Forum Home / Castle Combe - 6th September / Castle Combe

07/09/2010 21:13:51
Trophy-Steve
Big thanks to the MGOT organisers for a great day at this very friendly circuit. :) A well planned mixtures of cars being very evenly matched and although only 15 minute sessions, it ran very smoothly getting on and off the track with little down-time. Also a big thanks to the ' weather god's ' who managed to keep the rain at bay until after the last session and also gave us time to pack up ! Overall, I think they were perfect conditions, albeit sometimes a bit windy. As usual, I have produced a video to get a feel for Castle Combe... there seems to be a little more 'camera shake' than usual :confused: but I think this adds to the excitement and gives a better impresion of speed. The video is about 11 minutes long but well worth seeing it through, especially as I get to overtake Mr Owens in his 'super midget' for the third time that day !!!... alright alright, so it was at the finish line :p and the other two times were on the motorway on the way to Castle Combe that morning :rolleyes: but still a great feeling :cool: Best watched in big screen and lots of volume... Enjoy !! [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSkRroh0Dw4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSkRroh0Dw4[/URL]
07/09/2010 22:22:12
Gary&BVZ
Great video ... Lets have some more ...:) :) :) But it took you a while before the 4 door saloon gave consent to pass . And what was that MG A doing passing you , me , and others ????:eek: :eek: :eek: Some realy interesting cars on track today ... See you at Goodwood ...:D Stay on the black stuff ...It's a lot safer ....
07/09/2010 23:24:36
Tim Guy
Thanks for the video Steve. Going well :) I like your slightly deeper line through camp, you seem to be able to hold onto entry speed a touch longer. Might try that next time. Feel you might be loosing exit speed at Bobbies and the Esses though by straight lining a touch too much - but what do I know - you went past me :lol: How does the oil temp hold up on your Trophy at Combe, I was having to back off for the last couple of laps; got the warning light up once when I was enjoying myself ;).
08/09/2010 11:13:38
Trophy-Steve
Hi Tim, Interetsing you say that, My Coaching sessions had me going into 'Camp' earlier and in 4th gear (on the last session), he said my exit speed was up from about 68 to 75 in fourth.... generally, I felt I was hanging onto my braking a litle longer under coaching, but that maybe the whole 'coaching idea' ?? Unfortunately, my camcorder battery ran out before the coaching started, so I could not make any film comparisons :( As for the the 'esses' and 'bobbies', my instructor did ask 'why' I dabbed the brake through them (in a straight line of course)..maybe that is the reason it appears slower ?! And as for passing you Tim, I know you did have a slight handling problem on the day, which would account for that ;) My oil temp, although it was getting warm did not illuminate the warning light... it tends to do that on shorter circuits tho' like Brands and Stowe and even Rockingham... I use the warning light as an 'enthusiasm level warning' :cool: ..the hotter I get, the hotter it gets :eek: Another Video of the day... [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7N3tbgItrQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7N3tbgItrQ[/URL]
08/09/2010 12:53:07
Trophy-Steve
[b]..and just for you TIM ![/b] Well, as you can see, I am clearly slower through 'the esses and bobbies'... even with a few poor gear selections attempting to stay with the 'yellow peril' or it may have had something to do with the 'mobile chicane' I was following, :D ... ooohhhhh, I can see those comments coming back to haunt me !! ;);) [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkiu2Mf6P-E"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkiu2Mf6P-E[/URL]
08/09/2010 18:13:53
mga550
[b]Great video[/b] Great video, I was driving the Red MGA. Fansatstic day with sensible drivers and no mishaps although I did spin at Quarry but saved it and only took to the grass briefly. Terry
08/09/2010 18:36:25
Tim Guy
[quote=Trophy-Steve]... ooohhhhh, I can see those comments coming back to haunt me !! ;);) [/quote] Enjoyed watching that, much easier to see my mistakes; a few notes in the book for next time. Just wait till I have front brakes that actually stop me [IMG]http://forums.mg-rover.org/images/smilies/danglecarrot.gif[/IMG] .
08/09/2010 20:08:38
Martin C
[quote=mga550] Fansatstic day with sensible drivers and no mishaps although I did spin at Quarry but saved it and only took to the grass briefly. Terry[/quote] Hi Terry, Glad you enjoyed your day, that is what MGoT days ware all about :D Well done on catching it at Quarry, very few get on the grass there and come away unscathed :eek:
14/09/2010 08:54:46
mga550
I overheard quite a few people in the paddock moaning about brake fade etc, I use racing brake fluid DOT 5.1 and Mintex 1144 pads and have never had any brake fade. The 1144 pads work from cold and don't seem to need that extra pedal pressure that is required with some performance pads. Worth a try Terry
02/10/2010 10:53:23
JP12
Combe is a trickier circuit to learn than most people realise, plus once they have scared the hell out of you about Quarry corner in the briefing most people are extreemly cautious... which I guess is a good thing. A couple of pointers from the vids from me. Most instructors will tell you to aim for the traffic lights on the entrance to Quarry. I think this is WRONG for slowish low grip track day cars. I have tried both and moving all the way to the left is faster because you need to apply less lock to get to the apex. In a high powered race car in race conditions I would use the instructors recommended line. You can also trail quite a hard brake from the red cone over avon rise to quarry entry,the car will be more stable than you think.That said, if you loose the rear and hit the wall on the left don't blame me :D The right hander of the Esses is an entry to the left of the chicane, it's not really that much of a corner. I notice on the vid and many other vids that some people are picking up the throttle in the middle of the right hander or even in transient conditions. Watch all the quick boys, turn early for the right hander and trail the brake all the way to the entry for the left hander. Old paddock is easy flat for our cars, just hold on tight because it can be a little bumpy! I actually turn a little early into Tower to combat the camber of the road, this does sacrafice exit speed, but I don't feel it's that important because bobbies is so close. Camp is a great corner and you can carry a lot of entry speed while maintaining good exit speed. The brake marker cone for camp is way too early for any car IMO. Joe