40 replies to this topic

[rsg]

I hired an airstrip for a hour this afternoon with a mate from work. Great fun! Found it an excellent way to 'find the limit' and see just how catchable my car is (or not). Unfortunately it absolutely pi$$ed it down and there was quite a bit of standing water, but I spose this saved my tyres from scrubbing too much! .

You get given a radio and they call you in if a plane is due to land, but apart from that the palce is yours to do what you want!

The runway was just under half mile long, with an access road about 200 metres long, at the top end of the runway to the right. You could accelerate and enter the runway at 50 - 60 mph cornering pretty aggressively. Theres grass on one side and some gravely tarmac on the other, with a turning circle at the end.
Checked tyre presssures and oil/water levels then took a few sighter runs, checking braking markers + getting things warmed up.





First we did hard braking from 60mph then 80mph. My brakes are crap though as Im currently on standard pads and havent had time to fit my 1155s. Next, built up speed putting constant steering inputs, seeing how aggressively you can turn in. Mostly got understeer due to the weather. Next tried slaloming from side to side using the width of the runway, try lots of 'what if I..' etc, trying to catch the rear end and seeing how far you can go before the inevitable happens and you spin! Happened a few times but was harmless, the ECU did throw a wobbly though going into limp home mode with no throttle and only running on 3 cylinders. Fuse 8 and a short break then the fun continued!





Only interupted once, just parked up at the end


Its great for those that either want to explore their car further in a save environment or those who was to get their eye back in before the trackday season kicks off. now have

The airfield is just outside of Brackley, not far fro Silverstone. Its called Turweston Aerodrome. If your interested in hiring it yourself take a look at their web site

For the hour we spent there it cost £35.25 BARGAIN!!!!! (Did use 3/4 of a tank of fuel over 80 miles though!)

[james141]

Sounds brilliant thats not too far from me, might have to give it a bash

[VXJON]

That looks like great fun, if only it wasn't 5 hrs away I wonder if Glasgow Airport would let me loose on the runway?

[mandarinvx]

Cool, I want a go

[XXX]

ring, ring. ring ring......"Hello, is that Gatwick Airport?" Looks great, harmless fun! How did you hear about this facility? I am wondering if there is anywhere local around me.....

[rsg]

ring, ring. ring ring......"Hello, is that Gatwick Airport?"

Looks great, harmless fun! How did you hear about this facility? I am wondering if there is anywhere local around me.....

My mate who came with me races a Porsche, he needed to do some shakedown work after rebuilding the gearbox. Just rang round loads of airfields and asked!

[amanda]

Wow that sounds/looks excellent I am also going to look into this, thanks for the pics

[RMC]

I prefer to do it on the M20. It is free. That looks like fun and a real bargain too.

[theotherjonnymac]

What a brilliant idea and a cheap way of testing the car out.

[techieboy]

Sounds brilliant thats not too far from me, might have to give it a bash

Wonder if we could get Sywell.......

[Astranomical102]

That looks like great fun, if only it wasn't 5 hrs away I wonder if Glasgow Airport would let me loose on the runway?

Jon, there is a little airport near me at Glenrothes! I think a phone call may be in order

[djegiant]

That looks like great fun, if only it wasn't 5 hrs away I wonder if Glasgow Airport would let me loose on the runway?

5hrs!!!

That's a bit of an ask don't you think. Lol.

My fastest time to Glasgow was 3hrs to do the 300 miles from north Wales but that was late at night holding the the works Octavia flat out all the way, you'd really have to go some to do Silverstone in 5 mate. More like 7-8????????

You know, in the year I spent in Glasgow, never once did I see a VX.

[jaysagood]

Sounds brilliant thats not too far from me, might have to give it a bash

Im not far away from there either, would be very interested in this!

do you want to sort out a date to do it ??

[james141]

Sounds brilliant thats not too far from me, might have to give it a bash

Im not far away from there either, would be very interested in this!

do you want to sort out a date to do it ??

Yeah can do, I will have to check the state of my finances after coming back from holiday

[jaysagood]

Sounds brilliant thats not too far from me, might have to give it a bash

Im not far away from there either, would be very interested in this!

do you want to sort out a date to do it ??

Yeah can do, I will have to check the state of my finances after coming back from holiday

sound, im really keen to do this! the more the better surely aswell (cheaper!)

[RMC]

Just tried Gatwick. They were having none of it

[Simply the Best]

Looks like you had brilliant fun, learned a lot and spent not a lot! A small price to pay as you've probably learned what to do if things get nasty on the roads. Lots of room for spin offs too so nothing untoward would happen to your car.

[rsg]

Looks like you had brilliant fun, learned a lot and spent not a lot!

A small price to pay as you've probably learned what to do if things get nasty on the roads. Lots of room for spin offs too so nothing untoward would happen to your car.

Exactly. First time we span was at about 60mph. On the road it would have been new pants time, but there it was just manic laughter!

[robfenn]

Sounds great, bargain as you say.

[Stevoraith]

Nice one mate, lloks like great fun- wish I had done something like that in it. ps It was never that dirty when I owned it