Track Day Report

**Wobbly Dave** · Saturday 6th August 2005, 23:52

I am no longer a track day virgin. Funny thing was I was watching a repeat of TG on the telly the night before and they were doing a report on the track day phenomenon.
Up to the point when I arrived I still wasnt sure it was such a good idea. My mind was spinning with the endless crash/flatbed/towed home scenarios. Thankfully none of this came to pass.

Being a typical bloke I didn't sign up online before hand and just expected to be able to sign on the day.
I got to the track for about twenty past nine (with Judge behind me) and was admiring the pair of Lightening Fighter jets standing towards the near end of the field. -> http://www.photo-restorations.co.uk/...onrearview.jpg
Bruntingthorpe is a big place and you can see why those airplanes were flown there - as the runway is pretty damn long...
http://www.bigthunder.co.uk/circuit.html

After the briefing I managed to get a cancellation slot and paid my £100. The staff were really great and very approachable. I got onto the track for my familiarisation lap. The paddock and pit lie halfway down the tower side of the airfield, where there was an additional karting track behind the pit. The track was run clockwise. I gingerly followed the leader around for the first couple of attempts - just to get my bearings. Once this was done - I came back in, put the old helmet on and set out for real.

Turn one is a fast sweeping left hander, which later I was doing over 110mph through! There is a lot of run off space and you can run the corners nice and wide in places. This end of the field is dominated by a retired 747 Jumbo that sits amist turns 2,3 (first chicane) and 4
Turn 2, another sweeping right is slightly slower, 3rd gear - feathering to the apex and then pushing on to the short straight before first shicane. Those that have played GT3 or 4 on the PS2 would have recognised the apex cones, sitting just behind the curbs on this fast shicane. Setting it up you drift in the brakes towards the start of the shicane, in 3rd - towards a set of lonesome tyres, covered in white PVC, dab a little harder on the brakes once more then left, right, left. If you get the first part right you can almost go straight on through it. Fabulous!! Then like the follow-through on Top Gear - you run hard towards the apex of turn 4 running wide and returning back to face the really tricky chicane at turn 5.
This chicane - made of cones - is nasty. You steam at it 4th for as long as you dare - stand on the brakes - get 2nd whilst initialisng the first right jink - clip down towards the outer wall of cones finally turning around a left. I found the FWD was a pain to get around this. If you overload leaving the chicane into the back straight (turn 6) then you end up spinning the wheels a lot.
At the end of the back straight (top right hand corner of circuit map) I was doing about 110 mph in 4th - there was a coned right hander (turn 7) shortly followed by a fast left (turn 8) then right (turn 9) - not quite a chicane - all done in 3rd. You come off deep into a short straight near the Lightenings and then pull right - turn 10 into the start/finish. With the FWD you again have to be careful not to feed the power too early as the understeer at that point was horrendous. Still I used power a plenty to bring her round and point her back at turn 1 - as fast as you dare!

I had a great day - I even under went some formal coaching from "Rocky"
He said my skills were good and much of the things I learnt were about the lines coming into corners and setting the car up properly. You get a great buzz from nailing the line and getting the power back down as early as possible. I only had one slight sketchy moment - the likes of which should be evident from the Video - coming soon.

Anyway enjoy the photos. There are plans afoot to go to Anglesey soon.
http://www.bigredvolvos.co.uk/galler...e_airfield.htm

**Vikingxl** · Sunday 7th August 2005, 05:32

Looks like you had a great day shame i missed it.

jim.covers · Sunday 7th August 2005, 12:48

Sounds brill Dave, cant wait for the vid.

**splatt** · Sunday 7th August 2005, 17:04

Nice one Dave..

**audimadmike** · Sunday 7th August 2005, 22:10

Sounds great fun, probably even better in shadquattro's S2! takes the corners like a go cart.
Recently had bit of a challenge with her, fairly equal on the straight, but round the bends.....like a jelly versus an F1 car.
Looking forward to a Santa Pod day.

**TEAMWAYSIDE21** · Monday 8th August 2005, 08:17

bruntingthorpe is a track that is just too wide and big for most cars,and you need a volvo or something with a bit of grunt to not get bored,

i was testing on the big track(indy loop)from about 7am in the morning,trying out a new brake pad for EBC,so i was nacred by the time i came to see you lot,but i managed to squeeze in a few laps,then the tyres and brakes started to go.
i have been to the small track loads of times,and i find it a bit boring,mainly because its too wide.

but it was a good day,and everybodys volvo looked good.

hope to see you all soon,but i will be away for 3 weeks on monday,because i am competing in the bath hurst 500.

