Track day - Abbeville - France

Well I thought I'd let you know of my experience on Abbeville, north of France.

Setup was:

1.8T estate with stage2 map and plumbing

Yoko Advan AD08 tyres (about 500 miles on them)

petrol 98 RON: 1 tank

Front ARB: 23mm

Rear ARB: 28mm

standard suspension

G88 discs

DS2500 pads

Format of track day:

Bring your own car, do as you like; French style (Oh and lunch was provided)

The morning started with a rather lengthy briefing about eyes, hands, feet and seating position. throw in a couple of personal experiences by Alain Prost's best mate and you've got 1 hour of waffle. Nevertheless, some of it was interesting and it gave the track time to dry and warm up.

After which all cars were ligned up 1 after the other, driving around the track while the instructor would jump from the first car to the next car and drive as the leader with everybody else following. Purpose? He checks your car for roadworthiness and gives you a couple of pointers on what to do and not to. (I learned my car can go sideways...)

All drivers are then given a helmet, and off you go.

track:

a lof of turns, slow and fast, followed by a straight where 90mph was achievable. Surface was like a B-road, with small bumps and dips. Certainly not as smooth as Brands, but more challenging, which I thought was good. Different but challenging. 2.4km long, sometimes used by manufactures to simulate a blast on B-roads. Plenty of run off areas, not too many damaged guard rails. Other cars were mainly Porsches but 1 caterham, 2 lotus elise, 1 corvette Z-something. All driving as if there was still HPI outstanding

Results;

AIT reached 45 dgrees C max. Brakes squeeled after pushing it, but never faded. 1 dead front wheel bearing. Tyres all good and still plenty of meat left for another session. Plenty of footage and even drove a Porshe Carrerra 4s! And lapped a GT3, which feels good! (don't care if he was driving like miss Daisy, I tell ya)

People over there are relaxed which can be a double-edged sword: I had plenty of fun and felt it was "my day" (if that makes sense). But then again, I sometimes got surprised by an idiot undertaking in a curve, just as I am about to head to the apex, forcing me to go wide. Nothing that could not be sorted by a gentle word with the officials though.

I would recommend it to anybody looking for something different and if you like being able to. just over 1 hour of careful driving from Calais, so can be done in 1 day really

hope this helps

Edited 24 June, 201313 yr by G-slave