Pete Croney

Just a top day out

It was a bit fraut to start with as BHLG refused to let us run an open pit lane. I hope the 30 minute sessions plan worked for everyone.

Big thanks to Rob, Kelly, Garth and Stef who gave up the mornings driving to help people master this VERY technical circuit. Some very talented driving by all who attended.

Condolences to the Exige driver who clipped the tyre wall out of Druids, 15 minutes before the end of the day. Other than that, the day was incident free.

A BIG thank you to everyone who was there.

Dave T-S

PTMW!
I'm jealous (but in a nice way)!

MrCookie
I love you when you grovel.

DocJock

Pete

Awesome fast laps m8, big respect. I personally think the 30min sessions worked very well.
BTW I think you'll be getting some calls about brake kits from Puff's and my passengers !!

Puff

Agreed about that first afternoon session, it all went just right didn't it.
I still think you've sneaked a WRX engine in secretly
As for Mr Sanctimonious (you know who you are) his track ettiquette was appalling, even dangerous at times
Couldn't spoil at top day out though

Final big thank you to Tyres Northampton who finally finished the "Track Support" at 19.30 having worked solidly all day.Thanks Lads

DJ

KimA

Just want to say a big thanks to everyone for organising one of the best days out I've ever had. Was a track virgin until yesterday, and went through all the emotions of joy, excitement, anxiousness and nausea - all the way back to excitement again!

Thanks to Stef for the extra place - made my week!

Thanks to Pete for taking me round the track and giving me the extra confidence that I needed.

Thanks to RonnieH for letting me drive his TT home - what a pose (yes, we did have the roof down, had just stopped raining - heated seats, fleeces, hats all on - may have looked a wee bit silly, but it was well worth it).

Last but not least, thanks to Brands for letting us tear round the track, and the two pit guys for making me laugh every time I went out - wrist bands, chinny chin chin (strap)!

I didn't get anywhere near some of the speeds you guys were doing, but was told that I gave a smooth ride nonetheless. Thoroughly enjoyed being able to take passengers out with me - think I did more whooping than they did though!!

As for Mr Sanctimonius, glad it wasn't just me that he pi88ed off, trying to undertake me before the final straight (didn't have time to give you many hand signals to show my appreciation of that, too busy trying to keep on the track my first time round, you ***kwit! ).

Getting the (wet) piccies developed today and will scan in later/tomorrow.

Can't wait till next time, big thanks again.

Kim



[This message has been edited by KimA (edited 28 October 2000).]

[This message has been edited by KimA (edited 30 October 2000).]

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

I'm still on a mega high after a great day @ Brands Smashing venue - great turnout - excellent organisation (by SIDC bods THANKS ) - awesome scoobs!

Day started @ 05.00 leaving home in time for "Breakfast Meet" @ Birchanger. Leigh, Pbone & Gazzer for greasy nosh. Then into the rush-hour traffic & a crashed lorry on the M25. Pit stop at Thurrock Services & I think Gazzer now holds the lap record as, his spirited "Circuit de Thurrock" showed We arrived @ Brands at 08.00 to see an already filling carpark of scoobs (+ a few interlopers). Registration & a briefing followed, accompanied by an orchestra of mobile phones, & then a small wait 'til we started, due mainly to BHLG deciding to change the format of the day at the last minute, from Open Pit to 30 Minute Sessions In 2 Groups Of 30 With Open Pit!

Finally I hit the track.

What an awesome drop from Paddock upto Druids! Despite having walked it, I never realised how severe it was! The first time I wondered how long my Full English would stay down! Druids into Graham Hill was my favourite place, as you could catch up, brake late (turn in early) & get excellent drive out, overtaking on power the target car in front. Into the S's (flat out in 3rd or leisurely 4th), again braking late before Clearways and the Pit Straight. Always bottled it from following the edge of the track into paddock, but broke inside the marker, so my racing line was a bit obscure! Short circuit but covered 152 track miles - some 130 laps.

