Scottish Elises

What cracking weather this afternoon. I took a run up on my motorbike and arrived around 1:30pm with the track busy. The heat was affecting engine, brake and tyre temperatures so plenty heat comming from the cars in the pit lane. Some got a bit too hot but more of that later

I was happy wandering round the pit lane catching up with everybody and joining in the general banter. However the favourable comments about Neil driving tempted me to sign on as a passenger and I tracked him down and arranged to go our for half a dozen laps. I have been out with many of the SE bunch and always impressed with the increasing confidence and skills.

I had never been out with Neil and within seconds of joining the track I realisied that this was going to be fun We went hurtling into Duffas and I had no idea how it didn't give way at the bottom before entering McIntyres. Neil was nearer the centre of the track on the entrance to McIntyres than I used to but it seemed to work well for him. His car seems very planted and quick. The Chicane was awesome and the grip astounding. I just laughed and laughed. Managed to egg him on even further during the next few laps with comments like "Scotty managed through this faster" and "Tut managed a bigger slide there". We had some excellent slides around the hairpin much to the amusement of the nearby spectators. I have to admit that my pax laps today with Neil were the fastest and some of the most enjoyable I have experienced at Knockhill. I have been around Knockhill with Andrew Walsh when he was chasing Tut and that was fun but Neil's performance today was even faster. I can thoroughly recommend pax laps with Neil or any other of the SE gang. Its well worth going out with experienced owners to pick up hints and tips. Also shows the benefits of plenty of tuition.

All did not go that well for Neil though. Only a few laps after he dropped me off he lost power approaching the hairpin. His fuel pumps had packed in and the track was closed while he was rescued. This was one of four or five red flag incidents during the afternoon. The worst was when a Suburu overheated and went on fire comming out of the hairpin. Apparantly a lot of damage in the engine bay Within the last minute or so of the session a driver went of track and damaged the whole drivers side of his car after colliding with a tyre wall.

The Bodget Brothers (Robin & FD) did their best to try and get Neil's car mobile again. As normal there was plenty of helpful comments from the SE gang around the car Despite their efforts and some assistance from our friendly ex-elise owning AA Partolman they failed to get the car running. Hope Neil can make it up to Mexi Towers okay as we need him for the banter. Neil, I can give you a lift up on Saturday afternoon as I am heading up in the Punto with Skye around 1:30pm, though you would need to arrange a lift back as we are not comming straight back on Sunday.





The rest of the SE gang had left shortly after the end of the track night heading up to Fort William. The weather was still good so they should have had a good run to the hotel.

Suppose I had better get to bed. Hopefully see everybody tomorrow night at Mexi Towers

Iain

Skyenet wrote: I had never been out with Neil and within seconds of joining the track I realisied that this was going to be fun We went hurtling into Duffas and I had no idea how it didn't give way at the bottom before entering McIntyres. Neil was nearer the centre of the track on the entrance to McIntyres than I used to but it seemed to work well for him. His car seems very planted and quick. The Chicane was awesome and the grip astounding. I just laughed and laughed. Managed to egg him on even further during the next few laps with comments like "Scotty managed through this faster" and "Tut managed a bigger slide there". We had some excellent slides around the hairpin much to the amusement of the nearby spectators. I have to admit that my pax laps today with Neil were the fastest and some of the most enjoyable I have experienced at Knockhill. I have been around Knockhill with Andrew Walsh when he was chasing Tut and that was fun but Neil's performance today was even faster. I can thoroughly recommend pax laps with Neil or any other of the SE gang. Its well worth going out with experienced owners to pick up hints and tips. Also shows the benefits of plenty of tuition.

All did not go that well for Neil though. Only a few laps after he dropped me off he lost power approaching the hairpin. His fuel pumps had packed in and the track was closed while he was rescued.

