TrackScotland Trackday : Sat 7th March 2009, 12-4pm - £100

[mac]

Simon, you should be proud, all the best with the racing.

Scotty

From what sounded like a daft MSN conversation, you were the only one to see it through to completion. Others (who will remain nameless) took the easier option of just buying a 7 - but you followed the book, learned new skills and solved engineering problems.

It's worth pointing out that you don't have a mechanical or engineering background, that your day to day life involves IT work and that a lump hammer isn't something you would normally use. You could have adopted the "close enough is good enough" approach, but you didn't and I think that Saturday's shakedown throwing up no major handling or construction problems is a direct result of your patience.

You did well, very well - and I know that there's a lot of your friends and SE'rs out there that are very proud of you!

Perhaps there is the making of future jedi in our midst!


Mac

[ironside]

Thanks guys,

First race is this Sunday at Snetterton, plenty of time to get the last few bits done.

[Shug]

Simon, you should be proud, all the best with the racing.

Scotty

From what sounded like a daft MSN conversation, you were the only one to see it through to completion. Others (who will remain nameless) took the easier option of just buying a 7 - but you followed the book, learned new skills and solved engineering problems.

It's worth pointing out that you don't have a mechanical or engineering background, that your day to day life involves IT work and that a lump hammer isn't something you would normally use. You could have adopted the "close enough is good enough" approach, but you didn't and I think that Saturday's shakedown throwing up no major handling or construction problems is a direct result of your patience.

You did well, very well - and I know that there's a lot of your friends and SE'rs out there that are very proud of you!

Perhaps there is the making of future jedi in our midst!


Mac

Well said that man

[Andy G]

Thanks guys,

First race is this Sunday at Snetterton, plenty of time to get the last few bits done.

Good luck with it

[TrackScotland]

Good to see everyone at the RedflagdayScotland Trackday

Thats not very positive :/ Was this one that bad given the conditions? I know of a few red flags caused by some over exuberant driving at the hairpin...

Any suggestions on how to improve other peoples driving standards?

[Scotty C]

Adam

I think the conditions were really bad, and as said on the trackscotland forum a few people were taking advantage and finding there cars limits. I understand people like driving rear wheel drive (and 4 x 4) and getting them a bit side ways, but its really off putting having to give people more room than normal on exit just so they can do a bit of showboating. There is a time and a place for this and I'm not convinced its at a trackday (not a drift day) and every time they come to the hairpin.

I for one had a off, but was lucky to be able to drive back onto track. School boy error even with all the toys switched on

Just my 2p

Scotty C

[ruadh08]

Good to see everyone at the RedflagdayScotland Trackday

Thats not very positive :/ Was this one that bad given the conditions? I know of a few red flags caused by some over exuberant driving at the hairpin...

Any suggestions on how to improve other peoples driving standards?

Dont worry! Dont take it personally, there were indeed a lot of red flags, but they were cleared very quickly. When you consider the heavy rain, and remnants of fuel spillages there were no more than average. I have been a stalwart of KH trackdays since they first started, and the conditions were as bad as I have known them.

At the end of the day, you can have as much fun, and gain a hell of a lot of experience from such conditions, and use it to improve awareness of car control.

Everyone needs to drive on such a day within their own, and the cars capabilities, but the limits are reached at a far lower speed than on a dry day, so when the off happens, hopefully it only results in light panel damage and a bruised ego!

We were all warned at the briefing about the foul conditions, and in particular the fuel spillage from the day before!!

Generally I thought the track etiquette between those experienced and inexperienced was very good and respectable, and the day itself was well run, with a good mix of cars.

[alicrozier]

Adam

I think the conditions were really bad, and as said on the trackscotland forum a few people were taking advantage and finding there cars limits. I understand people like driving rear wheel drive (and 4 x 4) and getting them a bit side ways, but its really off putting having to give people more room than normal on exit just so they can do a bit of showboating. There is a time and a place for this and I'm not convinced its at a trackday (not a drift day) and every time they come to the hairpin.

I'd say that by all means provoke (and ideally catch!) a bit of a slide but not when there is a car close behind or in front of you.
The reason I mention in front is that your evasive options are a bit imited if you're already sliding!

I've done it but only when I knew and trusted the other driver. e.g sychro drifting with McApe at Oulton.

Adam,
Maybe just a comment at the briefing to avoid intentional drifting with cars in close proximity?

[TrackScotland]

yup... I've asked the owner of the blue impreza to tone it down a bit.... and the 200sx to make sure there is no one around if he's going to 'drift' (he said he wasnt though...)

If people have issues with driving on the day PLEASE mention it to one of us or a marshal so we can nip it in the bud by having a wee chat with the drivers to highlight folks concerns there and then. Very little can be done now.

[mac]

my only "gripe" from the weekend was that a large number of drivers wouldn't give me time to move out of the road. Given the limited grip I had I had to feather the throttle on exit but that didn't seem quick enough for some drivers who tried to drive through me or try and pass me when I took up a different, more central line into MacIntyres or the hairpin.

The other thing that would have help would have been a requirement for drivers to put their lights on to help with visability.

I've found that there's only a few of the marshalls are worth speaking to at Kh and I don't know what you or Fee look like yet or I would have mentioned the above.


Mac

[David]

As one of the slower and less experienced drivers out there, I felt I was treated well by all, but the level of concentration required is often at the cost of looking in the mirrors. Has anyone ever thought of having a 'expert' half hour where us newbies cadge a pax and let the big boys have fun - just thinking out loud.

[TrackScotland]

who decides on newbie and expert? Some folk prob think they are gods gift after 1 or 2 laps...

I'd like to run a novice night but unsure on if there'd be enough interest.

[Sanjøy]

I'd like to run a novice night but unsure on if there'd be enough interest.

Sarah is waiting on the next ladies only night. As I am sure Shug is to but in a more predatory fashion.

[Andy G]

Good to see everyone at the RedflagdayScotland Trackday

Thats not very positive :/ Was this one that bad given the conditions? I know of a few red flags caused by some over exuberant driving at the hairpin...

Any suggestions on how to improve other peoples driving standards?

Sorry Adam - was teasing! Just popped up for an hour and was amazed at the amount of red flags. The conditions were brutal though, but wasnt meant personally or as a slur on Trackday Scotland.



For improving driving standards on these days, i think its imperative that people arent using it as a testing day, and are driving with thought given to other track users. A knockhill warning for anyone spinning, leaving the track, or driving excessively aggressively, normally helps.

Have done some of your days in the past though, and have a had a great time - and have had no probs at all

Getting stuck at the hairpin should win them a "dick of the day" award (the manouvres the Atom had to do on occassion to avoid that where interesting, and not sure how a Scooby got stuck if it didnt, and it was waterlogged then too )