Re: James/BigAsh 182 Race Car by TDF... It doesn't get much better than this! *Pic He
The Ring and Spa trip:
I spent the night at Dover and then got the ferry the next morning over to France. The whole journey was full of convoying trailers or supercars flying passed on their way to the Ring and set a pretty awesome atmosphere on the way out there! I was absolutely bussing and driving into Nurburg didn’t disappoint! I have been to many places where nice cars are just scattered around but the difference out at the ring is everyone is a car nut and it isn’t just people advertising how much money they have which I have found to be the case in Monaco etc.
Got overtaken on the Autobahn by this Hurst that must have been doing 120mph+
I got to the hotel, disconnected the trailer from the tow car and went out to follow Chip around the Ring in the tow car to get an idea for the place! I didn’t want to go fast as no tow car would of left for an interesting journey home but I was already in love with the place! Then Chip kindly took me out for a passenger lap in his car which seems so well suited to the bumps and undulations around the Ring.
It was then time to go for the briefing for the trackday on the following day. Here we met up with Porkie and his mates! It was the usual style briefing in a very nice workshop. Then onto dinner which was had at PK and was full of great food, great company and good banter! After a few steaks and few too many strong drinks it was time for bed.
The following day I awoke feeling a little worse for wear and looking out of the window to the darkness didn’t help.
I went down and got everything ready and then headed upto the track for opening time! The day was just awesome and I can’t put into words how much fun it was! Porkie took me out in his clio which was effortlessly munching up the laps while battling with Dan in the Exige. You could see the knowledge both Porkie and Chip had of the circuit as they got around the ring with super confidence and normally I’m a bad passenger but felt fully safe
Then it was time for me to brave to the track. Lee had offered to follow me round in his clio to video so I went out with Dan as my +1 and through the intercom we were talking. About half way around the lap he discovered I hadn’t driven around it before and then began to give me some really helpful pointers. It was quite worrying without the PAS how the car would just follow the camber on the road and try pulling me into the barriers when I tried holding the line I wanted the car got really snappy so it was best just to go slower and leave a margin for error. I was having great fun and the day continued like this really! I had some instruction booked with a VLN driver but unfortunately he was double booked
I went back out later in the day with Chip giving me some good pointers but I couldn’t really follow the correct line for fear of been pulled off into the barriers! I then took Lesley out for a passenger lap and just to try and focus on the lines rather than the speed which I really enjoyed!
Please excuse the wonky video
[video=youtube_share;4lA7s1ZHWZA]http://youtu.be/4lA7s1ZHWZA[/video]
After a bit more spectating and seeing the crazy Westfield lapping it was time for the end of the day so we got packed up where I proceeded to slide the trailer straight into the bumper of the towcar and crack the bumper
So I certainly hadn’t come away from the ring unscathed lol
Found CS stickers!
By total coincidence on my way to Spa I bumped into Porkie and his mates so we then convoyed over to Spa and after many wrong turns we finally arrived in a rather wet Spa. Dinner was had and then an early night ready for the following day.
We arrived at Spa and with the weather not been too great we got some garages and began to unpack. I was getting the car ready onto the 888’s ready for the damp track while Chip and Lesley went and did the sighting laps in their car. They came in and Chip very kindly offered me to take their car round for some sighting laps so I jumped in and by the end of the pitlane the circuit went green so I was in a random car in the wet surrounded by GT3’s and the like! The car was great and really does pull so nicely up the rev range and doesn’t need thrashing like mine to get the power. I was struggling to acclimatise to the totally different way to drive the car compared to mine but it was great fun and thank you to Chip for the opportunity.
I then ventured out onto the track in my car and it felt so slippery on the 888’s because they were so cold but I tried to drill them and get some heat into them and they finally started to come in.
I took a break and let the others go out on track. Upon going to start my next few laps the car wouldn’t start. I got the multi-meter out and it was showing the right voltage. I thought it was the starter motor and Chip very kindly offered to help change the starter motor but first we tried a boost pack and it kicked into life so it seemed the battery had lost some cells and didn’t have enough amps to crank! We still ventured out onto circuit where it was still damp but a very thin dry line was forming! The track was smooth and the car was starting to really come together. I was avoiding the kerbs and keeping some in reserve but the car was still making good progress. I got a bit too billy big balls going through Eau-rouge and the back wheel got onto the damp line and stepped out, I straightened it up and missed the following corner but no harm done. I was loving the circuit and think I would say it is my favorite circuit I have ever driven! The place just flows so nicely and is really rewarding. After the big drag up the hill I approached the following corners closing in on the F430 scuderia in front, as I was accelerating it felt down on power but I presumed it could be due the battery and maybe low voltage so just kept going, went through Phuon and flat on the second part to get passed the Ferrari then entering the final corner before all the bottom flat section I changed gear accelerated and about 1000rpm before the limiter an almighty bang! The car shot a load of smoke from the back and in the video you can hear bits clattering around in the exhaust. The Ferrari must of got a plastering of oil as the boot of my car was covered. I couldn’t believe it and was gutted as I could tell how much pace the car could have had later in the day when it dried out. I began to get out of the car when I see a lambo coming sideways at us. I then realised my oil had been dumped on track and we were in the firing line for cars slipping on it. 3 cars lost control but luckily we had launched ourselves over the barrier to safety the car was smoking away and we were fairly sure it was going to go up in flames but there was no point in been stood in front of the car trying to put the fire out and then getting collected by cars spinning off and crashing! Luckily it didn’t set alight and instead we got towed back in the lunch hour and began to load up for the journey home. If it weren’t for having such a good trip I would probably of been in tears but I have become accustomed to the car and took it in my stride.
Video of the engine blowing up
[video=youtube_share;5QmtjqWs9oY]http://youtu.be/5QmtjqWs9oY[/video]
The afternoon was just incredible! I got taken out by Lee in his cossy Westfield and it is by far the most fun I have ever had in a car!! The thing just has phenomenal acceleration and apparently the boost was on low lol! There was not one car on circuit that was faster and this coupled with Lee’s epic car control led to the most incredible experience that I wont forget in a long time so thank you mate! We were going that fast up the Kemmel straight that my helmet was undoing itself and dragging off my head! When I was waiting for the ferry that evening the chaps from Litchfield had obviously seen the car without the bonnet on and were discussing it saying nothing else on track could keep up! That car certainly is well know and other people in the day were coming up and asking if it was the car they had seen on youtube lol!
After this it was time for a couple of hours chilling and packing up and then the journey home. The epic trip was over and it was time to say bye to everyone who had been such great company for the few days. It was such a pleasure to meet Lee and his mates along with seeing Chip and Lesley again! I look forward to the next trip and I’m sure the car will stay in one piece next time