Monday, 5 December 2011

Brands Hatch Trackday - 3rd December 2011

Before embarking on my first event in the 2012 production BMW championship I thought I'd better book myself in for a few trackdays, first of which was on the 3rd of december.


Driving up on
an overcast saturday morning the weather didn't look like it was going to stay good for my first attempt at driving the E30 320 on track. Luckily the rain held off long enough for me to get the car unloaded off of the trailer so at least I was dry.

However it wasn't to stay that way for long and by the time the circuit opened the track surface was wet and very slippery.

We had been warned that there wasn't a great deal of grip on the circuit however I slightly underestimated how greasy it was a promptly managed to spin on my second or third lap at the apex of paddock hill, only a very minor spin. Didn't even leave the circuit but it still didn't meet with the approval of the organizers.

Through out the day there was in the region of 15 red flags so I wasn't the only one caught out by the conditions.


By the afternoon the track had dried out and some more sensible laps were put in, a few seconds off where I'd ideally be but the cold surface, old R888's and lack of experience in the car wouldn't have helped.

A quick video of the last session is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Unf5twcIo

Lydden Hill - 22nd October 2011

A fairly predictable result at Lydden on the 22nd of October saw me finish in 3rd place behind the 2 911 GT3's, maybe there should be another purchase before 2012 and the odd sprint entered to see if I can compete on slightly more level ground.

The third in class was good enough for the following overall results for the year

Tunbridge Wells motor club - 1st overall
Sevenoaks Motor club - 3rd or 4th overall (forgot to marshall so didn't qualify)
AEMC - 5th overall, 3rd in class behind the GT3's
ASEMC - 5th overall, 3rd in class behind the GT3's
ACSMC championship - 8th overall, 3rd in class behind the GT3's
ACSMC Challenge - 2nd overall, 1st in class

So quite reasonable results considering I was 80-90 bhp down on the GT3's which I scored points against.

CSL went up for sale in the afternoon of the 22nd and sold soon after to fund a tow car for next year.