MarkyB & Jonnyfox Spa 4-5/08/08

General Meets + Track Day Reports
1

Well, we had a blast and I’m sure Mark will be along to upload a couple more images fairly soon! We’ve got some HD footage of the the two of us on track to post which I’ll do after the weekend. But if you haven’t driven Spa yet you really should, I’ll be going next year also but will probably pop to Germany the day before as that seems the thing to do!

The car handled really well with the new Ohlins (tar Will) and 4-pot big brake kit (tar Hanger 111). Great fun, still wearing the smile…and no rain, well hardly a drop!

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2

Lalalalalala… I’m not listening!

3

Good to see you were lucky with the weather, I love Spa, just never driven it in a Lotus, next year

4

Spa is the one track that everyone has to do, a truly superb circuit in every sense of the word.
No Spa for me this year (just run out of time) but planning a trip or two next year.

5

Spa is the one track that everyone has to do, a truly superb circuit in every sense of the word.
No Spa for me this year (just run out of time) but planning a trip or two next year.

Let me know when Pete - I fancy a trip back there next year !

6

Spa is the one track that everyone has to do, a truly superb circuit in every sense of the word.
No Spa for me this year (just run out of time) but planning a trip or two next year.

Let me know when Pete - I fancy a trip back there next year !

Your on

7

It was amazing, and I have to thank Jonny for his help with getting there and back Really top bloke and very helpful.

Jonny’s car is bloody impressive too, I have to have those Ohlins and AP’s. The suspension was massively better than my standard stuff. Had some really good laps with Jonny too.

Here’s my write up and pics!

We got there the day before and it was raining. It was then raining in the morning and there were a lot of glum looking people in the briefing.

Johnys (BaT) usual safety briefing comedy lifted the mood, and people got on with swapping to grippy tryes etc.

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Out on the sighting 4 laps and it felt very slippy, and some of the corners have minimal run off, and very little gravel trappage. I wasn’t happy! It felt like the Ring in some bits due to this.

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Got back in and decided to wait for it to dry out, and take some pics. There were some serious machines there, mostly big boys toys. Lambo, many 911’s in their normal guises, loads of Caterhams, Noble, Radical, Lotus 211, Ferarri 430 Scuderia, 355, Atoms, M3’s, - just all sorts! One thing which amused me was the guy in a brand new M5 estate, towing a GT3 RS. How ����� is that?!

Here are some pics of the machinery…

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Found a car park full of brand new Porsches ready for instruction cars. Common as muck!

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After about 11am the sun came out and the track dried, and it stayed like that for 2 days - brilliant!

There was a young German lad who wanted a pic with the car, so I went one better and offered him a couple of laps if he could find a helmet. Him and his family were over the moon

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The ride was in exchange for a ride on their daughter, but this request was lost in translation I think

The car itself was stunning and the new found power really helped. I nearly lost it a couple of times on the a 4th and 5th gear left hander. Certainly gets the ticker going I was pushing the car really hard by the end of day 1 so I was pleased. I took it to Donny and was far too cautious, but I had insurance this time and really went for it.

There were quite a few retirals and crashes - Lotus 211 crashed, DSG Golf, Evo 6, etc etc.

I feel guilty for thrashing what is almost a brand new car!

Started thinking hiring is the way forward. If not, then mine needs a baffled sump and Ohlins.

PS - to anyone going in an S, i’d seriously think about a sump. Threre are some very long high speed corners.

Pics:

Mine and Jonnys
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PS - have to thank Chris at Westover Poole for sorting my injector out 2 days before I went! Having 4 cylinders available was a real bonus The extra power from the Gotham is well worthwhile…

8

All I can see are red x’s…

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All I can see are red x’s…

That’s a shame mate, as Mark’s write up & pics are

Oh bollox, I wasn’t supposed to be listening to this thread!

10

If I’ve got a car stick me down for next year

On that note I am thinking of ordering a bespoke 2-11 ready for next year - wife might have a job by then, if not it’s poll dancing (for her not me before you all start )

11

On that note I am thinking of ordering a bespoke 2-11 ready for next year - wife might have a job by then, if not it’s poll dancing (for her not me before you all start )

Now you’re talking - even more reason to have a trailer

12

Which trailer co would you recomend ?

Looked at Brian James and Ifor Williams, both similar on price

13

Chris

RussT has a great trailer (it ferries his Lambos/Aston around, as well as his Lotus’s), but can’t remember the name of the supplier, sorry. I’ll give him a nudge, & hopefully he’ll reply here for you.

PS He previously had a Brian James one, but it’s not as good.

14

Brian James 1500 clubman here which is really good. very stable at speed and they hold their values so well that if you’ve got the space to store it then its soooo much better than hiring.

Only thing to be careful of is the extras - I got the low tyre rack and the jerry can storage box which are brill but do add some extra weight ( 60kg of fuel plus 4 extra S1 Rimstocks ) over the towball area and does make the tow car sit quite low. Just make sure the weights of the towcar can handle it before you tick too many option boxes.

cheers

15

How did we get onto trailers?!

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How did we get onto trailers?!

Ramps?

17

Sorry Marky I can’t help myself…Chris I have an IFor Williams twin axel and it’s the bollox mate seriously good. I’ve got the 240R setup, ride height and a splitter the size of Mick Jaggers bottom lip and it goes up and down no problem. I reverse on keeping all the weight top end and when I tow I hardly know it’s there.

BUT Spa would be THE place to organise a exiges.com trip.

I just couldn’t get Eau Rouge to Raidillion bang on, I did ok but my mate and Mark both had it pegged I also held back a little on Pouhon which you’ll see when I chase after Mark on the HD upload. Marks car is right quick btw, bloody awesome and he can drive GOOD!

So next year anyone??? Ring the day before???

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BUT Spa would be THE place to organise a exiges.com trip.

Now there’s an idea !

19

That’s a great Idea Jonny. I’d imagine if there were enough of us BaT would be interested?

The Ring afterwards might be best - I seem to remember talking to some guys at Spa who had doen the Ring and had car problems, meaning they couldn’t do Spa?

I thought your driving was really good btw.

Not sure where the limits of that beast you have is though! It just grips and brakes like fook.

You could tell Andy was good too, he was just being careful with your car.

Pouhon was my favorite - really good feeling when you nail it. I think the lap you filmed me on was where I got it out of shape. Most exciting when you’re in 4th gear

The second part of that corner is where the 211 got smashed up in front of me

20

Definitely interested Mark! We did an exclusive day for the Lotus 7 Club a couple of years back and i’d love to put a day together for the exiges.com crew. We’re hoping to get 3 days on the trot next year so we could maybe still offer a double header to our regulars and give you guys the opportunity to get a group together for a semi-exclusive day.

As for the ring & Spa - i’d always recommend going to the ring AFTER Spa. Every year without fail we get at least 1 or 2 people no-show at Spa because they’ve diverted via the ring and things have gone pete tong.

Spa is a few hundred quid lost if you don’t show up - the ring is like �20 lap by lap - doesn’t take a genius!

Jonny