Just the usual turn up bacon rolls, intro thing. The format was track with instructor in the new FQ-360, then play in other cars EVO 8 300 and a old EVO 6, autotest in the car park as you go in on the right in the 300 and 360, 4 x 4 in Shogun SWB off road course, stop for lunch ( got something nice to eat at KH) same again in the afternoon but you would get awarder points by a instructor in the pax on track and off road in the shogun and point for your time in the autotest.
Well I have never driven any kind of performance 4 door and was well impressed with them performance and handling of all the EVO's. Suspension and brakes are much the same in most models its just the power that's the difference.
I liked driving the 300 as it was well within my limits and started getting it sideways, but the 360 just had so much power/torque that I was caught out a few times especially down duffus (flat out) and going thru the chicane. Its not so much the power its the weight of the car and the momentum it carries into the corners that catches you(me) out . Had a ball all the same and think I must have put in a few laps in the 62's.
Well all went well and at the end it went to a open pit lane for about a hour. Think there must have been 20 or so drivers with there cars and another 15 or so of us that had to share the 5 demo cars.
Got talking to a guy from Aberdeen who took me out in his FQ-400 (only 100 made and cost £45k) what a toy, and with most of the power/torque at the top end it loved to be thrashed
). on the way round I give him a few pointers etc (track novice) and he starts to go a bit quicker. We pull into the pits and he jumps out and says "on you go you drive". I was a bit apprehensive as this was this guys pride and joy. 5 or so laps later we come back in. Quote from the owner "I cana believe my car can go that hill (duffus)so fast " he was well chuffed and I had a grin from ear to ear.I then take my brand new (300miles on the clock) L200 out for a few laps. It was soooooo slow. If only I could have switched of the ESP (I think that's what it was) it would have been a laugh, but it kept cutting in as soon as the thing got out of shape, just as well maybe. I managed a 1.25 lap not bad for a 2.5 ton 176bhp pick up.
Was not expecting it but got awarded the main prize "overall driver of the day" ( even thou one of the instructors on the track said I spent more time on the grass then Bob Marley) I was well chuffed. Got a nice glass trophy too.
Also there was a special guest there Robbie someone ( I am murder with names) he does the rally commentating on the TV, but is also a ex-driver? he was taking people out for pax laps in a old (EVO 6) rally car with gravel tyres on. What a hoot I would love to be able to swing the back end the wrong way under braking and then swing it round the other way and go round the corner sideway with all 4 wheels spinning. It was fine at the hairpin, but going down duffus sideways and then whipping it the other way was a real thrill great talent.
Scotty