Today I passed (at least 1 of) every variant of scoob currently available in UK. Standard (MY99/98/00 etc), WRX, Terzo, Catalunya, Sti (various), RB5, PPP'd, P1 & 22B. I'm not talking slow-down lap but on full chat In addition, an Elise & an Exige. Unfortunately no EVO's... I was overtaken by Triggar, Stef, DocJock & the scottie in the EVO. I gave way to the IDIOT in the red stickered 5dr who was A) Downright Dangerous & B) Discourteous & C) A Scanctimonious ****! This was my only down on the day as he first refused to move over after 5 laps of me pushing him & when I did manage to get the drive on him, go past, move back into the racing line & having gone past, found that he was trying to take an impossible line <B>through the S's and <I>undertaking</I> </B> me! This chap obviously missed the point of the day & the briefing

Anyhow, far from me to let some to$$er ruin my memory of the day. It was tops. I met untold BBSers ( <B> HI! </B> ) & it was great to put so many names to callsigns. I drove my pants off - water? what water? Damp? Nahh! The highlight has got to be the 1st session after lunch where DocJock & myself just blasted everything - all on Video!

Pete, Stef, Rob Mac, Tyres Northampton, Marshalls & BHLG - <B>THANK YOU</B>

Mr.Cookie

Puff

Is the video coming to a BBS near you

Pleeeaaaaseee
Simon (well and truly gutted that he had to work)

Rikki23

I had a great day too Puff. Great to see the wagon in 'the flesh'.

I was only spectating today but hope to drive one in the future. Glad you enjoyed your blast. I enjoyed watching you. Maybe speak to you at MK on Sunday if you are there.

Rikki

Steve Lawson

Gotta say it what a top day,to all the people that gave me a ride(you know who you are)massive thanks.BTW all you UK owners out there I have a note of your regs will be on the phone to IM's on Monday ).
The weather made it very interesting(understatement if you own a Lotus )but as Puff said outstanding driving all day long and really good to meet you all.

Regards Steve(King Blagger)

[This message has been edited by Steve Lawson (edited 28 October 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Steve
Lawson (edited 28 October 2000).]

Due to exceptionally bad spelling and too much lager

[This message has been edited by Steve Lawson (edited 28 October 2000).]

Chris L

Great day out - fantastic fun. Many thanks for the run Puff (mentioned elsewhere in another thread, but no harm in saying it again). Those Brembo brakes are rather good

Cheers

Chris

Stef

Thanks everyone.
As Pete has said, I too was worried about having to run it in sessions but I think it worked out fine.
Great little circuit. Highlights for me sliding round the long left hander after Graham Hill and seeing the HUGE flames from Pete's car, manic!
Didn't know about the red 5 dr,someone should have told us. He'd have felt the wrath of 'CK 1' if I'd known he was that bad!
Thanks to all of you that came and drove so well, you were a credit to the club.
Congratulations to all those that survived a ride with me, be grateful it was wet! Despite my car having no front-end grip whatsover I hope you all had a good trip.
I think TYRES Northampton were complete hero's, and am very pleased the club now has an official 'Track Support Unit'.
Top track, top people, top driving, top day, top everything really!
Let's hope next years track calendar has more of the same.
Regards.

Stef.
SIDC Motorsport Secretary.

Stuart Knight

iTrader: (2)

Brilliant day out, Brands seems to have lots of grip, even in the wet, though I did manage a couple of sessions on slicks! Track etiquette in the gold band group I found to be pretty good, I didn't see anybody do anything really silly, and most people moved over immediately you came up behind them.

I must apologise for holding up the exit from Brands at the end of the day, yes it was me with the van and trailer blocking the exit tunnel.. Maybe Brands could warn you before you get to the tunnel of the height restriction!!!!

Great day, can't wait for the next one there. Even though the track is short, it really has everything! Would be even better to try the Grand Prix circuit. Start negotiating Stef!!!

ChrisB

A cracking day out - I made it home at 1.45am this morning! Well worth the 400+ miles and nearly seven hours of driving (got stuck on the M6 at 1.15am pratically within sight of home ). Got shafted getting some more petrol at Rothersthorpe services on the M1 (85.9ppl for standrd UL!!!!)

Thanks to Chuck and Lee for my first rides round Brands - the drop down and up to Druids is magnificent.

I have got the Exige spinning on video tape - permission allowing from the owner (Steve ? Sorry, met loads of people and can't remember everyone's name!) I'll get it on the web later next week along with a few more clips. Nice to get through a track day with very little damage to people and their car's.

