickup a 12V Wheel wrench for not alot of money too. Speedy changeover.

on the pro street s they only offer height adjustment, not damping. They're developed for road use which is why they're a tad soft. Maybe a front ARB???

ditto with the various supercar stuff, good fun but I found with those days u don't really get to push the car to the limit. I've also done a Palmer Sport day at bedford and the instructors make sure u have a heap of fun (although not necessarily the quickest lap)

Smoke??? yeah there was a little, I'm sure it put a few guys off who were behind me!!

 

[AndrewJB]

whos Alex, any why has he been driving my car and how is that causing a knocking on your car......u gotta get ur LCR out on track, it'd be great fun

Alex used to work at BDM, He now owns AKS Tuning

Hes doing work on my FR TDI before it goes of, He said he noticed your downpipe was catching something, Seing as we have the same downpipe its probably doing the same on mine

 

[jimbo_h]

Alex used to work at BDM, He now owns AKS Tuning

Hes doing work on my FR TDI before it goes of, He said he noticed your downpipe was catching something, Seing as we have the same downpipe its probably doing the same on mine

hmmm interesting, I've not had any knocking. Sounds like another problem to look forward to!!! U getting ya motor on the wk'end?

 

[Bruce GT3]

Bedford is good place to start as there is plenty of run-off should you overdo things and outbrake yourself into a corner. Don't know what circuit you did Jimbo, but if it was the full GT one it can be a killer on brakes as there are a couple of big heavy braking spots on there. Funny reading your costings, as when i've taken the GT3 round there I generally get through around 3 tanks of Super at about £90 a tank!! It's a big power circuit, and the worst mpg I've hit on there is 6.4mpg!!

BTW Jim, did you monitor you tyre pressures at all? This can have a dramatic effect on handling, and I recommend anyoone that's considering tracking to get themselves a GOOD motorsports pressure gauge.

For anyone else going to Bedford, be aware that they are VERY strict on noise limits, so some with open or very loud exhausts will struggle. If you're close to the limit the marshalls will let you out - you just have to spot where the noise meters are and lift a little

Glad you enjoyed it though - and keep it up!!

 

[Faceless]

Jimbo, can you please confirm where you got your DPF removed?
Also do you know what their process was (just cut out the filter from the pipe, or replacement pipe)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[AndrewJB]

Jimbo, can you please confirm where you got your DPF removed?
Also do you know what their process was (just cut out the filter from the pipe, or replacement pipe)?

Thanks in advance.

Jimbo's is a Milltek Downpipe like mine

 

[AndrewJB]

hmmm interesting, I've not had any knocking. Sounds like another problem to look forward to!!! U getting ya motor on the wk'end?

im hoping to get it Saturday, all depends on DVLA now to my plate transfer