Spill the beans about Spa then DUDE! 
Would love to see some vid too! 
Sorry dude just catching up, got home about 5ish but now all curried up I�ll begin
We all met, including Marks S2000 mates at a very busy Folkestone. Most caught the first train, although Andy (Boxter-Spyder), Neil (RS) and I missed it by about 7 cars on the rampâŚbut the guys said they�d wait, TOPMEN ! Thing is our 30mins crossing actually lasted 90minsâŚwith no service under the channel I couldnât make the �go without us� call, either way after more then an hour and nothing coming through they�d got the message. Hotel was nice, so were the burgers as we all chilled in the barâŚmet up with Matt and his pals who�d been at the Ring over the weekend. Matt has a fine Gun Metal Exige S with Gotham tune and various other goodies, Rob would appreciate his numerous amounts of tuition on both days :whistle:
Woke up on Monday to rain, all but gone by 1030 though. We used the F1 pits, my first time in these. As always with Jonny�s August slot it�s straight after the 24hrs and there were GT cars everywhere including that fine pair of BMW�s almost next door, Sean would have nursed a raging semi lol Porkers, MC12�s, GT40, DB�s and so on. After the mad first hour the track settled. Driving manners were generally good with issues stamped out as and when they occurred. Mostly to blame were some German /Swiss GT3 drivers and the UK arm of Cosworth/R34GTR /1000BHP/Chav/The Max Incompetence Crew who just didn�t give a s**t about anyone else at all. I think each and everyone of them broke down causing stoppages including a diff bolt falling out/massive oil spill and a forgot to replace oil cap on engine/oil spill/blow up��a few lost there bands but there seemed to be plenty of co drivers ready to step in sadly. Still, it was a good first day. I met up with Darren and Helen in a White S, hopefully there�ll be along soon. Will was out right stupidly quick in his now S/C�d Exige OMG it�s/he�s fooking fast, look out Con lol that Iâve got to see! Chilled out later back at the hotel where my name has been added to the ceiling of the bar along with 39 other great F1 drivers. Ade and Steve made me number 40 adding Jonnyfox to the glass wall key and my dodgy signature.
Tuesday we rolled up about 10, sun shining! Lots of new cars replaced those just doing the MondayâŚ458�s are NICE ! New GTR was written off, not sure how considering where, but very bad nevertheless sadly. It got very quiet with about 2 hours to go so lots of pack fun to be hadâŚ
Pete shame mate, next time hopefully. Everyone got on really well, you know what it�s like when a bunch of strangers/petrol heads meet, it was great fun. Thanks to everyoneâŚIan, Will, Andy, Neil� Matt, Ade/Steve, Peter, Marky, S2000 chaps, Geeze in Cayman, fit bird girlfriend of GT3 driver who gave me free beer (JamesN take noteâŚthey are out there, keep looking chap) and everyone else we met on the four days, I had an ace time with some brilliant companyâŚcheers guysâŚand btw Superchargers are really GAY LOL
Some, not many but some pics tomorrow mate, excuse spellingâŚfecking tired!
Top effort Jonny, sounds like you had a good trip.
Cheers Mike, could do with you there next year dude 
So⌠whatâs he not telling you 
Well the car was awesome, really pleased with it. Iâd been a bit worried that the extra power might have corrupted it, but after it dried out a bit it was obvious that wasnât the case and you could still really lean on it and get the power down with confidence. The shorter ratio box was pretty well suited as well. Just maxing out 5th at the top of the Kemmel straight and into Blancemont.
Thereâs obviously a lot to learn, but by lunch time I was really starting to enjoy it, paricularly down the hill and through Pouhon.
After lunch had a couple of runs, then took Ian out as a passenger. First off was nearly out of fuel so apologies and we head of to the pumps, half way there and realise no wallet, but Ian being top man stumps up for the petrol. Sorry about that Ian, btw refunded later.
So we get out on track and the car is still going really well, on the second lap we are coming though Pouhon and its got to the stage where its limiting in 4th on the exit. Didnât buzz it but it did hit the limiter, out of Stavelot and onto the run down to Blanchemont and the car just loses power. No drama, just the check light comes on and the powerâs gone. We manage to get it back to the pits but its not sounding good. Really nasty rattle from the top of the engine. Mid afternoon on the first day and end of play.
Turns out the engine is right at the bottom of the dip stick, accusump appears to be empty, and looking back on the video I can see that the gauge oil pressure light had been coming on through all the corners down the hill. Not sure where all the oilâs gone as there doesnât appear to be any leaks and everybody says it wasnât smoking so weâll have to see when its all apart.
