Track Days.

[paintman]

Are we likely to have a track day in the spring to road test the winter projects?

I don't  know how often race tracks like Castle Combe have them or maybe we could have a joint outing with the Apple County boys...maybe.

It would be something nice to look forward too.

['The Gaffer']

I have tried organising this before but didnt get much of a response from either the BKCC or the AKCCC. There are a few track enthusiasts here and I aim to have a go this year.

General advice, for me anyway, is start on a few airfield track days before attempting the Coombe. Much less to crash into on an airfield day

[paintman]

What happens on airfield days? Is it just driving around bollards and driving tests or is there a circuit made?

['The Gaffer']

What happens on airfield days? Is it just driving around bollards and driving tests or is there a circuit made?

Airfield trackdays are exactly that. Companies like Motorsports events http://www.motorsport-events.co.uk will set up a circuit on an airfield. I have been around some as a passenger and its pretty exciting.

Much more run off too if you make a mess of things

[Adam]

Planning to do an Abingdon track day once the Locost is finish

[paintman]

Castle Combe is having an Action Day on 24th April.  Clubs get free entrie and a gathering point by the paddock.

They just charge you per 1/4 hour to use the circuit.  Its £15 for the public and I think clubs get it cheaper.

Would be a fun day out without emptying the bank!  If your interested log on to the Castle Combe Circuit home page......I shall go but it would be more fun if the club did....Phil??

[Mark G]

Action day sounds like fun, I'd be well up for that.

['The Gaffer']

Personally I think anyone would be mad to do a coombe action day without a hell of a lot of track experience first but maybe I'm just a chicken .

Firstly Castle Coombe is a very unforgiving circuit with lots of hard things to crash into, and secondly, you may be out there with some boy racer nutters who cant even drive on the road let alone in close contact on a track.

I will be doing a few airfield days before I go anywhere near that place.

Thats not to say I wont come and watch you guys

[Mark G]

I've done Coombe before in my Skyline and the thing about it is that everyone wants to drive home at the end of the day and also you'd normally go out in a session with others from your club.  As long as you drive within your limits and respect others on the circuit there's nothing to worry about.

[David H]

Personally I think anyone would be mad to do a coombe action day without a hell of a lot of track experience first but maybe I'm just a chicken .

Firstly Castle Coombe is a very unforgiving circuit with lots of hard things to crash into, and secondly, you may be out there with some boy racer nutters who cant even drive on the road let alone in close contact on a track.

I will be doing a few airfield days before I go anywhere near that place.

Thats not to say I wont come and watch you guys

The Action Days at Combe are notoriously bad for car damage. I dont want to cause an arguement here and i'm personally quite happy to drive them as i have done a few but its a known fact. The trouble is, the track time is limited for some and quite a lot of people just buy one or two 15 min slots. How might you drive if you only had one 15 min slot? Flat out? Maybe not but its the attitude of some and without many warm up sessions, mistakes do happen. Others may not drive as respectfully as you. This is not always the case but its the 'Action Days' at Combe where i have seen the most cars on fire or damaged outside of a race meet.

However as Mark said if you drive within your limits and respectfully and keep out of the way of the people who aren't, you should be fine. It is also a brilliant track and loads of fun. I will still go especially if i can get out on the track with my club.

The action days are in fact a good day out as there is plenty to see even if the track time is busy.

The best Combe day i've done was with 'Pegasus' last year. It is not an 'Action day' but a club event, was very well organised and safe. A truely excellent day out.

My first track day was an 'airfield day' You get LOADS of track time with MSE and its very safe. I love them. They're also quite cheap. For those who want to know, the track is usually and airfield and its surrounding access roads with cones laid out to make a course.

['The Gaffer']

The best Combe day i've done was with 'Pegasus' last year. It is not an 'Action day' but a club event, was very well organised and safe. A truely excellent day out.

I like the sound of that Dave, any idea on the numbers we would have to make up and costs for a BKCC event?

Probably not enough of us??

[David H]

There may not be enough of us yet for an exclusive event but there's nothing stopping us tagging along to another one ourselves. I'll bet your gagging to try yours out now!

['The Gaffer']

Yeah good idea, maybe see if there's any interest from the Apple County Club.

