Bonus!!I had planned on keeping it a secret from Dunk, for him to turn up and see the Dagenham Destroyer in the car park, but my excitement got the better of me and I blabbed................the start of more banter and japery
My preperations for the day at Cadwell were of mixed emotion. The Sierra was great (as always), started first time and all the fluid levels were fine so I loaded the trailer up, packed the spares and tools ready for the following day
Back to the unit for some more work on the GTR and then onto the meal at Shazzas place in Mildenhall with Kev, James, Tony and Lindsey. A great meal with some mates, a laugh or two and the promise of a return soon with far more people and then off home for around 6 hours sleep ready for my early start. Four hours later at an hour previously reserved for Milkmen or robbers I woke. I looked at the alarm clock, an hour and a half earlier than my scheduled time of departure, but thought the early getaway would be of benefit as progress would, at best, be stately. The Hilux is no ball of fire at the best of times let alone with 1.5 tonnes on the back. Here's the debatable proof of my leaving at silly o'clock
This was taken on the way out of the kitchen fully laden with the bags with race suit, helmet, boots and gloves.I left in the drizzle and fog and took the 105 mile trip nice and steady, along the A16 and then onto the A153. The hills were absolute killers with my puny diesel engine really struggling to maintain momentum up the 10% inclines. On one of the particularly severe hills, I swear I had the sensation you get when you're in a rollercoaster when it starts to roll backwards............
At 6.45am Dunk called enquiring as to my progress, I was delighted to say that I was 2 miles from the track and we carried on talking until I missed the entrance for the circuit! A little detour took me passed some stunning scenery
Fields like this stretched for miles and I took a moment to draw some fresh air before getting back into the saddle of thge Hilux for a nifty three point turn, back to Cadwell Park. I arrived to see loads of tents where the keenest trackdayers had slept over the night before 
Not my cup of tea but each to their own. I did see some nice cars on the way in, but rather than waste time perving at the motors, decided I'd reserve my 'bit' at the top of the paddock out of the mud and got the car and associated toot off of the truck. Just enough time for a wander around the track before breakfast.Hopefully these pictures will give those that haven't been an idea why Cadwell is often known as Britains mini Nurburgring
Of course, I had to take a picture of Dan/Madenglishmans favourite corner, the Old Hairpin
and yes, it was as slippery as it looked.With a few photos in the bag I decided to start the day with a bacon and sausage roll. Not to the standard we enjoy at Snett, but good all the same. Grub and tea consumed I filled out the indemnity forms and signed in. At that point Dunk, Cod, Mrs Cod and Bealo walked in. It's always nice to see mates when you're somewhere different and this ocassion was no different. They guys signed in and then the compulsory noise tests ensued. I think Andy won the noisiest car out of our party with 93dB, well under the limit so none of us had to worry about black flags for that reason in the day. Dunk was naturally cautious. His forthcoming Time Attack debut was prominent in his mind, and whilst he didn't admit it, you could tell he was mindful of bending something now he would not have time to fix later. Andy had joined the party fresh from his drifting on Saturday and sprinting on Sunday. I was most looking forwards to watching him drive as, in my limited experience, good sprinters tend to be the quickest drivers I have seen. With bags of experience and a proven car, keeping an eye on him could give me a few tips. Cod was pretty new to trackdays but had a great car and a better attitude. Always up for a laugh he proved to be the centre of a fair few jokes throughout the day (wishy washy anyone?
) With Bealo and Mrs Cod in support we were ready to go.Easytracks head honcho, Markus, held the briefing in his own style, ie piss taking and threatening the black flag etc. Quite amusing though and certainly thorough. The spiel was over soon enough and the compulsory sighting laps followed. The track was drying quickly and confidence was growing, amazingly there were no stoppages at all on one of the skinniest tracks in the country. Pretty impressive. Anyway, Cod decided to leave the first session and let the more enthusiastic attendees dry the track out.............the theory worked well. Dunk, Andy and I went out early doors and found the track to provide far more grip than expected with damp patches under the woodland section and some water at the base of the corner, just where you turn in at the Mountain approach. I hadn't driven the circuit in the Sierra before and was keen to see how she went. The tyres and brakes performed well overall, with some fade later on in braking being the only concern. The balance of the car through faster sections was great (110 indicated entry to Charlies and 70+ through the Gooseneck. Some passenger laps gave me the chance to show Bealo, Dunk and Cod that the car wasn't a joke, way short on power but hopefully the lads would agree that the Sierra carries its speed well through the bends and the bargain basement cost means that I can commit to bends far harder than those who care about the repurcussions. I would never want to disrupt or spoil anyones day but I do like to push on and having a car that doesn't equate to my mortgage payments helps me do that.
The opportunity presented itself for me to give the car a breather after clocking up 60 odd laps in the morning sessions alone. The tyres supplied by APT are wearing brilliantly. Well over 400miles of very hard use and they are simply the best investment on the car, enabling me to keep up with far more powerful cars through the twisties.
I took the opportunity to take some pics of Dunk on the track.............no idea how I missed Andy but I did. Sorry mate.
Cod was really starting to get into the swing of it and was leaning on the new APs much harder than before.
Bloody quick car to be honest. In fairness all of the Evos in attendance were pretty good (bar one), polar opposite to the Scoobie representation...........I can only guess they were being conservative :? Caterhams and Westfields were king dong though, this is definitely their sandpit and no-one was quicker than the Megabusa's around here. Some very interesting Pugs including a few tasty 205's
An RX7 turned up
and promptly expired a short while later
Maxx/Malcolm turned up to offer some words of wisdom. His experience was clear and it was only the lack of time and an unnerving moment when he reached across and grabbed the wheel that roused a moments notice! I took this personally to start with, fearing that my driving was 'that bad' it deemed intervention but Dunk confirmed he had done the same with him too. I am sure with more time, Maxx could have shaved time from all of our laps if only to give us more chance to practice some of his lines that required trust. (In both the car and us) A massive help though and great to meet the man behind some of the most thorough posts on this site :thumb: I even raised a laugh from him on one lap as we carrered towards the hay bales (sound familiar Dunk? )
Overall it was a wonderful day out, not dented in the least by the 3 hour trip each way. The circuit is great, the company was better. Dunk and Andy proved to be blindingly quick, much faster than 95% of the other guys there. I would think that Dunk could do very well in Time Attack, he seems to adapt very quickly. Thanks to all for their company. Lets do it again soon :thumb:
