April Marham reports

Get to know you and your car's limits on the track.
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Stuart
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April Marham reports

Post by Stuart »

Thought we could have one thread for thoughts and comments, rather than one from each of the people that attended :)

Plans had chooped and changed a few times with my car of the day. The Golf had developed problems, the next option was a 200 of Kev's. I was nervous about using someone elses car so we reverted to the Golf. But the Golf had more problems than ever now...............arse :lol:

I met Ben (murano3) at APT just after 7 and we headed to RAF MArham, near Swaffham in Norfolk. Ben and I were co-driving the mighty Golf, I had done the circuit before, Ben was a newb. The weather was good and the paddock wasn't that busy. We meet Jason and Andrea (Mr and Mrs Sideways) Trev, Dan and Alex at the circuit for just before 8 after a seemless entry to the event. Visiting an active military base is always a treat. The armed guards, sniffer dogs and tight security did nothing to make us feel less welcome. The staff were simply superb. A genuine credit to the base and their bosses.

Dan had brought the Cerb, Trev and Alex were driving the BMW drifter, Jason and Andrea were driving the 325i. Also at the event were Ian200 with his 3 series tourer and Nick, Alex and Ian with the Silvia. Dwayne joined us with his Soarer and Hannah ran the Cobra. That car must know it's way around the track without anyone driving it :)

I had vowed that no repercussions would befall Ben if he broke the Golf, but we arrived and the car had issues. The alternator belt and auxillary/power steering belts were loose though and screaming like mad. My main concern was the auxillary belt killing the water pump. This is where LeeS13 stepped in. I asked for his help and he was amazing. He didn't ask for anything and was 'just happy to help'. A selfless act that was hugely appreciated. I will repay your help two fold Lee. Thank you

It was clear from early on that the Golf would struggle on the long straights. The corners and braking areas gave us a big chance to claw back lost ground and Ben and I made th best of our low grip and lower power levels.

The two Bm's were flying. Very little in the straights between them. The corners were both despatched well enough but in very different styles. Jasons technique on corner entry was very smooth and more 'committed' on exit. Trev was just hugely committed everywhere :D

Dan and the Cerb was having huge fun. Stone chips aside the car went great with huge power and the long gearing came into its own at Marham. An indicated 165 and more on the back straight.

Ian with the BM kept spinning but I suspect that the tyre choice helped there.

Nick and Ian looked like they were learning a lot about their track car. That's a polite way of saying that they also span a lot :) This sort of hooning around underlines the key difference, in my mind, between airfield track days and 'proper' circuits. The 'hoon' factor lets people push their cars so hard and this is why it was one of the best events I can remember.

Passenger laps with Trev and Jason left me in stitches. Some great driving and Jasons 360 burnout will stay with me for a long while :notworthy:

Thanks to all of the guys for some great laughs and some imperious driving :thumb:

*Oh yeah.......Ben did kill the brakes :D Completely mullered but I wouldn't want it any other way. Great to see you having so much fun mate.

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Mr Fletcher
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Post by Mr Fletcher »

good write up stu i've had a quick scan of the video footage and we have various bp members guilty of cone abuse and
a smoke filled car at one point :-D

cheers

jason

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Stuart
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Post by Stuart »

Get that uploaded when you get a chance mate. That should make tremendous viewing :)

LeeS13
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Post by LeeS13 »

great write up Stuart and not a problem helping out glad it was an easy fix

Looked like there was alot of fun had by all and really glad the weather held out, lets hope for more of the same tomorrow :-D
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:DNew R34GT-T 4door On Its Way :D

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madenglishman
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Post by madenglishman »

What a day :-D

It was the first time i have been able to fully engage the massive pedal travel of the cerb and boy it was eventful :o .........we went round in massive plumes of smoke, backwards through the cones at over 130 :bandit: (**** I enjoyed that afterwards), over 160 down the straight and general rwd hooliganism. The brakes on the cerb are jaw dropping and leave a nice red mark down your torso in the shape of a seatbelt . It's such a different beast to my old 'type R32 destroyer'..........it feels so much more er......'nimble' :-D ........and my brother drove it home under it's own steam albeit with a destroyed stone chipped front end, squashed rear can (see backwards at over 130) and most important 'cone marks' down the wing 8)

The day itself was cracking fun from start to finish..........even with Trev forgetting to put the petrol cap back on the Beemer after filling it up and setting off spewing fuel everywhere :o ......trip to swaffham in the cerb to get a new fuel cap :roll: . Once we were back the madness continued between the bigpower collective .The Dalai bigfoot Stu was tipping into the bends in the golf with no regard for the laws of physics and just using 3 wheels to get round the problem.......job done :thumb: . His golf was also sharing some 'cone-love' with Trev in our BM and Ian and Nick's Silvia. Loving your work on the Silvia Ian .

In the afternoon me, Trev and Ian decided to saddle up our machines and go and make smokey circles........I had Wilson jnr as co-pilot and was recording the antics :-D ............there was one point when, Ian at the front, Trev in the middle and us at the back, when we all hooked up a nice powerslide at the same time.........legends in our own dinner time :moon:


All said and done a bunch of mates doing a 'Ricky Bobby' and "going real fast" :twisted:
Dan

205 GTi....... for track and fun

V8 Jag ....... for pimping

Big power dyno shootout champion 07'

jamiep
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Post by jamiep »

I was there today in my Monaro, had a great time, couple of videos for you :)



http://media.putfile.com/RAF-Marham-Trackday


http://media.putfile.com/RAF-Marham-Tracday

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Stuart
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Post by Stuart »

This sums it up nicely
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Stuart
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Post by Stuart »

jamiep wrote:I was there today in my Monaro, had a great time, couple of videos for you :)
http://media.putfile.com/RAF-Marham-Trackday
http://media.putfile.com/RAF-Marham-Tracday
That sounded awesome Jamie. You should have popped over mate....you could have sampled 80bhp of understeering lunacy :lol: How are you getting on with the Monaro? Didn't you used to have a Supra too?

jamiep
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Post by jamiep »

Hi yea i use to have a supra so went with the club, im loving the grunt of the supercharged monaro, ill get some pics and a spec up, its a bit big for a trackday car but nobody passed me and i passed plenty so all good :)

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Ben
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Post by Ben »

What a hoot - a massive thanks to Stuart for entrusting his mighty steed in my humble hands ... I will be doing a proper report tonight once i've uploaded the pics however just have to say it was ace.

I admit initially I took it easy in the golf thinking I don't really want to break it and after a few sessions thought I'd had enough fun, however the bigman suggested one more session, so off I went .. by this time for some reason I forget that it was stu's car and forgot that I'd promised to take it easy - so I went frekin mental !! .. with the kevlar Dark Horse tyres that have no grip at all ... I found there are no limits to how out of shape you can get a golf - then the brakes .. well I noticed a little grinding - so what do I do - PUSH on ... so yes I killed them .. COMPLETELY .. don't worry I'll buy him some more ..

anyway .. proper write up with pics later ... :-D
Dum spiro, spero
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