Silverstone 944 track evening July 14th

[Peter Empson]

Thought I'd start a new thread now that a date has been agreed for a track meet. The original thread is here.

Important stuff:
-Special price for 924/944/968's of £129. For those booking online please let me know via my profile and I'll give you the discount code, if phoning just say that you're with the 924/944/968's, mention my name if there are any problems, but Melindi knows all about it. Their website is Goldtrack and can also be reached on 01327 361361
-Free to come along and spectate. Passsenger laps should be available (there will be a small registration fee), please wear long sleeves/trousers if wanting to go onto track.

I think the current list of attendees is as follows:

Simon D - stripped 944 (aka the cable tie special [])
Edh - almost completely non standard 944T
Tam Lin - almost completely non standard 924S 
Peter Empson - 944 Lux (ish)
911Kev - stripped out black 968 (probably not as now sold!?!)
Lali - stripped out Blue 968
AndrewS - 944T
MarkK - 944T
Paulf968 - Tango'd 968 race car
John Sims - Canon camera []

Calum will be bringing his 968CS along too.


Please let me know if I've missed you off and I'll edit the above.

 

[lali]

I'm booked on it as well.... I'll have a word with Melindi about the price.. But at the moment I'm driving during the day and teh OH will be having a go in the evening.

I'll be in the Blue EMC 968

 

[Peter Empson]

Thanks Lali, I've updated the list. Great looking car btw, I was admiring it at the Ace Cafe last month.

 

[lali]

Thankyou... although I ddint do anything other than pick the colour!

I might be at the May14th evening as well... I need to "get my eye in" before heading to SPA in June and I havent driven the car in anger since August!!

 

[911kev]

All booked in. Looking forward to it.

 

[bennyboy]

Very tempting as my 'virgin' outing in the 944, as I know Silverstone reasonably well and may possibly appreciate the wide track! Peter, would you expect this to be a busy event by nature of location and date/time?

 

[edh]

Goldtrack days / evenings are great - the standard of the driving is usually good, and you get as much track time as you want with open pit lane.

The 944 turbo goes well at Silverstone, & I think you might even get some free tuition if you're a Goldtrack newbie! []

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: edh

Goldtrack days / evenings are great - the standard of the driving is usually good, ....

I agree 100%. Melindi doesn't stand any nonsense and anyone acting up gets told off in no uncertain terms. They will send idiots home no matter how rich or famous.

Gold Track are probably only second to our very own Steve Kevlin in providing well run track days - Regrettably Steve doesn't do evenings on the whole. This year he is doing one at Brands Hatch, if there is sufficient take up, but (at the moment) this is only for novices.

 

[Diver944]

Yep you can't go wrong with Goldtrack evenings at Silverstone, especially as Melindi has a soft spot for 944's and Callum is the master in his 968. They are a bit busier nowadays than when they first ran them five years ago (but that's probably partly our fault for talking too openly about how good they are [8|] ).

I'm really hoping I'll be able to do one of the ones at the end of the season

 

[Peter Empson]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

I'm really hoping I'll be able to do one of the ones at the end of the season

Is there any chance you might be able to make it onto track for this evening Paul, I would love to see LIL having a bit of exercise []

I'd agree with everyone about the suitability of this track for novices, the only complaints I've ever heard is that it's quite long to learn, but I don't think this is much of a problem especially if you get some passenger laps or instruction. Goldtrack days are nice safe places generally, and are ideal for beginners so are a great way to dip your toe in (or begin your addiction []).

 

[Diver944]

I'd love to but finances simply don't allow for an evening of petrol burning, tyre spinning frivolity at the moment []

To be honest, the ones at the end of the season are probably out of reach also , but you have to have something to look forward to (or delude yourself about [])

 

[Peter Empson]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

I'd love to but finances simply don't allow for an evening of petrol burning, tyre spinning frivolity at the moment []

[][][]

 

[AndrewS]

Hi Peter,

I'll be there on July 14th. []

Regards,
Andrew

 

[Peter Empson]

Thanks Andrew, I've updated the list.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: AndrewS

[FONT=arial"]Hi Peter,
[FONT=arial"]
[FONT=arial"]I'll be there on July 14th. []
[FONT=arial"]
[FONT=arial"]Regards,
Andrew

Excellent! Does this mean I don't have to book a place again then? []

 

[Flick]

Mighty tempted by this.

I know this sounds silly but how hard are 944's on their brakes- will they consume a set of pads in one trackday or they get multiple trackdays out of a set?

 

[John Sims]

It depends on the driver. The probability is your fluid will give up before the pads do. But even then, you would need spectacularly soft pads to kill them in an evening.

Just because it is a racing circuit doesn't mean you have to go all out to be as fast as is humanly possible in your car. Just drive around, as if you were on a road, and build up to a speed you are comfortable with. You don't destroy your car on the road so there is no reason you should do it on a track.

If you feel your brakes starting to fade, do a cooling down lap and come in.

Brakes and pads are funny things and I would think most track day users tend to change their pads because they want something better rather than because they are worn out. It is only the hardened track day warrior who is either 100% happy with his set up (or has the most expensive set up available and can't go further) who will run a set of pads to the point of needing to change - even then I would expect in excess of 5 hard track days on a very aggressive circuit.

 

[Peter Empson]

I agree with John. I would add that these are quite heavy cars and beginners tend to drag the brakes (the ideal is to brake harder for a shorter distance) and this tends to build up more heat causing boiling fluid and fade. Getting some instruction will help with this.

If you have newish standard pads just make sure the fluid is recent and preferably a track orientated design (I like Castrol Response or SRF, the latter is the best I've tried). If your pads are getting worn then fitting a set of decent track pads is a good idea (or if you're diy inclined you can swap them over before and after the day). I use Porterfields R4S which you can get for about £150 for the fronts if you shop carefully, don't worry about the rears.

Wear on standard and uprated brake pads isn't dramatic, it's only really the fade/spongey pedal you have to think about. Porterfields (and other similar pads I imagine) will eat discs, but for one track day I'd expect you to barely notice the wear.

My attitude with brakes is that it's better to go slightly OTT on their preperation than lack confidence in their abilities. There's not much worse than the niggle that they may let you down when you need them.

 

[Flick]

Thanks chaps, very helpful []

Cheers.

 

[Landroverstormer]

Do you mind if I have a drive out in the 944 and spectate to get a feel for what goes on? I'm only 25 mins away so it would be a nice evening drive out.

Let me know?