[roland2003]

Hi Guys just wondering who on M2 is planning on going on the track at Castle Combe a week saturday? Track passes are now available in 15minute sessions from 9am to 5pm (12.30- 1.30 lunch). I will try and put up the RAC Circuit Guide which shows the corners , racing lines ,braking points etc.
We can discuss this on this thread too. -You could write a book on attacking Avon Rise alone!
Best Regards Roland GTT

[GRSmotorsport]

I'm booked on the track, steady pace for me I'm afraid - done Castle Combe many times. We're taking the classic too, which will get a good hammering

Should be a good day

[2 much]

i will be coming down roland . i will try and get a passenger ride .to have a good look at the track for next year

[Damo]

Quote: Originally Posted by GRSmotorsport (original)

I'm booked on the track, steady place for me I'm afraid - done Castle Combe many times. We're taking the classic too, which will get a good hammering

Should be a good day

I'm coming too as his Passenger...

...although his wife says shes faster in the classic

[cooper_sport]

I'm all booked for three session on the track. Going out at 10am, 12pm and 4.15pm.

Went to this last year and was great fun. We have a few members from SCNM going out on track and all 6 of us at midday.

Roland, will most likly need some new brake pads after this track day. The ones you fitted early last year have done a good job got me about 25,000 miles inc track days at RAF Marham, Castle Combe, Brands hatch and Abingdon.

[roland2003]

Nice one guys. Watch those pads on the track you can half wear a set in one session
We can bring a spare set along if need be.
Best Regards Roland GTT

[Cooooooperslad]

I may turn up and watch.. or might even persuade Bhozar to take me! :P

[@Mini@]

Im going, my boot will be loaded with mums homemade chocolate cake and some random items from bhozar lol! see my boys have fun, How silly is cooper_sport letting me ride with him hehehe.

[cooper_sport]

Quote: Originally Posted by roland2003 (original)

Nice one guys. Watch those pads on the track you can half wear a set in one session
We can bring a spare set along if need be.
Best Regards Roland GTT

Think I must be easy going on the brakes. Did two sessions at Combe last year andI'm still using the same set of pads.
I might pop on over and see you later this week and pick up some pads just incase.
Hopefully I will have my post from Castle Combe and be able to give you your free admission ticket for being on the club stand.

[Loui]

If i hadent got to work id be tempted tbh

[Bhozar]

Wouldnt miss it for the world! I have booked up 3 seasons with the SCNM boys and I am on their stand. I wont need new pads (I hope) as these have only just done 3k miles so far at the most.

[rec]

While Castle Combe is a great track, it loses it's flavour pretty quickly. It's cool the first couple of times around, but then it becomes a little stale as you kinda memorise the track after 1 or 2 laps.

Avon Rise isn't as hard as people make it out to be, but if you do stuff it up you're going to have great fun with Quarry !

[MarkW]

5 + years of going back to combe says different to me Any track gets familiar after a while but imho every time out and every lap is different (unless your the GOD of all drivers!)

Agreed Avon isn't as hard and most people say but get it wrong and you WILL see the tyre wall at Quarry as plenty of people have found out.

Not been to Combe for the MINI day before as they won't let non mini's on the track but now I have one I may pop up and say hello.

BTW I''ll post a link later to the Combe Guide I wrote for the XR Owners Club earlier this year

[roland2003]

Avon Rise isnt 'hard' ,its technical in that there are different ways of taking it .It doesnt even stop with line A or B in the guide. My line involves braking up the rise with the car a good 5ft to the left of the theoretical line on the far right. I take the rise still in fith gear. I find this line allows later braking ,less bumpy and I can turn in later,trail braking all the way to the top of the hill. As long as I get the apex at the top, I can still almost achieve line A (Im slightly right of it) settle the car ,brake hard with slight release of the last bit of left lock youve got at the same time......5th straight to 3rd (or 4th or the lower gearing tyres) ,and get the optimum entry to quarry. ( I Apex a fair bit earlier than the cone hold the kerb and start letting lock off 5 feet before before the 'safe late apex positioned cone'...) ...Use all the track on exit . Tip the car in at WOT just right of the entry to Esses.....dont use the line in the book which suggests braking down the left....then trail brake it all the way to the apex. I tend to trail brake all the way to every apex here personally.
If its getting boring ...then drive faster

[Richard Crofts]

Not me but might try to get along at the last minute but family commitments and stuff are making it unlikely.

[MarkW]

Quote: Originally Posted by roland2003 (original)

Avon Rise isnt 'hard' ,its technical in that there are different ways of taking it .

If its getting boring ...then drive faster

Precisely Roland ,

I don't see any track getting boring as each lap you push a bit harder to find your and the cars limits, then you tweek your lines and braking points and try again.

imho Combe is a fantastic track, it's not a track where big power cars dominate, smaller well set up or well driven cars can keep up with the big boys. Watched a classic battle a couple of years ago between a Lotus Carlton and Cosworth RS500 both big power brutes, what was impressive was the mk1 Golf keeping up with them

[roland2003]

Probably Maurice or Trevor Reeves.... 450bhp 1.8T engine about 800 kilos. 1minute 18secs consistently & a good driver s too.

[rec]

unfortunately, Combe is now where people go to be an ass on track. i've seen quite a considerable increase in the amount of people purposefully drifting around Quarry and overtaking on corners.

the marshalls, however, just ignore it. it's a shame really.

[roland2003]

I think its pretty well marshalled. They actually say in the drivers briefing no drifting.
A Mini action day does however not give them quite the control over poor drivers as a normal track day as some drivers book just one session..drive poorly then aren't planning on going out again, so a ticking off does nothing. It is possible to go over Avon Rise at very high speed only to find a much slower driver appear the other side of the hill doing half the speed...the faster driver is commited and often a better action than braking and crashing (the car is in a fine degree of balance at this point) is to overtake in the braking zone. Thats why they will let that one go sometimes.
ps I thought all the idiots went to Brands Hatch (short track)

[MarkW]

Drifting was a problem a couple of years ago, they've clamped down since I think the issue really came to a head when I guy drifting his escort cossie stacked it and closed the track for over an hour, lots of peed off paying customers, At eurofest this month they had 1 drift session any other drifting and you were yellow carded

I actually saw the marshalls issue a life ban to a guy after he thumped another driver!!

Roland, the golf was a deep metallic blue if thats the driver your talking about, cracking and very fast. The other Combe regular is the V8 MG that flies all day with no problems.

Link to the guide to combe I mentioned above, all based on my experience from a novice 6 or so years ago to now
XROC Bulletin Board :: View topic - Castle Combe Track Day Guide