Castle Combe - Sat 29th May

[surfboardfiller]

Castle Combe Sat 29th May

I cant see a thread for this so I'll start this one.


Edit: Here's last years thread for any newbies

2nd Edit: Free to turn up like Dave said, most people do and hang about look at cars take the mick out of each other and eat badly cooked saussages and burgers etc
There is a cafe if you don't want to risk the BBQ and Motorsport parts shop there: Merlin motorsport if like me you can't stop modifying a perfectly good car.

Often there are passenger rides for charity dontaion, like Dave in a Lotus 211. or pop a helmet on and see who will let you sit in the passenger seat for a pax ride.

If you want to go out on track it's pretty much only Lotus Cars out there on the day (100 ish):
Membership for Club Lotus is £30 per year and needs to be paid for tor go on thrack + £87 for two, 15 min sessions on track, 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. Sometimes they open the pitlane at 3 ish, if everyone has done their 2 sessions early enough.

Breefing and registration at 8 am in the Strandford Centre
Track opens at 9
Shuts at 5
Book with Club Lotus:Tel: 01362 694459 / 691144
Book it early as numbers are limited.

There is useually a parade lap with no helmet required, although you need a helmet to be on track the rest of the time.
There is helmet hire for those without.

[kenich]

Whats on then mate? I will go up there if the club members go as i often try an go there as much as poss in the summer

[kenich]

iv got my name down to go on a club stand on the 24th of April. Thats the spring action day, good turn out on the first one of the year. With the usual sketchy track action.

[MPx]

Its the Club Lotus fast driving day. Its held annually at Castle Combe on the Saturday of the late May Bank holiday Weekend. CL members can get a couple of 15 min sessions on track for £87....and then a few more when it goes open pitlane at about 3.00pm....

[trig]

iv got my name down to go on a club stand on the 24th of April. Thats the spring action day, good turn out on the first one of the year. With the usual sketchy track action.

Which club stand? , I'll be on the Saab club stand as usual on the 24th of April and I'll be on track with the 9-5 estate .....I'm hoping I will have the Elan running again for the 29th May, if I pull my finger out

[Dave Eds]

Castle Combe Sat 29th May

I cant see a thread for this so I'll start this one.

Are you tracking mine again Phil, or are you bringing one of your own this time?

[kenich]

Saab club is always there lol

i will be on the talk-torque club stand as always. Wouldnt mind getting an early morning session to try the elan out, but expect il brake it in on an airfield day.

I will probably go to combe on the 29th then. Could be a good day out?

[surfboardfiller]

Saab club is always there lol

i will be on the talk-torque club stand as always. Wouldnt mind getting an early morning session to try the elan out, but expect il brake it in on an airfield day.

I will probably go to combe on the 29th then. Could be a good day out?

Yes useually there are quite a few from LEC and Pinky brings a Bar-B-Q when he remembers, it's useually quite busy with lots of Lotus Cars from all eras.

LEF are useually there in force too, you don't have to go out on track, you can just go for the social and the cars.
Here's a link to last years day

[surfboardfiller]

Castle Combe Sat 29th May

I cant see a thread for this so I'll start this one.

Are you tracking mine again Phil, or are you bringing one of your own this time?

I might be taking Hala, she said she'd like to come but not on track. I think I will track my new Blue car! You up for a convoy and passenger ride?

[kenich]

yeah i will be there. Pay on the gate? Free entry or need tickets? Will try to get on track though as i hate going to combe without being out there.

[MPx]

Its free to spend the day there and watch, but if you want to go on track you have to be a Club Lotus member AND give them £87 on top.....

[surfboardfiller]

Free to turn up like Mpx said, most people do and hang about look at cars take the mick out of each other and eat badly cooked saussages and burgers etc
There is a cafe if you don't want to risk the BBQ and Motorsport parts shop there: Merlin motorsport if like me you can't stop modifying a perfectly good car.

Often there are passenger rides for charity dontaion, like Dave in a Lotus 211. or pop a helmet on and see who will let you sit in the passenger seat for a pax ride.

If you want to go out on track it's pretty much only Lotus Cars out there on the day (100 ish):
Membership for Club Lotus is £30 per year and needs to be paid for tor go on thrack + £87 for two, 15 min sessions on track, 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. Sometimes they open the pitlane at 3 ish, if everyone has done their 2 sessions early enough.

Breefing and registration at 8 am in the Strandford Centre
Track opens at 9
Shuts at 5
Book with Club Lotus:Tel: 01362 694459 / 691144
Book it early as numbers are limited.

There is useually a parade lap with no helmet required, although you need a helmet to be on track the rest of the time.
There is helmet hire for those without.

[kenich]

Jesus £87 for 2 15 min sessions and the chance it maybe open pit after 3? Thats mega £££

[uk08462]

I plan to be there with my S2 and a mate with a red SE.

Checked with Club Lotus and there are spaces available.

[surfboardfiller]

Jesus £87 for 2 15 min sessions and the chance it maybe open pit after 3? Thats mega £££

Not really.

[uk08462]

Just got my entry ticket through from Club Lotus.

Any advice for a "Newbie" to taking an Elan on a track? I know I should increase the tyre pressures, but by how much? Hood up or down? What track should I play on the stereo?

[Nige]

You will probably need to reduce the tyre pressures rather than increase them as the presures will rise significantly as you get heat into the tyres. What you need to aim at is for the pressures to be at normal road pressure after youv'e heated the tyres up. I suggest you do your first session at normal road pressure and check the pressures as soon as you come off so you know how much they've risen by, you can then let a little air out to adjust for this before your next session. As far as other advice goes, make sure the car is in top mechanical condition and all fluid levels topped up, if you haven't changed brake fluid for a while it would be worthwhile before you go on track and likelwise with the engine oil. If you have standard brakes they'll take a pounding, a spare set of pads would be useful to have with you, maybe not necessary but good insurance for the drive home. A footpump to reinflate your tyres for the drive home would be good as well.

Above all enjoy the experience, drive within limits that you are comfortable with and accept that there are likely to be faster cars and faster drivers on track at the same time, let them by, it's not a race . There is usually tuition available from professional drivers from the Castle Combe School it is worth taking the tuition (charity donation usually paid for this), you will get an additional session, a chance to learn your way around the circuit with someone who really knows what they are talking about and some useful help and advice.

Unfortunately I won't be at Castle Combe this year as work committments prevent it, but I've done the last few years and thoroughly enjoyed it and usually managed to fit 4 or 5 sessions by taking advantage of the open pit lane session at the end of the day, even though I've only ever paid the flat rate for 2 booked sessions.

If the weathers good then hood down, if it's raining then hood up .

[trig]

Just got my entry ticket through from Club Lotus.

Any advice for a "Newbie" to taking an Elan on a track? I know I should increase the tyre pressures, but by how much? Hood up or down? What track should I play on the stereo?

Defo roof down if the weather's good as for which track to play, the only notes you'll wont to hear are the exhaust/engine as you cant hear much with the roof down helmet on and its a good idea to keep an ear on over revving your engine plus keep one eye on your temp gauge!

There's a very good Haynes Track Day manual available from Halfords and its full of helpful info ,, as Nigel has said if there is a track instructor available its well worth doing , I had an instructors session around Combe after I'd been driving there for years and it made a big difference to the way I drive there now.

[RayD]

I know I should increase the tyre pressures, but by how much?

According to the manual … they need increasing by about 3PSI.

See here and here

Ray

[uk08462]

Thanks for the advice gents - I was only kidding about the music!