Arrive and Drive trackday Dec 16th~ A outsiders review

RobCallow · Post by **RobCallow** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:15 pm

Cusco Demon wrote:Most of you won't know of him, but thought I'd draw attention to the young lad driving the tasty Mini Cooper.

Known as Master Blacksheep over on Scoobycity, (his dad is The Black Sheep, and owns a tasty black STI), Nathan only passed his test earlier this year (but has been driving for about 2 years, which is another story! :lol: ), and this was his first time out on track.

The Coop' was perfect for the track, and seemed to humble some "bigger" cars in the bends, in true Mini style After a couple of tentative laps, Nathan was soon hustling the Coop' at ever increasing speeds, and soon looked like a veteran that Barry "Whizzo" Williams would have been proud of!

He'll be back in February, so keep an eye out for a little black rocket nipping at your exhausts in the corners!

I was out on track at the same time and he was going very well.

Nice car aswell (Wish I had the balls to go on track after just passing my test!)

buff · Post by **buff** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:34 pm

I enjoyed my first 25 minutes of track time,its great to be able to give your car some and not have to worry about other cars,police etc, I also like the idea of these arrive and drive sessions as i wouldn't fancy doing an allday event,a couple of sessions would be just enough for me :gay:

Post by **Stuart** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:41 pm

We hope to have a few events like this through the spring and summer evenings Buff. Watch this space :thumb:

slaphead · Post by **slaphead** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:15 pm

buff wrote:I enjoyed my first 25 minutes of track time,its great to be able to give your car some and not have to worry about other cars,police etc, I also like the idea of these arrive and drive sessions as i wouldn't fancy doing an allday event,a couple of sessions would be just enough for me :gay:

I totally agree Buff - the format suits me rather well - it also preserves the car (and driver) somewhat, giving both time to cool off between runs :roll: having seen Stus' reply it looks like we might get our rather :gay: wish (perhaps we need a special trackday award in shocking pink for them) - after all where does it say that track days are supposed to be endurance events (thought we had Le Mans 24hr for that) :lol:

~Mark

323ian · Post by **323ian** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:55 pm

What a brilliant day i had.
Such a great time sharing it with a great bunch of people.

I just can not describe how slippery my car felt in the 11.30 session, it felt as though i was on a sheet of ice!! I guess i am just not used to those kind of track conditions and my driving style definitely does not suit it.

Now about that spin; :oops: :lol:

I still to this moment do not know what caused it (driver error aside!) I remember going round the corner following the safety car thinking 's*$t this is slippery' and then...... WTF im spinning!!! I remember the sheer moment of terror thinking i was going to hit something but even the worms in the grass had time to get out the way at that speed!! :oops:
I then saw Dan in the Supra giving it the big thumbs up and my face going red!! I think Dan has mentioned what happened on the next lap to him though! :lol:

To be honest i came in at the end of that session really disapointed in myself and the car, it felt totally on edge and i just could not get any kind of speed or stability. When i got in the pits and heard everyone else had the same problems i began to feel it was not just me.

When i watched some of the very smooth drivers like Duncan i wished i could drive like them in the wet/damp conditions but i am a bit ragged at times i suppose.

At the very end of the day I was hearing reports of people saying the track had a completely dry line now so i ran over to the track office and signed on for one last session determined to have a good experience of snetterton. I am so glad i did as i really enjoyed it in the dry and could begin to get more confident on the track and in the car, the GTR Skylines have really unique handling and do take some time to get used to but are incredible to drive on the track the way they are designed to be driven. I decided to do 3 flying laps to one cool down lap however i remember seeing Nik in the clio coming behind me on a cool down lap and thinking 'there is no way i can let a french car come past me!!' and we had a nice little battle for a bit at the end!!

It goes to show sometimes how knowledge and experience of the track is no subsitute when standard looking cars come past you like you are in reverse but all in good time!!

For the casulties of the day TK, Ben, Nick and Dean I hope all the various problems get sorted out very soon.

Bring on the next one!!

Post by **Stuart** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:29 pm

A great write up Ian. How does that Dead or Alive song go?? :lol:

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:40 pm

I was watching in the afternoon session you did Ian and you were going very well, carrying lots of speed through Coram and looking very composed through the chicane.

I did see a spot of dirt on the rear quarter panel though

:lol:

goodap · Post by **goodap** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:43 am

What a great pick me up this was!

What a day, the morning was very slippery, but the afternoon session was dry, so I could really push the scoob.

Really felt the car was flying and had so much confidence in the car it was unreal. Great to see everyone enjoy the day.

Hope you get the motor sorted out soon dean, not a nice sight to see a dented scoob.

RX7 · Post by **RX7** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:01 pm

Well what a day, despite not having my car (yeah yeah I know I know), I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loads of amazing cars going round the track and wtf was the Megane powered with...a rocket !!! Blindingly quick.
Plus the noise of the cars whilst standing on the pit wall was phenomenal. In particular the silver Civic Type R, Pauls R32 and the numerous Subarus.

Dunc took me out, even though I mocked him in his Yellow Racing Suit and Red Shoes. As I sat in the passenger seat I was amazed by how smooth a driver he is as we blitz'd round the track.

The first couple of laps seemed very quick but then the track was drying out in places and he went for it.

Boy did it feel good and I now have full respect of what a Subaru can do in the right hands !!

Lost track of the number of times we overtook cars, in particular the red Lotus Europa which to say had a leak going round corners was an understatement. Petrol was pouring out of the petrol cap when going round right handed bends.

All in all a fantastic day, good to meet more people and well done to Pablo/Bart for coming all the way down from Birmingham !!!

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:06 pm

thanks Gareth - I hope the "slight" brake wasnt too worrying

We did seem to go past most people a few times