GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: Radek on 15 January 2012, 09:23
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Happy New Year guys!
As part of my New Year’s Resolutions I decided to go to a track day. A novice day at Bedford came up very conveniently yesterday. That is a good circuit, loads of open grassy run off areas, rather lengthy – good first time venue.
I was worried about the temperature as the forecast was -4C to 4C during the day. Still, no point driving on winter tyres at the track. I changed to the summer, toped up fuel and the R was ready to go.
As I arrived there was a surprise – I was given a paper to sign urging drivers to stay off the grass as it’s just been planted :smiley: I’ll do my best I thought! I had an instructor booked in the morning. We did a couple of laps and he gave me a couple of very good hints which really helped. I do recommend spending an extra £25 on that.
So the R. What a great car. You have to slow it down, aim for the apax, turn the steering wheel, wait, pass a small cone at the apex by inches and full power on the exit. The car seems to say – whatever you do – we’ll sort it out for you. Too fast into the corner – we’ll scrub some speed for you – but that will cost you in tyre wear though! It was so easy to drive that I felt I was cheating on the exit. I think this is where 4wd has a clear advantage but that is countered by the higher mass. I drove with ESP and traction control ON -maybe next time I’ll try something different. There is a particularly good series of corners – at the beginning of the lap which you take at full power. The last one – the left hander you’d enter at 100mph still pushing and the car was still fine. No sliding, no drama. The tyres have taken punishment but they have loads of tread left. Brakes were fine – I spent the full days there yesterday (and 60 litres of fuel :sad:) but they never faded or overheated.
I got quite a lot of attention at the garage, especially about the noise. As mine is DSG it makes that pop sound on upshift. That was the easily recognisable feature. Funnily enough there was a Rocco R at the track, also rising blue. I lapped it within 4 laps but it turned out it was a woman driving (a woman in a Scirocco, surprise:) ). She was excited about the speed: “I pushed 130 mph at the long straight. It’s great here, where on the road can you reach that speed???!” Hmmm. Yes, technically she was right :rolleyes:
What a great day out. If you are thinking about doing it – just do it.
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Sounds cool. And she was quite correct, you really do need to take your car out on a track to see what it really can and can't do as most of its on limit characteristics just won't be approached on the road unless you live in Nothern Scotland.
PS. Where's the pics? :grin:
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I lapped it within 4 laps but it turned out it was a woman driving (a woman in a Scirocco- surprise, surprise). She was excited about the speed: “I pushed 130 mph at the long straight. It’s great here, where on the road can you reach that speed???!” Hmmm. Yes, technically she was right :rolleyes:
What a great day out. If you are thinking about doing it – just do it.
Sounds like a great day
I've done quite a few VXR track days and really enjoyed them, great value too :smiley: ... I wish VW did something similar.
The ROC R lady (Trace) is on the R forum too, so you can say hello :grin:
http://www.rforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1821.0
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Bedford has a well deserved reputation as the safest circuit in the UK as its used mainly for corporate days in lots of expensive Jonathan Palmer cars so the grass is level with the track and designed to cause no damage, even the sign post are polystyrene, I know I hit one once :laugh:
Anyone considering trying their hand at a first event this would be the one to go for, it really can't get any safer.
Assuming the R is not remapped ?
I know the straight is good for just shy of 140 in a mapped S3, 137mph in a 335d and 135mph in a big brake equipped BMW 130i, never did take the GTi there but am sure it would have been spot on.
Bedford really did teach me more about driving in 2-3 events than the 15 yrs road experience before.
Do it it Guys, if someone wants to organise a Group Booking with MSV they will deduct 10% for 10 drivers or more, if you do I'll come along too. :wink:
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I'm always up for a trackday, if anyone wants to organise a vw day :smiley:
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Sounds like a good day out. I'd love to take mine for a spin round a track, but am too scared I do something stupid!
The ROC R lady (Trace) is on the R forum too, so you can say hello :grin:
http://www.rforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1821.0
I quit the R Forum last year - as it has become over run with complete bell ends... who've all been made moderators!
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I'm always up for a trackday, if anyone wants to organise a vw day :smiley:
Can I bring my S3 - its is a VW in a different suit :cry:
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That sounds like a lot of fun.. and a good write up :cool: :cool: :cool:
I have to say I am very surprised you did it with the ESP on. Turning this little feature off is where you really get to learn about your car and its abilities.
