cadwell 27 jan 2008. any takers for the mini nurburgring?

[c8dhc]

Was going to pop down + watch for a bit but got to work tomorrow now. If I get done early I may still make it!

What slicks you running? Been looking around for some but not sure which to get (Im running 15"s also)

Dan

[lewis1641]

eh up dan.  we were runnung some michelin slicks. we bought them used off ebay and i dont know much abaut them except they are bleedin sticky!  i have a friend who works at the ginetta factory on goxhill airfield - he said there's a few sets of used 15's and 13's there but i have not seen him for a while. if i can get you some i will do.

our other tyres are max sport trackday tyres. i thought they were pretty good but are nothing compared to the real deal!

it was a pretty good day. stayed dry and we all increased in confidence. hairpin finally got the better of me though. i was holding a metro up (seriously) and panicked a bit coz i dont like to be in his way. overcooked it, braked into the corner and ended up spinning on some slippy stuff o the edge of the track.

to make matters worse when i set off again (fron the grass) the steering wheel was really light and the car hardly turned. i panicked once again, the session was red flagged and the recovery truck came out. it was at this point the realisation hit that the car was fine, it was just there was no traction so the steering felt light . i felt like such a dick. live and learn. i took that corner steadier for the rest of the day

my mate had a big scary spun through gooseneck. he had been gradually increasing his pace through that section and eventually pushed it too hard. luckily we didnt hit anything. earlier in the morning a porsche 968 clubsport spun off in the same place hitting the barrier hard totalling the front and side of the car. apparently he'd only had it 2 days and didnt have any trackday cover...gutted for him

there was a porsche 911 gt2 which was truily awesome, the aforementioned metro ( a real sleeper, even had plastic wheel trims) a couple of well sorted 205,s

had a really good day but now have crackd inour disks. not good!

[Paul86S2]

Sounds like you had a really good day.
Its amazing how someone behind you can really put your concentration off.
Finding the cars and tyres limits is an interesting experience, especially if you changed the tyre to slicks.
What caused the discs to crack? Was it overheating and old discs or something else?

Just booked an airfield day in March, April, and May, plus want to go to the Performance Car action day at Castle Combe in April, and got a Castle Combe trackday with the Porsche 928 boys in June. Better get the cars ready.

Cheers

Paul Mk3 GTI trackcar

[lewis1641]

i fancy an airfield day to get into the tyres a bit more run off when it goes wrong!

disks - previous owner fitted drilled disks. all 3 of us who own the car are against them but they were in good oder. we decided we'd just change them to grooved when they wore. drilled disks have a habbit of cracking. they were hot but no hotter than you would expect - we weren't getting much fade for a start.

ref cars behind - i get a bit nervous when theres a car behind. i know i have as much right to be there as he does etc but i try and get out the way asap. theres not too many passing places at cadwell and he caught me just before the bottom of the mountain. i'd decided to get trough hall bends, hairpin and barn and let him by on the start/ finnish.  sadly pressure got too much. got the line wrong through hall bends, stuffing the entry to the hairpin. missed the turn in and hit some slimy green mank on the outside edge! bad news.

i had never used slicks before, only semi slick road legal track tyres.  it is wierd getting used to new tyres. i had been warned they will grip and grip and grip abut then just let go. i find the back end of the golf a bit hard to control at the best of times it doesnt seem to give much warning but when it span i really was just a passenger!

its just a balance really. i know on a lot of places there is more in the tyres but my balls are just not big enough!

[Paul86S2]

I was given the same info from a couple of mates who race about slick tyres - grip for a long time then suddenly just let go without much warning.

Shame about the discs, good job they're not too expensive.

If you get the chance for some professional tuition it is well worth the money. 20 minutes of free tuition from a professional rally driver had my wife outbraking me, faster round the corners, and generally driving much smoother with the car more balanced.

Can't wait to get back out on the track now.

Cheers

Paul

[lewis1641]

i do fancy tuition but i feel a bit shy about it to be honest. would make me feel a bit poo having an expert telling me everything i do is wrong!!

i think i'll do it though. at the minute fear is holding me back. these guys will know how fast the golf can take the various corners etc its their job!

[Paul86S2]

i do fancy tuition but i feel a bit shy about it to be honest. would make me feel a bit poo having an expert telling me everything i do is wrong!!

i think i'll do it though. at the minute fear is holding me back. these guys will know how fast the golf can take the various corners etc its their job!

I know what you mean, I was determined I wouldn't let somebody else show me how to do it, and criticise my driving, but when my wife became better than me after 20 minutes instruction it was time to bite the bullet.

Cheers

Paul

[lewis1641]

without wanting to sound like a sexist bigot, that must be a bit of a sinking feeling! 

do they give general driving guidance or is it very specific to the track you are on?  i live near a rallydrive centre and they have a tarmac track and some instructors. i think they would be cheaper than doing it at a trackday. might look into it

here's a pic of der panza at the bottom of the mountain with a tiny bit of air under the back wheel!

[Paul86S2]

Sexist or not you don't want anyone else with you to be faster than you.
The guidance we were given was general track driving - line in and out of corners, braking, accelerating, changing gear, and other tips.
I thought I knew it all, I've read the books, watched the films and got the tee shirt, but its surprising how much you don't put into practice until you are told to.
Obviously when you are out with them you will get some track specific guideance but the majority of it is general which you will be able to use anywhere.
The bloke who did the instructing for my wife is a professional rally driver and definately knew his stuff.

Cheers

Paul

[c8dhc]

Tuition at Rallydrive is good.

When I did it a woman took the course and she soon showed us lads how it was done.

She took a ride around Blyton in my swift gti that I had at the time, then had a drive herself. I never knew the little car would go so quick, and to add insult to injury - she was wearing high heels!



(p.s. you got something hanging down under your car in pic above)