13 replies to this topic

[Rob E]

Definitely Captain Slow, improved steadily I think as my confidence grew, but I couldn't find the torque that I know should be there if I was getting the gear shifts correct (oh, and 7000 rpm in 2nd wasn't a proud moment). I also need to get it into my thick head that just because you can't see over the hill, doesn't mean someone has moved the first corner closer. Really surprised by how the VX handled on track. On the road it feels grippy and precise. On track there was far more understeer than I was ready for and I was drifting sideways (under control of course ) far more than I expected. Rained heavily mid-session and I stayed off until I thought it was drying out. Even then it was very slippy but I guess I can blame that on the Bridgies. Gobsmacked by how the grip changed as the track dried but it was good discipline to know I had to stay on the dry line. A couple of hairy moments that I'll blame on the wet but car, son and Dad home in one piece.

[Leon_1984]

was it your first track day ever? or just in the vx? As I would imagine (just guessing) the VX would take a couple of track days to really get to grips with.... thing with FWD is you can push the limits of FWD on the road, understeer - lift off - have a word with yourself - try again But RWD, untill you have done track days and know how the car behaves past the limit on the road you tend to work within the cars grip levels. Not advisable to learn what degree of angle you can hold it before it spins you round on the road after all I have only tracked FWD cars and an MX5.....

[Rob E]

Done a few sessions in the VX on a little sprint circuit near us and a couple of Christmas present four lap airfield things in a Lambo and an Atom (with a lot of guidance, particularly in the Atom) but this was my first time on my own on a big track with a lot of ups and downs - the first couple of turns at Knockhill are downhill, so you, kind of, naturally drift to the outside which I might be mistakenly calling understeer.

[Leon_1984]

never driven knockhill, was it good? I want to try and do as many of the british super bike tracks as possible as I watch it a lot lol. When I tracked a friends MX5, it understeered quite a lot at first untill I started trailing the brakes into the corner. Not loads, just enough to get the front turning in and then due to lowish power you could literally get on the gas straight away!!! it was immense fun. More fun than my FWD golf thats for sure.

[Rob E]

Don't have much to compare it with but even having been there as a spectator I was surprised by how steep it is. The start-finish straight is up hill after a hair-pin, I was dropping into second out of the turn and trying to shift at about 5000 rpm but struggling to make 90 mph in 4th by the top of the hill. My VX is a completely unmodded NA so that gives some idea of how steep it is. My son, when he was on the pit-lane wall reckoned I wasn't visibly slower than many others, though he may have been flattering me to get me back out.

[Leon_1984]

the thought of a steep circuit, no doubt with negative cambers all over it in a VX scares me a little!!! My GF is getting me some tuition for my xmas present - most seasoned track goers say it is better than any mod you can do to your car. Might be worth considering to get the most out of it?

[Rob E]

I agree completely, when I was in (or should that be "on"?) the Atom, the instructor was brilliant and I was able to go much faster with him telling when I had the line right and could safely accelerate or when I had cocked it up and was heading for the grass if I didn't back into shape. Some lessons would be great if I can find some time, but I have a 15-year-old son who thinks the teen-driving classes at Knockhill are a much better investment. He's probably right too, a few stones lighter helps of course, but he slaughtered me on the kart track.

[fiveoclock]

My GF is getting me some tuition for my xmas present - most seasoned track goers say it is better than any mod you can do to your car.

Might be worth considering to get the most out of it?

Tuition is certainly the key, money well spent.

[LazyDonkey]

Hot Marques or SIDC ?

[VXJON]

Hey Rob, I was up at the sidc day and didn't see any vx's so I'm assuming it was the second session. Don't worry about being slow in your first time out, KH is quite a techical circuit and it will take more than one session to get to grips with it. Iirc 100ish under the bridge was about right in my n/a, Lazy will have a better idea

[Rob E]

Gents, Yes, I'd paid for the afternoon session before realising that SIDC might be better named LEDC or SEDC! Mass kindly stuck around, sat beside me for a few laps and gave me a few tips. I was terrified to start with but managed to get in a few laps when there wasn't much traffic which gave me a bit of confidence. Just never had the VX going sideways so much before but by the end I was quite enjoying going straight through the chicane and then sliding across to the outside. I was surprised how slow I was coming up the hill to the start line, but I guess it must be steeper than it looks.

[G-Bob]

Iirc 100ish under the bridge was about right in my n/a, Lazy will have a better idea

When I was up there with Wivvy a couple of weeks ago he was hitting just short of 100mph on the straight with me in the pax seat.
Probably would have made the ton if he was on his own.

That first corner at KH takes a lot of balls when you first go out on track.

[LazyDonkey]

Gents,

Yes, I'd paid for the afternoon session before realising that SIDC might be better named LEDC or SEDC! Mass kindly stuck around, sat beside me for a few laps and gave me a few tips. I was terrified to start with but managed to get in a few laps when there wasn't much traffic which gave me a bit of confidence. Just never had the VX going sideways so much before but by the end I was quite enjoying going straight through the chicane and then sliding across to the outside. I was surprised how slow I was coming up the hill to the start line, but I guess it must be steeper than it looks.

TBH you probably made the right choice - SIDC days are FAST and can be quite intimidating when you aren't immediately on the pace in the first lap. Ie me

No idea what speed i hit on the main straight as i'm usually too scared to look - i do managed to change into 4th though so i'm guessing its just over a tonne.

WRT gradiant I've been round KH as loads and never considered how steep it was until jon and i did that photoshoot for total vauxhall.

This pic gives you an idea of the gradiant at the hairpin




Rob - if you want to do more trackdays @ KH i'd defintately recommend the advanced driver course - for £110 you dont necessarily learn loads about how to drive your car (unlike a car limits day) but it does teach you to be quick round KH. I'm assuming from jon's silence last time i took him round he was stunned by my ability rather than scared speechless

Edited by LazyDonkey, 21 September 2009 - 11:39 AM.

[Rob E]

Cheers Martin, I think I was tending to shift to 4th too soon and thereby lose a lot of momentum up the hill. Previously, all my track driving was on a flat airfield, and I found the slopes at KH make the lines much more difficult to see. First couple of times through turn one, I was miles off-line amongst tyre debris and allsorts. Yes, I had already decided that some professional instruction would be a good investment. Whether that should be for me or Cammy is a different matter. He did the teendrive thing at KH earlier this summer and won karting vouchers for best driver of the day. We went up to spend the vouchers 3 or 4 weekends ago and he was setting some pretty impressive lap times in torrential rain. From memory he had 3 of the fastest 5 laps on the day in by far the worst of the weather. He's now negotiating to take his sister's Ibiza round Kames!

Edited by Rob E, 21 September 2009 - 12:25 PM.