Testing new track: RAF Odiham Sat 07-Nov-09 *note the date change!

[tscaptain]

Yes, come on chaps, get booking and let's have good 997 turn out! They tell me that the maximum number is 30-40, which on a track that long and wide is no problem at all. It's open pitlane so you can pick and choose when to go out although they probably start off like Llandow and others with group sessions based on experience. The long straight is most of the main runway which is 1800m long[8D]

 

[Alex L]

Given the recent success of the Llandow track experience day it's given me and a few of us the trackday bug. So I wanted to check out a track with a bit more space to stretch our car's legs for potential future track days. As such we spotted this track that may fit the profile if anyone else is interested in joining me on the day...

RAF Odiham Race Circuit: RAF Odiham is becoming more & more popular to Track day enthusiasts, with a track said to be better than Donington Park. With straights in which most cars can nearly reach their top speed, all in a safe environment on this active airfield.

Circuit length: 2.1 miles
Address: RAF Odiham, Hook, Hampshire, RG29 1QT

There is an open pitlane day currently taking places that a few of us have already signed up for:

When: Sat, 07 November 2009
Venue: RAF Odiham
Circuit: Airfield Circuit
Day Format: Open Pitlane
Type: Car Track Day
Noise Limit: 105 dB
Price: £145.00 per vehicle & main driver
Additional Drivers: £75.00 each
Passengers: £25.00 each
Instruction: Available

There is apparently plenty of spaces left so if anyone would like to join us for this investigation then please sign up: http://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/raf_odiham.htm

Video of a few laps of the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e56Fv1Dzzlw

Current Porsche Club members coming (that I know of):

1. Alex L
2. tscaptain
3. okellyt
4. jbm
5. RichardLW
6. 993C4S_KO

Anyone else interested???

 

[okellyt]

Will get onto it

 

[Alex L]

Bit more info just been sent: Circuit Information [link=http://www.rmatrackdays.com/temp_downloads/v119v91x148h9c27k86p53h118k79b103o128f106h129v132b28/Odiham_Track_Day_Modified.JPG]

[/link] RAF Odiham website: [link=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafodiham/]http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafodiham/[/link] About RAF Odiham: Royal Air Force Odiham operates three Support Helicopter (SH) squadrons and one Army Air Corps (AAC) Lynx squadron. A conversion flight is incorporated in one of SH squadrons. The flying units are supported by Forward Support Wing, which provides 2nd line aircraft & equipment support, and by Administration Wing, which manages the Station infrastructure. The Chinook Wing Headquarters is responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of operational and logistic output and also manages the airfield services. [link=http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFodiham/aboutus/]More information[/link] RMA Trackdays at RAF Odiham: Our first visit to RAF Odiham in the summer of 2008 was described as one of our best events ever, with a circuit layout claimed by many to be better than Donington! Utilising the main runway the straight is certainly far longer than any conventional race track enabling most cars to get pretty close to their top speed. [link=http://www.rmatrackdays.com/?id=raf_odiham]More information[/link]

 

[jbm]

Hi guys, sounds like a great idea - I've made the booking and am just awaiting confirmation so hopefully I'll see you there. All the best, John

 

[Alex L]

Good stuff John! You should get an email from Chloe at RMA Track days through soon. That's 4 of us thus far then [] Any other takers?

 

[tscaptain]

Do you think they have arrester gear at the end of the runway? Some may need it![8D] Had my confirmation from Chloe.

 

[okellyt]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain Do you think they have arrester gear at the end of the runway?  Some may need it![8D]  Had my confirmation from Chloe.

