Some friends and I went down to Oulton park yesterday for a rather damp and soggy track day, early start, crap weather and some annoying traffic on a wednesday morning but other than that it was a cracking day! Car did very well in the wet, although Im remembering my earlier comments about my Michelin Pilots being good in the wet, I'm not so sure now! Plenty of sideways action!

 

Dare I say it, I prefer the wet to the dry? Its far more interesting and fun to try and get the very best out of the car round a soaking track! I was dreading it but I learnt so much about the car, how it handled and coped with the ever changing track surface, slithering through most corners was fantastic! I find its far less hard on the car as well!

 

I decided to buy the pictures from the track day photographer, at vast expense but no chance of any pictures if i didnt so needs must!. These are some of my favourite pictures from the day, a very soggy M3 and an even soggier Oulton Park!

 

 

 

 

 

Always fun in the wet! Last time I was there, it started raining at lunch and, feeling confident from a good morning session, I lost it coming out of cascades, touched the kerb on the outside and spun right across the track, through the gravel and into the tyres... not a good day!

 

Was there a white M535 there? A friend of mine was trying to get me to go, but work got in the way...!

Ah... An e28 535i? I did see it and wondered what was on it! Seemed a wick thing I have to say. I love Oulton park, fantastic circuit... I didnt crash though ;) hehe

 

Do you track you zed then? Where abouts near kendal are you?

Lookin awesome Chris!!!! :D

 

My sisters are buying me a session there for crimbo, thought i'd get some practice in before going to the Nurburgring in the summer, especially seen as i have never been on a track in my life LOL.

 

Really looking forward to it :dance:

Cheers, i must admit I like the pictures in the rain, looks like a BMW press shot... honest! (Apart from the undertray hanging off! :( )

 

What day are you going on mate? Might see if im around for some spectating ;) I can highly recommend it!

 

BUT I will stress to you (as the marshalls don't always mention it! Be so so careful around Druids (basically after the first bridge when you've gone up the hill) as its under the trees and even on a dry warm day it gets greasy and slippery.

 

Yesterday it was making everything oversteer if they were enthusiastic! I found that even the slightest touch of the throttle was me battling with it. I could feel the texture of the road was like glass through my arse and the steering wheel, such a strange sensation!

Cheers, i must admit I like the pictures in the rain, looks like a BMW press shot... honest! (Apart from the undertray hanging off! :( )

 

What day are you going on mate? Might see if im around for some spectating ;) I can highly recommend it!

 

BUT I will stress to you (as the marshalls don't always mention it! Be so so careful around Druids (basically after the first bridge when you've gone up the hill) as its under the trees and even on a dry warm day it gets greasy and slippery.

 

Yesterday it was making everything oversteer if they were enthusiastic! I found that even the slightest touch of the throttle was me battling with it. I could feel the texture of the road was like glass through my arse and the steering wheel, such a strange sensation!

 

You usually have to shop at ann summers for that kinda thing :rofl:

 

I don't know when just yet as they have yet to book it. I will find out and let you know tho, as it would be good if you were around. Even if you are only a spectator do you think you could get a couple of snap shots for me? :D Really want piccies of it on the go :hyper:

 

Is it all day or what mate? Never done it before - everything is new to me :o

Well the last one I did before yesterday was a novice session which was very good actually (although often lots of poor drivers out there...) but they were happy to guide and had instructors on hand to sit in with you etc.

 

That was a sessioned day, so there were 3 groups of cars that each have a 20 minute session each hour, so Groups A, B and C, A goes out on the hour, B goes out at 20 past and C goes out and 20 to. The idea there is taht you get 7x 20 minute sessions of track time, not too hard on your own physique (believe me its tiring!) and the car. But the problem is with that if someone stuffs it on a bend after 5 minutes, then you'll probably loose the rest of the entire session.

 

Yesterdays was "Open pit" where by there is no segregation, you just go out as and when (but there is a max limit of cars on the track (24 i think) so they hold you in a que until someone goes off. Normally though you can go out for as long as you want and then come back in again. I did a 35-40 minute session yesterday (was almost dead after it but there we go) but often as people crash they have to get everyone off while they recover the "spinner" and that wastes a bit of time but at least you can get out again!