That might seem like it would kill the weekend, and it was pretty close, but thatâs when the community around these cars really comes into its own. Phoned Greg at Hangar 111 for some advice and he gave some good suggestions on what to look for, and said heâd see if he what he could find out. Then went and spoke to Jonny at Bookatrack and he was excellent. Offered a place on the truck among the caterhams to get the car home if I needed it, and said heâd see if he could sell on the Tuesday place. Then back to the garage to best news of the weekend. Gregâs left me a voicemail to say can I get back to him as heâs offering to bring a van and trailer over to collect me and get me and the car home on the Tuesday night. What a star!!!
Pressure off, and now had the chance for a few passenger laps. Ianâs NA Honda goes really well. Very nicely setup. Then back to the hotel for BEER.
By the time we had food, Iâd got 4 offers of a drive he next day. Cheers lads you know who you are. Itâs amazing to think that people will trust a near stranger with their car, even if heâs not sure heâd trust himself.
So Tuesday, took the chance to have a look round more of the paddock and have some more PAX laps and after lunch Jonny did succeed in twisting my arm into having a drive in his. Really reminded me of mine pre the engine mods. Very nicely balanced and (for an S2) light. Only did a few laps as didnât want to take the piss, but as soon as I got back into the pits I had Pete trusting the keys of his 240R into my hands and telling me to have a go in that as well. Lovely car, really nice power delivery, but very vague in the corners. Turned out the damper setting were all over the shop, so once that was sorted out I think Peter was delighted.
Again thanks lads, and to the others that offered me a drive.
Greg arrived mid afternoon, and after a spot of lunch we got the car loaded up and headed back home. More drama as we had one of the tyres on the trailer delaminate on the motorway and rip the mudguard off near Brussels. This was even after specifically checking the pressures before we left. Fortunately no harm done and after fitting the spare we got home safely, although by the time we were back and the car was at the workshop it was after 3am.
Canât thanks everyone enough, had a great time even with the car problems, and special thanks to Greg for coming over to collect me.
Sorry to hear about the problem, Will, but well done Greg.
Great to hear that the legendry Exige/Elise camaraderie came to the rescue, & enabled you to still have some fun - well done ladz!
Hope the car is soon fixed, so we can see you & it in action as planned
Well what can I add to the above? What a great few days with good company to start with.
Downsides some of the driving standards were a bit bad, I have never had to complain more than once in a day about the same carâŚ
Back to the rest of the 2 days, damp to start with and my friend Steve drove my car on the sighting laps, embarresingly for him he went totally sideways on a damp track round Rivage.
Well after some slow laps to get in the groove and remember the track, I started to push faster and was feeling good. As the track was now dry I was pushing quite hard (for me) but the car was feeling strange I was gradually losing confidence on turn in, the seemed to want to rear end steer. finished the 1st day and off to the bar for a few beers and food.
Second day and I checked the car over I could find nothing wrong, tried tyre pressures suspension settings etc, no joy and still the car feels worse as the day goes on. Iâm convinced it is just geometry that needs doing in the end.
Overall I did just over 200 miles on track the first day and 120 miles on the second, plus over 600 miles there and back meant I did nearly a 1000 miles and it was well worth it.
Sounds like an awesome time had by all.
Sorry to hear about your car Will, fingers crossed you get it sorted. I would say though, if the top end is rattling due to lack of oil, the bottom end probably will be too.
Echo whats been said Will - really gutted for you ref the engine - hope its not too serious.
sounds like and ace trip by the way
That AC Ace was lovely, even though it was a bit of a mobile chicane. Some people gave him no respect or time to drive around the corners at the pace the skinny tyres could cope with 
Great write up guys⌠Brill!
What a shame about the probs⌠and not good with track twaâŚs eh!
I wondered if you were getting wet⌠I flew over in the morning and it was under a nice blanket of cloud!
So⌠whats next!
Great to see everyone again, and meet some new faces.
The people on this forum are all a great laugh, and my old man really enjoyed the banter.
Hereâs the mobile hairsalon doing some laps
- YouTube
Jonny - well done for organising it all!
Same again next year
Hope to do next year, not convinced the new house will allow the budget for it though, Iâll have to wait and see.
lol Neil found this last night and text me. When you past I was coming to the end of some instruction in the other vid, I remember saying to Paul âFecker wouldnât have got close if you hadnât of been sat thereâ We should of had a head to head
Was than Andy in front of the 430?
You mean my vid Jonny? I canât see Youtube as iâm at work I thought the one I posted didnât have your car in there??
Lol yep yours, RS Neil text me last night so I watched it mate, some very hot laps
Yep we should have popped out together 1 up, it would have been good crack!
PS - RS Neil - top bloke, very down to earth.
Sounds a great trip (despite the other dodgy drivers on track). I didnât get the chance to go to Spa this year, so can I join in next year / trip to Spa?
Tom
Mark,
Thats some great vid!
I had not appreciated just how HILLY Spa is! Eau Rouge looks like a good hike!
Very nice driving too! Those âSâ 2 bobs go well eh!