Silverstone, Ring, Monza And Spa In 8 Days

[Roy]

So, I have been itching for this trip for a while now. Have just finished up a pretty frustrating project in India and wanted to finish what Snowie and me started last year with our brief European Adventure. It lacked a European F1 trip, what it did have was driving an F1 circuit.

First thing was meant to be the German DTM who were racing at Brands Hatch just outside of London. Problem was I got waaay to drunk and spent way too long trying to get into lil Heathers panties at a bar in Chelsea on Sat night...so no go for Sunday at DTM....proving again I need not bother with women!

So this year, the new F1 circuit was Silverstone. And MY GOD, this was not a Sprint round, was not a Test Day, it was an open Pit Lane Drive-Track day. Strictly no timing, data logging, NO RACING and only allowed to overtake on the left (like Nurburgring) The amount of race transporters would put most State Championship Rounds in Australia to shame!

So, staying at my sisters in Oxford I was only 40mins away, so up early the first thing I checked was the weather, and whilst dark....looked good.

On the road and half way there the sun was well and truly up and started to get really excited with my rubbish left over pizza breakfast starting to repeat heavily on me with nerves. The UK Track Gods looked to be taking a shine to me as a big concern was driving the track in only the wet.

Like a real geek I arrived with plenty of time...and looked like a right tool taking photos of the gate asother cars arrived

While I waited for my little bus to be unloaded I roamed the pits and started to sh1t myself about sharing the track with so many serious cars...and me, in a 135hp Caterham Superlight

Something to give Neil wood was the factory Radical team and a bucket load of other teams running the same cars.

Seems Radical drivers and UK drivers in general don't have the problem many of us have. ie Track days keep you broke, where with many in attendance I doubt a season of racing, track days etc would make a dent in their balances! The daily transport in the pits was sooo PORN! AMG Blacks, Cosworth Range Rovers, Vantages, Scuderias etc. Some made it on to the track...many were transport to the track!

So my little bus arrived in this...

And here it is in all its glory....135hp, 6 spd that comes in under 500kgs all with the strong recommendation of keeping it the right way up!

Sadly the little Elises and Exiges that I am such a big fan of all pretty much sucked And there were plenty of them....along with the GT3 & GT2 Porsches, Lambos, 460 Scuderias, GT4 Aston Martins and Carrera GT

And some roaming around pits and carpark....

Edited September 7, 2010 by Roy

[Roy]

And that was just the start of it...it was great to see some very expensive machinery actually being driven, and driven HARD! In the damp I was able to kind of keep the Lambo honest....well thats what I would like to believe. It had plenty of poke to give away a little corner speed and still just drive awya in the damp! But was fun trying to keep up with it, more fun overtaking twice an R35 GTR with only 135hp ... but there were so many cars that buzzed by me like I was standing still...

Edited September 7, 2010 by Roy

[blackrex]

Roy,

iirc, the Britcar 24hr race is being held at Silverstone pretty soon, that would possibly explain the vehicles in attendance.

[wolverine]

mmm I like.

[Roy]

Do the Radicals run in Britcar? There were plenty of G50s...their corner speed is amazing!

Here is a session from later in the day. Most of the race cars etc had gone home because of the showers we were having in the afternoon and the slightly damp track

Edited September 7, 2010 by Roy

[chuckie]

Hi Roy ,

Good to see your having fun in SUNNY UK ,

[Tektrader69]

Great thread Roy,

More please as your trip progresses

Edited September 7, 2010 by Tektrader69

[Roy]

Well, back from the pub and more footage has been uploaded...the traffic was a nightmare in the morning...this is a session just before lunch

It was so hard between red flags, rain and general traffic to get a clean lap in...but the challenge made it fun

Edited September 7, 2010 by Roy

[Snowman]

Nice work mate.

Watching that Vid brings back memories of last year. So wish I was there with you again!

PS - did you find the kill switch limit in the Super Lights??

[Roy]

I dont thing there was a kill switch. I did some astro turf bashing trying to live with cars on slicks and nothing....The Superlight is a completly different animal to drive vs the R400. WAY more understeery, has no poke and the pedal setup is hopeless for banging back through the gears. They are set up so its impossible to heal and toe as they dont want people to be hitting the throttle and trail throttling when they are intending to only brake. Having driven the R400 we know how easy that is with the wrong shoes

[Marlin]

Great writeup Roy!

My word that Caterham sounds like my old ride on mower! Did you check to see if it actually had a Rover Rancher II engine?

[NickR33]

no GFC at Silverstone! lol

nice write up... forget about chasing women your having more fun doing that anyway... I just spent 2 months in europe with my wife and didn't visit a single track... women seem to be able to suck the fun out of that stuff by reminding you not to crash or spend all the money

one day I'll go back with the boys... more racetracks, less shopping/museums

ps. some interesting lines taken by some of those drivers... money doesn't equate to talent

[Sinful]

Great Write up Brisby!! Thanks for sharing

[evil_weevil]

Jealous 101 here.

[PHaT MR30]

Shows how Poor us australian's actually are... no wonder they sent us all out on a boat to get rid of us!

Nah good write up Roy, I reckon I would have been happy enough wandering around the pits/spectating. The traffic must drive you bonkers though!

[phunky_monkey]

Nice write up, pics an vids Troy.

Some serious machinery in those pits - especially the Carrera GT! The sight of all those Radicals makes me moist... and even more excited for the day I have booked in to drive them at EC in a few weeks time

Are you coming back to Aus after this trip?

[Sinful]

The sight of all those Radicals makes me moist... and even more excited for the day I have booked in to drive them at EC in a few weeks time

Have you!!! Your going to have the time of your life! NICE WORK!!!! :woot:

They are one of the most awesomeness machines on the planet and I am very privilage to have driven one myself and also received hot laps from the mighty Garth Walden!

OMG I hope you get incar and pics and post them up wanna see which one you drive as I visit Radical at EC regulary

[Ant97GTR]

Awesome mate

Glad you are reaping some rewards for your time spent in India

[phunky_monkey]

Have you!!! Your going to have the time of your life! NICE WORK!!!! :D

They are one of the most awesomeness machines on the planet and I am very privilage to have driven one myself and also received hot laps from the mighty Garth Walden!

OMG I hope you get incar and pics and post them up wanna see which one you drive as I visit Radical at EC regulary

Yeah, I'm quite nervous/excited to go and take them out for a few laps, will be a real buzz I'm sure! I'm contemplating selling the 180 and buying one so it will be a good tester to see if that's the way I want to go.

They've been great to deal with thus far, and a mate and his dad are coming with me so it should be a great day. Hope the weather holds out... Did you drive an SR3 RS?

Will definitely post the vid up when I'm done, if I don't embarass myself too much that is

[TurboDoseBro]

I think i'd rather do this than get laid.