Thursday, May 18, 2006

Anyone interested in sharing a track day?

So I'm thinking, I want to do lots of track days because there is no buzz like it ( well not that I've tried anyway!). Problem is they are expensive. So I'm thinking, why don't I share the cost with someone? Obviously my prospective sharer would need to be reasonably competent behind the wheel, and mechanically sympathetic, but I reckon there are lots of petrolheads out there who would be interested in driving my car given the chance. I know I would have been before I bought one!
So I've worked out that I could afford to offer a single session at even the most expensive tracks like Silverstone and Donington for about £150, and maybe as little as £90 at an airfield circuit.
If anyone reading this is interested please leave me a message. I have listed below some possible dates :

May 24th (Wed) - Rockingham
June 10th (Sat) - Barkston Heath (airfield nr Grantham)
June 21st (Wed) -Silverstone
Aug 9th (Wed) - Snetterton
Aug 20th (Sun ) - Rockingham
Aug 24th(Thurs) - Silverstone
Aug 31st (Thurs)- Brands Hatch
Sep 6th (Wed) - Silverstone
Sep 28th (Thurs) - Donington
Sep 30th (Sat ) - Rockingham
Oct 4th (Wed) - Silverstone
Oct 15th (Sun ) - Rockingham
Oct 18th (Wed) - Snetterton
Nov 1st (Wed) - Silverstone
Nov 12th (Sun) - Rockingham
Nov 15th (Wed) - Donington
Dec 2nd (Sat) - Silverstone
Dec 3rd (Sun) - Rockingham
Dec 9th (Sat) - Brands Hatch

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Silverstone May 06


First track day of 2006. Silverstone. The full Grand Prix circuit. This is my first time so I'm a bit tentative. I have arranged for a mate from work and I have invited someone from the Westfield Sports Car Club to come along for the ride. First time out I have to remind myself that the tyres need warming up, so the first few laps are a bit slow, following the slower other cars (stuff like Ginettas, Lotus Elises etc). Then I make a complete prat of myself. The first quick lap I do, with no one to follow, I get confused as to where the track goes in the complex and end up in the gravel. No damage, except to my ego. It takes me at least an hour to get all the gravel out from every nook and cranny the car has. By the time i'm ready to go my work mate turns up. So I do a few laps with a passenger for the first time since putting a passenger seat in the car. It feels a tad slower, but not much. We easily pass some really interesting cars like Porsche GT3's, BMW M3, Lotus 340. I think my passenger was quite impressed! God this car is quick!
Later Charlie from the WSCC turns up. I get a few more sessions in with lots more interesting stuff on the track. I had some fun moments following a Ferrari 550 who was trying hard but ended up in the gravel 'cause he ran out of grip. I can't help getting a huge sense of satisfaction from being clearly quicker round a track than some cars worth 10 times what my car is worth ( not that I wouldn't rather have a Ferrari, but that's not the point ).
I really feel as though I'm getting to know this track now. Mind you, on reflection, there are lots of places where I reckon I should be pushing harder next time. Can't wait!

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

One man's advertures with a racing car..the story so far.

So having hit the big four-0h, I decided to buy this car. Its a Westfield Megabusa. It is a super light car (only 470gk - that's about the weight of 5 of me!) with a Suzuki Hayabusa engine in it. If you don't know, that's about the fastest motorbike you can get. It is modified a little to produce about 195 bhp. That works out at 415 bhp per tonne. There aren't many road cars with that sort of power to weight ratio. Maybe a Ferrari Enzo, Pagani Zonda? Anyway, you get the idea, it's awesomely quick. Also, because it's so light, it brakes quickly, handles beautifully and is generally a joy to drive.
I bought the car in serious race trim. No passenger seat, full roll cage, cut out switches etc and set up with about 4cm clearance to the ground. I decided to fit a seat ( which meant removing part of the cross bracing on the role cage) and raised the ride height a bit.
I did a few track days last year. First time out was Snetterton. That was a steep learing curve! I hadn't even put it in gear before that ( I trailer it to the circuit). First time out I couldn't believe the accelleration. I've driven a few reasonably quick cars in my time but nothing in this league. The gear change takes a bit of getting used to. It's the sequential box as on the 'bike. You just push the stick forward for first and then pull back for each up change to 6th. At first you want to push the stick forward when in second to get to third, but that means you get 1st again, and your doing about 70mph! Not healthy! So I've learned to be careful when first out in it now.
Other circuits so far are Mallory Park and Goodwood, and most recently Silverstone.
One of the main limitations on where I can go is the circuit's noise limits. My car is bang on 105db. Lots of tracks have a lower limit than that so I am limited in where I can go, but Donington and Rockingham are on my list.