The reason for going was simple; we, St John and I, were bored and it seemed like a good idea to travel a few hours to go and see nice cars go quickly, whilst getting some ideas about making BMW's sound nicer and go quicker. Cunning eh?
Mr Beales knew several people with double barrelled names who all owned posh 'bimmers'. We exchanged pleasantries and then made our way to the pit wall to perve over the slow group. Aptly titled. Unless the local council had been out and smeared KY jelly on the track, these guys were certainly taking it easy. Fortunately the next 'lot' were much happier to chuck in more coal and the pace grew appreciably. I was fortunate enough to be offered a passenger lap with John Thorney and their CSL cup race car. Reckoned to be around 380 ish horses (must be small ones) the car had superb grip, tremendous stability and a chassis so stiff a viagra engorged porn star would feel inadequate. The laps I shared with Mr Thorne were very quick compared to the majority of traffic with huge stopping power being a highlight. Big brakes all around and 235mm slicks will do that to a 1300kg car! Mr Thorne was very competant throughout and his driving showed what years of confidence behind the wheel of a powerful rear wheel drive can do. Very aggressive on the kerbs and just so stable. A bloody good start until the car was blackflagged for 107dB driveby!! Arse
Back to the pits and time to gloat about the car, the poise and general track dominance.
Bealo was had been out in a cammed M3 with good brakes, suspension and exhaust mods and looked pretty smug. He was far too polite to say so, but my guess was that he could have walked away from that on a track and he loved it!!
1-0 Bealo
I had spotted a very well presented Kumho E36 (Here we go again) and was having a good snout around it when I met the owner. What a guy and what a lesson to learn.
Ant Howarth built the car, initially for track days, but as things evolved he started racing. In July of this year, in a freak accident at Croft, he lost the use of one eye due to a nailgun!! Bearing in mind he only became blind in one eye in July, the way he can drive a car is astonishing. Very, very fast and so committed.
Matey in the Thorney race car reckoned he was the quickest there. Until Ant kept overtaking him!!! It was unreal. Damned fast with a shorter M sport diff in it (4.11 for those interested) and Ant preferred soft suspension settings with his KW clubsports. Bizarrely this seemed to work as there was literally nothing faster than he was.
A great day out at a superb circuit. Having heard nothing but awesome NA induction all day it seems fitting to find myself hunting for cheap induction mods..........
Onwards and upwards
(Photos to follow)
Thanks Stu. Great company and cracking taxi service
