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Yesterday I did a slipkndgrip (slipngripross ) track day at Thruxton, great day well organised. I was interested in Thruxton as a circuit as it’s a bit wider and potentially safer with more run-off than Castle Combe, although as it’s faster that’s probably debatable. I have driven Thruxton before once at a launch event for the Ford Mondeo (original) and again at a corporate event I orgainsed which culminated in driving a Ferrari 355 round the circuit.

I started off bright and early and had a nice drive trough the country with the top down and arrived very early despite getting lost at the end. Made ‘camp’, signed on, noise check (82dB must try harder) and briefing.



Did the 3 sighting laps and realised that I had no idea where the racing line was and there were no friendly cones showing turning in points and corner apexes.

So got some instruction from Andy, 3 laps with him driving and 3 with me. Good to get independent confirmation that the car handled well, unless he was just being polite. I can’t recommend going out with an instructor enough, it showed me the lines and gave me confidence.

In a low powered car Thruxton is a pretty much a flat out circuit all 4th gear apart from two 3rd gear sections. Out of the pit lane keep to the left for the first corner (Allard) then up to the complex, brake hard and down to 3rd turn right clip the right curb then left and clip the left curb (not too hard or it lifts the inside wheels). Later in the day I was getting a bit of a slide for the initial turn. Swing right then left to hit the apex for Segrave, drift left and change up, then pretty much flat out for the next few corners. A bit of a dab of brakes for Church and then keep left and foot hard down, maxed out at about 100mph, tried 5th but nothing to be gained. Then the chicane, aim for the loudspeaker down to 3rd (I did try it in 2nd but ended up right on the limiter) turn right in the middle of the track (that took some getting used to) clip the right curb if feeling brave, then the left curb (if feeling brave) then the final corner clipping the curb (if feeling brave). I’m not sure I ever got the chicane completely right and had my only 2 incidents there, first I lost confidence between the first 2 corners braked and locked up sliding onto the run off. The second I braked when I shouldn’t have and had a small spin in the middle ending up on the run-off area. Gave the stewards something to laugh about.

Far too many words but I didn’t have anybody to take pictures, here are some from Facebook.







The whole day was well organised and very friendly, there were some other very fast cars present, e.g. race prepared E92 M3’s. I did meet up with a fellow MX5 driver , Andy, (MK2.5) which was good to share some ideas. But I didn’t feel out of place and the low numbers combined with the length of track meant that there was the opportunity to get some clear laps in.

Car was superb throughout no issues at all, although the tyres took a bit of a hammering, at least it shows I was trying. They are standard mid-range tyres that I bought in case I wrecked them and they'd done 2 previous track days.




Conclusions;

• New front brakes were very good (probably not ideal bedding in procedure), although the pedal is a bit spongy now
  
• I’ll do more slip and grip events, in fact will book Castle Combe for August
• I need a better seat, harnesses and standard seats don’t work
• Still need to think about stiffer roll bars and/or stiffer front springs
• Need to think about track biased tyres
• More power would be good :-)

Having survived a track day without blowing up I will be buying my ticket and be present on the stand (assuming I don't blow it up on a future track day or any other unexpected disaster*)


* I don't suppose an '07 Alfa or a '04 Discovery (BNMAC recovery vehicle? and based on a pre '90 design) are suitable stand-ins?

That vice folder thingy looks very useful, off to search ebay.

And yeah I want a sticker...

Like but a unlike for not starting.

Sounds like an earth issue, not surprising with a fibreglass car.

Nothing wrong with Biggles, my collection the books on the left were my dad's.

There's nothing wrong with baling twine, most of the horse world runs on it (I'll admit to using it as a door pull on the MX5).

Yep, sent car in to have new handbrake cables fitted garage couldn't adjust one of the caliper inner adjusters had to buy 2 at £9.60 each. Got home looking through my parts when building up front brakes and I found 2 brand new adjusters (well at least I've got spares now, if I can remember I've got them).

Agree with most of this, although some of the bits ganging up on Harris (again) wasn't pleasant but the rest was enjoyable. I though the Stig family was fun and the Tindall's was a good watch.