The Bodget Brothers (Robin & FD) did their best to try and get Neil's car mobile again. As normal there was plenty of helpful comments from the SE gang around the car Despite their efforts and some assistance from our friendly ex-elise owning AA Partolman they failed to get the car running. Iain

i was kept pretty busy yesterday giving pax laps to people. I thoroughly enjoy trying to scare folk, but you laughed the most of anyone who has ever sat in my pax seat. i could hardly hear the blown exhaust over your whoops and screams

As mentioned, my original lotus fuel pump semms to have siezed .I have a second pump that was fitted during my soul removal operation , but that still needs the original to work. Huge thanks again to robin and fergus, also to scotty and stu pollock (Stu - you always seem to be around when my car breaks-something you wanna tell me?? )

most annoyingly, the car felt sluggish for a few laps before. i put it down to the fact kenny was in the pax seat (fat barsteward ) This was when uldis decided he wanted a race, and i couldnt pull away on the straights. shortly after, just as we got to the front of the traffic, the pump died completly, and everyone i had got past cruised by with a smile on there faces.

so that was my MT weekend over, i waited a couple of hours for the recovery truck, got it home, then towed it into Murrays this morning. hopefully gonna get it fixed under the AA warranty.

Mr Pot-Kettle-Black wrote:i put it down to the fact kenny was in the pax seat (fat barsteward )

Nothing to do with my weight but everything to do with me being a f*cking jinx.

Did I forget to mention that

Was an excellent day though, big thanks to Ed for loaning me his Exige for a bit. Only spun it once

kenny wrote:

Mr Pot-Kettle-Black wrote:i put it down to the fact kenny was in the pax seat (fat barsteward )

Nothing to do with my weight but everything to do with me being a f*cking jinx.

Did I forget to mention that

You barsteward what did you think of the car upto the point it died. It felt a bit sluggish for your session, but obviously the pump was on its way out.

Was superb mate, first time into Duffus I was amazed at how late you can brake. Is your conversion a JDM spec? In answer to another thread, 4th gear vtec in a JDM is 90+ mph so your apex speed for Duffus must have been at least that

Very impressive.

As mentioned, my original lotus fuel pump semms to have siezed .I have a second pump that was fitted during my soul removal operation , but that still needs the original to work. Huge thanks again to robin and fergus, also to scotty and stu pollock (Stu - you always seem to be around when my car breaks-something you wanna tell me?? )


Funny you say that,I seem to be around when my car breaks down as well .............very strange

Stu

kenny wrote: Was an excellent day though, big thanks to Ed for loaning me his Exige for a bit. Only spun it once

That looked amazing from my rear view mirror Hope Ed wasn't watching at the time

I had a farking great time, despite being one of the slowest drivers there Mate who paxed with me also had a great time - and thanks to Mac for taking him out to give him a scare

Instruction was good, despite the TUT-flagged sesion after 1 corner, but those lines going through the chicane will need to be worked on for me before I can get my head through the "drive straight through it" part <shudder>

Really need to grow bigger balls for Duffus too - I was braking late, but scrubbing off too much speed Tyres survived though - purely by melting the actual wear indicators down a bit Twas rather good fun getting out in the GT2 aswell - bloody fast

Roll on the next one (once I have some money!)

Here are some photos from Knockhill. If anyone wants the high res version, just let me know.

http://www.graham-walsh.com/gallery/thu ... p?album=93

Cheers

Graham

GregR wrote:I had a farking great time, despite being one of the slowest drivers there

Its ok mate I'll be back on track after I get back from Le Mans

GrahamW wrote:Here are some photos from Knockhill. If anyone wants the high res version, just let me know.

http://www.graham-walsh.com/gallery/thu ... p?album=93

Cheers

Graham

Graham,

If you could email high res copies of numbers 27 and 152 to mark@cliff-tech.co.uk that would be great.

Thanks,
Mark

Didn't know the Skyline driver posted here.
Just saw he uploaded some footage of the trackday in the gallery section:

http://www.auhd36.dsl.pipex.com/uldis.wmv


Good to see some footage of one's car

GrahamW wrote:Here are some photos from Knockhill. If anyone wants the high res version, just let me know.

http://www.graham-walsh.com/gallery/thu ... p?album=93

Cheers

Graham

Pic 66: "look ma, no hands"

Digital wrote:
Pic 66: "look ma, no hands"

I had dared him to see how far he could get without using his hands, he let go halfway round the hairpin so was doing well to reach the pit lane (ok I did have to make some minor corrections)

thats must have been another time Iain, i was just show boating for the camera. besides, when you were in the car, i couldnt hear a thing you were saying, could just hear you laughing at the drifting