I went out straight after to try the same lines, and promptly disappeared into the scenery half way round the first lap. I tried taking a double left hander flat in third, but forgot that i) third gear is higher than the NA and ii) I was carrying more speed from the previous bend. How many circuits can you go 50 yards off line onto the grass, bounce through a field, keep your foot planted and rejoin the track 2 bends later? The Exige that was following didn't get by, so I couldn't have lost too much time 
Mags' supercharged car goes very, very well. Nailing my car down the straight up to 130mph, and I pulled less than a car length on him. Standard turbos wouldn't stand a chance! I can see him having great fun baiting Elises and Exiges on track days. But... but... but it's only and NA???
The straight was long enough to get a good comparison with some lovely cars (not Hockenheim Parabolica long, but up to 130mph at the braking point). The GT3s dropped me by a car length only, a 993 Carrera2 (must have been modified, it pulled better than a GT3!) mananged to keep in front on the first part of the straight, but I nailed it through the chicane and cruised past on the next short straight 
A big, heavy Maserati 4200GT(?) showed me a clean pair of heels down the straight, but it was like a barge around the corners. In the last session I caught up with a 911 Turbo on bank corner (the one before the main straight). I was really looking forward to him planting it down the straight and seeing if I could keep up, but he pulled to the right and indicated to let me through 
The Top Cat race team were there with a race prepared Tuscan and 993. There was nothing in it between mine and either of those down the straight. Their slicks and race suspension helped on the faster bends, but the difference wasn't dramatic.
One of Mags friends in a 993 sprung an oil leak on the last straight. First I knew about it was when I braked, the pedal went long, my car wasn't slowing down the way it did the previous lap, and it veered sharp left (the offide tyres were on oil, the nearside on dry tarmac). I managed to back off the pedal and tip toe around the outside of the bend, but the ABS helped keep it straight for the first second or so, while I reacted to what was happening... very slowly 
Foxy was in the car, and didn't see the oil... must have thought my driving was awful
My car wasn't behaving very well in the morning. Missing and hesitating under full power on the main straight, and eventually losing power completely for a second. I backed off for a lap and it was fine again, so it looks like another AMM has gone. Exactly the same as happened at Knockhill last month. Dry track, standard induction system, so no idea what is going on!! It didn't spoil the day though, and it ran fine in the afternoon sessions, even up against the VXS 
All in all, a great day. And good fun linking up the corners from the 3 short circuits I've already done at Bedford. But since some were taken in the opposite direction, that was probably more a hindrance than help.
PS And the credit card co. had blocked my card when I tried to fill up in Lancashire on the way home. 5 tanks of fuel in 15 hours!!! Must have thought it was stolen and someone was having a rare old time. At least their fraud prevention systems are active though.
Edited by garyk220, 18 July 2004 - 08:31 AM.
It wasn't 'til the next lap that I realised there was oil on the track - it was like a river of the stuff! I've gotta learn that heel'n'toe stuff, but you make it look so easy 
When I hit the oil that was conveniently dumped at the initial braking point off the second longest straight I honestly thought I had ripped the tyre off the rim with the violent lunge to the left and no braking ability. I did the same tippy toes round the outside with handfuls of opposite lock and of course managed to honk a couple of times - the funny thing is that the red Tamora was spun in the middle of the track and judging from some of his hand gestures I guess he thought I was honking at him 
