127 replies to this topic

[the gits]

So here it is... Come down to Plans, have an half and hour briefing, introduction to the track, one hours tuition and six timed laps of the circuit. This is the same format as the "star in the reasonable priced car". We post your user name (or other pseudonym if you're bashful), the spec of your car, and your best time from the six laps. The whole session is usually £199 but we will discount for vx220.org to £179 inc VAT. Should make interesting reading about which cars are faster than others.... Stig times are Exige S 1.25.1 Exige S2 1.26.4 (w) Vauxhall VX 220 turbo 1.31.3 Honda NSX Type R 1.31.6 Elise S2 1.35.6 For the immediate future, we cannot do weekends due to planning restrictions. Best days are Monday, Tuesday or Friday. Sessions are either 08:30-10:30 or `15:30-17:30 So, who will be the first vx'er to post a time? In the small print we should say of course that this is nothing to do with the BBC or Top Gear.

[Thorney]

In the small print we should say of course that this is nothing to do with the BBC or Top Gear.

GLOL

[the gits]

here we go: Member Name___________Car / Specification________________Time Richyroff________________VX220 NA Completely Standard_____1:39:4

Edited by the gits, 28 July 2006 - 02:13 PM.

[snoopstah]

Sounds fun! If we don't like our times can we refuse to divulge our name? Cue lots of people paying in cash...

[Mick43]

What a great idea.... I'm up for this.... can you do Friday 11th August PM session ? I also suggest your guy drives the owners car and posts his time to give a benchmark and true reflection of what mods give the best times... eg. BHP, tyres, suspension etc... It looks to be a bhp circuit... but we will see

[johnaachen]

I think I will be up for this at the end of August* *=unless I am too skint

[robbo]

what about a " group buy " type thingy ?

[CocoPops]

what about a " group buy " type thingy ?

My thoughts entirely.

[Anarchy]

I thought there were issues with timing on tracks etc, or does it not really matter or bother anyone? Im ready LOL

[the gits]

"I thought there were issues with timing on tracks etc, or does it not really matter or bother anyone?" Only on track days on racing circuits. This is a private track and you are the only car on the track "what about a group buy" You have one - normally 199, 179 for vx220.org

[mandarinvx]

I take it this done in our own cars If so, what issues are there with insurance, will I have to pay for a days track insurance, and if so who do you recommend? PS The Mintex are great, cheers

[snoopstah]

I take it this done in our own cars

If so, what issues are there with insurance, will I have to pay for a days track insurance, and if so who do you recommend?

I doubt even track day insurance would cover you for the timed laps (if they found out you were being timed, anyway).

However, the good thing about the Top Gear/Plans track is that there really isn't that much to hit - the worst you could really do would be to pile it into a tyre wall, but unless you do a Koenigsegg then the repair cost would probably still be less than the track day insurance excess.

Obviously you need to keep your head and not go stupid, but of all the tracks to do timed laps on, the Dunsfold one is probably one of the safest in the country. Look at the star in the reasonably priced car feature - more damage has been done by wheels falling off or gearboxes being knackered than by the drivers running into anything.

It would be interesting if we could do the six timed laps in one of Plans' own race-prepped cars - that way the driver would be the sole cause for a good or bad lap time (well, and the weather).

Edited by snoopstah, 29 July 2006 - 02:04 PM.

[mandarinvx]

Cheers for that

It would be interesting if we could do the six timed laps in one of Plans' own race-prepped cars - that way the driver would be the sole cause for a good or bad lap time (well, and the weather).

If it's going to be a kind of Top Gear wall of fame then the only way is to do it in the same car.

In fairness, I would expect to be at the bottom of the board, I have a totally standard NA, other than Mintex. It would also be my very first track experience (hence the worry of insurance).
TBH I'm more interested in the tuition side of it, and understanding the abilities of the car during cornering etc... , If anything I may be better with two hours of tuition and forgetting the timed lap side altogether Would this still be the same price?

[snoopstah]

I'm guessing it would be more money - if you look at the Plans website:

http://www.plansmoto...rt.com/training

It says:

More info. Our training sessions are preceded by a theory session, then usually one hour on track, followed by a debrief and review. Using these intensive sessions you will improve rapidly.

Costs. We charge £199 inclusive of VAT for each session. This usually means spending two hours with us. Sessions may be arranged at any time, depending on track availability.

So by the look of it this is their normal training package, they're just adding on six timed laps at the end for free as a sweetener to get people along (and 20 quid vx220.org discount).

[the gits]

"If it's going to be a kind of Top Gear wall of fame then the only way is to do it in the same car." This is a bit of fun ... to see if someone in their own standard NA can be as quick as someone else in a stage 28 turbo nutter VXRRRR....or to see how much the driver makes a diffference vs the car... or how much ride and handling improvements effect the time vs power improvements, etc etc. There's loads of talk about what car is faster than what, loads of "rolling road shoot outs" (which are very popular, funny that), but very few of this type of challenge. And yes, you can do the training without the timed laps, or with the timed laps but we'll keep the times to ourselves, or whatever you like... this is our speciality - to tailor training sessions for th eindividual, not just doing the same course over and over again regartdless if you are a beginner or Micheal Schumacher

[mandarinvx]

Cool, can you pencil me in for a Friday PM in late August or September then!!!

[johnaachen]

For £50 I don't mind being the "Stig" for anyone who wants a fast lap

[SteveM]

I might have a bash at this, towards the end of August am stint probably, depending when I can get a bit of time off Is 1:39.4 the only benchmark for n/a s at the moment?

[kipper]

"I thought there were issues with timing on tracks etc, or does it not really matter or bother anyone?"

Only on track days on racing circuits. This is a private track and you are the only car on the track

"what about a group buy"

You have one - normally 199, 179 for vx220.org

Is this an ongoing open offer, or is it for a limited period ?

I would be interested some time in late September/early October.

[VIX]

Looks good, will be in touch for last week in Aug or first week of September.