Bedford track day 23rd Feb

[1an]

no crashes but had some nice 'drifting' as someone liked to shout out apparently as i went out of the pits, i was mearly warming the tyres

was an awesome day, gave some expensive machinery a bit of a shock

[Jon_Bmw]

So did the PBMW cars munch you lot on the corners guys?

[1an]

couldnt get near us on the straight but was so far ahead the corners didnt matter

Gary(northloop) car was very very fast,

[JimmyC]

Pah, mine was like driving Miss Diasy- running a boggo car in on track was little fun

I packed up at 11.30, just wasn't feeling it today after 4 hours sleep, and a few minor issues on the car which I just couldn't be arsed to fix, and the need to do an oil change, so stuck it back on the trailer a chipped off home, like a big girl

Sorry guys for not coming to chat, I was just too shattered- that'll learn me to manage my diary better and not get stuck taking customers out before a track day!!

Hope everyone had a good day, some awesome cars there

Roll on Rock next sat

[1an]

i noticed you had gone James,

shame as wanted to have a chat,

see you sometime in the year hopefully at one of the races

[JimmyC]

Yeh definately, I felt really shite just leaving as I wanted to chat to everyone off here, but you know when you know you've just had enough

I'll def come along to another Northloop day, just get to bed the night before

I'm going to get my arse along to a Lakeside meet once I have the car shakendown- ie things stop going wrong

Any spare race tickets I get I'll offer up on here

Off to bed now

[1an]

best picture i got of the pbmw cars.

[northloop]

Great day guys, really enjoyed that.

I was very pleased with the way the old girl went. I was a little apprehensive that it wouldnt be as quick as my other track car but I needn't have worried.

[1an]

Gary, that CSL toward the end of the session wasnt getting away very quick from what i could see.

picture of all the northloop cars


will post a few up later on northloop Gary when i can get on.

[Paynts]

Felt sorry for Nigel (was it) in the mint looking White E30 failed his drive by !! Still - no point in changing anything Bedford is apparently the worst circuit there is for noise restriction
I'll be mainly fetching my engine out tomorrow! Pity I didn't get the chance to follow some other E30s round tho - there did seem to be a lot of cars in the morning -difficult to get a fast lap in

[Theo]

What sort of speeds were you chaps getting down the long straight?

[shorty73]

Good day! Still pissing out oil like a texan well (probaly a 12 pence o ring, nothing instant gasket couldn't slow down ) Like the Toyo's over the Kumho's although I haven't driven the old girl since June. Heat sheild under footwell worked a treat and was barely warm to touch all day. 750i master cylinder is a well worth while mod as I had a proper pedal which the original 325i one failed to deliver. Uwe's topmount's were ace as well as the seat mount's. WTF was that Seat doing? Hounded it for 2 laps and he went off in both Right to be worried about noise as I was 103db Without the Bung and 98.5 with. Best £7 I've spent this month!

Good to speak to Nigel & Jimmy C. Thanks for the advice on the gusher and for depressing the pair of us about snowboarding! Roll on global warming

Didn't get a chance to speak to Northloop (Gary) but your car looked good and thanks for sorting the day.

Arron still got the lid in the car!! Tried to call but we left a message and no reply?

Had to rush off as we had a beer and a curry looming Musn't be late for that.

Overall, well chufffed with the day and roll on Castle Combe.

[shorty73]

What sort of speeds were you chaps getting down the long straight?

Feck nose! No speedo? Was in fifth and standing on the middle pedal about the 140m mark. Almost run up the back of a few (including that SEAT) .

[Brian28]

WTF was that Seat doing? Hounded it for 2 laps and he went off in both .

If it was a race spec LHD Cupra I'll find out for you as I know the guys, who were out for the first time driving it with no previous track day or LHD experience. My guess is they were spending too much time looking in the mirrors wondering why the more experienced faster driver didn't either overtake or back off to make a bit of space as per usual track day protocols. If it wasn't that car, can't help .

[northloop]

I spoke to the Cupra guys. It was Nick Leesons Cupra championship race car. It was running 260bhp which they are all restricted too. There were 3 drivers on the day.

