My First Track Day Review! (Long Read)

[Jackman]

So yesterday i managed to attend my first track day at Llandow Circuit!

I say managed due to the bump i hit along the way!

On the way to work Friday my car decided it wanted to blow the water pump just in time for Llandow. Fantastic!

So i gave Wolz a ring and to the rescue he came! we managed to get the car to a friends unit we started on getting the old one out which was a complete nightmare. we then couldn't source a new pump from anywhere, so i decided to leave the car there and Wolz said he would get straight onto it in the morning!

So i got a lift up to the track in the morning so i could attend the briefing and got a text halfway through saying the car was on route!

(Massive thanks to Wolze who saved the day again for me!)

Then we set about changing the wheels for my track ones and she was ready to rock

id put myself in the beginners group as i hadn't been on track before!

After taking it easy in the 3 15 minute group session, the Open Pitlane began!

After this i was a man on a misson. Once i was on there was no getting me off. I was destroying quater of a tank each time i was going out.

Although once Wolz pointed out i was cooking my brake fluid i stopped going out as long!

I took a few people out as passengers on the day and they all commented on how well the car performed for a standard 1.4!

I only managed to break one thing while i was out there, and that was a my suspension top mount i heard it go when i hit the curbs through the top chicane! so ive ordered new uprated ones to replace them!

All in all it was a fantastic day and i can't wait for my next one! hopefully with a bit more power behind the wheels so i can be up there with the others!

I can't find many pictures at the moment, but heres what ive found so far!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/rallye/Nikon%20D80/DSC_0304-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/rallye/Nikon%20D80/DSC_0327.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/rallye/Nikon%20D80/DSC_0401.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/n503562093_411120_3294.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/n503562093_411121_4026.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/n503562093_411122_4731.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/n503562093_411133_7862.jpg

And how the tyre held up:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00898.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00899.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00900.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00901.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00902.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00905.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00906.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00907.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/MrJackman/DSC00908.jpg

[darkslag72]

wow looks like u had fun by those tyres lol, the weather looked good nice and dry perfect for your first trackday. im currently saving for myn i cant wait after looking at this lol!

[GRAHAM2000VTR]

looking good mate think you might wanna get some track tyre lol

[TypeRhys]

Call that a long read !!!!

Well done mate, looks like the 205 performed really well.
Wish i could have been there to have a go as passenger.

How did the 205 feel ?

[Jackman]

wow looks like u had fun by those tyres lol, the weather looked good nice and dry perfect for your first trackday. im currently saving for myn i cant wait after looking at this lol!

The tyres held up pretty well i thought for the amount of time i spent on track.

Now that i've done one day i think i've caught the bug!

I think Llandow was the perfect first one for me. nice simple track, i loved the bus stop section.

Im waiting to see if any videos pop up anywhere!

looking good mate think you might wanna get some track tyre lol

Yea they were only budget tyres! think i will get some track tyres for the next one, as a friend of mine can get them cheapish!

[Jackman]

Call that a long read !!!!

Well done mate, looks like the 205 performed really well.
Wish i could have been there to have a go as passenger.

How did the 205 feel ?

Sorry:oops: it is a bit of a read!

You will have to pop round for the next one mate! i was taking people out all day!

The 205 felt pretty well. better brakes are now my next priority.

I was getting quite a bit of understeer in places aswell, but i think that was due to the tyres really.

All in all the car peformed really well in my eyes. There wasn't any cars out there that i had a chance with. some of the 205's were absolute animals!

But i enjoyed it, which was my main aim!

[TypeRhys]

Yep, enjoying it is the main point.

Also you have gained experience and knowledge and can continue to progress.

[acemastr]

Sorry:oops: it is a bit of a read!

You will have to pop round for the next one mate! i was taking people out all day!

The 205 felt pretty well. better brakes are now my next priority.

I was getting quite a bit of understeer in places aswell, but i think that was due to the tyres really.

All in all the car peformed really well in my eyes. There wasn't any cars out there that i had a chance with. some of the 205's were absolute animals!

But i enjoyed it, which was my main aim!



i would say your understeer is coming from the amount of roll your suspension is giving you, a much more solid suspension would solve some of that

[Jackman]

i would say your understeer is coming from the amount of roll your suspension is giving you, a much more solid suspension would solve some of that

That is also a issue.

i should really get the bilsteins that are lieing on my floor fitted.

But i wanted to run her standard to get a idea of what i can improve!

