Now THAT'S a track day!

[Elanlover]

So, for Christmas I was fortunate enough to be rewarded for all the housework, grounds keeping, cleaning, etc. that I sometimes do around the house with a full day of driving a brand new, 2008 Van Diemen Formula car at the Bridgestone Racing Academy. All I can say is that there IS A GOD! Oh, and a loving partner too

I'll post as many pics as people show interest in (we've got over 50, some videos AND the professional photographer will be sending a bunch along on CD too). This was as much fun as I can remember having in a very looong time. Of course, I had plenty of fun after we got home too

Let's start with some pics of the car.

[Elanlover]

Ok, now we've had a woefully short "training" class on taking corners, driving the line, blah, blah by the "Chief Instructor" who was perhaps half my age. For what it cost I half expected Mario Andretti to be making a guest appearance.

[Elanlover]

Ok, so we're off! Here's some good shots of the car (and me) on the track. Sadly, we had one casuality on the track this day as the gruesome pic below will attest too.

[Elanlover]

One of the great things about this day is that we had a brief but heavy rain. So, we got to take a turn on a wet track and learn a thing or two about the difference between the "dry line" and the "wet line". Well, most of us did. In my group of 7 cars 4 people spun out - one guy twice. Not me though The track dried up nicely right after so we had one last kick at the can on a dry track.

[F1 LOTUS]

I'm sure that's not the only bug you caught
Thanks for sharing, looks like too much fun. When you going to try an F1 car then?

[Elanlover]

Brian, I was absolutely giddy. It was an incredible rush. There's nothing like the feeling of having you're head snapped back - in 5th gear! These things were incredible. I've never felt that much torque in a car before and I was scared to death the first few laps. You know a car's got power to spare when your foot moves a bit because you just hit a bump and you suddenly need to upshift!

Its addictive all right.

[Foo]

Brilliant pics

[Nige]

It really is a blast, I've driven Formula Ford, Formula Palmer Audi and a few years ago for my 40th along with some old school mates F1, a 1994 Larousse (ex Eric Comas) to be precise. Estimate was we were hitting about 175MPH on the long back straight at Lurcy Levis (Danielson) in France. The circuit is south of Magny Cours (where we stayed) and is used as a test track.

[F1 LOTUS]

Nice one Nige

[Elanlover]

Very cool Nige. I don't think I got much past about 120 or so on the back straight but when you sit that low to the ground it feels like warp speed.

[Nige]

It was all very French, without any of the nanny health and safety stuff that pervades all we do in the UK these days. We had a detailed lecture on the importance of weight transfer and how to manage it through techniques such as trail braking (to keep the nose in). We were then driven around the circuit in a minibus without seats by one of the pro drivers to show where it went left and right and some idea of lines, this was the most dangerous part as he was quite quick the minibus rolled (leaned) heavily and we had to hang on. Then it was straight into the F1 car, circuit had been wet the previous day was damp to dry for us but the car stayed on inters (wets) as you can see, a reasonably high downforce setting, carbon/carbon brakes, traction control, sequential paddle shift and a 500BHP Ford HB V8 with no artificially low rev limit (tacho didn't read below about 7000RPM, as one of our wider group was told when he came in to complain it wasn't working). 9 laps and that was it, just thinking what to do for my 50th.

[Elanlover]

I've received the [hotographer's pictures in CD now and I think I'll post a few. Not because you need to see more pics of me but because he's done a pretty fine job of capturing some great shots. Guess there's a reason why he's the professional photographer and I'm not

Here's some of the car.

[Elanlover]

Here's some good lapping shots.

[Elanlover]

Ok, last few pics here.

[GeoffSmith]

HELLO IM A BRAIN LESS CHIMP

[Jackonicko]

The one with the duct tape, orangey sleeves and helmet under arm ......

and all the other visual clues from earlier pics...

Doh!

[GeoffSmith]

Ok, I'll buy the first glass at Hethel for him who correctly identifies me.

Easy!

[Elanlover]

The one with the duct tape, orangey sleeves and helmet under arm ......

and all the other visual clues from earlier pics...

Doh!

Damn! Shoulda' thought of that. Oh well, how much can a glass of water cost in jolly old England?

[Jackonicko]

Special water......

[Elanlover]

Special water......

A glass of special water it is then!