Mines still in bits, but would love to take in round Coombe this year.

Is the event organised by Castle Coombe?

[David H]

No. Its a Pegasus Motor Club event 'at' Combe and you have to be a member to go but there are quite a few 'track days' done at Combe each year organised by companies like 'MSE' and 'Book a track' as well as 'Combe' themselves. MSE do a couple of events there each year with unlimited track time. Its not a problem getting on the track at Combe in relative safety there but it needs to be booked in advance. It also doesn't matter if only a couple of people from the club can go as its 'book your own ticket and turn up'. There is no 'need' to have loads of us in order to make it happen as the track days are going to go on wether we buy a ticket or not but its bound to be more fun if more people go. You would need a few definates to get any discount as these days are usually booked well in advance.

Our cars are quite weather dependant so its always a small risk booking far in advance if you dont like driving in the rain.

When is your car going to be ready?, we can look into a few dates at Combe in the spring and see what we can do

[David H]

20th Feb @ Keevil is available. MSE event. £109. Open Pit.

['The Gaffer']

When is your car going to be ready?, we can look into a few dates at Combe in the spring and see what we can do

Ha, if you saw it right now, you'd think never

A lot of hard work is going into it though and Martin really is a saint. I'm guessing by the end of the month (Famous last words)

Ok lets talk when I see you for that drink.

How's your car getting on? Put a few more miles on yet ready for that re map?

[David H]

Yeah, i've done 400 miles this Christmas, all on the ring road! The new engine feels good although i've been taking it easy. The SP gearbox has been a bit of an effort but its really bedding in now. I've changed the length of the stick and put a quick shift on it. I've also put a stronger spring in the layshaft so you can really slap it in gear without feeling like your gonna rip the lever out! Its growing on me now but i have to concentrate. The ratios are absolutley spot on, well chuffed with that. Its on a running in map right now bit another few hundred (the more, the better) and i'll get the rolling road done. I've got the new prop, new clutch (my 3rd, it was included so i'm not complaining), recon diff and new exhaust on also and i'm pleased with it all. My car is white from the salt and will probably have disintigrated when i return to the garage but there's no way i'm missing out on driving her. Its been too long!!

its good to be piloting again.

scuse the spelling mate!

Dinner's ready so gotta go. Also, start back at work tomorrow

see you for a beer this week

Dave

['The Gaffer']

If you need to get all that salt off drop round and we can get my pressure washer on it.

Glad its going well, catch up soon.

Also, start back at work tomorrow

I had one day off over Christmas

[David H]

 

[paintman]

I think we had better bring this subject up again when there's more on the forum, as we all agree that a track or airfield day is a must for the spring calendar.     I'm sure other clubs have the same problems with numbers as we do and a multy club event would probably be attractive to them too.

[Mark G]

Track sessions are £30 in advance or £35 on the day. I asked to book a couple of sessions and have been told the passes will be available from early feb onwards.

['The Gaffer']

Track days will be a club option for 2010, it will be interesting to see how many show an interest and if enough I will try again to link up with other clubs or organised track days so we can all have some fun.

[paintman]

Sounds good to me!  

[David H]

booked to go to Spa for 1st April if anyone fancies it. Off to the Ring the same evening if anyone fancies that too

[dave_bence]

booked to go to Spa for 1st April if anyone fancies it. Off to the Ring the same evening if anyone fancies that too

You're gonna have fun!!!!!


KrazyKen and I have booked a place at Colerne on Saturday 27th of March.

Anyone care to join us?

http://www.motorsport-events.co.uk/

[Carol]

Could I suggest?

If you own a hand built sportscar you are invited to take part in a Six Hour Endurance
at Mallory Park circuit on 21st May. Each team representing a sportscar manufacturer.
Pit stops, car and driver changes, refuelling, 240 laps of the Mallory Park circuit in 6 hours.
Each two car team will consist of four drivers, a team manager and a mechanic. The focus
of activity will be on keeping the cars running at the required average speed for 324 miles.
No race licence required. The entry fee is £125 per person. Road registered sportscars only.
Free admission to Mallory Park spectator areas & paddock.

www.guildofmotorendurance.co.uk