[AlexR]

Llandow is a left front tyre killer on fwd cars, it is a good fun track, just the right handers after the back straight that worry me, i could just lift off for the schikane then lose enough speed through them to take the right handers to the main straight, but there's not much runoff there. Wasn't as fun in my 3 series.

[Saxy1]

Looks like a good day mate. :y:

[Jackman]

Llandow is a left front tyre killer on fwd cars, it is a good fun track, just the right handers after the back straight that worry me, i could just lift off for the schikane then lose enough speed through them to take the right handers to the main straight, but there's not much runoff there. Wasn't as fun in my 3 series.

Yep the tyre pictured is the left front lol! i was determined to get wire showing right the way round but they held up quite well!

I know what you mean about those right handers, that was my slowest section of the track. i was really struggling to find a good line through that part of the track. really wasn't a fan of the bend coming back onto the main straight.

But it was a great day, quite chuffed i only broke my left top suspension mount tbh!

Defiantly need to get some of the parts i have lieing about fitted now!

[AlexR]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/kneaster/Llandow%20March%202007/IMG_5804-1.jpg

With proper suspension ;)

[davevts]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/kneaster/Llandow%20March%202007/IMG_5804-1.jpg

With proper suspension ;)

not quick enough :S

[bullit]

looks like a good day. jealous

[Jackman]

Heres a few more shots that ive just been handed of me in action :)

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2116.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2117.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2130.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2159.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2177.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2199.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2205.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2206.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2394.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2422.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2430.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2432.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2487.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2488.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2489.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2490.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2502.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2503.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2504.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2505.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2552.jpg
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm124/pnhiggs/IMG_2553.jpg

[Paul]

Nice car :y:

[Ryan]

llandow is a good circuit for small cars as it isnt really a power circuit, its alot to do with how well the car is set up rather than bhp bragging rights.

its very abrasive on the tyres, i did much more damage to my left front than you did lol!!!


the bus stop rocks, personally would like to have seen something like that after the back straight. Or more run off there.. Also looks like you were quite agressive in the bus stop which isnt the fastest way! :P

[Jackman]

llandow is a good circuit for small cars as it isnt really a power circuit, its alot to do with how well the car is set up rather than bhp bragging rights.

its very abrasive on the tyres, i did much more damage to my left front than you did lol!!!


the bus stop rocks, personally would like to have seen something like that after the back straight. Or more run off there.. Also looks like you were quite agressive in the bus stop which isnt the fastest way! :P

Yea i was quite aggressive through the bus stop lol. probably wasn't the quickest way but was certainly fun lol!

I agree about having one after the back straight. i really wasn't a fan of that bit of the track lol. it was hard to get a good line through the shikane.

My tyres did hold up quite well. i obviously need more power to destroy them more :P

How many times have you done Llandow Ryan? who do you noramlly go with?

[Ryan]

i went with ssc to the mk1 llandow event lol!

brand new tyre was ripped appart on the vtr lol!!!

got a few funny pics of my own! i personally wanted to try and get sax-p there, but lots of people whinged about travel (everyone wants a track by their house and are not willing to travel it seems)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/itsafastworld85/IMG_6044.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/itsafastworld85/IMG_6096.jpg

gotta love braking hard and late with no abs lol
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/itsafastworld85/ry4.jpg

[Ryan]

thats how to destroy a brand new tyre
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y135/itsafastworld85/Picture352.jpg

[vtr130]

I really want to do a track day now, but i dont know where to look and how to pay for one!? Where is best to go for price, track time etc??

[Jackman]

Haha nice work!

i locked up a few times braking a bit late on the main straight! didn't need the holy shit lane like other people on the day though!

Sax-p really should look into doing one! i'd be well up for it!

im popping down to the SSC one next friday to have a look!

[Ryan]

well if people want one, i suspect one can be organised, but it would need people to pull their fingers out and pay for it in advance and also stop bitching and whinging about having to travel more than 10miles

[Ryan]

I really want to do a track day now, but i dont know where to look and how to pay for one!? Where is best to go for price, track time etc??


haha lost at trying to look into anything other than gayligning???

just go ssc llandow first for budget fun

[Jackman]

well if people want one, i suspect one can be organised, but it would need people to pull their fingers out and pay for it in advance and also stop bitching and whinging about having to travel more than 10miles

I agree about the travel bit.

there was a few people that i was talking to yesterday that were doing a 500mile round trip just to come to it and were staying in a hotel the night before.

Nothings wrong with a bit of travel. it would be well worth it in the end!


There is another Llandow track day that SW-CC are doing on the 24th May. Im thinking of doing that aswell now. but im leaving for 'The Ring' on the 29th!

