Singing in the rain, Bedford autodrome

[Jay Payne]

Went to Bedford on Monday afternoon with Tony Hunter, to give my car its first track outing of the year. It was the first time we had driven the full GT layout and i rather like it.

It was dry when we arrived and we started to play with the damper settings. (Swapped to AST's over the winter) We didnt finish getting the car how we wanted it before the heavens opened. Tony sent me out on my own to see how it was. I took things steady at first seeing as we were on R888's But the car currently has too much rear brake bias meaning that if you didnt brake in an absolute straight line the back end tried to overtake you. It had me off twice in the wet and Tony very skillfully caught a massive sideways moment in the braking zone for turn 1 in the dry.


Here is the results of my big spin, narrowly avoided the barrier. Thats actually the pit access road I ended up on, miles from the track. Wet grass dont slow you down much

Learing from my mistakes and after Tony had had a go I kept it on the black stuff later.

There was all manner of exotic and potent machinery there but surprisingly NOTHING overtook us all day. I enjoyed trying to hang on to the back of an old skool 911 for a few laps.

Gained alot more confidence with track driving but there is still much room for improvement from both me and the car.

So here are some vids I shot, tried a different camera position and im quite happy with the footage, the sound is very crap so sorry for that but its just a setting on the camera that needs changing. Next time they will be better.

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[ForceIndia]

Sound set to hi? Good video though.

 

[Jay Payne]

Yea my bro borrowed it and i didnt check it after I got it back off him

 

[maynard]

looks like a pretty good day and circuit, hoping to get this one booked up for next month.

 

[ForceIndia]

looks like a pretty good day and circuit, hoping to get this one booked up for next month.

GT circuit? When? Hopefully should have the new suspension on by then, not done the full GT circuit, only the SW.

 

[Jay Payne]

The extra bit of circuit is abit technical with some tight corners but a good challenge. the bit you miss out from the southwest is just the stuff between the straights. All left handers iirc.

Some say the place is flat and fetureless but i really like the good mix of corners

 

[ForceIndia]

I've found it gets boring quickly, which is why I've only ever done half days/evenings there.

 

[.Gem.]

I'd have needed new underwear after the spinning moment!

Looks like fun otherwise!

 

[Whiteley]

Looks a handful in the wet!

 

[powey]

Looks good fun and seems the clio can punch a few classes higher

 

[Jay Payne]

I've found it gets boring quickly, which is why I've only ever done half days/evenings there.

The afternoon was great for us, there was an option to do the full day and there were so many cars there but I think they had all had enough or run out of tyres/fuel/brakes coz the circuit was fairly empty. loads of people went home around 3:30-4pm

 

[Jay Payne]

Looks a handful in the wet!

too much rear brake bias, R888's with 1.6mm tread (they do work), partly flooded track in places and dampers still on the settings we were using in the dry.

Great fun tbh. Some of the slides were on purpose

 

[Tony Hunter]

Looks a handful in the wet!

It wasn't that bad really considering the set up we had,if we drove it carefully it would get round quite well,but's thats not we went there for.

It was to push it to the limit and beyond to find any weaknesses and to sort out anything that needed changing,but rain stopped play really,so FUN time

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Hmmm....I think Im starting to regret you talking me into coming with you to Mallory :rasp:

Can't wait though, should be awesome!

 

[Jay Payne]

It was to push it to the limit and beyond to find any weaknesses and to sort out anything that needed changing,but rain stopped play really,so FUN time

Couldnt of put it better myself. I was actually surprised how much grip we had in the wet considering we didnt soften the suspension at all and we were on R888's witch will 'kill you' in the wet if you believe the shite written on here sometimes

 

[ForceIndia]

R888's are fine in the wet, as long as you get the temp into them and there's no standing water.

 

[Jay Payne]

Hmmm....I think Im starting to regret you talking me into coming with you to Mallory :rasp:

Can't wait though, should be awesome!

You will either love it, or cry like a girl

 

[Jay Payne]

R888's are fine in the wet, as long as you get the temp into them and there's no standing water.

Yea if you see the video as we get to the corner by the pit entry there was a small lake forming, that was interesting. But on the whole im very pleased with how the tyres manged the whole day. Wont be using road tyres on track again

 

[ForceIndia]

I'm going to try the rs2's, getting good reviews. £200ish for 4!

 

[Mr Burns]

Good stuff, gotta get some decent tyres and a camera for next time. I was having a few sideways moments of my own, mine were intentional though lol. Was having great fun playing with lift-off oversteer on the last righthander before the pit straight!

 

[Mr Burns]

I'm going to try the rs2's, getting good reviews. £200ish for 4!

Where from?? I'm in desperate need of a full set after Bedford!

 

[ForceIndia]

Where from?? I'm in desperate need of a full set after Bedford!

I'm rolling on 15's, makes tyre's uber cheap!

 

[Mr Burns]

I need four tyres, brakepads and my second service is due! Expensive month!

 

[Jay Payne]

Fun wearing it all out tho

 

[Mr Burns]

Damn right, had great fun pushing 'faster cars' out the way... My car was all over the place though due to the worn-out Contis! lol.

 

[ForceIndia]

Damn right, had great fun pushing 'faster cars' out the way... My car was all over the place though due to the worn-out Contis! lol.

At least you've got a new car, in an old heap people do not want to get out of the way.
Steve's running the RS2's on his 197cup, rates them highly.

 

[Jay Payne]

This is my fav pics from the day.

Buggered if im paying 12quid for them tho.

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

How much!!?

I know photographers make a killing at events like that, but I didnt know they charged that much!

I'll do some shots of yours for £10 Jay? :rasp:

 

[Tony Hunter]

They were all the most uninteresting pics I have ever seen

 

[Mr Burns]

My tripod effort...

 

[Fred@BTM]

how was the suspension Tony/Burp?

 

[Tigger]

Very good, and lucky escape too!
What camera & mount were you using?

 

[Tony Hunter]

how was the suspension Tony/Burp?

Difficult to say really,understeered a bit stiffened the back a few clicks was abit better but then it chucked it down.Still far too much rear brakes even with the balance bar fully out/in,possibly needs a cup rear valve,any thoughts?

 

[Jay Payne]

Very good, and lucky escape too!
What camera & mount were you using?

Go-Pro Hero (Old version not the new wide one) with Motorsport add on kit, stuck to he roof.

 

[Jay Payne]

how was the suspension Tony/Burp?

As Tony said the biggest problem was the brakes. Ive been advised by several people now to have the shocks on full stiff on the rear and about 6-8 clicks on the front. Will be trying this on Saturday at Mallory Park if its dry

 

[Fred@BTM]

full soft on the front more like!

might be needing a bias valve, you still got ABS?

 

[Leeshez]

Very nice .

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

No lol, I watched him hack the ABS sensors off!

 

[Jay Payne]

full soft on the front more like!

might be needing a bias valve, you still got ABS?

abs has been binned. got a bias valve but still got too much on the rear even on the minimum. ive got some better front pads to go in now so that should help a little

 

[Tony Hunter]

Were those pads okay?