MX-5 Club Track Day - Wakefield Park - 20th January 2012

Guy_Coles · Postby **Guy_Coles** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:22 pm

I need to have a chat with Zane and Chris on the next track day. So much experience between them both as well as some of the Club fast guys

Amx5 · Postby **Amx5** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:53 pm

Figured I'd share this.
Grant going sideways infront of me but in the distance you can see Alex (Doctor bob?) spinning out.

Amx5 · Postby **Amx5** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:56 pm

Help if I posted a link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_JOhvbVmdU

Suspense · Postby **Suspense** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:21 pm

Nice footage. Good job to Alex for getting off and staying off the line or that could have been nasty.

PeterB · Postby **PeterB** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:08 pm

From hero to zero in one corner.

Britney was going like a rocket and I smashed my previous pb of 1.14.4 down to 1.13.53 (with a 1.13.8, 1.14.0 and 1.14.2 to back it up) and was having the best day I have had for years and the R888s had fantastic grip until it started to heat up.

We also stopped to help put out a grass fire, so was on top of the world and "fired" up to go quicker.

However, Britney lived up to her reputation, when an over-ambitious lunge at turn 3 turned sour when I drifted nicely into turn 3, but did not get the grip I had anticipated, so continued drifting rapidly across the corner and sideways into the corner 4 Flag point at considerable speed. I always wondered how it was possible to hit there - this one was pure driver error.

My apologies to the photographer standing in the flagpoint who must have got the shock of his life.

The passenger door is stoved in and window smashed, front guard munched and some damage to the rear guard - a pretty big hit from where I was sitting, but she was still drivable.

Apologies to all the officials for another disruption to the day and thanks to everyone who helped out, especially Stewart Grigg for the ride home.

I will pick up Britney tomorrow as I wasn't sure if there was suspension damage. Britney will rise again, but my ego needs a major rebuild as this is the first serious damage I have done on a track.

But a 1.13.5 !!!!!

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:23 pm

Eventful day for many then. Sad I wasn't there.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:25 pm

You bested Mitch, worth every cent

jncook · Postby **jncook** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:27 pm

PeterB wrote:From hero to zero in one corner.

Britney was going like a rocket and I smashed my previous pb of 1.14.4 down to 1.13.53 (with a 1.13.8, 1.14.0 and 1.14.2 to back it up) and was having the best day I have had for years and the R888s had fantastic grip until it started to heat up.

We also stopped to help put out a grass fire, so was on top of the world and "fired" up to go quicker.

However, Britney lived up to her reputation, when an over-ambitious lunge at turn 3 turned sour when I drifted nicely into turn 3, but did not get the grip I had anticipated, so continued drifting rapidly across the corner and sideways into the corner 4 Flag point at considerable speed. I always wondered how it was possible to hit there - this one was pure driver error.

My apologies to the photographer standing in the flagpoint who must have got the shock of his life.

The passenger door is stoved in and window smashed, front guard munched and some damage to the rear guard - a pretty big hit from where I was sitting, but she was still drivable.

Apologies to all the officials for another disruption to the day and thanks to everyone who helped out, especially Stewart Grigg for the ride home.

I will pick up Britney tomorrow as I wasn't sure if there was suspension damage. Britney will rise again, but my ego needs a major rebuild as this is the first serious damage I have done on a track.

But a 1.13.5 !!!!!

No problem, PeterB! At least I now know what forms are required when we have an incident!
I have to say this was THE most eventful track day I have ever been involved in! The tow car was out more times today that in all of our track days prior to this!
It certainly was a steep learning curve for me today. I am doing the CAMS stewards course next month. I think I already know how to handle an on track incident!
Did the photographer get any decent photos? Or was he too busy saving himself from injury?

PeterB · Postby **PeterB** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:41 pm

I hope the photographer has something so I can see how dumb I was, as a reminder for next time.

Also the medical guy was very good for the compulsory check-up, and having an ICU nurse as a wife allowed me to get a check up back in Canberra which came up fine.

Good luck with all that paperwork.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:38 am

Glad your okay Peter, shame about Brittany.

Amx5 · Postby **Amx5** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:12 am

Think we all just glad you walked away unharmed as well as the photographer. Could have been a lot worse. If you didn't spin out you could have hit it from the drivers side.

doctor_bob · Postby **doctor_bob** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:04 am

Amx5 wrote:Help if I posted a link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_JOhvbVmdU

Yerp. Pure brain-fart caused that one... although my tyres didn't feel very sticky yesterday for some reason, which contributed to a bit of twitchiness and a lack of braking ability (case in point Kieth managed to skid off the track on turn 10 while giving me an instructional session :lol:

)

My dad showed up to cheer me on and play with his new DSLR, he was snapping away like a madman and actually captured the whole spin unfolding frame by frame. I'll go and see him some time this week and grab copies, I think there might be some good shots of other cars too; will keep you guys posted

KRM · Postby **KRM** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:47 am

Yes a case of late braking, light brake pedal, un progressive brakes, low grip in the tyres and trying to demo heal to toe in a car I didn’t know. :shock:

All good fun. :lol:

Sorry about that Doctor_Bob

doctor_bob · Postby **doctor_bob** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:20 am

KRM wrote:Yes a case of late braking, light brake pedal, un progressive brakes, low grip in the tyres and trying to demo heal to toe in a car I didn’t know.
All good fun.
Sorry about that Doctor_Bob

Haha no worries we were probably only going 30 kph when you went off, egos are probably the only thing damaged

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:01 pm

I did exactly the same thing as PB a few laps earlier, except that I was lucky enough to slide mainly up the black stuff, only hitting the inside cone and the dirt at the very end of the slide. Consequently I was sitting in Mike's car holding a broom waiting to drive up there when he hit the flag hut. I can tell you that the photographer was totally unfazed by the experience. He seemed quite proud as he showed us how much the tyre wall had shifted in front of him. It must be a photographers ethic thing because when I told Tiit about it later Tiit was very concerned that the guy might have stopped shooting as PB's car bore down on him. :roll:

If he did hold his nerve then there could be some great shots out there. Does anyone know who he was?

My car had 6 good runs plus some lunchtime rallying experience. I reckon that's an excellent effort by the officials on a pretty interesting day.