I’d been looking forward to this one since Cadwell last month. I have passengered round Silverstone in Steve Gills CSL but never driven it. I had heard that the south circuit was very much a power track so I was a little concerned.
5.30am and I was up and posting on Northloop, 6am and I was on my way. I met Jonah who was trailering the EVO near Oxford and we arrived at Silverstone around 7.15am.
Chris informed me once again that the official photographer had let him down so could I help out. I was more than happy to have a crack at it and luckily hypermonkey agreed to do his bit too. Big big thanks to him for that.
So by the time the drivers briefing had come and gone I had had chance to meet Northloop members new and old. Russ, Sunni, Herr Teflon, Duke, ROC, Hypermonkey, Ben, Colin in the interesting touring, Paul, Ady and a few more.
Out for the duck and drake laps I got a chance to see what was coming up. It was going to take a little getting used to, but hopefully not take too long.
Some nice laps in the morning, of note following a nice chap in a white GT3 and meeting his friend with a Porsche 4s.
The mixture of cars on track was good to be sure. There were some real monsters out there as well as some normal stuff.
One Saxo was being driven very quickly by a 14 year old girl. She was really going for it and no doubt a start of the future. At times the number of cars on track was a little frustrating, but once the red mist had cleared it was plain to see that everyone was having a good time and that was good enough.
For one poor chap it wasn’t such a good end though, he was running very nicely in a 205 GTi which hit the Armco VERY hard writing the car off and it looked like it caught fire too. Sorry to see that indeed.
Half hour before lunch the heavens opened and the rain came. We had been lucky all morning with rain expected so it wasn’t the end of the world. I decided I would go out anyway, no point worrying about it. It was rather interesting to say the least. The back end on the beemer is very lively.
30 mins later it was lunchtime and time for us to get some on track static pictures. Once again a good turn out and a good variety of cars. Thanks to all for your patience with this.
Over lunch the sun came out for the first time all day and things started drying out. When the track re-opened Rob and I decided to try for some video laps with me following him in the EVO. The track looked bone dry but one section had yet to completely dry out, that made it very entertaining to say the least. On one session we got involved with a quick Mk1 golf which was being peddled very well.
Later in the day I went out for another session and found myself out with the red Mk1 golf and a VX220 turbo. All three cars were very evenly matched. The other two pulling a slight gap on the straights and me getting it back on the twisty stuff. These were probably my favourite laps of the day, thanks for those guys. I spoke to the golf owner after and his TT turbo’d Mk1 had 250bhp and went very nicely indeed. Nick Oak, bet you wish you hadn’t sold yours now.
As usual the Jaffa cake was performing well and suprising more than a few. I think I was overtaken around 6 times all day and a couple of those I repassed :whistle:
Gareth (Uncle benz) once again take a bow sir
Another session following Paul in the Saxo was fun too.
That done I went out to take some pics of my own, I thought it was time. I only went to one location but I got 200 pics or so and Hypermonkey got 700 from round the track. So hopefully plenty to choose from.
That done I gave out a few Northloop cards and decided to make a run for home.
An hour later I was back home and sat down writing this. A brilliant day, great to see old friends and make new ones. Once again a well organised day by Chris and Circuit days. Roll on Angelsey, or maybe another one before then. Don’t forget to check the planned trip section to see our discount prices.
Ps ”¦”¦.. special mention to Ady for the lunchtime BBQ roll.
ppps....... photoshop still required on the pics, I just wanted to get the report up as quick as I could
