2nd full trackday for the Golf. (P Reg 16v GTI, stripped out 80 kgs lighter)
Only modifications since last time were the fitting of brake cooling ducts which seem to help (at least the alloys weren't smoking this time), and a new "performance" ECU chip. I couldn't tell any real difference with the chip installed apart from the rev limiter has been raised, it may be slightly more responsive to the throttle but that may be just my imagination.
Luckily the weather was dry all day and there were very few participants so plenty of track time. We got the Golf on the track 10 times, one of which was the instructor Erling Jensen taking Glo my wife round for some very fast laps.
Colerne was a bit more technical than the Hullavington circuit, and I thought it was slower until we were taught how to drive!!
The car performed faultlessly all day, no oil or water used, not bad considering its just coming up to 148k.
On my first session I managed to fall off the track whilst demolishing the cones at the end off a slalom / chicane section. I was going too fast and seriously ran out of talent. We thought the car was damaged because of the noise from underneath until the corner cone appeared from under the car in the rear view mirror.
We tried a few performance enhancements during the day - swapped the air filter for a high flow one, this made no noticeable difference. Opened up the air intake into the air filter box this also made no noticeable difference apart from increasing the induction noise.
The best speed or performance enhancement was provided by Glo when she had 20 minutes free instruction. When we put into practice what she had been taught we were both remarkably quicker, smoother, and probably safer. Its such a buzz when you complete a lap where everything appears to have gone to plan.
The general comments from the instructor were:
Brake later
Brake harder
Off the brakes and straight on the accelerator.
Slow in and fast out of the corners.
Change gear less.
Go faster !!!
I've read the books, watched the films, thought I was a good road driver, imagined I was a reasonable track driver, but now I know I have a lot to learn about track driving, roll on next years trackdays.
Next times enhancements will be a new Magnex cat back exhaust, and will try the standard and high flow air filter with the new exhaust.
Cheers
Paul
