Trackday-RS day, Oulton Park. 6th March 09..
- Thread starter Big Dave
- Start date
frogisland
New member
Well what a day. Great whilst it lasted, my excursion into the gravel at Shell hairpin brought my day to an end. The day for some of us started on the Thursday night, good food, good company and lots of boys talk; cars, racing, trackdays, back to cars (we can talk about more than just cars when we put our minds to it!). Good to see Mr Empson later on, we were getting concerned, but well done for the effort in geting your car there. Friday started well, arriving around 8.00am, the paddock was bone dry - a good sign. As Dave mentioned, and quite unbelievable, the whole track was dry, including the usual damp Druids. The car went well, quickly got into the stride of things - it doesn't really take many laps to get into the swing of things these days. Struggled with tyres a bit, they were taking a few laps more to get them upto temperature, but we got there and pushed on. The morning then came to an abrupt end. Had Lotus Paul in the car with me - now believe me that is always a bad sign (two of my worst spins on track in the last 5 years - real heart in mouth bottom quenching ones - have been with him in the car), i was going down Lakeside, 100 plus in fourth, marginal brakes for the left hander, slight fight to straighten the car up for braking into the Shell hairpin, still doing close to 100 before very hard on the brakes....and BANG, what the f### was that, no steering, not particularly slowing down, in the gravel before i could even think, barrier approaching seriously quickly. Furtunately, some right steering still on and the car digs in at the last moment pushing the car right. That was close, very close. What happened? The offside wishbone collapsed. There is a rod end assembly on the end of my charlie arm with a pin for the spindle/hub. This assembly had sheared where it goes into the end of the charlie arm. The really difficult part was getting me out of the gravel - you can't pull the car out due to the gravel, you just sink in further. After lots of head scratching, we managed to attach straps to the chassis legs. Had to clear a few things out of the way, to get to them, but it did the trick. The recovery guys did a fantastic job, they are as meticulous as they can be, they make a great deal of effort to avoid further damage (read track days only, race days are somewhat different). Once back in the paddock, we were able to perform an impromptu repair (thanks Lotus Paul and Pazzer), and an hour later we were back on track. No, only kidding, the car was a little worse for wear - geometry was well and truly out and a bent steering arm. The damage is not huge, lots of small things - stressed flexible brake line, steering track rod, wing liner, brake cooling duct and so on. The wing itself has some damage where the wheel hit the back of the arch. Very lucky really, no serious damage, but lots of small things - and for those of you who know me, i'll go OTT putting it right....indeed, the full suspension, brakes etc is fully stripped from both sides of the car already. Need to check the wishbone on the other side...and i can't have one side cleaner than the other now can i! Undertrays and wheel arch liners are off, front PU later today - that gravel gets everwhere. Despite all this, it was great to see everyone, lots of familiar faces, some good banter - just a shame i couldn't have given more passenger laps, next time hey Neil. It was fantastic to see how everyone pulled together offering help getting the car back together - appreciated - but they soon realised the driver had it under control and buggered back onto track, can't blame then really. It also helps having honed the tools that you take to trackdays, but, there is always a nut that needs a bigger spanner than you take along! My lucky lump hammer wasn't lucky this time - mind you, it probably was since i didn't have to use it! JP
Mr968
New member
Hi Paul, a good day as usual, I actually got one of your laps from the pit wall at 2:05 [
]. I got Jason at a 2:08(forgive me Jason if you did any quicker ones). The best I've done with the Coupe was a 2:12. Shows a clear difference with the extent and differences in car preparation(not to mention you guys being driving gods of course [])
]. I got Jason at a 2:08(forgive me Jason if you did any quicker ones). The best I've done with the Coupe was a 2:12. Shows a clear difference with the extent and differences in car preparation(not to mention you guys being driving gods of course [])
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Glad to hear it's on the mend Jason, I know what you mean about the gravel getting everywhere! How did the paint hold up, did you get many stone chips to the sills?
frogisland
New member
In reality there is probably only a days work on it, but you know me, i'll be at it for the next few weeks! The front of both side skirts gets badly chipped over time - it is about time they were done, so may do them before i use the car again. Sorry Stu, didn't do a full fast lap Friday, was either warming up tyres, held up....or in the gravel....if only i had been on in the afternoon.... JP
Steve Brookes
Moderator
Excellent footage Dave. That rear cam really shows the topography of Oulton that doesn't show up very well on front facing cams.