Nice to meet lots more Scoobynet and 22b.com people (the Christie Clan, Mr and Mrs Chuckster, Beef, DocJock, Ronnie & Nat to name but a few). Hat's off to the Scottish 'mob' who came down on Thursday (Wednesday for the guy from the Shetlands!) - how many of you where still in the bar at the Hotel when I got home this morning??

Great laugh when the BH guys dismantling the grandstand starting doing Mexican Waves for us (all eight of them)

I drove all the way home grinning (had the pleasure of listening to Mark (R19 KET) boot his car through some of the roadworks on the M25 coming back)

Chris.
(Really looking forward to Karting tomorrow)

Neil F

This was my first track day in the Scoob and I had a great time. Met some familiar faces at the start, which is always good, and made some new aquaintances by the end. Nice to see bbs regulars such as Stef and PTMW in the flesh and find that Evo drivers aren't evil sons of satan after all!(Steve was the chaps' name I think).
A couple of cars/drivers impressed me; one of the many P1s (he managed to pass me!) with the letters NW and R in the reg somewhere as I recall, and a silver STi(?) with lip spoiler and lights blazing that came up on me so fast that I lost concentration, fluffed the big double apex (clearways?) and put a wheel onto the grass just before the pit straight! My fault, not his. Names to these guys anyone?
Was this red wagon that caused the trouble the same one that spun in front of me on the S's? That caused a bowel slackening moment as my "backing off" mid bend caused a big handfull of oversteer!
While there was the odd niggle (a 22B owner recieved some words from Stef for not giving way) I thought the VAST majority had the right spirit and set a great example to Brands.
Here's to the next time.

Neil.

[This message has been edited by Neil F (edited 28 October 2000).]

DocJock

Neil

It was a different red wagon, the one with Leda and P***r Engineering stickers on it.

DJ

Mr.Cookie

Dave

Ssshhhhhhhhhh i can hear them talking already

Simon

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Neil

Captured part of that spin on camera

All will be revealed (including identity ) shortly...

DocJock

Aaaaaawww Simon,

We said we wouldn't tell.....

DJ (who is glad Puff didn't catch HIS rallycross)

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Just a wee pic (1 of only 2) of PTMW! @ Brands



Thanks Mark (R19 KET)

DavidLewis

Puff: Bugger!
Neil F: Green 4 dr?

Kevin2000

One thing I havnt done is go track,seeing as we only have 1 circuit in the south of ireland .But I know what fast road driving does to the tyres on a Subaru,but going on track must really **** them???????? I would probably have them bald in less than 100 miles.

Danny Fisher

What a GREAT day out. The first time that I have driven on Brands WITHOUT being told to slow down.

Thanks to Pete, Stef, and all the other people that made the day possible.

Thanks to the boys from Tyres Northampton, they just didn't stop all day.

I had a very trick video camera mounted to the windscreen that should show some rather large flames being produced by the Scoobysport machine.

What a class day.

Dan

P.S. This is for the guy with the little camera standing at the end of the pit lane, did the one of the silver scoob with the driver waving come out?

Neil F

Dock Jock: I'm guessing you have a story to tell?
Danny: I'm guessing you were the one with the "finger-in-the-grime" graphics at the end?
Puff: I can't wait, on both counts.
David: White 4 door STi with nasty boot logo.
Keep the pictures/stories coming.....!

Neil.

[This message has been edited by Neil F (edited 29 October 2000).]

barge

I got to a wet & damp Brands about 3:30.

Never seen sooo many Scoobys in 1 place before. Sounds from the track were ace.

My 2 boys I took with me enjoyed it was well, I have finaly got it in to their heads what a Scooby is, still the 4 year old was impressed with the Escort Cossie doing the rally course, they are still laughing as they thought Chuckster was giving his car some Lemonade to drink cos it was thirsty. It was just water for the I/C spray in a Lemonade bottle.

Great fun if just just for a few hours watching, saw a few of the many talked about machines.

DocJock

Neil

Not much to tell really,

Thought I'd try the esses without lifting.
By the time I changed my mind suspension was loaded up and there was NO WAY I was lifting then so it was an easy choice
a) aim it at the track and end up backwards on the grass
b) aim it at the grass going forwards and rejoin before Clearways

Rallycross option worked ok,in fact I thought the tracks were impressively straight, LOL
Ronnie seemed not to mind too much, did you Ron?
Not so sure about marshal at start of pit straight though.

DJ



[This message has been edited by DocJock (edited 29 October 2000).]

