Lotus Elan Central

www.donington-park.co.uk/

Donington Park Leisure Ltd
Donington Park Circuit
Castle Donington
Derby
DE74 2RP

T: 01332 810048


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www.lotus-on-track.com/circuit_guide/donington_park.html



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Since i`ve not done Donny and would like to get use to the circuit before the big Donny day in March 2008 i`ve gone and booked a trackday for tomorrow (Sunday) this will be my 10th trackday of the year

I`ve booked through there own website with TrackZone, it`s in 20 minute sessions which i`m not over keen on but should be a good insight in to the fast circuit.

If anyone is near by come and have a watch or your more than welcome to get a pax ride. IIRC i think they charge £20 for passangers

Well i had a great day yesterday, it was cold but at least it was dry. All i can say what a great circuit with plenty of run offs, alot safer than Oulton Park. Anyways manage to do a quick edit of a bit of footage

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1D9uaQMnqCg

Hi Monty

Love Donington but it is a very fast track with tricky techy bits

That chicane is a tricky one - lovely spin and nobody hit you - it is pretty narrow there

you had a red light on the dash the whole way round? what is it? why would it not restart? was there a spillage there?

Martin

PS meant to say before - love the avatar - how did you get it? photoshop?

Yeah it`s a great circuit and looking forward to doing again in March with LoT but it`ll be the full GT circuit.

Maybe i was just going a little to quick for that chicane + tyres weren`t up to temp (wel thats my excuse )

The light was just the brake fluid level, comes on under heavy braking, after the car spun it just needed to settle for it to start up, think i upset the poor old girl lol.

The Avatar was done by one of the members, but awaiting for it to be done in the proper red

Got some more footage to edit, i`ll post them when i get chance.

I'm not surprised the tyres weren't up to temp - not only was it effin cold yesterday, but the Porker and the Beemer were driving like they were on their way back from church - one does NOT brake in the middle of the Craner Curves FFS!

Unlucky with the spin, but there's some strange camber happening at that point together with a LOT of weight transfer. Glad you had a blast anyway, and good effort - a full 360! Must do Donington in my Elan at some point too - only ever done it on the bike so far, or as a passenger. Love it!

nice job up to you know where

now you can add footage of the donny spin next to the bedford spin

so do we all now know what it means if someone tells you they "pulled a monty" in their Elan?

maybe you need some FAT tires on the rear?

Don`t mine the spin as long as don`t hit anything anyways how else are you to find the limit

I must admit i was also touching my brakes in to craners as were most people but this was the novice session.

Don`t forget i had sticky tyres on the front and even in the cold i was getting 6/7 psi increase in preasure. If i could i`d have sticky tyres all round but i can only get 2 wheels in the boot

There was a photgrapher at the circuit and just knicked a couple of photo`s of there website

Wonder why i`ve not got much wheel arch liners left

Ok 2nd vid is on youTube, this time i take a couple of slight off at McLeans corner

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rgGNBAPTuCk

Ah Macleans - painful memories.

I've done that corner on my ar$e, and I bet not many here can say that!

It has a wicked bump that can catch you out if you get the right line at the wrong speed.

Followed by a slight bum-cheek crater and a long skid mark (or two).

Nice pics by the way. Would have thought that some nice person could photo-shop out the big C...

Monty,
g'aun yersel.
I'm glad you've managed a session at Donington, especially after last March's show when you were obviously raring to have a go. I've not seen the videos yet (new PC with Flash problems) but it certainly sounds like you had fun.

anyways how else are you to find the limit

Couldn't agree more.

I hope you're on track at the next Donington meet. I'd like to see it.

I'm not sure yet if I'll be coming, but if you're there giving it laldy round the track, it'll be a reason to turn up. Give Stevo a shove and see if the big Paisley woose is willing to turn up next year and go round with you.

John

PS: The map you posted doesn't look like it's an easy way round. How on Earth do you you get from Starkey's Straight to the start, and where are the pits and viewing area we were at last year?

Enright wrote:Would have thought that some nice person

Enright wrote:Ah Macleans - painful memories.

I've done that corner on my ar$e, and I bet not many here can say that!

Didn`t think they allow you to go round on your Ass is that another form of transport
You wouldn`t get be on a bloody bike as i wouldn`t last 5 seconds

John_W wrote:
I hope you're on track at the next Donington meet. I'd like to see it.

I'm not sure yet if I'll be coming, but if you're there giving it laldy round the track, it'll be a reason to turn up. Give Stevo a shove and see if the big Paisley woose is willing to turn up next year and go round with you.

John

PS: The map you posted doesn't look like it's an easy way round. How on Earth do you you get from Starkey's Straight to the start, and where are the pits and viewing area we were at last year?

John,

I`ve already paid for the Donny trackday in March hope you manage to make it and if you could give Stevo a nudge about the trackday as it`ll sell out in january. BTW Nige will also be on track too.

The trackday i did on Sunday was the national circuit but the one in march will be on the full GP circuit

National



GP




Geoff, thanks for the photo editing

looks like a nice cct for the M100. I take it the corner that was causing you some problems was reverse camber accentuating the under steer. Bagsy the first pax lap at donny

ps bring back the crackle - its your trademark

chris.t wrote:looks like a nice cct for the M100. I take it the corner that was causing you some problems was reverse camber accentuating the under steer.

It's a brilliant circuit for anything Chris. It was such a shame that it only got the European Grand Prix once (when Senna did that sensational first lap), because that year it was voted the drivers' favourite. It was only spoilt by the cr@ppy weather from holding the race there at a stupid time of year, but still doesn't have car parks that turn into quagmires (like Silverstone). The Craner Curves at speed you feel like you're falling off the edge of the world, and Redgate and the Old Hairpin while daunting are tremendously satisfying when (alright then - I mean IF) you get them right!

Goddards is a tough one, especially for an Elan. It's the biggest braking area on the short circuit with a crest and chicane involved. Tailor made to make Elans swap ends! You get massive oversteer rather than understeer because it's so easy to leave your braking too late after the Dunlop bridge.

Monty and his crackling - are we back to porkers again?!?

Loved the offroad moments Monty - that second one was a serious bump

Must book up for March

Martin

texas2201 wrote:Loved the offroad moments Monty - that second one was a serious bump

Must book up for March

Martin

When i was on the gravel i kept slightly on the gas so not to get stuck then when i seen that dip, slowed slightly and then closed my eyes At least with the next Donny i`ll be insured

If your going to do that trackday you better of getting it book as the attendess list is growing quickly

Just booked it Monty - cheque in the post this evening to Paul

Martin