1an ........ I had a great session with Mark in the CSL. Steve was out in the white one to start with but he ran out of fuel Mark could pull 100 yards on me on the back straight but by the time we came round the pit right hander I would be nailed to his bumper. We did that for about 5 laps
Do me a favour and dont post your group car pics on Northloop yet please. I want Nick to have a fair crack at selling a few of his CD's before we post them


Jimmy, shame we didnt get the chance for a chat. It's always the same on these days. You set out with good intentions and they go out the window.

To the guy who I arrnanged a few pax laps for (sorry terrible with names) I hope you enjoyed the golf. It's a bit special isn't it?

Here's to the next one.

[northloop]

Theo - mine was showing nearly 130 on the speedo. However with the proper gear attached I saw a max of 114mph.

[1an]

Gary, not a problem, ill give it a while,

Theo on our car when i disconected the o2 sensor i hit 140 on the speedo and braked at the 100 metre board and came out the chicane sideways on the lockstops

[Brian28]

I spoke to the Cupra guys. It was Nick Leesons Cupra championship race car. It was running 260bhp which they are all restricted too. There were 3 drivers on the day.

Doug (tall grey haired chap with glasses) runs the garage opposite my brothers. They bought the car between them after the "Top Gear does Britcar" episode, aiming to do a few track days, get race licences, then enter the endurance race. Kind of a things to do before you die moment. Feeling a bit protective towards them as I was supposed to be doing a bit of instructing with them yesterday but ended up having to look after my 2 year old instead.

Glad the day went well for everybody despite the odd hiccup.

Cheers
Brian

[shorty73]

WTF was that Seat doing? Hounded it for 2 laps and he went off in both .

If it was a race spec LHD Cupra I'll find out for you as I know the guys, who were out for the first time driving it with no previous track day or LHD experience. My guess is they were spending too much time looking in the mirrors wondering why the more experienced faster driver didn't either overtake or back off to make a bit of space as per usual track day protocols. If it wasn't that car, can't help .

That'll be the experienced driver with the novice cross who was driving the car the second time ever, first time since June and on Toyo's who was way down on power( 145bhp at the wheels and only 9bar on a compresssion test ) who got out of any quicker cars way promptly and who was patiently waiting for an invite to pass as were the marshalls who were waving blue flags as per usual trackday protocol.

Hounded was perhaps a bad choice of phrase. I was just expecting better things from the car as it looked good and I expected it to dissapear off.

Just because it pissed off down the straights it didn't seem to think it had to let me pass when I caught it in the bends.

You don't need to much experience to know that if you enter a left hand hairpin on the left hand side of the track bad things will probably happen, like running onto the grass.

Fair comment about the LHD thing though. Thats always put me off an M3

As much as I had fun I probably won't do another trackday in that car. Don't like all the rules or noise stuff as I had to run an exhaust bung (more power gone!) It takes a lot of willpower to "wait" to be invited through when your in a race car.

Race cars shouldn't be allowed on trackdays. Should be for road legal cars only. I shall stick to testing from now on.

[Brian28]

Not having a go fella, was tongue in cheek. . Doug is a really nice guy, but probably really does need somebody to explain to him what side of the track to aim for when coming up to a left hand hairpin I used to be an instructor on bike track days, was always a bit of a mix of road riders and racers, not ideal but usually everybody gets something from the day.

[shorty73]

Not having a go fella, was tongue in cheek. . Doug is a really nice guy, but probably really does need somebody to explain to him what side of the track to aim for when coming up to a left hand hairpin I used to be an instructor on bike track days, was always a bit of a mix of road riders and racers, not ideal but usually everybody gets something from the day.

No worries. I used to do a lot of bike trackdays so thats where I get most of my track experience from. Back in the good old days there were no invites and you had the "Fast Bike" magazine boys overtaking anywhere!!

I really should have had some instruction as well but was spending so much time sorting the car that I didn't have time.

Perhaps open pitlane is not so good when there is a varied mix but I like the fact that you can make changes and go out rather than waiting 45mins for another shot.

And always remember to do up your bonnet pins Had a rather slow lap back in as we left the centre one undone!!

[Theo]

Theo - mine was showing nearly 130 on the speedo. However with the proper gear attached I saw a max of 114mph.

Nice accurate speedo there! You're running 205/50/15's aren't you? That will account for some of the inaccuracy I suppose. Your car looks amazing in the pics, looking forward to seeing it in the metal at the ring some time this year.