[Ryan]

if you want to do llandow again ssc have tons of spaces still.

[Jackman]

if you want to do llandow again ssc have tons of spaces still.

Don't tempt me lol.

I wonder if my the tyres would take another day.

Might check my finances now.

[vtr130]

I will do it if my finances are ok, and i can find a solid gearbox that wont let go round a track :)

[Ryan]

as ive told you craig its the launches which kill gearboxes!!!!!!

[vtr_jay]

Don't tempt me lol.

I wonder if my the tyres would take another day.

Might check my finances now.

jackman stop being a pussy and do it u big girl lol ! glad you enjoyed mate.

[Jackman]

jackman stop being a pussy and do it u big girl lol ! glad you enjoyed mate.

Why don't you do it. your the one with a Saxo.

Bent.

[vtr130]

as ive told you craig its the launches which kill gearboxes!!!!!!

I will go if i can afford it!! Or if u lend me the money :) Happy now!

[Wolz]

Why don't you do it. your the one with a Saxo.

Bent.


Because his isnt fixed cos i didnt fix his to get yours sorted for Llandow on Saturday ..... Bent ! ! !

[vtr_jay]

Why don't you do it. your the one with a Saxo.

Bent.

i will be soon mate the car needs mot first tho ! EDIT : just read what wolz said !

[Wolz]

Well as Jackman said it was touch and go he made it on Saturday i had a call off him saturday morning saying his "STOP" light was on and he was losing water .... i finally got round to look at about 4pm friday when i was ment to be doing Jay's (sorry mate Jackman made me do it lol) as soon as he started it up you could hear the water pump graining loudly , i told him to get hold of Rob one of our mates (my cousin) who i knew hadd a water pump laying around in his garage .... i started on removing the water pump which turned out to be a nightmare as it was corroded solid in the block and ended up coming in out in about 30-40 bits lol ...then we found out the pump was for the cast block where as Mr Jackman`s Rallye was the old aly block so it was game over ........
I managed to get my ass out of bed by 7.30 (on my day off) and got down the factors to get a pump but they didnt open till 8.30 and by 9.30 i was on my way with the Rallye up to Llandow for him and by 10.30 Jackman was out ripping up tarmac

I managed to get a session out with in the open pit in the afternoon (i didnt think we were ever going to come back in) after a good 20-30 mins out giving it death i tiold Jackman to get in and let the car cool down as there was all kinds of smells coming through the vents

Got to say Jackman you handled it well for your first time .... and nailed that bottom shicane after i gave you a few pointers

Hoping to have a mad session on the silver saxo next weekend get the 16v in and running so i can have a crack out with the SSC boys on the 4th

[Wolz]

i will be soon mate the car needs mot first tho ! EDIT : just read what wolz said !

I'll be around tomorrow mate 100%

[vtr_jay]

tidy what time mate so i know to be in ?

[Ryan]

you can use the pm system :P

[Jackman]

Thank you Wolze :A:

Thanks for being my pitcrew and my navigator for the day :)

[Andy72]

what tyre pressures were you running? it sounds geeky but it makes a hell of a difference. I found in my astra running low pressures actually scrubbed all the tyres like yours. I run harder pressures ie approaching 40psi in the saxo and the tyres wear quite evenly across the full width. Its also a lot more controllable when balancing the car on the throttle.

[shooorn94]

Sounds like a good day Jackman. Love the pic of the 306 behind you (who overtook you :omg: ) 3 wheeling it around those bends.

Should defo go again, and get a video up next time :y:

[Jackman]

what tyre pressures were you running? it sounds geeky but it makes a hell of a difference. I found in my astra running low pressures actually scrubbed all the tyres like yours. I run harder pressures ie approaching 40psi in the saxo and the tyres wear quite evenly across the full width. Its also a lot more controllable when balancing the car on the throttle.

Ive got to be honest mate, i didnt even check. and i feel stupid for not doing it now!

what pressure should i of been running?

Sounds like a good day Jackman. Love the pic of the 306 behind you (who overtook you :omg: ) 3 wheeling it around those bends.

Should defo go again, and get a video up next time :y:

Yea mate i really enjoyed it!

I was meant to get the mini camera from work to mount in-car but my dad forgot to get it on thursday night:n:

[Jackman]

Heres some pictures taken by Dj-Mini who had the awesome white 205 Rallye!

http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/llandow2008/page9

[bullit]

thread of the week ;)

[Matty-VTR]

i'm up for a sax-p trackday at llandow - i've been there a few times before nice little circuit

[Lee_P]

top read enjoyed it and like the car :)