Discounted BMW track evenings
- Thread starter christhomasleeds
- Start date
Liverpool
REIS (Richard Egger)eyup said:
Competition Car Insurance (Towergate)
MORIS (Everitt Boles )
About £10 per £1000 of cover, plus a 10% excess.
I won't be able to make it 
but hope everyone has a great evening. Trackdays are brilliant for learning how your car really behaves, they are very different beasts with the safety aids turned off :evil:
Make sure you empty all the crap out of your car before you go as loose stuff flying around in the cockpit is not good when you're hanging on for dear life. Check your oil level, coolant, brake pads and tyre pressures before you go as these days punish road cars and good basic maintainance will prevent big bills later.
Most of all ENJOY
but hope everyone has a great evening. Trackdays are brilliant for learning how your car really behaves, they are very different beasts with the safety aids turned off :evil: Make sure you empty all the crap out of your car before you go as loose stuff flying around in the cockpit is not good when you're hanging on for dear life. Check your oil level, coolant, brake pads and tyre pressures before you go as these days punish road cars and good basic maintainance will prevent big bills later.
Most of all ENJOY
the track day is approaching!
Here is the timetable:
15:30 Arrival & signing on
16:30 Driver briefing
17:30 Sighting Laps
20:00 Track Time Ends
Maybe we could meet at 13:00 at these M1 services (Welcome Break Service Area J2/4, M1, London NW7 3HU http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=services+m1&aq=&sll=51.628887,-0.275345&sspn=0.097182,0.338173&ie=UTF8&hq=services+m1&hnear=&ll=51.633788,-0.221786&spn=0.183687,0.676346&z=11), and grab lunch either there or on the way to Bedford?
Here is the timetable:
15:30 Arrival & signing on
16:30 Driver briefing
17:30 Sighting Laps
20:00 Track Time Ends
Maybe we could meet at 13:00 at these M1 services (Welcome Break Service Area J2/4, M1, London NW7 3HU http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=services+m1&aq=&sll=51.628887,-0.275345&sspn=0.097182,0.338173&ie=UTF8&hq=services+m1&hnear=&ll=51.633788,-0.221786&spn=0.183687,0.676346&z=11), and grab lunch either there or on the way to Bedford?
All set for tomorrow. Am meeting playalistic and heading up from Reading to be at the M1 services for 1pm.
I'll ping a PM round to those going with my mobile number, for anyone that wants to meet up, should you have any issues.
Looking forward to this
I'll ping a PM round to those going with my mobile number, for anyone that wants to meet up, should you have any issues.
Looking forward to this
A
Anonymous
Guest
I can't get the link to work...think they have any places left?
A
Anonymous
Guest
Event sold out for tomorrow :thumbsdown:
A
Anonymous
Guest
I'm waiting to hear from them today to see if I can still come along if they have an cancellations.....
Meet up with as the M1 services me old mucka! You can have a passenger lap with me and see what it means to be a DRIVING LEGEND!Nickm said:
A
Anonymous
Guest
Blimey, you trust me with your Mrs AND your car? Wow!
Where is the meet point and what time?
Where is the meet point and what time?
Cheeky get.
Me and pawnsacrifice so far are meeting here in Reading at around 11.30am and driving up to the Toddington services on the M1 http://www.motorwayservices.info/toddington_services_m1/ to stop for some lunch and then the journey from there
Me and pawnsacrifice so far are meeting here in Reading at around 11.30am and driving up to the Toddington services on the M1 http://www.motorwayservices.info/toddington_services_m1/ to stop for some lunch and then the journey from there
A
Anonymous
Guest
Well truth be known I'm off today as I've got a stinking cold. Just called MSV and they have my number. So if a spot opens up,i will come along, otherwise not.
Thanks guys
Thanks guys
I know a few people were interested in the details on the day and how we got on so...
Rolled up around 4pm, they checked the car noise level (85.4db) and then signed in. I had my own helmet (open face so had to keep the roof up) but others were renting for £10. Free tea and coffee while we waited. Briefing at 4:30 - rules of the track and a few pointers (it was a novice day after all). The main guy did his thing and then they wheeled in a pro for some driving tips (here he is posing with the group outside)...
Got in the car and then followed one of the BMW guys for a few sighting laps (2 groups of 20) after which we pulled into the pits. Topped the tyres up with air and then out on track. Great fun, nice and open with plenty of run-off areas... managed a little over 120mph down the straight, the Ms were hitting 140mph
For a first time the track seemed to me to have a lot of different but easy corners. The course is very flat so little drama and if you do take a spin you'll end up on the grass*. I was doing about 5 fast laps, 1 cool down and then back into the pits to cool everything off...
At my allotted time I went out for half an hour with an instructor, he was a little anxious about me switching the DSC off off but let me get on with it and we had a great run. He made corrections to my line and took me onto kerbs we'd been told to avoid, but most importantly got me up to speeds I probably wouldn't have done on my own. £25 very well spent.
Don't be afraid to get the traction control off - did half a lap with it on (by mistake) and I thought the car was broken - on the standard (non-M) this goes is two stages. All or nothing for the M drivers.
Was also great to see some of the other BMWs out there - the CSL was immense and the E9X M3s sounded great blatting round. Ben had some pictures of those. Not sure if anyone got any on track photos - thought about bringing a proper camera but worried I'd end up giving the big one and going off
My day was drawn to a close slightly early by the horrid Green Stuffs, which felt horrid half way through my session with the instructor - even he noticed it!) on the upside they are finally dead once and for all (after 9 months!) and can get on with fitting some decent pads (I do realise that Green Stuff aren't a track pad before anyone says - the disappointment started months ago on the road).
