My wife has got me an open pit lane track day at Bedford aerodrome on 7th April. Never done a track day before and really excited! Will have to spend some time making sure the Z is ready for this and that it complies with the noise regs of 87.5db.

 

Anyone been to this circuit and any hints and tips for prepping the Z?

 

Anyone else fancy coming along?

 

Merry crimbo!

Super pressie. You lucky man.

nice!!! brakes and tyres are the main thing they take a hammering on the track

My wife has got me an open pit lane track day at Bedford aerodrome on 7th April. Never done a track day before and really excited! Will have to spend some time making sure the Z is ready for this and that it complies with the noise regs of 87.5db.

 

Anyone been to this circuit and any hints and tips for prepping the Z?

 

Anyone else fancy coming along?

 

Merry crimbo!

 

here is a link to aerial veiw of bedford airdrome if u scroll in u can see car circuit

 

http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/Bedford.html

Looks awesome! Plenty of run off area!

 

Will be getting some instruction as new to this and want to enjoy it and learn at the same time.

Ive done bedford.

Your right about the run off, bar the straight. I outbraked myself at 125mph at the end of the straight, back end stepped out so i was facing the wall at over 100mph! Slightly hairy moment..

Take care and build your speed throught the day, dont go mad first thing. Its important to have fun, and crashing wont be!

Enjoy it mate, i may come too if a few others fancy it?

Would be great to see a few Z's there! Building up throughout the day sounds like a good plan especially as we have all day there.

This is the Palmer Racing Centre isn't it ? Been there a couple of times if it is. The instructors are brilliant.

 

If I can make it, I will come down to support.

Yip it is the Palmer centre. Both me and the missus will need instruction so good to hear they are good!

My wife has got me an open pit lane track day at Bedford aerodrome on 7th April. Never done a track day before and really excited! Will have to spend some time making sure the Z is ready for this and that it complies with the noise regs of 87.5db.

 

Anyone been to this circuit and any hints and tips for prepping the Z?

 

Anyone else fancy coming along?

 

Merry crimbo!

 

Brilliant present, well done to the Mrs!

 

87.5db seems quite strict. If you have an aftermarket exhaust you should try to go down there beforehand and get them to sound test your car as if it's to loud on the day you will have to buy/hire some baffles that go in the end of your exhaust to dull the sound. You just need to make sure there is something suitable for the size of your exhaust. Ask them what they suggest.

Planning on getting it tested up here in the new year and due to motorway cruising droning noise I was going to see about fitting a couple of resonators. At present it is 2.5" straight through with 3.5" tailpipes. Not overly loud but can be annoying at 70mph!

Are you sure its a 87.5 limit? Im sure my standard M3 was more than that, no chance of passing that with a bigger exhaust.

Who the booking with?

those mongoose systems are quite quiet for an aftermarket though arnt they? have fun. i want to do a few of these myself eventually.

LOL forgot that was on my sig! That was on my old zed about 6 years ago! Really need to get round to changing that. I need to check the sound limit as the booking says 87.5 but on the website it has 100. Will give them a call to find out.

101db. That sounds more like it. 87.5 might be from a certain distance sort of thing.

Just noticed your join date. Over 10 years!! How many zeds have you had?

I think you can get an app for your phone to measure the decibel level.

 

When I did my trackday in October at Oulton Park it was a 95db limit, I consider mine as noisy as most Z's and I was under, don't know by how much but the guy testing was not concerned. He was soon moving on to the skyline who was next and he was well over - needed a silencer he brought with him!!

 

Suspect you will be under the 87db limit, try that app bud.

 

On the day itself, pay the extra for the one to one tuition, been said I know but build up your speed as the day goes on.

 

Your brakes and everything else will be put under stress, give your car time to recover between sessions, lifting the hood, etc.

 

Finally, I do hope you get a dry day that is not too warm, enjoy :cool3:

Only had 2 zeds! I broke my blue one to use all the good parts for building my strosek black one. Been a never ending project!

 

The 1 to 1 tuition is what we will get as it will be me and the wife driving! Will leave plenty of time between sessions to cool down etc. Is there a petrol station on site at all?

 

Now wishing I had kept my AP racing brakes but unfortunately they did not fit under my wheels so only got the Brembos from a skyline on there now. Wonder if my wife would mind me buying new brakes and wheels!!!:lol:

The 87.5 db is drive-by but the static is 101 db and that's the one which most circuits are judged on and which is plenty usually. Mine is 103 db static and it's loud :) Bedford certainly is one of the safest as it's got lot's of run off. I don't particularly agree with the start slowly and build up. Start fast and get faster is better advice! You've never done track before so what you perceive to be fast on the road is pretty slow on the track. The tarmac tends to give better grip than the road, there's less risk of oil or other slippery fluids, and you're all going in the same direction. The beauty of occasional track days is that they will give you a better idea of what your car is really capable of so it's worth pushing just a little bit harder to find those limits. That knowledge may well stand you in good stead one day in the future.

 

Lower tyre pressures are essential but you be better off asking advice on the day as it will probably be cold. Long right hand bends are killers of our engine on track so be cautious there. Otherwise just go out and have fun :)

 

Good luck and enjoy!

As long as you have a relatively full tank or 2/3rds, shouldn't expect you will need anymore, no matter how hard you are.

It will be more of a case of 10 laps and then rest :cool3:

Most circuits do have fuel but you can always drive out for some and then back in again.

There is a petrol station a couple of mile or so away on the A6 north of the circuit so you can always fill up before you go in.

Its a shell garage too so V power!

The 87.5 db is drive-by but the static is 101 db and that's the one which most circuits are judged on and which is plenty usually. Mine is 103 db static and it's loud :) Bedford certainly is one of the safest as it's got lot's of run off. I don't particularly agree with the start slowly and build up. Start fast and get faster is better advice! You've never done track before so what you perceive to be fast on the road is pretty slow on the track. The tarmac tends to give better grip than the road, there's less risk of oil or other slippery fluids, and you're all going in the same direction. The beauty of occasional track days is that they will give you a better idea of what your car is really capable of so it's worth pushing just a little bit harder to find those limits. That knowledge may well stand you in good stead one day in the future.

 

Lower tyre pressures are essential but you be better off asking advice on the day as it will probably be cold. Long right hand bends are killers of our engine on track so be cautious there. Otherwise just go out and have fun :)

 

Good luck and enjoy!

 

Looks like a good excuse to fit the new oil pan i have to save any damage by the constant right handers! Same as yours Bob I think?