astraboy

I always love going to Trax, especially for the track time. Last year I missed out and this year it werent going to happen again. I solved the problem by spending lots of money.
Got there at about 11 and set about sorting my car out for my track session. I shot over to the SIDC stand and got my pre paid track time from them. I also took the opportunity to ditch my road wheels under their desk after they had kindly agreed to look after them.
Did the briefing and found out for the first time that we would be driving the grand prix circuit! This means I have driven every circuit configuration Silverstone posesses but it also meant I would be drifting large sections of track that were completely new to me. Another cool thing about the briefing was it was done by the same guy that does the D1 briefings. my hand was straight up when he opened the floor to questions and his answer to my question of "Are we allowed to drift?" was the best I could hope for
"We love it!" He then made everyone look round at me so they knew who to blame should I bin the car and stop the session, but I decided to keep my protests low key and let my driving do the talking.
The only thing to do after that was prepare the car. I had already done the mechanical stuff the night before so all the fluids were topped up and the pressures were adjusted already. The only thing I needed to do was tape my headlights up, tape my track passes to my windows and just for fun, make an amusing drift related slogan in masking tape on my rear screen. I settled on "Drift 3:16"
I made sure I was last out onto the circuit, I even let the Mini who came out after me, but there were so many cars on the circuit that the first group who went out before me had almost caught me up by the time I got out. If that werent bad enough then the first time into brooklands, I spun like a goodun. I kept it on tarmac, so I made up by attacking luffield and creating huge plumes of smoke as I went round in third. Next up was an accident, the flashing yellows gave me the opportunity to let loads of cars past me. About 10 subarus flew by, but I werent interested in racing them, it was all about the turns. The just (Barely) legal Michelin Pilots on the back had heated up and were very progressive. Even so i kept the sideways action sensible on the the sections I didnt know. For me, it was all about the complex. Time and again I threw her into brooklands and luffield, making sure I put on the best display possible for the crowd there. Even so, Copse was very driftable, with all that was required to drift was an 80mph, third gear entry and a lift off of the accelerator and the back end was out. Maggots was drift free, with Owbow's big smack at the first round of the D1 still in my mind, but becketts was very pleasent to drift. the only one I couldnt do was Bridge. As we usually start out there in the D1, it didnt seem right somehow
The rest of the session was incident free and the end came all too soon. Even though I knew it was the last lap I kept the hammer down and drifted the complex once again. After a few minutes wait to getoff the circuit, I had to drive past the BRDC grandstand. When I drove past, the crowd gave me a round of applause for my efforts To say I was chuffed was an understatement. Some people were on their feet as well, it felt soooo good to have entertained the crowd that I did the only thing I could do. Got out the car, stood on the sill and took a bow
Top day out. I cant wait to do the next one. Most fun I've had in the car for a long time. The appreciative crowd was a bonus, I found it quite addictive tbh
astraboy.
Shouts to : Phil Stephens of the SIDC, thanks again for sorting me track time mate, much appreciated. Phil, Paz and all the Nightspirit boys for letting me park and being generally nice people. Si with the Z3M and the rest of his crew and everyone else who told me they liked what I did out there. Respect.

bigsinky

nice one mate

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

So that was you then in the Nissan200? Very entertaining and well worthy of the applause.

Bob.

Neil W

Astraboy,

I was in the BRDC Stand and saw all your action in that area of the track. Must admit you were extremely entertaining to watch compared to a lot of the others that were out.

Every time you drifted the crowd cheered and applauded (you probably didnt here it whilst on track though!)

I thought it was a superb day and the track action was excellent.

Definitely go next year, just hope it is a bit cooler though.

Phil

Only tooo pleased to have you join us

and glad you enjoyed it as much as we did

Where did that mini come from though ?

astraboy

Neil, no I didnt hear that, it was quite loud in the car and I had other things on my mind at the time Glad you liked it though
Phil, that mini had "O" session stickers on, I think he was too late for the previous session so they stuck him on with us.
BTW, first pictures are coming through, this is through copse...

Lovely
astraboy.

CHRIS_D

hey astraboy, i seen you go off at brooklands mate, i came around behind you (silver sti5) as you were coming out of the kitty litter, so i can second the smoke mate.

that mini went off in right in front of me at copse, i was in 4th and slightly drifting when he spun on the grass, i was shouting 'stay there, stay there' !!! lol

Quality track session, really enjoyed it, best was overtaking the 355 (personal mission)and the purple evo 6 (375 bhp) not being able to catch me.

chris

BTW, wondered WTF that said on your rear screen

Nevetas

I got some quaility video of this

ARM-Scooby

i saw you go past a couple of times, to cheers from brooklands.

top driving mate!

astraboy

Thats what I want to hear!
Any chance of seeing it sometime soon?
Cheers,
astraboy.

King RA

lol, saw you going round astraboy, me and my mates had a good laugh. Better than watching all the other boring cars

ian_sadler

AB strikes again lol

Hol

iTrader: (1)

Im sorry to say I was further round the track.


But I did see you put your hand up in the briefing if that counts

Have to say it looks fun!

BuRR

The wife took these

scooby66

Astraboy I must admit you had some bottle in the drivers brief to come up with"CAN I DRIFT" as this bloke taking the brief was a tad boarding on" extracting a certain substance" But top bloke for pulling through with it!!! I was in the blue bug eye with the moretts with scoobyclinc on the back window.Had a brill 20 min's ,yes that mini did get in the way abit.Paul

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.be...5Aug040010.JPG

*Sonic*

at least some of us went on track

I had a great time on track too, was good watching AB in my rear view mirror, loads of smoke everywhere, misjudged a few corners watching you

my tyres didnt really settle down until about 3 laps in, and I was still bedding my new pads in (didnt get much chance the day before), and I suffered from a bit of understeer in the Complex

For me it was far too hot to rag the car within an inch of its life, plus I wanted to drive home, and not AA it

Plus I left the air con on, as it was way too hot inside the car too

Dont think I held anyone up, in fact i had no one behind me for quite a while, I thought the briefing was funny with AB asking can i drift

Good to meet a few more peeps too

and Burr, is it just me who sees a white X and that birds threpenny bits

BuRR

must be your eyes, mate.... are they affected after you fell down the stairs?

gatty

nice one astra learned some new driving skills after wathing you!

superb!

astraboy

Nice pics Burr, but are you sure your wife took the second one?
astraboy.

SiDHEaD

astraboy