View Full Version : Sat 12th Jan 08 - Bedford Autodrome
pomy26
29-12-2007, 12:58 PM
Bedford Autodrome Open Pit Lane Track Day £119.00
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/trackdays/event-details.asp?ProductID=3666
anyone up for this one...?
mansfa
02-01-2008, 06:18 PM
I'll be there! In my blue S50 MC
Me too, in my Silver S50 MC. Not been to a car trackday before but race bikes so hopefully I'll not embarrass myself too much! Has anyone been to the Autodrome before? Any tips/advice? Vehicle checks or set-up advice would be welcome along with track info?
Doh! why didn't we all book the same trackday at Bedford! a few of use are going on the 26th.
pomy26
02-01-2008, 11:27 PM
its gonna be a great day gays. Moof, i used to race bikes too, but its my 2nd track day in the car (s50 black) so will be the under cover rookies . you can get some info about bedford autodrom on 'you tube' there are good videos there. as for the settings on the car i only deflated the tyres, trying to keep it standard, close to road conditions to get a better feel.
pomy26
02-01-2008, 11:33 PM
i booked bedford 12th 3 weeks ago. if i really like it, i might even book again on 26th, as i want to meet more MC fans.
Doh! why didn't we all book the same trackday at Bedford! a few of use are going on the 26th.
Can't do the 26th as i'll be enjoying the white stuff in Ischgl! Shame we could not all make the 26th but maybe next time.
its gonna be a great day gays. Moof, i used to race bikes too, but its my 2nd track day in the car (s50 black) so will be the under cover rookies . you can get some info about bedford autodrom on 'you tube' there are good videos there. as for the settings on the car i only deflated the tyres, trying to keep it standard, close to road conditions to get a better feel.
Looking forward to it, I've booked the instruction too so maybe I'll learn something! You guys coming far? I'm in Bedfordshire about 20mins from the Autodrome.
pomy26
02-01-2008, 11:44 PM
coming from london, just enough to worm up :driving:
cragg711220
02-01-2008, 11:53 PM
I'm not tracking my baby till the summer but if there's a few of us heading there for a meet I'd be up for that. I've only seen 1 other MC on the road in 3 months!
pomy26
03-01-2008, 11:02 AM
you are lucky, i haven't seen any at all since i bought mine in august.
cant wait till 12th
mansfa
03-01-2008, 03:39 PM
I dropped my car off at Bexeley motorsport for an oil and filter change today- probably an overkill, but it's small change if it keeps my engine healthy.
Also had some suspension components changed as they were worn - the rear felt sloppy ( ended up being worn bushes, topmounts, track end rods). I Whilst it is apart I opted for some new springs - cant wait to compare it.
maahny
06-01-2008, 02:38 PM
I dropped my car off at Bexeley motorsport for an oil and filter change today- probably an overkill, but it's small change if it keeps my engine healthy.
Also had some suspension components changed as they were worn - the rear felt sloppy ( ended up being worn bushes, topmounts, track end rods). I Whilst it is apart I opted for some new springs - cant wait to compare it.
Yours must be the car they asked me about H&R springs for ;-).
pdwarren
06-01-2008, 04:37 PM
Me too, in my Silver S50 MC. Not been to a car trackday before but race bikes so hopefully I'll not embarrass myself too much! Has anyone been to the Autodrome before? Any tips/advice? Vehicle checks or set-up advice would be welcome along with track info?
I'll try to make it to this one if I get my car back in time, but definitely going to try and make it on the 26th.
Bedford is pretty straightforward: completely flat and huge run offs. You have to try pretty hard to bend your car there. If you've booked instruction, make sure you turn up early so you get choice of slots and book the instruction for early on. It's the GT circuit which is 4.2 miles long, so it takes a few laps to learn which way is which. 20 minutes with an instructor early on really does get you up to speed quickly, although in my case it was mostly "more power", "don't brake", "no need to brake here", "I've never known a car that needs to brake for this one", etc. :-)
Paul
I'll try to make it to this one if I get my car back in time, but definitely going to try and make it on the 26th.
Bedford is pretty straightforward: completely flat and huge run offs. You have to try pretty hard to bend your car there. If you've booked instruction, make sure you turn up early so you get choice of slots and book the instruction for early on. It's the GT circuit which is 4.2 miles long, so it takes a few laps to learn which way is which. 20 minutes with an instructor early on really does get you up to speed quickly, although in my case it was mostly "more power", "don't brake", "no need to brake here", "I've never known a car that needs to brake for this one", etc. :-)
Paul
Cheers for the advice Paul, i'm local so should bethere early, do you know what time it opens as there is nothing on their website?
My car's also in the workshop this week for some new front wishbones and bushes. John at BM Technika moved things around to get this done ready for the trackday. Top man!
Looking forward to meeting you guys and trying to beat my mate in his Elise! Should be fun!
mansfa
08-01-2008, 02:47 PM
Cant wait!!! The car feels so much better after the suspension refresh, like a go kart!
It needs to make more noise!
pdwarren
08-01-2008, 05:13 PM
Cheers for the advice Paul, i'm local so should bethere early, do you know what time it opens as there is nothing on their website?
My car's also in the workshop this week for some new front wishbones and bushes. John at BM Technika moved things around to get this done ready for the trackday. Top man!
Looking forward to meeting you guys and trying to beat my mate in his Elise! Should be fun!
Registration is 7:30 to 8:30. Turn up before 8am and there shouldn't be much of a queue and you should get decent choice on instruction. By 8:30 there tends to be a huge queue for registration.