Neil F

David.

Yes that's me. I remember the same thing; the green 4 door was indicating right and as I had just passed someone else, who I think is just out of shot on that sequence, I thought I'd carry that line up through S's. I then saw your graceful change of direction and suddenly had no idea where you'd end up!
Backing off on an already shallow line resulted in the frontwheels on the coping and the back end coming round.
Luckily (for me!) you exited stage left and I could get back on the power and bring it back into line (somehow).
I was "nipping" pretty hard to keep the turtle's head back I can tell you.

Dock Jock.

LOL. I missed that unfortunately, though I would like to have seen the look on that marshall's face!

Neil.

R19KET

GRRRREAT day. Thanks to Mark at TN for changing my rear brake backing plates !!!!!, and sorting out some SO2's for me to go home on !!!!!!. Now I've ditched the Toyos, my car has been transformed.

Stef, and Co did an excellent job, even with BH changing things at a moments notice

Track etiquette was up to it's normal standard.....excellent from most...appalling by a few.

Puff, glad "one" of them came out , maybe next time you can get one of me

Now I've got some decent tyres, I'm really looking forward to Donnington......wet, or dry......

Mark.

JohnS

iTrader: (1)

Well the Scottish "mob" made it home OK, despite the worst weather I have ever seen in my life (and that's saying something!).

Chris was right in thinking that we were still at the bar when he got home. Rumour has it they were still serving some of our party at 4am, but we won't confirm this until later, as they obviously didn't make the early start home

Good track, though the wrong choice of tyre (almost bald P Zero's) meant I was a bit of a mobile chicane in the morning, with virtually no grip on right hand bends. I did make sure I moved out of the way as soon as I could, so don't think I held anyone up more more than a corner or two at most.

I didn't get many laps in the morning, due to mistiming on my part with the sessions (I guess I should spend more time on the track and less time talking to people!), and a strange vibration at higher speeds.

The guys at Tyres Northampton did a great job in switching me over to my road wheels and tyres shortly after lunch, and the car was transformed and could now enjoy the grip available! I'm glad to say that I was actually able to catch and pass some cars towards the end of the day, rather than being reeled in at every corner.

Met quite a lot of people from the BBS and mailing lists over the course of the two days we were down there. it's always nice to put faces to names Talking to a lot of you, it seems there is quite a bit of interest in an organised group coming up north to Knockhill next year. We can make a weekend of it, with an afternoon booking (allow everyone to drive up in the morning), a good helping of Scottish hospitaility in the evenings, and a karting competition the following day.

Regarding the Exige - the damage was fairly minor in the end (cracked front wing and a dislocated mirror), and it was in fine form all the way up the road back to Scotland. The owner Steve would like to see a copy of the video before it is made public, so if you e-mail me the URL, I'll make sure he views it and then everyone can watch how quickly it spun around once it lost grip!

See you all again next year (or next week for those of you coming on the Tour D'Ecosse next weekend)

JohnS

iTrader: (1)

Oops,

forgot to mention that I was talking to Paul from Ireland as well (well when he could stop grinning that was!). He reckons quite a few of the Irish owners would also like to come across for a weekend of fun in Scotland, seeing as it would only be about a 90 minute drive from where the ferry docks.

DavidLewis

Neil F: Thats o.k. then, coz the green 4 dr was the start of my swift demise.

It had great straight line speed, but no cornering capacity, whereas, I was the opposite. I was killing him in the corners but could only just keep up in the straights. Up the hill towards priory, he pulled over but as he didn't indicate, I took this as being just a weird line so I slowed down to let him back. Then after the left-hander down the hill (Graham HILL bend, I think) he pulled over again, this time indicating. So this time I went for it. Problem was, he didn't seem to slow down and I couldn't get back to the right hand side of the track. So I was too fast AND in the wrong place/line, either one on its own would have been o.k. But both....... well Puff can show you the rest

White STI? That must be you coming down the middle in the distance on picture no1.

[This message has been edited by DavidLewis (edited 29 October 2000).]

chuckster

Absolutely fantastic day. Mine and Nickies first track day and it was an absolute blast. I managed to go the whole day without being overtaken by a 5 door, fantastic! (Or maybe luck to not be on track at the same time?)
Took a bunch of passengers, thats one of the best parts of the day, strangely enough.
Can't wait for Donington!!
Chuck