David Hooper
New member
How do you fancy doing a small job Jason say, like, a front wing, headlight, front PU & bits and bobs[] I'll get it delivered up to you asap[] Seriously, glad to see you're OK. I'll be asking for a bit of advice soon. Going to have a look and see if I can drive it back on the trade plates shortly. Cheers Dave
] I'll get it delivered up to you asap[] Seriously, glad to see you're OK. I'll be asking for a bit of advice soon. Going to have a look and see if I can drive it back on the trade plates shortly. Cheers Dave
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Jason, are you going to be refitting the Charlie arms, or do you have other plans? Btw the [link=http://213.165.80.147/gallery.php?gid=16996]trackphoto[/link] pics are up and you have been downgraded to a clubsport 944
Steve Brookes
Moderator
I've watched it a couple of times now and can't help chuckling that each time Jason in his black/orange 964RS caught you up someone came out the pitlane in front of him and he had to do it all again [ORIGINAL: Big Dave UK Cheers Steve. Im hoping to get some editing done over the course of the year, so, the "productions" should improve.[
]. Was great fun to watch.
jason
New member
If I remember right this must have been right at the end of the day as I was so wasted I went home after this and its the only time I can remember seeing Dave (those F1 boys must be as fit as fiddles!!!). I wouldn't have passed him without the traffic anyway I don't think - my old SSRs just couldn't hold the speed through the fast bends and I was hanging on...and was starting get Dony flashbacks! It was fun watching Daves tyres dig in at these bends though, the car really dug in and gripped and pulled through the bends it looked really well set up and looked like it was on 18" wheels too - I remember thinking only Mels and Graham Howells cars looked to dig in as well....can't remember many others as my car was on form and seemed to be going past most on the day which was pleasing. Glad you're ok and car can be sorted Jason - you were in that gravel pretty deep!!!! Good job it was though as you say. Good to see Stu too and the 968 boys...hope you all enjoyed the day[ORIGINAL: Steve BrookesI've watched it a couple of times now and can't help chuckling that each time Jason in his black/orange 964RS caught you up someone came out the pitlane in front of him and he had to do it all again [ORIGINAL: Big Dave UK Cheers Steve. Im hoping to get some editing done over the course of the year, so, the "productions" should improve.[
]
Big Dave
New member
Steve, Not wanting to sound "cocky" but if you listen to the "chat" on the vid at around 5.20 ish, youl hear that i backed off, to let Jason catch up, so i could have a "play"...[ORIGINAL: Steve BrookesI've watched it a couple of times now and can't help chuckling that each time Jason in his black/orange 964RS caught you up someone came out the pitlane in front of him and he had to do it all again [ORIGINAL: Big Dave UK Cheers Steve. Im hoping to get some editing done over the course of the year, so, the "productions" should improve.[
][][]. Its all good racing off into the distance, but the main objective to having the cameras fitted is to get some footage of other folk....[][][][] Jason , Cheers m8, yes it does dig in on the corners...I too remember the Donny day,, a big cloud of tyre smoke in my rear view mirror...+ a RS spinning out of control...[][] Your going to have to get a set of Dunlop DZ03G,s for your car...You will defo notice a huge difference in grip levels... My car is running 17" wheels...[][]frogisland
New member
Cheeky bleeders....944 hey...i'll have you know its a 96...... Lost interest in the car the last few days - will get on with it again at the weekend. Charlie arms - don't know, have tried to talk to Kokeln but they are away racing for another couple of days yet. The issue can be overcome, and i want to obtain a couple of new collars before i put them back on. BUT, it will take too long, so may end up with standard arms with polybush or more solid bushing yet. In which case i will sell the charlie arms on - if fitted at a later date i would have to set the car up again! Dave - i was going to suggest you went fibreglass...then i could have had your other wing Jason - converted bigDave to Dunlops - you'll never look back, go for the latest DZ03's. I find the D01J's better than the DZ02's, but the 03's are supposed to be even better (The 02's were not out for long) JP
Jason - converted bigDave to Dunlops - you'll never look back, go for the latest DZ03's. I find the D01J's better than the DZ02's, but the 03's are supposed to be even better (The 02's were not out for long) JP
jason
New member
Now that is intersesting. If you have a look in the 964RS Oulton thread you will see that I've already said I thought Graham Howells 993RS was the best in the corners I saw all day. So I asked what tyres he was running and Paul Howells said they were Dunlop DZ03G,s and they were the best tyres you can get! I think I'll be having some of those.....ORIGINAL: Big Dave UK Your going to have to get a set of Dunlop DZ03G,s for your car...You will defo notice a huge difference in grip levels... My car is running 17" wheels...[
Steve Brookes
Moderator
Dave, I'll turn the volume up more next time so I can hear the chat properly []. In fact that was the other thing that tickled me about the video...I don't think I've ever heard so much in car chatter before on a track video []. And women don't think we can do more than one thing at a time! [][][]
]. In fact that was the other thing that tickled me about the video...I don't think I've ever heard so much in car chatter before on a track video []. And women don't think we can do more than one thing at a time! [][][]
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