Anyone?
Palmersport Day Tuesday 13 July
Started by
ajrduff
, Jul 01 2004 01:46 PM
8 replies to this topic
#1
ajrduff
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Posted 01 July 2004 - 01:46 PM
#2
BradW
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Posted 02 July 2004 - 06:20 AM
Yup...I think thats my date too! 
#3
BradW
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Posted 06 July 2004 - 09:59 PM
BUMP...there must be another 10 out there somewhere! 
#5
BradW
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Posted 12 July 2004 - 11:07 AM
See you tomorrow 
Hope the weather stays off else they may cancel !!! 
Hope the weather stays off else they may cancel !!!
#6
ajrduff
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Posted 14 July 2004 - 09:11 AM
Awesome
Perfect weather all day.
By pure fluke, ended up being paired with BradW for the day as we rotated through the various events. We were both pretty good on the skid pan, both pretty crap on the off-road course, and pretty good at directing each other along a course while the driver was blindfolded. We even got the same score on the highway code test 
No collaborating, honest.
But the highlight, of course, was taking the VXT on the track. Three sessions in all, always in the same car with the same instructor which was sensible. We used the West circuit, slightly changed from last year, which was an advantage for me because I at least knew which way most of the corners went - I did a couple of track days there last year in my old Fiat Coupe.
I started pretty tentatively, driving the whole track in third. But by the third session I was using 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears and carrying enough speed into slower corners to unstick the tail, then using the power to catch it and balance the car. I was braking about 10 metres later at the end of the day than at the beginning, and lapping 9 seconds faster.
Having never owned anything either RWD or mid engined, I'm just not used to dealing with oversteer, either on the road or the track. After some lairy moments and a huge 100mph spin early on, I began to get the hang of it and was getting pretty confident by the end.
This is largely down to the car and instructor - the car because it is so predictable and communicative, and the instructor because he was giving me constant feedback and encouragement, and simple, easy to follow instructions.
Really fantastic day, learned a huge amount about the car and myself. Very glad I've got today off though - having left at 6am I got back at 8.30pm - knackered!
Perfect weather all day.
By pure fluke, ended up being paired with BradW for the day as we rotated through the various events. We were both pretty good on the skid pan, both pretty crap on the off-road course, and pretty good at directing each other along a course while the driver was blindfolded. We even got the same score on the highway code test No collaborating, honest.
But the highlight, of course, was taking the VXT on the track. Three sessions in all, always in the same car with the same instructor which was sensible. We used the West circuit, slightly changed from last year, which was an advantage for me because I at least knew which way most of the corners went - I did a couple of track days there last year in my old Fiat Coupe.
I started pretty tentatively, driving the whole track in third. But by the third session I was using 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears and carrying enough speed into slower corners to unstick the tail, then using the power to catch it and balance the car. I was braking about 10 metres later at the end of the day than at the beginning, and lapping 9 seconds faster.
Having never owned anything either RWD or mid engined, I'm just not used to dealing with oversteer, either on the road or the track. After some lairy moments and a huge 100mph spin early on, I began to get the hang of it and was getting pretty confident by the end.
This is largely down to the car and instructor - the car because it is so predictable and communicative, and the instructor because he was giving me constant feedback and encouragement, and simple, easy to follow instructions.
Really fantastic day, learned a huge amount about the car and myself. Very glad I've got today off though - having left at 6am I got back at 8.30pm - knackered!
#7
Pidgeon
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Posted 14 July 2004 - 11:05 AM
I remember that great day
Which instructor?
#8
BradW
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Posted 14 July 2004 - 11:10 AM
Totally agree!Really fantastic day, learned a huge amount about the car and myself.
I found myself a little short of experience and talent on the circuit though...tried too hard to take in everything that the instructor said and found myself not acting fully on any of it!
I was told before I set out that the brake pads were almost non-existant and not to worry if they failed...when they did it knocked my confidence somewhat and my laps suffered. Nevertheless I had a few good corners and got to control a few provoked slides at high speed.
Couldn't believe that some VX owners were not aware of this website
...it is a MUST for any VX owner!
#9
Gonzo
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Posted 14 July 2004 - 02:06 PM
It was a very good day. The track work certainly makes you appreciate how much the car can handle!
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