Forum Home / Silverstone - 17th March / Another Great Day at Silverstone

17/03/2008 19:25:53
Richard Wale
Thanks to Dave and all the organisers for a great day today at Silverstone. Virtually no shortened sessions, dry weather and a thoroughly enjoyable time. Was asked by one of the Silverstone marshalls if I would take a passenger for one of the sessions. He turned out to be Martin Donnelly, the Lotus F1 driver in the late 80's, until his horrific crash in qualifying in Jerez in late 1990. Had some very interesting pointers at Bridge and Luffield corners. Thanks again, Richard
17/03/2008 20:23:34
Bigfoot MGF
Also had a great day glad it was dry even if it was a bit cold! Paul
17/03/2008 20:40:03
Steve Hill
[quote=Richard Wale]Thanks to Dave and all the organisers for a great day today at Silverstone. Virtually no shortened sessions, dry weather and a thoroughly enjoyable time. Was asked by one of the Silverstone marshalls if I would take a passenger for one of the sessions. He turned out to be Martin Donnelly, the Lotus F1 driver in the late 80's, until his horrific crash in qualifying in Jerez in late 1990. Had some very interesting pointers at Bridge and Luffield corners. Thanks again, Richard[/quote] >Had some very interesting pointers at Bridge and Luffield corners. OK Richard, share the knowledge. :)
17/03/2008 21:15:08
happychappy
Thanks to all at MGOT for their unpaid time in organising this event, it was a truly fantastic experience and one that I intend to savour again in the future. The day ran smoothly from start to finish and it was nice to meet up with some old faces and make some new friends. Our time on the track was amazing and the instructor drive was a revelation as I learnt more in that 20 minutes of instruction than I have managed in a lifetime of watching motor sport on the TV :D Once again, thanks enormously for a really great day David + Michelle
18/03/2008 10:01:47
gavinsmith
I'd like to add my thanks to Dave, Steve and everyone involved in organising the Silverstone day yesterday. Everything ran like clockwork and it was all made very straightforward for us first-timers. I found the circuit extremely challenging, with blind apexes, never-ending corners and some sharp bends approached very rapidly providing a few buttock-clenching moments. Having said that, I think the car can can handle much more than my limited skills can throw at it - it stuck like glue and went like a dream all day. It'll be wearing its MGoT sticker with pride from now on. Anyway, many thanks again to everyone involved. Roll on Castle Combe, Donington, Goodwood, Brands... I've got the bug.
19/03/2008 16:14:18
Richard Wale
Steve, It was reinforcing the basic rule of making corners into straights as much as possible. So turning slight early at Bridge, through Priory to Brooklands was taken much tighter through Priory than I have seen me or others do, running really wide on the exit down to the approach to Brooklands, tight through Brooklands and then making Luffield into a 'double' apex corner, running wide again on the exit. The Bridge to Brooklands worked very well indeed after that, but trying to make Luffield into a double apex will need a lot more practice! So, when's the next Silverstone GP day?? Richard
19/03/2008 22:02:02
Steve Hill
[quote=Richard Wale]Steve, It was reinforcing the basic rule of making corners into straights as much as possible. So turning slight early at Bridge, through Priory to Brooklands was taken much tighter through Priory than I have seen me or others do, running really wide on the exit down to the approach to Brooklands, tight through Brooklands and then making Luffield into a 'double' apex corner, running wide again on the exit. The Bridge to Brooklands worked very well indeed after that, but trying to make Luffield into a double apex will need a lot more practice! So, when's the next Silverstone GP day?? Richard[/quote] Thanks Richard We are planning on visiting Silverstone again in August for an evening of fun on the GP Circuit.
22/03/2008 16:39:45
michaelcngm
My thanks also - a great day superbly run. What an experience! The pre-session briefing was spot-on about the fuel burn - I reckon I achieved slightly better than 17mpg for 131 miles! Used a bit of rubber too, amazing how different the tyres feel after a good run. I was dead pleased with how the car went, with it feeling very planted through the fast corners, and I was leaving the braking later and later. They were totally up to anything I threw at them - only one lock-up when I was a bit too enthusiastic through Vale. My lasting memory is going through Bridge virtually flat at 80mph in 3rd and not hitting the brakes until I was almost into Priory. Never really nailed Becketts properly - maybe next time!:) Didn't get any good photos - if anyone happens to have caught M2DYK, let me know.
24/03/2008 20:34:15
Chrisg
Thanks to the organisers for another great day, due to some minor car problems I did manage to get some good photos (between me and Shell). I will try and sort through them and put them in the gallery in the next week. Michael, I do have one or two of your car so will send them onto you. Chris & Shell
29/03/2008 17:53:05
Chrisg
[b]x[/b] I have now put up a selection of the photos I took at Silverstone, if anyone would like me to send the pictures to them then just let me know. I also have some others that I have not put up. Chris