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[Pidgeon]

With the well publicised dangers of Mallory, this was a day I approached with caution. Some initial fears were dispelled by the warm roomy café serving an excellent fry-up and tea in proper mugs. There were more familiar faces than I expected, several I have met at assorted Midlands runs and no jokes at Vauxhall's expense! Concern began to grow again when I asked someone, who was clearly familiar with the circuit, to point out the danger areas. I was informed a car had left the circuit on the outside at the exit of Gerrards (the sweeping right hander), hit the tyre wall, rebounded off, crossed the circuit, through the fence on the other side and ended up in the lake!!!. The formalities were well organised and we went out for sighting laps at 9.00. The participants were self organised into the usual three sessions, I joined the intermediates. First twenty minutes was taken cautiously by most, some very cautiously. A misty rain had been falling all morning and although the track was not wet, we did not expect much grip. A few gripes about slower cars holding up the traffic was resolved by some drivers moving groups and in the second session the pace was cranked up. There was much more grip that I had expected and there were only two points on the circuit where the car did not feel well settled. The first was the exit of Gerrards! There was a depression in the tarmac, just as the power was going on hard, that caused the tail to squirm unnervingly. Caution still exercised. In the third session, coming out of Gerrards, an S1 was in the tyres on the inside of the circuit. Did not look too bad and the car had gone next time around. Sadly, a couple of laps later the blacks came out as another S1 was in the tyres at the same place. I have never met the driver, a regular Seloc contributor, but was informed there was considerable body damage to the O/S of the car. A sombre early lunch was taken. The organisers had a word over lunch. Apparently cars were running wide coming out of Gerrards, touching the painted kerbing on the outside and losing control. A cone was placed on the inside and we were told if we kept tight on that cone all would be well. The afternoon sessions were dry and speed and confidence increased. It was only on the way home I realised this was the first time I had been on the track with 'benchmark' cars I knew well. The VXT was mighty impressive. Balanced and neutral throughout. I doubt there was anything there with much more power, but plenty of heavily modded cars. For a standard car, out of the box, there was nothing on that track I would rather have been driving. Many favourable comments throughout the day, I have little doubt I was the least surprised by how well the car went. Also damned impressed with Mallory, a fascinating small circuit. Sorry to finish on a negative, but I noticed the brakes were going off during my last session, with a lengthening pedal. (Same feeling at Donnington, due to gearbox oil on the NSR disc) Only when I set off home (having taken helmet off) did I hear the unpleasant sound of metal on metal, the front pads had expired. I will post on the general board, but beware Turbo owners, pad life can be as little as 9,200 miles! A very slow journey home.

[Thorney]

Great report, glad you had a few mates there.....I'd glad I managed to steal Ben's place at Bedford as I needed to test the yoko/Speedline combo and a wet track wouldn't have done it Re gearbox oil, have a look in the How to section - little beather pipe fix in there.

[Pidgeon]

Thx JT. You were lucky to be dry - you cannot have been more than 50 miles away. The g/box breather was Thursday nights job. Prolly unecessary as no oil left! Pads changed now and ready for Silverstone.