VX Site wrote:I hired an airstrip for a hour this afternoon with a mate from work. Great fun!Found it an excellent way to 'find the limit' and see just how catchable my car is (or not). Unfortunately it absolutely pi$$ed it down and there was quite a bit of standing water, but I spose this saved my tyres from scrubbing too much!
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You get given a radio and they call you in if a plane is due to land, but apart from that the palce is yours to do what you want!
The runway was just under half mile long, with an access road about 200 metres long, at the top end of the runway to the right. You could accelerate and enter the runway at 50 - 60 mph cornering pretty aggressively. Theres grass on one side and some gravely tarmac on the other, with a turning circle at the end.
Checked tyre presssures and oil/water levels then took a few sighter runs, checking braking markers + getting things warmed up.
First we did hard braking from 60mph then 80mph. My brakes are crap though as Im currently on standard pads and havent had time to fit my 1155s. Next, built up speed putting constant steering inputs, seeing how aggressively you can turn in. Mostly got understeer due to the weather. Next tried slaloming from side to side using the width of the runway, try lots of 'what if I..' etc, trying to catch the rear end and seeing how far you can go before the inevitable happens and you spin! Happened a few times but was harmless, the ECU did throw a wobbly though going into limp home mode with no throttle and only running on 3 cylinders. Fuse 8 and a short break then the fun continued!
Only interupted once, just parked up at the end
Its great for those that either want to explore their car further in a save environment or those who was to get their eye back in before the trackday season kicks off. now have
The airfield is just outside of Brackley, not far fro Silverstone. Its called Turweston Aerodrome. If your interested in hiring it yourself take a look at their web site
For the hour we spent there it cost £35.25 BARGAIN!!!!! (Did use 3/4 of a tank of fuel over 80 miles though!)
So Pete your an air traffic controller, any chance of sorting out a couple of hours in Glasgow airport
Wish I'd done something like that in it!