 

Its an hour and a half run down for me, but if its a weekend its not that far from my gf's and its a nice run out as long as its not arseing it down like yesterday!

Well the last one I did before yesterday was a novice session which was very good actually (although often lots of poor drivers out there...) but they were happy to guide and had instructors on hand to sit in with you etc.

 

That was a sessioned day, so there were 3 groups of cars that each have a 20 minute session each hour, so Groups A, B and C, A goes out on the hour, B goes out at 20 past and C goes out and 20 to. The idea there is taht you get 7x 20 minute sessions of track time, not too hard on your own physique (believe me its tiring!) and the car. But the problem is with that if someone stuffs it on a bend after 5 minutes, then you'll probably loose the rest of the entire session.

 

Yesterdays was "Open pit" where by there is no segregation, you just go out as and when (but there is a max limit of cars on the track (24 i think) so they hold you in a que until someone goes off. Normally though you can go out for as long as you want and then come back in again. I did a 35-40 minute session yesterday (was almost dead after it but there we go) but often as people crash they have to get everyone off while they recover the "spinner" and that wastes a bit of time but at least you can get out again!

 

Its an hour and a half run down for me, but if its a weekend its not that far from my gf's and its a nice run out as long as its not arseing it down like yesterday!

 

Well i have actually asked them to get me an open pit day after speaking to you as it seems the best way to go. The only thing that worries me slightly is like i say i have NEVER done it before and i'd prefer to be on with people like myself rather than hardcore race nuts lol.

 

Does the track have a photographer at all? Or is it a case of you have to have someone taking the pics for you etc.....?

 

Dunno what day it would be but will of course let you know once its booked and what not.

There is normally a guy or two there taking photos, but they charge you quite alot for them. I paid £30 for the 37 images i got, they don't like combining cars onto a disk which is a bit unfair, it wouldnt be so bad if it was £10 or £15 but at that price is daylight robbery!

 

Open pit is good, if you are a novice you can get a black cross on a yellow background sticker to put on the car to let people know that your new to it, end of the day as long as you let the quicker stuff pass you when you can you'll not upset anyone!

 

Just dont be too suprised when a mk1 fiesta comes bowling along and nails past you, or like i was yesterday when a H reg rover 200 was up my chuff... One of the few cars that overtook me yesterday and im still reeling from it!

There is normally a guy or two there taking photos, but they charge you quite alot for them. I paid £30 for the 37 images i got, they don't like combining cars onto a disk which is a bit unfair, it wouldnt be so bad if it was £10 or £15 but at that price is daylight robbery!

 

Open pit is good, if you are a novice you can get a black cross on a yellow background sticker to put on the car to let people know that your new to it, end of the day as long as you let the quicker stuff pass you when you can you'll not upset anyone!

 

Just dont be too suprised when a mk1 fiesta comes bowling along and nails past you, or like i was yesterday when a H reg rover 200 was up my chuff... One of the few cars that overtook me yesterday and im still reeling from it!

 

LMAO I'll bet that hurt your ego :p

 

Well sorted then, i'll just get the cross stuck on. I ain't gonna drive like a twat i hope but at the end of the day i aint done it before so i am going to take it real easy and get into the swing of things :)

 

Well its outrageous money but i suppose atleast you get some super duper pics and what not. Will probably get that if no one can do pics for me :D

Ah... An e28 535i? I did see it and wondered what was on it! Seemed a wick thing I have to say. I love Oulton park, fantastic circuit... I didnt crash though ;) hehe

 

Do you track you zed then? Where abouts near kendal are you?

 

That's the one - he's just had it resprayed - used to be tatty blue, with a 518 badge on it! It's had a lot of work done to it, and is a monster to drive - bit tail happy though!

 

I'm in Oxenholme, and work in Chester... will be back on track days when I finally get the car finished - engine and gearbox to go back in, then mapping... just finding no time at the minute!