Bedford Autodrome TD on 18th October 2010

[alexk]

Nice pics

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by AlexGTT

Nice pictures Matt.

What exactly did the EVO do to almost ruin your day?

Thanx mate
As for the EVO incident ... there was an accident/incident that was being recovered during the TD session so the marshals put the orange flashing lights ON to worn everyone on track to slow right down. I saw the lights and duly obliged by slowing down to 30 MPH with Jibm some distance ahead of me, doing the same. I looked in my rear view mirror thinking & hoping that whoever is going to be behind me soon will see what's going on and also slow down. Just as I was thinking about the possible eventualities, a Silver EVO VIII came around the bend @ full chat ( it's a 100+ MPH sweeping right hander) involved in a mini race with a Renault R26.R, obviously ignoring/ not noticing the orange flushing lights Next thing I see is the EVO locking up all fours BIG time but still getting large in my rear view mirror, before shooting off the track to the left, somehow recovering on the grass and heading back on track, right towards my CSL's near side
My thoughts at the time... Ohhhhhh crap this is going to be a BIG one... unless I punch the loud pedal... NOW !!! As I accelerated away, all I saw in my rear view mirror was a large Silver blur shooting from left to right, right across the track, flying off into the green and almost rolling. At a guess there couldn't have been more then an inch between the two cars as he flew across the track behind me with the dreaded thoughts of "what if I didn't floor it " flying through my head. The marshals back in the pits, who watched the whole event unfold, were 100% certain I actually got clipped.
All I can say is, I'm glad to be here in one piece and my CSL undamaged (despite being insured with C.C.I. for such eventualities )

[shimmy]

30mph seems awfully slow for yellow flag Matt!

Couldnt you have just eased off and driven by.

Using speeds 100-30 are pretty severe

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by shimmy

30mph seems awfully slow for yellow flag Matt!

Couldnt you have just eased off and driven by.

Using speeds 100-30 are pretty severe

Not when there was a car is being pulled off the track with marshals about, right there Further more, the organizers asked everyone on individual basis to go slow past the incident, as they were letting us on track.
If the Evo driver eased off down to say 50 MPH and paid attention to the road ahead then there wouldn't have been such a drama.
Better safe then sorry I'd say Shimmy + it's not exactly a blind turn that one, as you can see ahead for miles unless of course you suffer from tunnel vision or are involved in a mini race and completely missed the yellow lights
p.s. one shouldn't post when one's Pished

[AlexGTT]

Originally Posted by mattCSLnut

Thanx mate
As for the EVO incident ... there was an accident/incident that was being recovered during the TD session so the marshals put the orange flashing lights ON to worn everyone on track to slow right down. I saw the lights and duly obliged by slowing down to 30 MPH with Jibm some distance ahead of me, doing the same. I looked in my rear view mirror thinking & hoping that whoever is going to be behind me soon will see what's going on and also slow down. Just as I was thinking about the possible eventualities, a Silver EVO VIII came around the bend @ full chat ( it's a 100+ MPH sweeping right hander) involved in a mini race with a Renault R26.R, obviously ignoring/ not noticing the orange flushing lights Next thing I see is the EVO locking up all fours BIG time but still getting large in my rear view mirror, before shooting off the track to the left, somehow recovering on the grass and heading back on track, right towards my CSL's near side
My thoughts at the time... Ohhhhhh crap this is going to be a BIG one... unless I punch the loud pedal... NOW !!! As I accelerated away, all I saw in my rear view mirror was a large Silver blur shooting from left to right, right across the track, flying off into the green and almost rolling. At a guess there couldn't have been more then an inch between the two cars as he flew across the track behind me with the dreaded thoughts of "what if I didn't floor it " flying through my head. The marshals back in the pits, who watched the whole event unfold, were 100% certain I actually got clipped.
All I can say is, I'm glad to be here in one piece and my CSL undamaged (despite being insured with C.C.I. for such eventualities )

Great. So glad you avoided the fool. Well done Matt.

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by mattCSLnut

Not when there was a car is being pulled off the track with marshals about, right there Further more, the organizers asked everyone on individual basis to go slow past the incident, as they were letting us on track.
If the Evo driver eased off down to say 50 MPH and paid attention to the road ahead then there wouldn't have been such a drama.
Better safe then sorry I'd say Shimmy + it's not exactly a blind turn that one, as you can see ahead for miles unless of course you suffer from tunnel vision or are involved in a mini race and completely missed the yellow lights
p.s. one shouldn't post when one's Pished

AGREE, i wasnt on track and didnt see it

BUt i do remember that the most threatened ive felt on track was when i slowed down to 20-30 mph following a recovered vehicle not knowing whether to pass or not but panicing about what was coming up behind

[flatout]

Originally Posted by mattCSLnut

Good to see familiar faces Flatout (Rich), KK (Alex) and Shimmy (CSL less) and good to put a face to name Jibm

Good to see you all too, got some really good footage from the day - just need to edit out when you lot overtook me and will upload later in the week...

Originally Posted by karbonkid

..Matt & I both were tested for our killer reaction times when I had a Caterham spin on last bend in front again too.

That was a v close call - thought he'd T-bone me after taking you out luckily the momentum took him off track rather than back on as can sometimes be the case..

Originally Posted by karbonkid

Finished with a romantic meal for 3 (where did you go jibm?) listening to Matt telling us how l........

Is that why you felt like dosing off on the A421

Originally Posted by jibm

... albeit not enough to keep up with that cossy in a straight line, however i do have half a litre of castrol GTX on my car from trying

Don't worry mate, from what i saw him do or not as the case maybe be on the back straight chicane (vid to follow later) I'd take bigger brakes over HP any day.

Who was the other de-badged SG CSL - anyone from here?

Shim - thanks for the intrax settings as they seemed to do the trick after changing

+++++++++++++++++

All in all a great day was had, which brings me onto a completely separate point.


What's the true (fully loaded) cost of a track day?

[s.mac]

my mate (customer) had a good day there in a blue scooby, he said he spoke to a couple of CSL guys, he is a South African geezer, he says hello and the CSLs looked well I think the guy he went with had his day cut short breaking the drive by noise test ...

[glendog74]

Nice pics Matt - looks like you had a good day!

Two points:

1. Looks like it's time for a stiffer (non-OEM) suspension

2. What's with the gay track day plate?

[shane@mbtech]

Originally Posted by glendog74

Nice pics Matt - looks like you had a good day!

Two points:

1. Looks like it's time for a stiffer (non-OEM) suspension

2. What's with the gay track day plate?

1. Yes, needs coilovers

2. Its code for anal probe