Wow! What an excellent day, thanks must go to LegalEagleBoy for pointing it out [8D]
This was a day run by Doningtons own trackday organisation - TrackZone. I've used them twice before and had no particular problems though I have heard from other forums of particularly overcrowded days and very bad driving.
Saturday was £140 all day for Open pit lane with only 30-40 cars [
][
][
] I managed 170 track miles, but long distance Enduro racer LegalEagleBoy managed 250 [8D]
The day was overcast on arrival and just as I had finished the 14 minute change to slick tyres it started drizzling [8|] Half an hour later after the saftey briefing we were let out on track and it was bone dry - phew [
] 20 minutes later I had re-familiariased myself with the layout, braking points etc and the tyres were nicely warmed up.
LegalEagle and I then did a couple of sessions passengering in each others cars. This was my first ever time in a 968 and I was very impressed. The 968 and S2 are very similar but the 6speed box seemed much more suited to track work as Paul was always on the power and never seemed to get bogged down in the wrong gear. I noticed the exhaust note was a touch fruitier as well. Pauls car has 968 CS M030 anti roll bars and I did notice this kept the car very much in control with no excessive lean angles round the corners. I'd have an RS Turbo in a shot [
]
Just before lunch it started drizzling again when I was out on track and I was still on slick tyres [
] I decided to back right off and try to feel my way round for grip. This was very interesting [
] I found I coud still floor the throttle when in a straight line and have no wheelspin from the slicks, but the corners were definitely slippier and I felt the ABS a few times under braking. Holding a steady throttle I could feel all 4 wheels start to slide very controllably. I had slowed a lot though and was starting to let cars on road tyres come past.
As the session continued first the rain eased and then it started again. It was surprising how quickly the grip came back when the drizzle stopped and how quickly it got slippy when it started again, though the track never actually looked wet at any time. I had one fright when starting to build up speed in the dry. I was turning into Redgate after the start finish straight and the back just stepped out about 45degrees. I caught it, but then went 45degrees the other way before getting full control and gingerly carried on, making a mental note that I had misread the conditions. Next lap round there was a large oil flag being waved [8|] phew - something else to blame my slide on. It was dry and fast for the rest of the day [
]
All in all an excellent day, and a great experience to be in the wet on tyres not suited for that purpose. I'm glad I didn't pit in for a tyre change
See you all at the Goldtrack evening at Bruntingthorpe on Friday
