Event Autoshite Track Events

[dome]

I was busy with new pooch so couldn't make it up last night. Duncan was up there but was on his bike-if you spotted a strange looking man in lycra that was him...

[gm]

I didn't spot him but I was busy having way too much fun

 

The next TrackScotland is a long way off in August but, in the meantime, Dreadnought garage have a couple of sessions that I could be tempted by

 

https://www.dreadnoughtgarage.com

 

The same format as TS, a similar mix of cars and good standards of driving, come on lads, what are you waiting for ?

 

[Tickman]

That is good value. I cannot do June but July looks promising.

[The Moog]

Sadly as Monday not something I could do I don't think.

[gm]

I've booked the days off work so can potentially do either (or both) but I'll need to sort those brakes first

[gm]

I had a look at those mintex pads that I had to retire at half time - I'm no brake pad expert but I would say that they are pretty fooked !

 

 

They've lasted 4-5 trackdays I think, bloody impressive when they were new but, at twice the cost of brembos, I'm not sure I'll be buying again.

[The Moog]

Do you think Brembos are good enough?

 

Was wondering whether to upgrade the fronts on mx5 as it really lacks bite.

[gm]

I didn't have the lap timer running for the second half of the session but I reckon I was actually quicker on the brembos than the mintex pads, I was certainly attacking the corners a lot harder. I've used axxis ultimate, ebc yellow stuff, pagid, mintex and various generic shite pads over the years and would say the brembos are more than up to the job.

 

After the mid session pad swap, I did a brief drive up and down the main road to check everything was working as it should then went back out on track. and did a solid half hour of laps towards the end, they were starting to fade a bit but they did take some serious punishment.

 

Make sure you get a shot in my mx when you come to pick up those wheels, there's plenty of back roads round here to have some fun

 

 

(Edit) bear in mind I'm working them harder on grippy track tyres too

[fordperv]

I'm going to have to get my arse in gear and get something finished so I can come along to one of these days

[The Moog]

That sounds like an offer I cant refuse! 

 

Really noticeable on autotest that the mx5 lacked that bite - especially with upgraded discs and pads. It stops but doesnt do it straight away- Dont know if that is coming from Puma & Starlet who both had pretty good brake feel.

 

Will try and get the coolant and power steering fluid back in the car  (and staying in) this week. 

[gm]

 

 

If you can get your hands on a strut brace, a brake booster is an easy and effective mod - helps to firm up the pedal (get someone to sit in the car and push the pedal as hard as they can, watch how much the master cylinder flexes on the bulkhead)

 

 

[The Moog]

This is why I am not allowed to talk to you anymore ... .

 

 

wanders off to the internet shopping sites... 

[gm]

You should just buy the whole car off me and save time

[Tickman]

You should just buy the whole car off me and save time

 

Only a few days after you said you were not selling it, until you next drive it...

[gm]

I'd better go and fling it round the block a few times just to remind me

[gm]

Those Brembos are pretty shagged too

 

 

Fine white ash where there used to be paint

[The Moog]

Going to try 3 sisters track in Wigan. monday 20th August - £89.

 

It's more like the knockhill hot hatch days

 

https://threesisterscircuit.co.uk/cars-bikes/road-car-track-days?eve_ref=123#event-details

[gm]

I didn't spot him but I was busy having way too much fun

The next TrackScotland is a long way off in August but, in the meantime, Dreadnought garage have a couple of sessions that I could be tempted by

https://www.dreadnoughtgarage.com

The same format as TS, a similar mix of cars and good standards of driving, come on lads, what are you waiting for ?

IMG_1570.PNG

 

Still 7 places available for this Thursday if anyone is tempted ? I've booked and will be car sharing with my mate Nige to keep the costs down

[dome]

Still 7 places available for this Thursday if anyone is tempted ? I've booked and will be car sharing with my mate Nige to keep the costs down

Duncan and I are booked on in the MR2 for our first track night. Wish us luck!

[gm]

Good stuff ! I'm looking forward to seeing what your little toyota can do.

 

there should be a good mix of cars, several mx5s are booked, the lads from dreadnought bring their mgzs race cars along, a few minis and clios and maybe a few caterham types too. Fingers crossed for a dry one, my track tyres are comedic in the rain and my road tyres, lets say it's best I don't use them on the road anymore

[dome]

We're as ready as we're going to get for this. It's now on 4 Toyo T1Rs and I've topped up the gearbox oil which has a leak from the fill plug. It needs a new washer but I don't have one that'll fit.