Ian, thats bloody quick dude... quicker infact than karans 300bhp silvia

[northloop]

Personally I thought it was a really good day. I thought the standard of driving was very good especially considering there were a good few first timers there.

I only had a couple of slight annoyance moments, once behind that blue 993. How eratic and silly was the driver? Once behind the red scoob with the stickers and black boot. If they are inexperienced they are of course forgiven, if not they need to realise there is only ever one reason a car is siting close behind them

Oh and I got a black flag for noise and then let back out again

[12345kevin]

Theo - mine was showing nearly 130 on the speedo. However with the proper gear attached I saw a max of 114mph.

Nice accurate speedo there! You're running 205/50/15's aren't you? That will account for some of the inaccuracy I suppose. Your car looks amazing in the pics, looking forward to seeing it in the metal at the ring some time this year.

Ian, thats bloody quick dude... quicker infact than karans 300bhp silvia

Karan's Jap speedo is probably a bit more accurate than an E30. 140 is probably more like 125 -130

[GingerTim]

Hi all, Me and my mates had a great day! i was sharing the drive with 2 others. It was good see see speak to some off you. Did not manage to see everyone though, Gary's sure a very popular man! My speedo was showing 120 down the fastest straight but prob not true. Had a slight brake problem but that was soon fixed by going into bedford to Billy's motorspare's and getting some cheap pads, which were pretty crap so had a very steady afternoon taking it easy on the brakes and just enjoying the corners

[iguana]

Top day, dunno who on here was driving what tho?? I was in both my black e30 tracker & avusblue e36 roadcar (not the other esoril evo that was also there- going v slowly! )

Jimmy shame you went fella, was planning to have a chinwag with you & nose round yr rather eyewatering motor, couldnt do it in morning the colour hurt my hungover eyes


Best sessions at end of day, drifting diddnt get me black flagged & got some very decent empty fast laps in

[northloop]

Bit of footage from the day. Camera work was crap, must have hit the zoom button when trying to turn it on. Camera broke shortly after so it's from early in the day too ......

Ok excuses over

http://www.northloop.co.uk/videos_E30Bedford_gary.htm

[Paynts]

I've just found out what caused my bottom end to go oils starvation on the corners !!!! No 6 piston ate its big end bearing

Hit 117mph on the sat nav according to the passenger watching it ( I don't have a speedo) has a bit of lag so it might be a fraction more beforeI brake for the corner straight
Anyone know2 how to fix oil surge/ starvation on th alloy M20 sump?

[shorty73]

I'm going to speak to nigel at alloyraceproducts tomorrow as he does baffled sumps on an exchange with extra oil capacity. I was getting a flickering oil light on some corners so I'm glad I managed to finish the day! If your interested pm and I'll see if he'll do a deal on two!

[Theo]

This talk of oil starvation is worrying. I dont have an oil level warning light on my car, so don't know whether I was experiencing oil starvation. Car has felt down on power since, which I put down to a badly blowing exhaust after knocking it on one too many speedbumps, hope it's not something more terminal Paynts, what happened when yours let go?

I was getting the occasional fuel surge when I was at bedford a couple of weeks ago, despite having a good load of fuel - time for a swirl pot perhaps?

[Andy335Touring]

Your oil pressure warning light would have come on, if some thing was wrong then you'd probobly be getting some knocking/tapping noises from your engine.

Try swapping your fuel pump ?

[Theo]

Good point, hard to get oil pressure when the pickup is sucking up air My enigine does sound a bit ropey, but didnt sound great beforehand.

I don't rekon the fuel problem is down to a dodgy pump, it only happened on a few hard corners, which would suggest it's just the fuel sloshing around.

[Andy335Touring]

I didn't have any problems but you would have been pulling more G's due to better tyres and suspension

[Paynts]

Theo I was cornering hard tryting to catch some more powerful machinary - when a big end goes its a loud noise you wouldn't drive the car more than 30 seconds before thinking something was really wrong. I have a swirl pot and 2 pumps and an ally foam filled race cell in the spare tyre wel on my car, ( due to its ex race history ) So no fuel starvation

[JimmyC]

What a difference a day makes, after a day playing with the car yesterday, sorting the bits that showed up at bedford- its like a new machine, well chuffed

Sorry again for being a bore, will def be at the next one

Re: Oil starvation very common on the 6 pots, well worth a baffle of windage tray going on there, also a pressure/temp gauge