and met someone else there in a vRS Octy like mine, but an 04 in black. There was also a UK plate 01 in black as well. Spoke to the 04 fella who said he knew of this place so if you are there say hi!

Had a fantastic weekend. Car is an 02, silver, standard apart from Goodyear Eagles fitted purely for this trip, and a REVO chip. Not a bad 'ring tool but needs a suspension kit before i go back really......

Managed a 9'34......thats from the coned chicane at the start of the lap to the white gantry that crosses the start/finish straight about 200 yards out of the last corner. I think Clarkson timed to finish there, but I'm not sure where he started the clock - anyone know?

Top weekend and the car did it all without complaint - 23 laps and all the way from Brighton and back with 3 people in it. Great cars aren't they?

Normally start from the going under the bridge after the coned area. Oh and stop the clock as you go under the gantry. Most people quote their times as BTG, bridge to gantry.

My best (with T13 closed) 8'32"

Glad you had a good time

what had you done to your car to get 8'32"?

IIRC he added a 1.4 badge and a funky air scent thing*...

Jon is a good track driver

*Some tweaks may of been made...but who knows what they were

and met someone else there in a vRS Octy like mine' date=' but an 04 in black. There was also a UK plate 01 in black as well. Spoke to the 04 fella who said he knew of this place so if you are there say hi!

Had a fantastic weekend. Car is an 02, silver, standard apart from Goodyear Eagles fitted purely for this trip, and a REVO chip. Not a bad 'ring tool but needs a suspension kit before i go back really......

Managed a 9'34......thats from the coned chicane at the start of the lap to the white gantry that crosses the start/finish straight about 200 yards out of the last corner. I think Clarkson timed to finish there, but I'm not sure where he started the clock - anyone know?

Top weekend and the car did it all without complaint - 23 laps and all the way from Brighton and back with 3 people in it. Great cars aren't they?[/quote']

Sounds like a good trip, hopefully I'll make it myself one year...just need to take it easy on the first few trips

what had you done to your car to get 8'32"?

Hundreds of practice laps

My poor ickle SDI has trouble cracking 8'50" :(

As for the 1.4, slightly modded engine, good suspension, better brakes, nice tyres and a couple fo practice laps

I'm going on Monday... still haven't got the right wheels and my front pads haven't arrived :cry:

nice tyres

are the standard conti's classified as 'nice'? Actually they are on their way out, what would you recommend?

Neros are good, but if you want something really "nice" I recommend either the Kumho Ecsta V700 in a medium soft compound or the Dunlop Supersport 9000 (not sure if they do different compounds). If you aren't looking for mega mileage from a tyre (they last about 5k max) and avoid puddles they are both outstanding The latter 2 you need to go to a motorsport dealer for, not you reveryday tyre place.

Pirelli P Zero Neros are a good compromise.

Go for 225/45 17 rather than the standard 205/50, they are cheaper and wider but have the same rolling diameter

Jsut to echo the comment above, I was going for the Khumo, but tooj some Dunlop Supersport 9000 race

A little firmer than the k9a compound of the khumo...and hell's bells I'm enjoying them on the road.

The Nero's are also fab on road in the dry, mine are sat in the shed for the summer, whike I wear out these SSR9000's...So when dead the nero's will be back on, hopefully by Autumn.

SSR9000 was recommended by m-sport dealer as a good tyre for a ring trip, eg leave NW, drive to ring, do weekend of trackwork and return...this was for people running skylines etc...Try Tony of southshore tyres, he will mail order aswell. Say Colin or Jon from BRISKODA told you to call

Hey Jon - You must have had a whole lap of the Ring, just to build enough momentum to do a sub 9 minute time in your SDI! :P

What are the regs regarding tyre tread depth in the 'Ring / Germany. I have just over a millimetre above the tread wear indicators but I know they have stricter rules over there. How much do they scrutinise the car at the 'Ring? I may as well give my Conti's a good send off

They don't scrutineer the cars, only occassional noise checks.

I think the German limit is 3.5 or 4mm (and thats why Contis and Dunlops go downhill after that point )

slicks aint allowed though...