How about everyones trackday stories

Adam · 12th September 2001, 20:09

Hiya all

I thought that as some of us here have visisted the track why not share those stories? Like how you pulled away from that corvette or how you went up against that diablo(no one needs to know who won hehhe)

I remember most fondly from my track experience,wactching a guy with an XK-R convetible with those huge 19inch alloys eye up the beast wisper something to his mate and who then laughed looking at the M5 now whether that was just a nice friendly comment or something to slag off the pride and joy of my life which is this car no one will no except him.....so slightly angered i persuade my pa to go out when he goes out(My pa was also not amused

) anyhow we stayed behind him until we came out from a long corner leading to the straight 60mphish and just gunned it ,all i could see as i was cranning my head to follow his car(of course my dad was driving) was this guys jaw drop as he wactched us walk away from him all the way to 135 where we had to brake very hard....hehehe alot of fun anyone else with fond memories?

greg · 12th September 2001, 22:32

Like how in my M5 I got better and better at the line through the famed high speed s turns at Sears Point until I felt I was flying?

Or the pride with which I show off the well-rounded outer edge of my front left tire?

Or the pleasure and confidence I gained having experienced a "sideways excursion" at relatively high speed and having instictively done all the right things, correcting and recovering under complete control without even losing much time, let alone leaving the track?

Or how in my 996TT I LAPPED another guy in his?

Or just flat walked away from every other car on the track, including a Ferrari 355 and several Corvettes and Mustangs?

Or turned in a very respectable lap time at Laguna Seca my first time out?

Oh, yeah - I'd love to hear people's track stories

Adam · 13th September 2001, 11:54

greg great response
track days are great!

Alan N · 13th September 2001, 13:23

At Snetterton in May (the only time so far I've tracked the beast) I was mildly surprised in my first session how easily I overtook a Porsche 911(996) C4 down the long straights, the beast had far too much power, and was almost a quick through the corners too! (must be my skills...

...yeah right).
Imagine my delight when in the next session I found myself overtaking again, on the same sections of track, two 355's

Unfortunately in the following session I parked the Beast in some newly-lain turf (no damage, "controlled" spin, it was there or the Armco ), and they had to tractor me out

They told me there was oil on the track but to this day I'm not sure...mind you I'll take that as an excuse and run...

BTW Greg...my 996TT is due in April...can't wait...now that will be going to the track with the Lotus a little more often than the Beast does!

Adam · 13th September 2001, 14:17

Alan great story...boy oh boy i bet you just cant wait till that TT is parked in your drive way..anymore info about it what colour u gettin?

all the best
Adam

Alan N · 13th September 2001, 14:28

Adam,
Well I had a half-day in an Arctic Silver one and originally was going to order that because I thought it looked great.
Now however I'm getting a little tired of silver cars (all new ones at the moment over here seem to be) but don't want another black one (Beast looks great when clean but that isn't for long

) so I am now leaning toward Speed Yellow (hey, if your gonna be seen...BE SEEN eh?).
I don't have to specify quite yet so we'll see...

Adam · 13th September 2001, 14:58

Alan

Nice, speed yellow is a very fine colour and i am very very sure you will get noticed!

all the best
Adam

bmurphy · 13th September 2001, 15:04

I must confess I have had only 1 track day but have watched races at Road Atlanta dozens of times.
My favorite experience was dealing with a rather shy driver of a brand new Carrera 4 convertible. I about ran up his rear coming down into turn 10, he blew doors on me through 10 and 11, coming down through 12 I caught him in the straight (about 105 - 110 mph) and slashed by him on the inside of turn 1 (not supposed to in a track day but it was at the end of the day and I had the opp.).
Track days rock! Can't wait for my next opportunity.
Murph

greg · 13th September 2001, 16:54

Alan - congrats on the TT. You will be awed. What Lotus do you have? Is it solely for the track? I'd love to hear how you compare the TT to it once you have some experience with it.

Come on guys. more stories!!!

Scotty · 13th September 2001, 17:28

My M5 recently saw its first track day. I made it a point to take it easy, driving only about 7/10's. My car has only 2,000 mi., and I really didn't want to flog it. My impressions were that while this indeed isn't a track car and is quite heavy, it truly is a phenomenal performer considering its mass and the level of comfort it provides. Yes, it pushes, especially in the tight turns, but not nearly so badly as I had anticipated. And of course the power and torque are amazing. On the straights I mostly backed off and just cruised comfortably, as I was primarily interested in finding the right line and I also wanted to preserve my brakes. Despite this, a fellow who was following in a Boxster S commented to me later that I had "pulled on him hard" on the back straight. The funny thing was that I wasn't trying to -- I wasn't pushing it and wasn't even driving full throttle. Going fast in this car is just so effortless.

Scott