Updates.
Yesterday consisted of a visit to Oulton Park, which ended up definitely being a day of two halves.
Unfortunately the weather wasn't on side, practically torrential for the drive over from Yorkshire (with delays due to standard M62 antics) and pretty dreary most of the morning.
The most important things to consider on the day were:
- First time at Oulton Park
- First time driving on track in the wet
- Tyre choice was a set of NS-2Rs as I was optimistic that the weather was going to be better than I'd hoped
Thankfully I booked a pair of garages which kept us dry, I had two for me and a friend with his MG, whilst
@Danith in the 220 and
@JB21 were living next door.
I was already feeling apprehensive about going out in the wet, not to mention on a new track with non-optimal tyres. First 2-3 sessions were steady away just getting to grips with the circuit, gear selection, braking points and working out how to get by in the conditions. I had a couple of laps with Dan behind me in the 220, I ended up letting him by (also read: blue flagged) and he had disappeared from view within a lap, job jobbed.
At this point I was still using sport mode in manual. However, I followed advise to get into race mode, which will allow complete control and to stop the car from intervening so much when handling around the circuit. First time out and it felt far better, felt more in control and I was questioning why I wasn't using it to begin with.
I was feeling more confident at this point, coming round the back of the circuit over Clay Hill I passed a slow RX-8 which resulted in my entry into Water Tower towards Druids much tighter. I went on the brakes but the back end just completely went, the back end came around to the left and the car slid off circuit, onto the grass on the inside of the turn coming to a complete stop, gutted. Luckily it was a minor off, and no barriers were involved.
For some reason that off completely shook me up, I was already feeling nervy due to the conditions and I spent the lunch break on my own practically questioning whether this was all worth it. I knew I needed to pick myself up and keep going, but I couldn't believe how much it had knocked my confidence.
I had a good chat with Phil (appreciate the advice mate!) and luckily I had brought two of my PS4s (road wheel) with me purely as security, he advised I stick them on the rear and I should see an improvement in rear grip and a little more stability.
It probably took me until 2-3pm to get myself back out, steady away. My testicles were the size of raisins by this point so I was keeping it calm and collected. By this point the sun had come out and a dry line had started to appear.
I was suddenly feeling so so much more confident in the car in the dry, I could feel the heat in the tyres and was really starting to lob it into the tighter turns without fear of another incident, I could feel the day coming back to me and was starting to enjoy myself. Even so, Druids had my number and I was still keeping it slow and steady through there.
By 4pm half of the attendees had gone, but I had another hour to go and I wasn't going to waste it, ended up spending most of that time out there on track and was just going quicker and quicker, ending the day on a massive high.
All in all, it was a big lesson learnt. My inexperience has me underprepared for the conditions, and it was the tyres and my own self-confidence that had let me down. Realistically, I wasn't committed enough out there, and as a result there was no chance of getting any heat into the tyres (not that I would have, being non-reputable for wet conditions), and I ended up paying for it. Got some thinking to do for next time, I'm just glad I didn't end the day completely defeated.
Thanks to
@Danith for the ride in his 220, gave me a great insight as to what experience can do out there, not to mention the Conti 7s were very impressive.
Home time.