Bedford Gt Circuit 4.2 miles 19/02/10

Get to know you and your car's limits on the track.
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Gerry H
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Full Report with Pics.

Post by Gerry H »

7:30 and the anticipation got the better of me. A final check of what I'd need, for a days hooning around the Bedford Autudrome, scramble around the garage for octane booster, fire extinguisher, small kit of tools and load up the car and off.

First though

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Scrape the snow and ice from the windows.

The roads were quite clear with only a little slush but best described as 'mildly moist' :D Despite the clear roads there were still drivers doing a gingerly 30mph on NSL stretches of the A6. Single carriageway saw queues of slow moving traffic.

I've come to the conclusion that it's not necessarily the speed that kills it's the frustration caused by people driving too bloody slow. Anyway, with loads of time, it wasn't a problem for me and I got to BA, via the local Shell station, with loads of time to spare.

I arrived at the service road that feeds to the Autodrome to be greeted by a quartet of red Palmersport jacketted gents who pulled me up with "Are you here for the track day"

"Certainly am" I replied in jocular yet polite fashion.

"Sorry but it's been cancelled"

Jocularity and good humour and polite now abandoned "Bollocks" I uttered for all to hear.

"You can drive up to the reception area where you'll find Dave and Phil, if you like but I'll have to ask you to sign this indemnity in case you drive into something or fall and hurt yourself" Said what proved to be the Palmersport, Health & Safety Jobsworth. Actually he was quite decent and most sympathetic.

As I wrote my name he asked if I was upset that it had been cancelled to which I replied, "Bloody right I am!"

"Trouble is" he said "Too many people don't know how to drive"

The road up to reception had the compressed ice from the couple of inches of snow that covered the landscape. Viewing the Christmas card scene that spread in all directions it was pretty obvious that nothing would be running round 4.2 miles of Bedfordshire countryside today.

I arrived at reception to see glum faced Dave, Phil and Mike Wilds. I was greeted by Dave who explained the situation. So, making the most of a bad situation, spent the next hour or so over bacon buttie and coffee chatting with a mate who was looking forward to giving his Impreza RA a hard time.

Ah Well!

Action shots from the morning:

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fezza
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Post by fezza »

Gutted for you Gerry. The kid in me would have been itching to ask if i can just have a quick play on that snow!
James is looking for the next trackday...

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Gerry H
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Post by Gerry H »

fezza wrote:Gutted for you Gerry. The kid in me would have been itching to ask if i can just have a quick play on that snow!


They do have quite a large car park ;)

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blacky
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Post by blacky »

Shame that Gerry, just have to wait to do Cadwell now, wish I could come and play bbut alas my car won't be ready by then!

See you at Sunny North weald!

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Gerry H
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Post by Gerry H »

What do you mean "Won't be ready?" What are you doing to it then?????????

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blacky
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Post by blacky »

Gerry H wrote:What do you mean "Won't be ready?" What are you doing to it then?????????
Stuff and tings! :D

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Gerry H
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Post by Gerry H »

blacky wrote:Stuff and tings! :D


Prepare to be protested into modified then. :)

Oh! Hang on! I know what it is you're doing.



















































Fitting a baby seat :thumbs:

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Safety_James
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Post by Safety_James »

Ahh no thats not cool!! When snow falls at bedford, thats it.

Because of the enormity of the tarmac and run offs it wouldn't even have been worth sweeping it with a tractor and driving round in circuit vehicles to break it up like we can do at Snetterton. :(

There will be many a chance to try again!
インテグラ TYPE R 無限

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Gerry H
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Post by Gerry H »

It would have been interesting to see whether a sweeper could have stayed on the track as it's so flat. :)

I do have a MSV Christmas Adrenaline voucher that Liz gave me for Crimble. I've just remembered to book it at Bedford in an M3 on 22nd March. I could have done a Porsche one but I thought I'd have a go and see what all the fuss is about with these M3 things :) The big test is whether I can drive it AND operate the indicators at the same time, something that most BM drivers are totally incapable of managing. Still, it must be pretty difficult to achieve as most of the ones I encounter on the road have their head up their arse.

Sorry, any excuse :)



The options were Bedford, Oulton, Brands, but no Snetterton. :(

d

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Safety_James
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Post by Safety_James »

Gerry H wrote: The options were Bedford, Oulton, Brands, but no Snetterton. :(
Not yet, all in due course.. Planning something a little more special in the long term ;)

M3 driving gift is the better of the ones we offer, you'll love it :D
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