You probably meant http://www.goldtrack.co.uk/ 250GBP for a track day ? That's about twice more than I would expect to pay. Sure it's open pit lane, but still ... Duez charges 175EUR for 6x20 minutes or 100EUR for 3x20 minutes. Anyhow, it's good to know what alternatives are available.
I joined this track day at Spa last friday 22/07! I only subscribed for a half day (three sessions) but i enjoyed every minute of it!!!! It felt great to drive on the best circuit of the world again The organisation was perfect, don't think there were any collisions between cars! A few cars made some mistakes and went off (not me) but nothing serious! It wasn't too crowded on the track but there really were soms nice cars! Sadly not a single Ferrari! (they probably were ALL at the nurburgring for the Modena Motorsport days!! still regret a bit i couldn't make it to the ring) Ofcourse there were lots of Porsches, M3's, Elise's, Impreza's,.... also many Nissan 350 Z, Mazda RX8 and even some Vipers, a Corvette and.... a McLaren SLR!!!! But the driver took it easy unless my S is faster then i thought!! In my first session the track was a little wet/damp and it was raining a little bit (just some drops) so i took it easy but the other two sessions the track was dry and i could really go for it!! Embarresed some (older!) 911's, Boxsters, Impreza's,... Like i said: huge fun!!! Here are some pics: http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7771/img09448lc.jpg http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/5808/img09633qf.jpg http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6796/a7op.png http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7739/c7ms.png http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/5939/d1wa.png http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/8032/g10dx.png http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/6013/h12qr.png http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7800/h2vx.jpg http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/8100/l6ku.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/677/m9pb.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8870/p2na.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7016/img09366re.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6105/img11673ot.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6197/img10650ob.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8027/img10126mx.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4469/img09322dt.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4885/img12386mj.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9897/k14jj.png http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9682/s27kx.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9752/img12651qn.jpg http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/623/img10273oy.jpg http://img311.imageshack.us/img311/4470/bmw1yg.jpg @ ze_shark: did you do the track day at thursday?
Yes, I was there on Thursday and at the Nordschleife on Friday. Pics will follow, still editing. The Goldtrack event was very nice, very professional, rigorous but friendly. Not a drop of rain, even a few consecutive minutes of sunshine ! There were quite a few participants to the Duez event who showed up Thursday afternoon for a while then rushed to the Nordschleife for the late afternoon opening. Anyhow, both places are great fun and worth a visit, although to be considered with due respect.
Great shots Guy! Very proffessional! Looks like a nice track day! Too bad all the Ferrari's were playing at the Nürburgring. Sooooo... who's the girl beside you in the S? Your sister Wendy or... your new girlfriend???? Looks like she's a great photographer if she also took the pics of your car while you are driving! Chapeau!
Good evening Alex!! It was a great day indeed!! Too bad again you couldn't be there! (although you would have driven to the ring instead!! ) I didn't take all those shots myself but you probably figured that out by yourself!!! Yes, i knew you were gonna ask it!! The girl in the S is indeed "the new girl"!! Actually she was a lousy photographer!! Even worse then me!! These really are the only good shots she made!! The "new girl" was too scared to drive with me though!!! The inside pics are taken by another participant who was so impressed with the S that he really wanted a ride!!! (just kidding!!!) And after half a day of car talking and stuff she got pretty bored of it also! See pic: http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/9443/sandy1qk.jpg See you soon!!! Can you get a day off this week? Guy
I was also thinking of combining the two events but plans didn't really go as i wanted! (Normally i would have been at Spa on thursday afternoon also! Too bad we missed eachother, would have loved to see your 550 ) Looking forward to your pics! Did you do alot of Kms at Spa? It was an open pitlane i suppose? Guy
I think I did about 200kms on the track. The good thing about the open pitlane is that you really go when you feel like it, and the trafic is a lot more diluted on the track. Did not push it too much on Kemmel as I wanted to spare my brakes a bit (lifted at off at 240km/h in 5th i.e. 200m before ... the 200m mark). Bruxelles is an amazingly difficult corner, very hard on the front left tire, and Blanchimont way too fast on a car like this. Took it easy, had good fun, no "moments". More when the pics are ready
Hehe.... talking about power difference: on Kemmel i only just managed to reach 215 km/h at the 100m (!!!!) mark! Haven't spared the brakes (this was with hood up! Hood down i only managed to get to 200-something! at this time i braked a bit earlier also ) Agree with the bruxelles!! This corner you can take at two different ways! The best for my car is to steer in very late, but then you have to make sure NOT to miss the apex otherwise you're off!!! And at the end off the corner there's not much run-off area as you probably noticed yourself! Just like La Source!! The best way to take this corner for me is to steer in late so you get those wheels straight as soon as possible for attacking eau rouge!! Blanchimont is very fast but since there's a run-off in tarmac it's pretty safe! The only moment i had was when i came out of the busstop and wanted to pass an Impreza and a Peugeot coupé (i believe) at the same time and the scooby did't see me coming in between!! It was close Like you say: it's all about having fun!!