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Sounds like a good day out. I'd love to take mine for a spin round a track, but am too scared I do something stupid!
The ROC R lady (Trace) is on the R forum too, so you can say hello :grin:
http://www.rforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1821.0
I quit the R Forum last year - as it has become over run with complete bell ends... who've all been made moderators!
Thanks for that!!! :sad:
I wondered where you went. I thought you must have sold the R and moved on. Clearly not.
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Thanks for that!!! :sad:
I wondered where you went. I thought you must have sold the R and moved on. Clearly not.
All the original guys were fine - but there were a few folk recently made moderators after having about 20 posts.
The banter there is dire... and I hadn't read anything informative there for months. Too many posts about 'I raced my bosses Porsche' etc.
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I don't bother with that rforum, no good threads forum is dead, prefer here to be honest
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That sounds like a lot of fun.. and a good write up :cool: :cool: :cool:
I have to say I am very surprised you did it with the ESP on. Turning this little feature off is where you really get to learn about your car and its abilities.
Don't think for a second I wasn't tempted! :evil:
But in the end I decided to keep it pure. If something had gone wrong that would have spoiled the fun of first time trackday. Next time I'll try it off.
@p3eps
I was scared but I can't really see how you could do anything to your car. There was just 1 yellow flag when someone's car broke down (sorted in 2 minutes). Otherwise no incidents.
And I didnt even have the insurance! As it turned out it was a good decision.
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Thanks for that!!! :sad:
I wondered where you went. I thought you must have sold the R and moved on. Clearly not.
All the original guys were fine - but there were a few folk recently made moderators after having about 20 posts.
The banter there is dire... and I hadn't read anything informative there for months. Too many posts about 'I raced my bosses Porsche' etc.
Sad to see you're not with us anymore, p3eps... :cry:
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Thanks for that!!! :sad:
I wondered where you went. I thought you must have sold the R and moved on. Clearly not.
All the original guys were fine - but there were a few folk recently made moderators after having about 20 posts.
The banter there is dire... and I hadn't read anything informative there for months. Too many posts about 'I raced my bosses Porsche' etc.
Sad to see you're not with us anymore, p3eps... :cry:
+1
I remember it was your write up about your first test drive that really got me excited about getting my R. And your "How to's" were legendary....
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That sounds like a lot of fun.. and a good write up :cool: :cool: :cool:
I have to say I am very surprised you did it with the ESP on. Turning this little feature off is where you really get to learn about your car and its abilities.
Don't think for a second I wasn't tempted! :evil:
But in the end I decided to keep it pure. If something had gone wrong that would have spoiled the fun of first time trackday. Next time I'll try it off.
Can always feel a little worrying first time in a new car.. but take it steady to start and you will realise your control and understanding of the car will be far greater. Might not increase your times initially.... but it will come :smiley: :wink:
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[I was scared but I can't really see how you could do anything to your car. There was just 1 yellow flag when someone's car broke down (sorted in 2 minutes). Otherwise no incidents.
And I didnt even have the insurance! As it turned out it was a good decision.
[/quote]
I did a track day at the autodrome, was last in a line of four cars hammering down the straight into the chicane (fastest part of the circuit) suddenly the GT3 two in front of me peeled off to the left and then the GT3 directly in front of me peeled off to the right and I was faced with a 993 turbo (lead car) which had span as it exited the chicane and was now stationary in front of me broadside on. I had a car to the left of me and right of me blocking me from any avoiding action, and I was doing well north of 100mph just hit the brakes HARD, big wide wheels, trackday rubber and good abs stopped me dead about 12 inches from the drivers door, I have never needed a new pair of underpants so badly but that was nothing compared to how scared the driver looked as I bore down on him!!!
Thank god I stopped, but I can see how you can do something to your car, or at least someone else can when they hit you, and they don't have to pay you as they don't have to be insured, there was a guy a few years back also in a GT3 at Brands who was hit by an ariel atom (or similar) and the guy that hit him just dissapeared off at lunch time! It is always well worth insurance especially with a car as valuable as an R, even though the excesses seem to have rocketed to about 25% value of car!
I would be up for a forum track day, and promise not to hit anyone!
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I would be up for a forum track day, and promise not to hit anyone!
Ide be up for people coming together like on other forums and booking say the SPA or ring for a day, Much better that way enough people club 2gether it shouldn't be that expensive. However i dont have time to organise this