First trackday of 2013 at combe.

[Moleman]

Went to my first track day at combe on Friday the weather forcast was heavy rain all day, got there in the morning and it was still dry but the circuit was still very damp and slippery

Went out on my first lap to see what it was like, had a near miss due to a car spinning out right in front of me, had to make a split decision on which way to go as I couldn't brake very hard or I would have done the same. 
The rest of the laps the car was very twitchy which didn't help by somebody putting a load of mud on that very same corner, you will also see me having to go through the escape route as 1 point. 
At the end of this video you will also see another member having a moment (no name mentioned cause everybody did it at some point) 



Second time out the track began to dry and my times got better and better and I could start accelerating a bit more and braking alot heavier but it was still a little slippery as you will see with the little smoking Fiat 500 taking it's own line through the chicane    You will also see a few MK2 escorts which were very quick and not 1 of them had a standard engine in it. 



After that the track got drier and drier and my times got much better. I wanted to show anyone who's thinking of doing it that you don't have to be quick to enjoy it and that it doesn't matter as long as you stick to track etiquette everyone has a good time but I forgot to put my camera on these laps due to wanting to get out quickly before the bad weather set in.
By 2o'clock the rain came and came with vengeance which made it pretty much game over for me as combe can be a nightmare in the wet for my Westy unlike Llandow which it dosn't seem to make any difference wet or dry. 
I would also like to thank Dave Gallop from Track day developments so setting the car up for me to the next level as it really made a big difference. 

[fullpint]

Nice smooth line Colin. As you said you dont need to go like a Bat-Out-Of-Hell to enjoy a track day. Its all about having a good time.
May be one day I can try to follow you around if and when I get down to that noise limit..

[stevel]

Looking very good Colin, certainly not much getting past you on the day.  I will make sure I give you plenty of room at Llandow, perhaps RobP may even be getting worried now you have got your set of slicks.  See you soon hopefully now the weather is getting better.

[Moleman]

Thanks Guys, I'm sure you will be ok at Llandow Fullpint, they never do sound checks.
Thanks steve but I'm far from keeping up with rob at the mo. besides he got slicks too
It's too cold for slicks at the mo so just the 888's on at the mo.

[paintman]

Nice vids!!!        Only bin round once and that was in the rain......ended up spining off into the centre field.

[Moleman]

I did that in the wet in November last year, they had just cut the grass on the in field & I ended up going sideways through the field with what can only be described as a waterfall of grass pouring in over the top of me & into my car. I could have fed alot of cows with what I scooped out of the car when I got back to the pits, Much to the amusement of my mates. 

[robp]

Great videos Colin, and nice driving too! 

Combe is very challenging in the damp.  Been off myself there but fortunately didn't hit anything.  That Puma spinning in front of you was a close one.  Glad you made it around him.  Great driving though.  You were passing everyone!

[Moleman]

Cheers Rob, It was a close one.
There was afew quicker cars than me, we just wasn't on the track at the same time.  #
But I'm getting better & more confindent with combe it will be a different story with a track I don't know. 

[YellaBelly]

I went to Merlin to buy some brake feeder hose on Friday. Saw the rooster tails going around the circuit!

I thought I spotted your car colin, wasn't sure but I guess it was. Glad you had a good day, but it certainly did throw some water in the afternoon

[Grin-a-lot]

Great videos there, I was goin to come up and see you after I'd bled my brakes - but it p*ssed down so I didn't bother.

Looks like you had fun and I agree - looks quick too!

[foggy]

That looks like great fun,but I hav'nt got the bottle to do that and I reckon my old hood is not up to it! How ever,my late friends daughter would like to take her dads car round a track,insurance is a issue and I don't have a trailer or car with tow bar to take it there. The car in question is 350 hp (I believe) cyclone rear engine mounted 2 litre calibre  turbo engine, race tuned.It has ciramic brakes.I was going to do this last year,but  the insurance  is the problem.

[robp]

... the insurance  is the problem.

Actually, trackday insurance is quite cheap.  The problem is the excess is usually massive which means you would have to have a biggy to bother claiming.

['The Gaffer']

Good drive Colin. Takes a brave man to go out there in the wet.

For those that want to have a go, as mentioned somewhere Llandow is a great little circuit with no set in stone noise levels that I have ever seen.

[alastair]

It was a really good day, great bunch of people, nice cars. Just a shame about the rain in the afternoon. I'm glad to see you caught me spin on camera.....thanks moleman! Im gona have to get a camera mounted to my car for the next track day!

[Moleman]

Foggy you really should try it, even just for one time. like I said you don't have to be fast or a madman, you can do it at your own pace just abide by the etiquette & move over to a faster car & you will have a great time. As the gaffer has just said, Try the Llandow curcuit first it is a good one to start on & easy to learn. There are two coming that afew of us are going to, so plenty friendly faces to give you pointers & even sit in with you to help you get started if you want? 

The gaffer,  Thanks for the comment but after 2pm I gave up as it just got really bad out there & it would have been quicker to push. 

Yellabelly,  you should have come over I would have given you a ride. 

Is your westy all done now Grin.a.lot? shame you couldn't come down but it really wasn't much point after 2. 

Alastair, You should have kept quite, no one noticed it was you & I didn't name you so you might of got away with it. 

['The Gaffer']

Alastair, You should have kept quite, no one noticed it was you & I didn't name you so you might of got away with it. 

Ha, I spotted the mini in question

[alastair]

Just a few picks from the day.

[robp]

Just a few picks from the day.

Was this the Fiat 126 making the smoke screen in your video, Colin?  Respect to the driver.  Must be quite tricky to handle with that super short wheel base.

Looks like you weren't the only Westy there.  I can see a red one hidden away in the background.

Looks like some interesting cars there.  Should have popped down for a look around.

[robp]

In fact, all this talk about trackdays is making me twitchy.  I have to wait another month for a fix!    

Looking forward to trying out my new tyres and brakes.

[Moleman]

Yes it was Rob. The wheels rubbed on the arches every time he turned the wheel.  It was a cool little thing though. 
There was that red westy which was quicker than me but I never met it on the track. Also a blue locost I think? didn't get a proper look at it.
Not to mension the black smoking 7 type car which you see me overtaking which was made with a chipboard dash & boot & the rollbar which is 4"s below your head.   
which liked getting in everyone's way.

[Moleman]

Forgot to ask. Have you booked any track days yet then rob?

[robp]

Forgot to ask. Have you booked any track days yet then rob?

Pembrey.

['The Gaffer']

Pembrey.

Are you doing a full or half day Rob?

[Moleman]

My mate just gave me this. It's from his car of our first slippery warm up lap. where I get it sideways catching up with him on that muddy corner. It didn't look that bad from my car but does on this footage.  He also had a front camera so has done abit of editing on it.

['The Gaffer']

Nice slide at 0.16+ That could have turned out quite interesting!!

[Moleman]

There was quite afew twitchy moments on that lap which the camera don't show. 

[Lucky Ed]

Nice vids and an even nicer save! Sometimes it's good to have a little wake up call to remind us how close to disaster we are - especially at Combe. If you fancy a challenge try Donington in the wet there's very little grip, made even worse by all the aviation fuel that gets dumped on it form neighboring East Midlands Airport

Like Rob I can't wait to get back on track, and Pembrey at the end of April can't come soon enough