Yeah, I really feel bad I couldn't attend at any event the last few days... always at work instead... even as we speak now. It doesn't look too good for the next days either with many collegeas sick or in holiday and all the terror attacks and treahts lately and the risk of a new Tsunami now! It just doesn't stop! However, looks like a nice girl Would be even better if she only was intrested in cars a bit more! Getting bored at Spa??? Tsssss! Still... some real great photographs! CU very soon hopefully! BTW, I would also like to attend a "Cosa Nostra" drive out to Orval within two weeks (if I don't have to work off course I'm not sure yet) Normally it's only open to members with Italian cars but I could ask if a good friend with a S would be welcome if you'ld like? So far a Ferrari F355B, a Maserati and a few Alfa's (155, 147, 156) are attending. We'll see! We should really do our drive to Luxemburg within the next month too! Damn'! I really need a holiday soon!!!
Yeah, i was thinking you would have enough "work" with all this **** happening these days! It's a nice girl, but..... just totally not into sportscars!! She would rather see me driving a..... GOLF!!!!! Why does this always happen to me? I would love to join for the drive out to Orval (if i can make it ) but i don't think most other participants would like it!! Our drive to Luxemburg will make it up!! Hope you can leave work soon tonight!!
Thanks! I sure hope so too... but I doubt it for the moment... Swapping your S for a Golf??? Damn' man! Don't listen to her on that and go for a Ferrari as a next car and as you've planned instead!!! I'll certainly keep you updated if I find some free time for the Luxemburg drive out and about the Orval trip. IF I join in on that last one you can always ride along with me too if you like and if you've got the time.
RPM...there was one Ferrari during test days...a 348...mine...but i didn't drive it on the track... I was there with some friend...soo i was on the passenger seat this time
Yes, that's right!!! There was indeed a 348!! Damn, i didn't know it was you!! Think i got a pic of it somewhere!! I'll look for it later!!! Not home at the moment! What car was your friend driving? I was there with a Black S2000! Guy
a Mazda 323 1.8 GT (groupe A) a Porsche 968 CS (groupe C) a Fiat Ritmo Abarth "turbo" ...237 Hp... (groupe C)
Hey all, I was at Spa on the Thursday in my (Red) Renault Megane with a stripe down the middle. Anyone see me?! I then went onto Nurburgring on the Friday and went to the GP circuit. Saw a familar Testerossa (HD TR xxxx) and a couple of others, but no faces I knew Superb week - really worth it. Loads of pics - just resizing them now. Lee
Lee, sadly you missed the meeting point?! Every day at 13:00p.m. at my TR. Why haven`t you asked for Helmut (the organizer) or me to meet up???????
Didn't see you since i arrived at Spa friday morning! Damn it really looks like i attended the wrong track day! At thursday there were apparantly some F-chatters on the track! Do you know if SteveP was also at Spa in his Impreza or 360? Would have loved to meet some UK guys!! Where were you staying at Spa? Or did you drive to the Ring on thursday evening? How did you like Spa? CIAO Guy
That little Fiat was pretty fast!! Saw him "racing" against some Porsches!! I understand that you don't track the 348! If i had an F-car i would still track the S instead i think! Don't want to take the risk! Next time i'll try to recognize your 348 better!! I should have seen it cause i just looked at the pic i took and NOW i see the little Jamiroquai sticker!!! Here is the pic!! http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7886/img31323rj.jpg
Hey Guy, Yes, SteveP took his Subaru. We stayed in Spa itself - very mad this time of year as they were celebrating French music. We stayed at the Best Western hotel - opposite the Radison. We arrived there Weds night after driving from Nevers (Magny Cours Circuit), woke up Thursday and did the track day followed by driving to Nurburg. Was a great week - truly great. In our small group, there were myself, SteveP, Warren (Blue escore Cossie at over 600BHP) and Keith (a Seat Leon R). Had great fun and racked in over 175 miles on the circuit. Wolfgang, We didnt know if we would be making the GP circuit. We were there for approx an hour - had a quick look round and spotted your car. We'll be seeing you on the Scotland trip yeah?
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I'm more or less finished with posting my pictures & a video of this very enjoyable roundtrip to Spa & the Nordschleife. http://zeshark.blogspot.com/ Pls ignore the white space at the top, still wrestling with CSS code to resolve this "interference" with the sidebar. Thanks again to the contributors of the "action" pictures.
Great write-up!!! Enjoyed reading it!! Also nice pics and video! Looks like one day i have to "visit" the Nordschleife!! Guy
Great story JC !! We will bring another visit to the Nordschleife well..... TOMORROW again !!! (just for watching, no track driving) Tip, try a country croque at the Grüne Hölle next time, a lot better than the rigattoni.... Take care, JR