That'll give your brakes a work out [][][] Much above 160 and youi'll need half the runway to slow down (high speed you can't just jump on the brakes, you have to bleed the power off and ease the brakes on) This could be good fun

 

[garyw]

Tom 160 is quite easy to attain on less than a 1 mile runway [] I did a charity day at Bruntingthorpe and on the short section made 160 everytime (hits the rev limiter in 5th) the stopping/slowing distance prior to the turn certainly tested the brakes out.... ! After 2.5hours and the pedal was feeling a bit grumpy[:'(] not nearly as much as last weekend though- due to the reasons already mentioned. I only stopped as I was running out of fuel [] garyw

 

[tscaptain]

Not coming to Odiham then Gary?[8D] Changing back to my road tyres I noticed the pads are looking a bit thin. That's after 7500 miles and 5 track days! It's going in tomorrow to have the exhaust recall done so will get them to check the pads (especially the inner ones that I can't see as apparently they don't always wear evenly?)

 

[okellyt]

Yep - I got approx 150 on a stock C2S at Millbrook on the mile straight without overly troubling the brakes Turbo's were hitting 170-ish but a couple of times they needed the run off curve at the end of the straight. Just from watching top gear, when they get noticeably over 170 there seem to be a big step up in stopping distance I am looking forward to finding out a) what the beast will do with its revisions and b) how well the new brakes hall it down As indicated in an earlier thread, I found I was over braking at Llandow, but to be fair its the first time I got to use them properly bar 1 emergency stop in the lakes. even then i did not manage to trigger the ABS

 

[tscaptain]

Here, it's easy, just use this calculator [link=http://www.csgnetwork.com/stopdistcalc.html]http://www.csgnetwork.com/stopdistcalc.html[/link] You could do it in you head at 160, I'm sure![] However, putting in coefficient of friction of 0.8 and a speed of 160mph gives a stopping distance (to a halt) of 326m. I bet our cars can do better than that!

 

[RichardLW]

Booked. Chances of tyres being available anyone?

 

[tscaptain]

I guess an e-mail to Trackdays would answer that, but unlikely I would think.

 

[okellyt]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain Here, it's easy, just use this calculator [link=http://www.csgnetwork.com/stopdistcalc.html]http://www.csgnetwork.com/stopdistcalc.html[/link] You could do it in you head at 160, I'm sure![]  However, putting in coefficient of friction of 0.8 and a speed of 160mph gives a stopping distance (to a halt) of  326m.  I bet our cars can do better than that!

Yep at 180 that gives roughly 1/4 mile The coefficient is determined not just by the surface but by the surface area and stickiness of the tyres (also pressure in the tyre plays a factor here, too much or too little is bad). Mass does have an effect but it cut bother ways - a heavy car drives the tyres into the ground more so grip is higher but it creates more energy to be dissipated to stop (you get a bit of a curve with it, where finally at high speed a big vehicle is a bad thing). There is also the effect of when efficient braking is had - initially the car settles on its springs until the brakes fully engage - you can loose quite some distance in a comfort orientated car before you get full braking. The other aside is all brake systems are not equal, some like Porsche's tend to dissipate energy much more effectively So you'd need at least four modifying factors on your formula, each one would have multiple components as they are effected by ground temp or, tyre temp, variations int he surface etc. I feel a horrendous integral equation coming on but I really can't be bothered to try and work it out.

 

[garyw]

Sadly, I can't make the date, Manchester awaits me [] Tom, I think a few of us were over braking/to early, I know I was from the video that TS posted, mechanical sympathy is my reasoning [] However I tried it another way a few times, never made the Oh! Si*t lane though...[] garyw

 

[997GT3_KO]

Are spectators allowed/welcomed ? If so, is there any entrance fee ...?

 

[997GT3_KO]

Hope it will be a dry day! I am on a very steep learning curve to find out more about Trackdays!!

 

[Alex L]

I will ask for you, however no reason you couldn't sign up yourself, we are all pretty much novices going and there is no '997' requirement...

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: 993C4S_KO Are spectators allowed/welcomed ? If so, is there any entrance fee ...?

Chloe says:

Yes they are allowed, however we will need their names and reg details of the cars they will be arriving in otherwise the guards on the gate wont let them in. There is no charge for spectators on this event.

I would suggest you email her directly for more info or to supply the requested details: chloe@rmatrackdays.com