Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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Went to donnington Park racing track on sunday. Was a Track Zone, track day - special low price of £95 + £20 (for 2nd driver) and that was basically track action from 9am to 4pm, with an hour for lunch. Each session was 20 minutes long and me and my dad took it in turns (swapping) each session to drive / go passenger.
Was a Top Day Out!!!
and finally... Oops... 
Was great fun, the weather held out - bit wet at first but sun soon came out. A lot of quick cars out there, caterams, etc - but also a lot of golfs, Corsa's and nova's... Those who say 2.0 16v'd cars don't handle are very wrong 
My car was doing alright towards the later sessions, but had a couple of problems. One was the shitty tyres I was on, which stopped gripping when they got hot. Also due to the high profile the tyres were folding under cornering (so it was running on the tyre wall) and thus it started understeering.
Also my brakes got too hot, and the brake fluid got too hot which meant my brakes became really weak, requiring to brake ages before a corner!
But it was all good, just for the fun!
Got the bug now (since I went to goodwood a couple of weeks ago), April 23rd is my next track day at castle combe. Got a shopping list of what I want before then.
Ecosse Induction Kit
Pugsport Exhaust with decat (or just the decat on my exhaust if budget is tight)
Some 15" VTS wheels with low profile (good make of tyre)
and some decent brakes and pads!
It's very tempting to strip the leather out and put a cage and 2 buckets in 
Paul J
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bradfincham
Member
Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
User status: Offline
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Good pictures mate!
Theres a huge post on migweb with lots of videos, the nova and astra crew pretty much!
I hear there doing these days more often??
beats the £180 we paid for a day there!
Love donnington, craner curves take some guts to keep the power on all the way through.
Well done get the bits on the car sorted plus some good suspension and youre away
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mav
Member
Registered: 19th Jun 01
Location: Scotland
User status: Offline
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looks good m8...
Might be up for that sometime in the xe but probably chicken out
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jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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If you clean the car it will go faster to
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bradfincham
Member
Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
User status: Offline
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Dont be a tart mav, just need to see your limits and not go nera them!
Especially if you have to drive back home
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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yeh Craner Curves is fucking ace! My dad recommended Donnington to me from his racing days. I can see why, the track is great fun!
Saw a couple of cars lose it big time through there (mostly from people lifting off / braking mid corner!)
I've watched a couple of vids people posted on other forums - I'll check out the ones on mig!
the price was a special because it's classed as winter! but still its only £125 now!
Come to Castle Combe mate on 23rd! (I know its not as much fun as Donnington track wise) - but will be cool to see some familiar cars out there!
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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This is a vid of what happens when you don't commit through craner curves!
http://www.martin.veryfast.co.uk/images/donnington2003/cranerspin.mpg (bout 1.6 mb I think) Also not me...
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Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by jr
If you clean the car it will go faster to
haha 2 hr drive up there = Dirty car 
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bradfincham
Member
Registered: 20th Sep 02
Location: East Of England Drives: Clio 172
User status: Offline
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That guy was seriously lucky!!
nearly ended up on his roof in the kitty litter!!
Yeh i foudn them scary in the kit car, arse 2 inches off the floor 3rd gear foot flat to the floor pulling 8k!!
Also the the one before the dunlop bridge, amazed at how soon you have to turn into that one!
Have an ace video of my in the kit car and dad in the ultima, i done him up the inside then he comes past pulling 130+!!
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AndyW
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Registered: 28th Oct 02
Location: Greater London
User status: Offline
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looks like quality fun that mate id love to do it!
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TNM
Member
Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: Nottingham Drives: VW Tiguan
User status: Offline
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306GTi 6 front brakes if your getting 15's
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MatthewR
Member
Registered: 21st Oct 02
Location: Rickmansworth
User status: Offline
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looks quality in the pics mate, did u buy it lowerred Paul?
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Stu
Member
Registered: 3rd May 00
Location: Madchester UK Drives: 2014 BMW M135i
User status: Offline
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I think youve got a great car there for track days!!! Get it stripped and caged with the bits youve mentioned and you'll scare some serious cars on a track with that!!!
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