Keyser

As some of you know I went to a track day at Keevil Airfield yesterday (Friday 31st August) and I said I would let you know how it went. I arrived early at around 8:10AM - The gates open at 8AM and sign on is 9AM, the organisers were busy setting their stuff up and a couple of other drivers were there already. More cars were arriving by the minute and a fair few different vehicles showed up - great atmosphere, everyone was very friendly and all there to have a good time. After sign on (9AM) the Drivers brief was at 9:30AM this was supposed to be followed by 3 sighting laps but we had a 30 minute delay as the ARMY pulled up to wait for this - Who dropped this on the airfield (Sorry phone pics) Then onto the 3 sighting laps and back to the pits. They then ran 3 15 minute sessions (you get put in a group when you sign in) and then onto open pit. As we lost 30 mins to the Army they reduced lunch to 30 mins so no track time was lost. The circuit itself is not very long and a little bumpy in places, it's typical old airfield lots of panels in the tarmac. The straight is not very long but long enough to require hard braking at the far end The first bend is a long sweeping right hander and very, very wide so you get to carry some real speed and pull some G's that straightens into a 110(ish) left (bumpy) down the straight into another left (great sliding out of that), a short straight into a cone chicane, you come out of that into another short straight at the far end you find the hairpin :scare) also the point that the caterhams seemed to spin, and then you do it again and again and again - you get the idea Having been out in several cars yesterday I can say it suits the smaller lighter cars more than it suited me in the Zed (I may just be bad on short circuits) but I still had a great day. My Day was not uneventful though after several laps of the track the Zed was running well , my brakes got very hot but never let me down and I managed to get the oil up to the 120 degree alarm once (with an oil cooler ) then at about ten to three fast approaching the hairpin she coughed and the steering went OMG! - on the clutch, right indicator on desperately trying to slow down and haul the car straight and coast to a halt of circuit alongside the pit lane exit. Bonnet up and a we found the problem What's left of my main drive belt - it also did this to the bonnet and as you can see something missing That's was the end of my driving time but by no means the end of my days fun. I got back to the pits and after telling at least 30 concerned (some may be just nosey ) fellow track dayers the problem, the group of guys I parked with were great within 10 minutes I was offered a passenger lap in this O that was so much fun amazing car weighs in at 720KG and as the driver said it may not be as fast in a straight line as the Zed but it corners - O does it corner every time we went through the chicane I was giggling like a little school girl it's so different to the Zed with half the weight to transfer it effortlessly changes direction and although lacking the mid range torque of the Zed she carries so much corner speed it was still impressively fast at the end of the straight where again she sheds the speed effortlessly - no front end dive just nice level braking while I "floated" in the full race harness - Brilliant experience and a big thanks for that Came back in had a coffee at the van and the guy parked on my left said "You coming" as he put his helmet on - rude not too, I thought as I grabbed my lid - although the fact that he had spun twice today already did cross my mind as I did the helmet up that little bit tighter! Completely standard,177K on the clock a rusty zorst and immense fun. Driven by a young lad from London, who said after 3 track days this month he had worn his decent tyres out and couldn't find / afford anything decent for today, so he put the old alloys and tyres that came with the car when he bought it - he said they were a mishmash of cheap anything Off we went - fairplay he did not in any way let the squealing complaining wallowing tyres detract from how fast he entered the corners he threw it round the track, and although not as refined as the Lotus the little MX 5 was great fun he did come out of several bends (after IMHO deliberately over gunning her) with back end hanging out to which if I'm honest we both giggled Then the ZedShed pit crew arrived (My long suffering wife and eldest daughter) with a selection of spanners and a spare Drive belt 20 minutes later we were back on the road and heading home. I will be investigating why it failed today but it may just be it failed and S**t happens. A few pics from before it all went wrong - All in all a great day out - anyone want to do it again soon?????

If it's the MX5 I was parked next to all day that your mate owns then tell him he is - a. A nutter - did he tell you how many times he spun???? b. A top bloke

Looks lovely though

So one of the clients of the company my wife works for has an AUDI R8 which he let my wife take for a little spin a few weeks ago cool ..... But now she is taking the mick same guy calls her up today and says "have you got a spare 30 minutes today" yes she says - "OK he says I'll pop round you can try my son's car" She could have let me have a go!!! Apparently it was fun

You mean this ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB4M5v9wgc8 if so

A lot of Hob Nobs Hahahahahah I'll give them a call or have a word tomorrow see if I can get a discount for 5 or something - if not I'll post the link up

Ha ha brilliant, I'd have asked for a free chocy bar for the inconvenience. They're always trying to push 2 4 1 deals, even after you have paid at Shell. Genuine conversation at a Shell.... "would you like 2 twix for a pound sir?" "no thank you I am diabetic" "oh sorry, how about a bounty?" EPIC!

Opsee errr 1. it was raining 2. the tyres just won't come up to temp 3. I can't get to grips with this clucth 4. The SC belt is slipping 5. I really don't like these new brake pads Or if I do the fastest lap It's not a race it's just for fun Neil - Looks like your gonna HAVE to come down now Don't let him fix the NOS in time

Green and Black FTW

I'm changing my wheels tonight I can post pics if you like?? I'm sure I'll have something to post about soon

I may know where there is a Haltech 350z Platinum Pro ECU and Harness coming up for sale soon - I can let you know if your intrested They aint cheap though Nice numbers mate Need to get mine up a bit - More boost and NOS

Lucky sod - wish someone would pay for my fuel or even half of it. I'm getting to know all the petrol station staff again now I have the Zed back - 3 fill ups in 4 days

Near Bath google maps - Keevil Airfield also see viewtopic.php?f=9&t=65345 and get ya name down

Glad you got it sorted I have mine (after I tightened it) to just a small chirp on start up. Don't want to go any tighter as it puts a lot of pressure on the SC pulley and they aren't slipping. See how she does for a while now.

Nice one mate

Thought as NeilP had posted he would have mentioned NOS as a possible option for power He can tell you what its like (when he gets it working)

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: I'll let you know which one is laughing that much after the 22nd :thumbs:

Yes mate Welcome to stay with me the night before and the Saturday night if you want to drive back on the Sunday??? @ grlnet - sweet I'll let you know what it's like for spectators after Friday

Well that's nice - Sorry I was busy when you called £109 Car and Driver Extra Driver £30 £10 Passenger (Over 16) Google is your friend - don't want to put a link up in case it's against the rules but you can PM me for who I use - price does vary site to site EDIT : Cost you more to drive down and back Neil

Lids are very personal things - and just cause it's a lid for a few £££ don't mean its safe Get down the bike shops they go from £40 - well over £500 any one up for the next track day see ... viewtopic.php?f=9&t=65345

Who's up for Kevil on Saturday the 22nd September? Open Pit lane format. 1. Keyser 2. 3. 4. 5.

That was for the other Ian, Ian - confused??? Got you down for the next one though Get a lid

Yes sorry should have been a bit clearer in my post Friday 31st August at Keevil

Is that all Cool mate look forwards to a browse

I have a confirmation email for a slot at Kevil Airfield on the 31st so purely for your benefit (yer right) I am going to check it out and see how it is. 2 things I hope to find out ....................... 1. If the circuit is any good (heard good things) 2. If my Zed can go round without bits falling off Anyone who wants to come and watch/laugh is more than welcome - I think there are some slots left as well Ian - I'll see you there - bring ya lid and £10