OFFICIAL - I am excited already

[Equinox]

come on where's the rest of this story....... im waiting

[shimmy]

With our hotel literally 20m from the pits and coz the Belgians had just had a Bank Holiday and dont get into work until 8.15am, we had a bit of a lay in, and then a nice breakfast at De Pits.

De Pits overlooking Main Straight


We found our way into the Circuit and parked up in the pitlane just intime for the Lotus On Track briefing and sign on. Only about 40 cars so gonna be some decent tracktime although track temps were already up high






Dodgy Zolder Statue

I got straight to work on checking what was wrong with my car. Got the wheels of and checked the bushes and dampers. All looked ok although i was still convincd they were too soft. I called Intrax (only 107km away) and stook some advice. God dampers are complicated bits of kit and i didnt understand what they said. I was told by Curly to get out there with the car and give it a go, but inside i was a little nervous, thinking i might bin it!

By then Jurn and Flow had turned up in their CSLs so with Wheels and me we had a fair flock of induction noise and Supersprint Exhausts at what was a pretty closed in circuit with high buildings and concrete......was gonna be some serious CSL sounds being played. Then we were told that they run a strict noise policy with "two black flags and your out" so suddenly we were a bit worried.

I did one session and immediately liked the circuit. Not very long or fast but likewise only one 2nd gear corner once you had learnt the circuit. It had a long double home straight, then a p[arabolical corner taking you round the back of the pits onto a chincane, fast curve, chincane and fast curve, then back to the straight away. I did a 2m 05s and was told by Flow that 1m 52+ would be agood time, this being his home circuit he should know.

Dinner with all the lads was back at the hotel and as soon as we saw the cars running again we were back down trying to avoid the sound meters and piss off some Lotus's (in a nice way). However me and Hugh in his CivicTypeR immediately got black flagged for dangerous overtaking, Hugh go black flagged twice again for noise, Wheels got ablack flag for noise then...........wait for it........Curly in his Shoppa got black flagged for noise. At this point i think the Noise Police were taking the piss!

We then got down to business. Flow had managed to drag me round and speed me up to the point he was getting in my way. He was shod in MSS and me on my Cups and differing grip levels on the faster corners was VERY NOTICABLE. I had some flashing SMG cog light when hot but otherwise car was running well.

THen in my last session i managed to feel the flow oft he circuit and really increased corner speeds especially in the chicanes and logged two laps around 1m 51-52s which felt great. I then proceded to BUZZ all the sound meters in 3rd gear and got black flagged big time!

Heat was getting to us all so we packed up, gave back our transponders (so they could check who was breaking the sound meters) and headed off.

I shot off to the tunnel early via Antwerp and Brugge and was home by 9.30pm meanwhile the Mancs headed for Rotterdam for the Love Boat back to Hull and the land of Eccles Cakes.



Overall in 3 days 1200 miles, 3 tracks, 400 track miles, about 43 glasses of beer and two salsa dances. Cant wait for next time as the company was the best bit.

[Yanto]

Nice write up matey

[Andyk]

Sounds like you had a great time....

[Bounce]

Nice little wright up Shimster.

[billyboysm3]

Well done shimmy, you lot must of pissed yourself when curly
Turned up to the pits saying been black flagged for noise in the shoppa.

[flow]

It was a nice day , too bad my CSL had some overheating problems .

Shimmy at the end of the day you were very fast !! fastest man on the track .
Very nice driving for your first time at solder .
The supersports are a good overall tire but no match for the cups .

My CSL with full supersprint bits had no problem with the noise

[Bealo]

Good write up and photos as usual, would love to tag along for the next one

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by Bealo

Good write up and photos as usual, would love to tag along for the next one

Sorry we re all Muslim/Jewish

[Curly]

Yes Shim another good write up you might be better packing that building game in and becoming a journo It went so fast I didnt realise we did so much we had some good laughs and I couldnt believe it when I got a black flag for something other than dangerous driving. I told the big Belgium dude he must be wrong I said the car is electric I lifted the bonnet and showed him the battery he still wouldnt have it!!!!! and blared out your are too loud too loud I told him from Manchester and we all talk like this and he went off in a huff It was good to meet or Belgium CSL brothers and the cars looked superb and went well, you boys need to come over to blighty and do some big boy tracks like Donny. silverstone and Oulton For me you can not but enjoy Spa its a fantastic circuit pity it wasnt wet and the little shopper might of took a few more scalps, Zandvoof was a brill circuit loads of camber changes, blind corners and blind crests and a load of Dutch headbangers, lastly to Zolder - I enjoyed the first half of the track but those little s's spoilt the fun of the circuit and I wont mention the noise nonsense. Sorry to the guys for that booking that dodgy hotel even though it was only 40 euro's a night at least ended up in front after emptying his fridge and wine cellar Highlight of the trip was seeing Huws face when shimmy was trying to dry hump his leg in the salsa bar after too many and got to mention Shane was flipping flying again at Spa just a pity I never had a chance to get a lap. Wheels I just dont know he does it, absolutely full on it spot on with his lines and the only bloke to scare me all weekend when he took me for a passeneger lap

Mileage - 835
Fuel - half a tank
Tyre wear - +1mm the curse of running off line on track in the little shopper