Looking unlikely that I'll make this one: my car is currently having a new VANOS and it's unlikely to get that, an MOT and a brake pad change before Saturday.
Paul
Registration is 7:30 to 8:30. Turn up before 8am and there shouldn't be much of a queue and you should get decent choice on instruction. By 8:30 there tends to be a huge queue for registration.
Looking unlikely that I'll make this one: my car is currently having a new VANOS and it's unlikely to get that, an MOT and a brake pad change before Saturday.
Paul
Cheers Paul, I'll be sure to get there early.
Mansfa - Glad your suspension is sorted, I'd be interested in looking at what's been done on Saturday.
I dropped my MC in the workshop today so I'll have it a bit tighter for Sat.
pdwarren
09-01-2008, 08:16 PM
Looking unlikely that I'll make this one: my car is currently having a new VANOS and it's unlikely to get that, an MOT and a brake pad change before Saturday.
Then again, maybe I will... collecting car tomorrow morning. If it's not chucking it down on Friday morning I'll try get the pads done then! So far weather looks good for Saturday.
Paul
pdwarren
11-01-2008, 04:50 PM
Well, it was chucking it down, but I've booked it anyway! Now I'll be changing the pads in the dark and the wet this evening, but the forecast still looks good for tomorrow.
Paul
Paul,
Glad you've bit the bullet, looking forward to seeing you and the other MC guys tomorrow.
Mansfa, Was it you that had the trouble today? Real sorry to see the car at the side of the track. I tried to get a message over to you via the marshals to see if you wanted any help. Hope you got home okay?
mansfa
12-01-2008, 11:06 PM
Moof, thanks for the concern. Hope you had good day, will definitley do it again soon....v soon!
It was me, I think I must own the only three wheeled MCoupe in the UK at the moment..... It has been droped off to Bexleys to get fixed asap.
It looked worse than it was!
Moof, thanks for the concern. Hope you had good day, will definitley do it again soon....v soon!
It was me, I think I must own the only three wheeled MCoupe in the UK at the moment..... It has been droped off to Bexleys to get fixed asap.
It looked worse than it was!
That's great news chap. I saw the car from the track and it looked bad, althought I was going somewhat and all I saw was the front wheel hanging off.
A top day out with the best of both worlds re the weather, damp track first thing then dry all day. Had a couple of 360s in the morning and drifting in the afternoon. Top fun! Good to meet some other MC owners too.
Now need to sort the brakes as they are crap for hard track use. Ideas on a post card please? I can live with the handling but not the brakes.
ZZZEMMCO
13-01-2008, 03:14 PM
mansfa--Sorry to see your car with a problem.I visited to say Hi to all of our drivers, and walked over to look at your car.Bexley had just done various suspension works, was the front offside included in this?.Will be interested to hear their comments as to Why!.
You are a Very lucky guy that it happened at the wide open track and looking at the distance you went off track , lucky you were not out on the public roads without any runoff area.
Hope to meet up some time.
pdwarren
13-01-2008, 03:16 PM
Yep, a great day. Really enjoyed the last few laps. The red flag at about 3:15 seemed to send most people home leaving a really quiet track for the last twenty minutes or so.
Now need to sort the brakes as they are crap for hard track use. Ideas on a post card please? I can live with the handling but not the brakes.
I'll let you know when I figure it out :-) c_w has had good results with yellowstuff pads and brake ducting. I think I may end up with a BBK, one way or another.
I had yellowstuffs on yesterday, and as you saw they were juddering plenty, but I don't know if the DS2500s have left a mess on the discs.
Paul
Standard brakes will always try to ruin your (track)day, they're just not up to anything more than 1 or 2 repeated high speed stops.
I'll let you know when I figure it out :-) c_w has had good results with yellowstuff pads and brake ducting. I think I may end up with a BBK, one way or another.
I had yellowstuffs on yesterday, and as you saw they were juddering plenty, but I don't know if the DS2500s have left a mess on the discs.
Paul
That's interesting, maybe it was the DS2500s that left the discs "dirty" (which would be ok for a road use but show itself through bad vibration when hot). Or it could be that the cooling ducts really do improve the brakes hugely.
I'm at Bedford in 2 weeks so will see how my brakes fair there.
pdwarren
13-01-2008, 11:14 PM
I'm at Bedford in 2 weeks so will see how my brakes fair there.
I've ended up on the reserve list for the 26th - didn't want to book anything until I got the engine fixed. Hopefully see you there...
Paul
I've ended up on the reserve list for the 26th - didn't want to book anything until I got the engine fixed. Hopefully see you there...
Paul
Naughtily, they have added extra places on this event if you want to book a place now.
pdwarren
14-01-2008, 11:18 AM
Well spotted. I'm now booked!
Last weekend was 100 cars on the GT circuit, and it was fine. Don't think it was ever more than a 2 min wait to get on circuit.
Paul
mansfa
27-03-2008, 09:03 AM
Finally! Car is fixed. Picked it up from Bexely Motorsport and they've done a great job. Car looks like new, drives great! Only panel they had to replace was the front wing, that doesnt bother me, it''s only a small section.
I had a good look under the car when it was on the ramp, nice to see that despite being a 1999 build it's all sound and rot free, no signs of dodgy welds etc. ( thanks to Munich legends for selling me a good one...)
The total hit to me was £1300 ( 10% of sum insured £13k) which represents the excess on my trackday cover, am so glad I took this out. Cant recommend getting trackday cover more.
Will post some pictures asap.
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