 

I wanted to bleed the brakes but tonights the first night I've had free since we booked it and I'm not going to start wrestling with bleed nipples the night before our first track day.

 

I took it a wee hurl round the lanes and it's quite entertaining, the 50kg of ballast we've put in the front seems to help but may be a bit too much...

 

I don't mind admitting I'm shitting myself for tomorrow night, I've not been on a track for nigh on 20 years and never been on one with other cars!

 

In true Autoshite fashion the car I'll be driving to the track (Civic) is quicker than the car doing the track day (MR2)...

[gm]

It sounds like you're going in with the right attitude - it's the "I'm a driving god" arseholes that end up in trouble - just start off easy and build your confidence as you go, learn the car and learn the track.

 

What time are you heading up there tomorrow ? I usually aim for 5ish to have plenty of time to check the car over and grab a coffee. Let's hope for a bit of sunshine, roof down all night

[dome]

I think we need to be there for 5 to sign on so I'm meeting Duncan up there then.

 

My biggest concerns are

 

1. Trying to stay out of the way of all the other cars

2. Trying not to overcook it in a small mid engined car that I've not actually driven that hard previously on a track I've ever driven!

 

If we can drive it home afterwards I'm calling that a win!

[gm]

Don't worry too much about holding up other cars - just move aside to let them pass on the straights. An error I've seen a couple of times (from the passenger seat of my own car when letting beginners have a go) is moving aside too quickly coming out of a corner - the chicane and clarks are good examples as they are both crests - and the back end goes light. Take the full corner on the correct line then move over, it makes a massive difference.

 

But most of all, have fun - it's not a bloody race, there's no pressure to set lap records, just enjoy yourself and wonder why you didn't do this years ago ! It's bloody addictive, I tell you

[gm]

And in15 years, I've never not been able to drive home (or is that a very silly thing to say the night before ?)

[The Moog]

I am very jealous of you both. Will sit in the mx5 and make Brum noises.

[gm]

What a great night ! Sunshine all the way, a really good mix of cars, excellent driving standards, only one brief stoppage, and I got to have a go in the mr2 - which I was quite impressed by, many thanks to Brian and Duncan for trusting me with their toy.

 

Here it is being given full berries up the main straight, not sure who is behind the wheel but it was certainly going well

 

 

 

The mazda did itself proud as usual, it really is a cracking little car. Comedy moment at the end when myself and Nige went to leave and discovered that the circuit gates were locked, we eventually found a couple of guys still working in one of the garages who let us out

 

Looking forward to the next one already

[dome]

Behold Racecars! And a shit Type R

 

 

Cracking night and the MR2 managed 45 laps with no issues, apart from when I forgot we weren't doing rallycross and had a brief visit to the gravel trap early on. Cold tyres/brain. No harm done and I drove back out so minimum delay to the others.

 

It was a pretty steep learning the circuit and a mid engined car at the same time. The MR2 moves about a fair bit but confidence built as the night went on-it's got a good balance of grip vs power but does feel a wee bit twitchy approaching the limit. The lap times were about 1.14/1.15-not going to set the world on fire but a good place to build from. Duncan took to it better than me I think, I really need to work on my commitment to the corners.

 

A shot in Marks lovely little MX-5 showed how much difference a well sorted car makes-it felt brilliant to drive. I felt straight at home getting back into one when I never really bonded with mine on the road. Thanks for the shot Mark!

 

The MR2 is standard apart from lowered springs though so definitely has potential. 

 

My biggest problem was being nervous and having an empty stomach-this made the passenger laps quite interesting* Nothing to do with the drivers, it was all me. I'll definitely make sure I've had something to eat next time but I felt rough until about an hour ago when I had some dinner...

[gm]

Some pics nicked off the Dreadnought Garage facebook site

 

 

 

 

I really need to tidy up that front wing, the damage was caused not at a million miles an hour on the racetrack but when I was moving it out of the garage and not paying attention

 

Such a good trackday last night, can't wait until next month

[gm]

that me booked for Monday 23rd July - only 5 places still available, who else is coming ?

 

www.dreadnoughtgarage.com