So... my first track day...

 

Thoroughly enjoyed it. I had some instruction, which helped. Got told I was making good progress and now just need to speed up! I didn't overtake a single thing all day. Apart from a Caterfield facing the wrong way at the chicane. It rained through the morning... which did mean that I got a chance to test out my Rainsport 2s. Not bad, got very hot in the dry later on, but seem to have held up rather well across the board. I did take it easier in the afternoon. One thing, I do want to do some brake upgrades... or at least fit decent discs/pads and fluid. I think the fluid was the biggest issue.


Oh and two random blokes turned up. Tom Onslow Cole doing a media event for Milltek and Frank Wrathall rocked up, did 5 or 6 laps during the lunch break then disappeared again.

 

Briskoda Club Area.

 

So, I'm also now on the hunt for a spare set of cheap wheels I can put some part worns on to save using these again. I may have caught the bug. Big time.

Very nice.  If you feel like another go soon, check the link in my sig.

Looks like you had a good day!

 

 With regard to your brakes, I just went for upgraded pads on the Fabia, these improved things a lot, I then used standard pads at Castle Combe earlier this year and had no pedal on the way home, when I removed the pads the face had cracked and they were very shiny.

 

 So, go for some pads and see how you get on., maybe join is at Oulton Park on the 8th October??

I think Oulton is the next one. Gives me a chance to save some pennies. I reckon I'll be slowest there too... but that's not what it's about!


(I changed the pads yesterday.... maybe they weren't bedded in and I've ruined them? I have a pedal again now but it feels like theres quite a bit of travel. Might even be a brake line.)

. I reckon I'll be slowest there too... but that's not what it's about!

 

This is totally what my castle combe thing is about.  It's a chance for people to get out there and be safe in the knowledge there's nothing but Skodas out there.

A track day is not about winning or losing!  It is a none competitive day to improve your driving style, more about lines than raw speed.

 

 At Bedford How Fast, one of the fastest attendees was BossFox in a Yeti! He absolutely flew around, this is because of two things, having a good eye for the lines, this then means speed can be carried around the corners.

 

 What size brakes are on your Octy? I ask because I have a set of EBC Yellow pads off the Fabia I won't be using, they are 288mm and look like this. Same fit as a MK V Golf.

 

Brakes are the standard Octy calipers and discs.


That's 312mm afaik? Unless that's the uprated one... I don't know.

 

Where would you go about getting uprated pads at a not unpleasant cost anyway? I genuinely have no idea, I usually stick to GSF and ECP.

 

 

Devon, I reckon I'd enjoy the Castle Combe day, but the circuit is 220 miles away from me, it's a bit of a trek.

try Larkspeed in Leeds. I have had quite a bit of stuff off them, very good service and reasonable prices.

 

Larkspeed 

I've had a look on the EBC website and those ones you have aren't the right fitment, but I have been able to find the right ones.


Do you find the Yellowstuff pads work really well?

Do you leave them in all the time?

I liked them for the track and when left in were fine also, they are a bit more aggressive on the disc (which are standard as are the callipers)

 

I have returned the standard pads as it is the wifes car, Korban runs yellow stuff front and rear on a Fabia MK I VRS TDi.

 

 For the money they are good, maybe not as good as ferodo 2500 which are twice the price but are they twice the pad?  not in my opinion.

I will put my pictures up when I get them sorted - was a fun day even though I got Black Flagged for Too much Smoke !!!

Did you manage to stay on the track when you went back out Darren? It didn't look too bad when we left.

Yes - got the thumbs up from the main man - so continued on my quest !!!

 

Had a fair few laps until the rain set in, was good fun though.

We hit an enormous storm at the junction of the M180 and M18. I assume the same happened down there?

 

Looking carefully past the racing driver and the Subaru... and the Golf, you see the front end of my Octy.

 

 

Come on Dazza, get your photos up!

Not sure how you do it? can you give me (as a non-techie) advice on how you upload pics?

I put all mine onto photobucket using their drag and drop upload function.

Once you've done that you can their direct link thing for each image and put them on here individually. If you click on the button in the reply window which looks like a little scene it gives you the option to add a photo from it's url.


*Other photosharing websites are available*

Edited 1 August, 201312 yr by hardcorehobbit

Looks like a good day.

Be good to have you at Oulton.

The more the merrier.

 

Surprised to see Wrathall there I though the was going to prison for killing a cyclist....

I did see that, not heard anything else of it yet. Maybe bail until the trial?

true i guess these things can drag on; anyway glad you enjoyed the trackday.

I'd be careful with the Rainsports. They are a super soft compound to deal with water so don't stand up particularly well to heavy levels of abuse

true i guess these things can drag on; anyway glad you enjoyed the trackday.

I'd be careful with the Rainsports. They are a super soft compound to deal with water so don't stand up particularly well to heavy levels of abuse

 

Haven't you got an appointment before Oulton Park?  [cough! cough!  V V V V V V V]

I heard something about some kind of action day and club stand... was that it?


I need to factor in the cost of a hotel room for the night before, since there's no way I can do it the morning of.


Currently £25 a room in a premier inn in Swindon. This trackday thing might turn into an expensive hobby....

Check out the premier inn at Chippenham, only 4 miles away from CC and only £45 at the moment

 

 I am so tempted to go again, watch this space....

9 spaces still to fill.  £25 for a room is cheap and 220 miles isn't that far.  I've done Cadwell Park - 300 miles, overnight, trackday (full one ) and drive 300 miles home after.