Event Autotesting - Feb 9th Errol, Scotland

[The Moog]

I am sure the Caddy would be perfect* Eddy

 

Next one is 15th July I think.

[eddyramrod]

All the cars I used for this in Cyprus, and therefore all my autotest experience, featured stir-it-yourself gears with the concomitant excess of pedals.  I would have no idea how well an automatic would do under such conditions, but to be fair I wouldn't expect it to take too much beating.  Having said that, several of the cars I was competing against were auto: XJ6, Silver Shadow, Stag, etc...  I have no qualms about using a big vehicle, I've been round in a mk1 Granada and a double-cab pickup, but the X1/9 was significantly better at the job.  In fact I'd suggest it as an ideal contender.  I've seen a Fiat 500 (proper air-cooled one) go round too and that was surprisingly suitable.

[UltraWomble]

Cheers chaps, sounds ideal for starlet.

18th & 19th feb. Its held at junction 4 M 65 if anyone else fancies it.

 

I am going to to on 18th which is the trial day before the event on 19th

 

£5 membership and £30 entry fee. Anyone over 14 can take part. You can even hire a car there for the day.

I might toddle along with the lad on the 18th for a looksie and a maddy D's.

[dome]

I used to do these back in the day in various small hatchbacks.

Good handbrake, skinny back tyres pumped up to about 50 psi and off you go.

 

Biggest trouble I had was remembering the course. Bloody good fun though

[Guest Hooli]

This guy is pretty handy.....

 

 

Thats a very complicated course too.

 

 

That is how to drive a proper mini!

[The Moog]

I might toddle along with the lad on the 18th for a looksie and a maddy D's.

 

Apparently entry gets you  voucher for said fine dinning restaurant for lunchtime. That is a billy bonus

[The Moog]

Got confirmation email today, so will do an update once done.

[320touring]

Woop!

[twosmoke300]

The starlet will do well I reckon . I wanted to have a go at auto tests when I had the puma but ran out of time .

[Richard]

I once saw a clip of Paddy Hopkirk doing an autotest, quite a lot of footwork involved.

[The Moog]

Got the map through for the autotest today

 

I iz excite

 

[phil_lihp]

There one of these that is held regularly near me, I'm intending to take the Puma along at the next opportunity, it looks like excellent fun.

[gm]

This is one I did at Kaimes, Ayrshire a couple of years back. Apparently, I'm a bit too enthusiastic :

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/mjbrennan/th_1CEE8F35-9308-46BF-8791-651A3B4AD284_zpsh7nnwjpj.mp4

 

This is my mate Paul driving, he beat me by several seconds :

 

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/mjbrennan/th_95C081E3-CD77-4860-9A5C-C39FF8BA377A_zpsieitbcpi.mp4

 

but I reckon I still had the most fun

[simmo]

A couple of mates got this bought and prepped for less than £20, and it won it's class first time out 

 

 

[Stanky]

I enquired about this with the Southsea Motor Club as they have them on fairly regularly, I wanted to keep up with marshalling but not have to travel miles to a venue - also keen to have a stab at it. I put it off when the Nissan started to eat its gearbox but reckon the Yaris would probably do alright in the sub 1400cc class.

 

As others have said, entry for the SSMC events is about £10 plus £25 subs for the year, could be a worthwhile day out for the Solent Shiters? The two I looked at were at South Downs College and East Hampshire Council Offices car parks, looks like their website hasn't yet been updated for AutoSolo tests for 2017 but will keep my eyes peeled.

 

Or we could have an apocalyptically shit Autoshite AutoSolo (ASAS, natch) somewhere, perhaps an event for Shitefest '17? Start borrowing cones from the local roadworks now...

[The Moog]

Asas could be a hoot. Especially if the same car was used by everyone

[Bucketeer]

That looks ACE. You'll have a great time. The track doesn't look too bad to remember either. Plus there's not many motorsport venues that give you the opportunity to crash into HGV's, a compacter and a bin compound.

[bub2006]

The c2 would be fun if not fast. the van would be hilarious, till it fell over

[timolloyd]

I've done this twice: once in a borrowed Caterham 7 at a corporate jolly at Brands Hatch. Obviously I thought I was Billy Big Bollocks and just ended up sliding all over the show, almost killing a load of office workers on their Christmas Party.

Second time I was in my Grandmother's base Nova, had more fun tbh, and came 2nd or 3rd overall.

[The Moog]

 

 

Up against some interesting cars

[anonymous user]

I haven't done these for years, used to have a go when I was in my 20s (using an MG Midget, then Lotus 7, then various Morgans) I wasn't that good but it was great fun. One of the most memorable was when I was someone's reverse gear, they were competing in a Morgan three wheeler, it had two forward gears and no reverse, so to go backwards I had to jump out and push.

[The Moog]

Got the wheel bearings adjusted again By NJGleeds as they were droning slightly

 

 

Gave it a wash and will hoover it tomorrow. Definitely got to be worth a few seconds

[gm]

I received an email inviting members to an autotest over in Johnstone, Glasgow on sat 4th march run by the Scottish Sporting Car Club

 

https://scottishsportingcc.wordpress.com

 

It's quite likely that I won't be able to attend as I've already promised my mam that I'd go visit that weekend but the lads are a friendly bunch and are always looking for new members to join them - if anyone fancies it, I can forward the info.

 

The autotest I did last year with them was down in Ayr at the former Nobel explosives works (sounds exotic, is really just some industrial wasteland) and was a great day out. Everyone was very friendly, they took the time to explain the format and rules then walked us round the course then provided bacon rolls for lunch. I can't remember exactly how much it costs but I'm sure it was silly cheap, something like thirty quid including membership of the club.

 

 

Me driving too enthusiastically again

 

 

Paul beating me again (the fucker)

[gm]

Just checked the prices : £15 entry fee + £10 annual membership fee

[The Moog]

It is most excellent.

 

We had to set it up this morning

 

Couple of 1.0 rally Micra's. Micra's seem to be the weapon of choice although quickest was mini

 

NJGLeeds campaigning the starlet

 

[NorthernMonkey]

This is properly bloody good fun.

Now sat in MaccyDs for lunch.

Actually, this is also good fun.

Bring on this afternoon....

[Guest Hooli]

Looks a great laugh

[The Moog]

Will put some videos later.

[The Moog]

 

Starlet driven in anger

 

https://youtu.be/-VXPe3eUeuk

 

 

Mini showing us how it is done

 

https://youtu.be/U1knnrTqWb4

 

 

 

I was slower..... Bugger

 

[NorthernMonkey]

One or two of Will campaigning the Starlet...

 

 

 

 

Now scouring the internet for info on getting a national licence and Ebay for Clio 182s and Focus STs