**Murphy** · Monday 8th August 2005, 08:47

twas a good day - nice to meet up with everyone after a long time..............

Track action was excellent - and it stayed dry

Looking forward to the video

**Mrsmopp** · Monday 8th August 2005, 10:11

Hvaing popped down to show my face (as I live 5 miles down the road it would have been rude not too!) I was very impressed with the boys tear arsing round the track!!

Judge you really have NO FEAR!! LOL Split disks, wheel arch rub and the manufacturers branding worn off the outside rim of the tyres said it all!!

Dave certainly put a few bad boys in their place!!!

Best thing on the track of the day by far tho was the super Saab!!! It was a monster!!! Loving that guys work!!

x

**V8guitar** · Monday 8th August 2005, 13:12

Even though I have only met you once, Dave, it was odd not seeing you in a red Volvo!!

Anyway, it looks like you had a fab day and the pictures are pretty impressive! I would like to give it a go some time.....

**lance** · Monday 8th August 2005, 13:21

Brill day all round great to see Moppys new abode and S70, Im still recovering from Murphys blast around the block in the Fabia (Its Fab to be alive)The best small car on the market today in my opinon.
Justins V70R is the most awsome T5 Ive been in to date F**king Fantastic.If you ever want to sell give us a nod mate.
Good to see wobbly and judge Kicking ass out of the nanby pambie Ferrari boys etc.

**Wobbly Dave** · Monday 8th August 2005, 13:30

Originally Posted by V8guitar

Even though I have only met you once, Dave, it was odd not seeing you in a red Volvo!!

Anyway, it looks like you had a fab day and the pictures are pretty impressive! I would like to give it a go some time.....

I think everyone with a T5 should give it a go - just to tick that box once. It is an interesting experience. On one hand you are not racing - there are no overall results, prizes or winners (save not going home on a flatbed) - so in that respect it is pretty pointless. This is also a bonus because the lack of competition makes it safer. But on the other hand - it is just you and the car - finding your limits, testing yourself and feeling how the car handles to as much as you can take - and getting the best out of her.

This particular circuit is ideal for novices - the roads are as wide as runways - because they are, and there is so much run off you'd be hard pushed to really ££££ it up. In any case, you should only go as fast as you feel comfortable doing.

**Murphy** · Monday 8th August 2005, 13:40

Originally Posted by lance

Im still recovering from Murphys blast around the block in the Fabia (Its Fab to be alive)The best small car on the market today in my opinon.

Even now i am still chuckling about that. Your face was a picture. You were fearing for your life trying hard to rip my grab handle off............

Glad you enjoyed the ride

P.S Haven't heard from Steve yet - hope he is ok ??

P.P.S Dave, did you manage to source your noise ??

**Mrsmopp** · Monday 8th August 2005, 13:46

Steve's colour returned to his face, following you little jaunt, at about 5pm yesterday LOL

x

**Justin** · Monday 8th August 2005, 13:51

Originally Posted by Mrsmopp

Steve's colour returned to his face, following you little jaunt, at about 5pm yesterday LOL

x

Helped along by several Stella's and a few Jack Daniels lol.

**Wobbly Dave** · Monday 8th August 2005, 14:47

Originally Posted by Murphy

P.P.S Dave, did you manage to source your noise ??

Yes Andy - inner CV joint on the offside - being fixed (as soon as the parts arrive). I am sure it was on its way before hand - but it is foobarred for sure now! Managed to clunk my way home and took it to VT this morning. I am getting the brake fluid done too.

**Al115** · Monday 8th August 2005, 23:43

That sounds truly excellent!!!! Good one Dave. I'm jealous!

**Wobbly Dave** · Monday 8th August 2005, 23:46

Originally Posted by Al115

That sounds truly excellent!!!! Good one Dave. I'm jealous!

I am sure if you want I can knacker up your CV joints/boil your brake fluid too - LMAO!!

Yep - It was good fun and yep I would do it again!

**Al115** · Tuesday 9th August 2005, 00:30

TBH at the moment I boil my brake fluid on a daily basis. Set fire to the pads on Wednesday and Saturday last week. I either need bigger brakes, or a slower (?lighter?) car...

CV joints still OK though

**Wobbly Dave** · Tuesday 9th August 2005, 00:53

There was smoke coming off my DS2500 after each run and the disks turned a bit blue!
Still I was amazed by how good they were even after a pounding like that.