[GRSmotorsport]

As some will know, both Bhozar and myself attended a track day yesterday at Castle Combe, run by a company called Track Masters. Weather was brilliant, dry and over cast,colder in the morning 19 degrees ambient, afternoon was 13 degrees ambient. A total of 40 cars took part ranging from scooby, Evo's, Westfield, 5 Series diesel BMW (which was rapid) and a very fast MGB V8. The day was very laid back, but basically 15 min session in the morning with 12 cars on track, followed by an open pit in the afternoon.

Big show came a long in the afternoon and now regrets not taking part, track time was superb plenty of space on the track. If you wanted to use an instructor they were there at no extra cost. Bhozar used one and was amazed by the instruction's he was given ie brake later... now turn in

Now knowing that there's been a lot of talk about the big 1:18 around this track both Alex and I were keen to see what we could do, best time I did was 1:30 with my passenger using a stop watch, Alex used Bigshow's box of tricks and saw a 1:31, both very close. You have to remember both of us are using the same suspension set up i.e. standard shocks with lowering spring, Alex had bigger brakes, but no rear seats, my car wasn't strip out, but had AP brakes which to be honest worked well. Both Alex and I agreed that we could probably get another couple of seconds off on the day, but knowing we're both going for better suspension set ups soon I recon we should get down to 1:25ish if the tracks clear.

Alex thought I was driving like a girl until he saw my rear tyres and realised I had been trying lol

Track Masters organise track days all over the UK plus Europe, last weekend they had a day at the Nurburgring followed by a day at Spa, so a proffessional outfit.

But the main thing from this day was we had fun, no reall problems with our cars, and drove home - can't ask better than that

[MINI-Morgan]

Great write up Graham Glad you had a good time

Hopefully see you at the MINI Action Day with some dry weather too!

Were you lifting coming past the start/finish and heading up the hill? What kinds of speed before you braked?

[MarkW]

Sounds like you had a good day, never done anything at combe other than the action days myself (BTW my best time is 1:34 in a xr3i)

Did you wave at an aero kitted DS MCS on your way out of bridport about a month/six weeks ago? if so it was me

[GRSmotorsport]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI-Morgan (original)

Great write up Graham Glad you had a good time

Hopefully see you at the MINI Action Day with some dry weather too!

Were you lifting coming past the start/finish and heading up the hill? What kinds of speed before you braked?

Hi Dave,

Yep I'll be there at the Mini Action day, with both cars

No I wasn't lifting by the start/finish, at the top of Avon rise I was doing 115-120mph (when I had time to look) then braked for Quary.

[alski]

i know its non competitive and you were the new boys in town, but how did you feel about your cars pace compared with the other cars on the circuit,

[Bhozar]

After letting a few cars come past, I often kept up with them. I had a Scoobie WRX that just wouldnt let me past on one session, which was a bit annoying. I managed to keep up with a Westie for several laps before he pulled off too.

I think the track day showed the MINI in a positivie light. It wasnt the fastest, but it wasnt the slowest. There were a lot of propper track day weapons there that day.

By the way Graham, I hit 1:30 too in my last session LuckyDave reckons its the loose nut behind the wheel that makes it go faster.

I should have got BigShow to let me out in his motor. It would have been interested to see what it was like with all the RMW stuff and coilovers.

[Lucky Dave]

Well done guys!

Last time I left Castle combe I was just glad to still have the car all together!

Its always my rear left tyre that gives up on track days!

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by GRSmotorsport (original)

Hi Dave,

Yep I'll be there at the Mini Action day, with both cars

No I wasn't lifting by the start/finish, at the top of Avon rise I was doing 115-120mph (when I had time to look) then braked for Quary.

Its scary at 120 in the wet going up there........especially as it lifts off the suspension and then hard on the brakes.

I might dig out my old video and see how far I was off the pace lol

This year im hoping to be able to drop into the 1:20s comfortably.

[Jaw_F430]

Glad to hear you two had fun, 1.30 sounds very good considering you are both on stock suspension

[GRSmotorsport]

Well done Bhozar, didn't think it would take long to get 1:30. Lucky Daves right a loose nut behind the wheel will always make a car go faster, but responsibilities at home i.e. 2 children, a wife and a mortgage to pay makes you question just how fast you should go with the current set up safely.

Lucky Dave, conditions were perfect unlike Castle Combe last September which as you know were terrible to say the least.

alski, as Bhozar said our cars did hold their own, I had plenty of fun

Jaw_F430 you have a pm

[Jaw_F430]

Quote: Originally Posted by GRSmotorsport (original)

Well done Bhozar, didn't think it would take long to get 1:30. Lucky Daves right a loose nut behind the wheel will always make a car go faster, but responsibilities at home i.e. 2 children, a wife and a mortgage to pay makes you question just how fast you should go with the current set up safely.

Lucky Dave, conditions were perfect unlike Castle Combe last September which as you know were terrible to say the least.

alski, as Bhozar said our cars did hold their own, I had plenty of fun

Jaw_F430 you have a pm

I am with GRS on this one, 1.30 drive home instead of 1.28 lift home off the wrecker

[sillycar gt4cs]

sounds like a good day out,im not jealous though....much lol
how much did it cost etc

[GRSmotorsport]

Quote: Originally Posted by sillycar gt4cs (original)

sounds like a good day out,im not jealous though....much lol
how much did it cost etc

The whole day cost me £165, good value for money when you consider the amount of track time available

[sillycar gt4cs]

Quote: Originally Posted by GRSmotorsport (original)

The whole day cost me £165, good value for money when you consider the amount of track time available

that's good,better then paying that much for 3 laps in a supercar

[Bhozar]

Quote: Originally Posted by GRSmotorsport (original)

Well done Bhozar, didn't think it would take long to get 1:30. Lucky Daves right a loose nut behind the wheel will always make a car go faster, but responsibilities at home i.e. 2 children, a wife and a mortgage to pay makes you question just how fast you should go with the current set up safely.

I think it was actually the tuition that made the real difference. I have never been so fast around that track as I did with the tutor!

Quote: Originally Posted by sillycar gt4cs (original)

that's good,better then paying that much for 3 laps in a supercar

I had to read that twice. Thought you said paying that much for 3 lap dances from a super model.

[Damo]

Mint, pity I couldn't be there but glad you had a mint time!

[tokesuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI-Morgan (original)

Great write up Graham Glad you had a good time

Hopefully see you at the MINI Action Day with some dry weather too!

When and where is the mini action day pls?

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by tokesuk (original)

When and where is the mini action day pls?

All you need to know : Castle Combe Circuit Mini World Action Day

New MINIs take it by storm every year and a stand is always good to be on.

[Ant FR]

just reading this, sounds like Bigshow has got a lot to do if Bhozar and Graham are both at 1:30. sound like were both giving it some pure grr and not backng off, so to get this 1:18 from the challenge back in January is gonna take some going i would think

[Paul Webster]

You're right there Ant, I'm still surprised that the challaange cars can go around in 1.24 Cooper and 1.18 Cooper S.

Which I presume shows that driver and handling are more important than power