Back in the garage before heading home...
Would definitely recommend this day, will be doing another one myself - the price was good too. Good bunch there, we met a few other Z owners too - including a couple with his and hers matching M coupes and a chap with a lovely Interlagos roadster, who'll hopefully be introducing himself soon. Personally, I am feeling slightly battered after being flung around inside the car, but this is most certainly the start of something...
Finally, there was a chap from the BMW club there, had a chat with him (is his E30 in the first pic, also has an M coupe) and think I may join the club myself - apparently two track days and it pays for itself.
* poetic moment of the day: playalistic, mister_dj and myself discussing the traction control on the Z4, and switching it off. Owner of an Z3MR pipes up, "huh, traction control, what's that?" :roll: He was the first to put it on the grass... his next session :lol:
Rolled up around 4pm, they checked the car noise level (85.4db) and then signed in. I had my own helmet (open face so had to keep the roof up) but others were renting for £10. Free tea and coffee while we waited. Briefing at 4:30 - rules of the track and a few pointers (it was a novice day after all). The main guy did his thing and then they wheeled in a pro for some driving tips (here he is posing with the group outside)...
Got in the car and then followed one of the BMW guys for a few sighting laps (2 groups of 20) after which we pulled into the pits. Topped the tyres up with air and then out on track. Great fun, nice and open with plenty of run-off areas... managed a little over 120mph down the straight, the Ms were hitting 140mph
For a first time the track seemed to me to have a lot of different but easy corners. The course is very flat so little drama and if you do take a spin you'll end up on the grass*. I was doing about 5 fast laps, 1 cool down and then back into the pits to cool everything off...At my allotted time I went out for half an hour with an instructor, he was a little anxious about me switching the DSC off off but let me get on with it and we had a great run. He made corrections to my line and took me onto kerbs we'd been told to avoid, but most importantly got me up to speeds I probably wouldn't have done on my own. £25 very well spent.
Don't be afraid to get the traction control off - did half a lap with it on (by mistake) and I thought the car was broken - on the standard (non-M) this goes is two stages. All or nothing for the M drivers.
Was also great to see some of the other BMWs out there - the CSL was immense and the E9X M3s sounded great blatting round. Ben had some pictures of those. Not sure if anyone got any on track photos - thought about bringing a proper camera but worried I'd end up giving the big one and going off
My day was drawn to a close slightly early by the horrid Green Stuffs, which felt horrid half way through my session with the instructor - even he noticed it!) on the upside they are finally dead once and for all (after 9 months!) and can get on with fitting some decent pads (I do realise that Green Stuff aren't a track pad before anyone says - the disappointment started months ago on the road).
Back in the garage before heading home...
Would definitely recommend this day, will be doing another one myself - the price was good too. Good bunch there, we met a few other Z owners too - including a couple with his and hers matching M coupes and a chap with a lovely Interlagos roadster, who'll hopefully be introducing himself soon. Personally, I am feeling slightly battered after being flung around inside the car, but this is most certainly the start of something...
Finally, there was a chap from the BMW club there, had a chat with him (is his E30 in the first pic, also has an M coupe) and think I may join the club myself - apparently two track days and it pays for itself.
* poetic moment of the day: playalistic, mister_dj and myself discussing the traction control on the Z4, and switching it off. Owner of an Z3MR pipes up, "huh, traction control, what's that?" :roll: He was the first to put it on the grass... his next session :lol:
Had a great day. Can't really add much to pawn's post above other than I can't wait to go back once I have AP brakes Definitely got the bug! Nice to meet a few other members too: alfamale, mister dj and another chap who is a bit of a lurker but assured us he will sign up soon. You know who you are
Definitely got the bug! Nice to meet a few other members too: alfamale, mister dj and another chap who is a bit of a lurker but assured us he will sign up soon. You know who you are 
Had fun guys, I took it fairly ez at first having the girlfriend with me and having driven up from Somerset. After being overtaken by a 123d convertible and a 130 hatch I put my foot down for the next few laps to reassert Ms dominance! The subsequent brake failure on the chicane was fairly alarming 
Anyways great time had, Matt and Ben apologies I couldn't stick around but it had been a long day in the car and you guys didn't look like you were coming in! The couple's names were Clive and Coreen - MC each... Good skills
Anyways great time had, Matt and Ben apologies I couldn't stick around but it had been a long day in the car and you guys didn't look like you were coming in! The couple's names were Clive and Coreen - MC each... Good skills
I didflimper said:
tjlazer, no problem mate, we were faffing around for a while anyway. Was a great day out, see you at the next you
flimper, I went for insurance too, just to be safe - more worried about someone else hitting me. It's a good point actually, if you just want insurance for the day options are limited and the companies just seem to have one person dealing with it, so don't leave it too late. I went with REIS at around £100 (first company I got through too!), Ben manegd to get through to Competition Car Insurance who quoted the M £25 cheaper .MORIS's site has been offline for ages now and if you phone it just refers you back to the web site. Am going to have a look at getting an annual policy.
flimper, I went for insurance too, just to be safe - more worried about someone else hitting me. It's a good point actually, if you just want insurance for the day options are limited and the companies just seem to have one person dealing with it, so don't leave it too late. I went with REIS at around £100 (first company I got through too!), Ben manegd to get through to Competition Car Insurance who quoted the M £25 cheaper
.MORIS's site has been offline for ages now and if you phone it just refers you back to the web site. Am going to have a look at getting an annual policy.I was too late to arrange insurance as I'd been waiting for moris to get back to me and belatedly realised they don't seem to offer cover anymore! Competition car insurance seemed v reasonable but with a 10% excess I figured I could live without it at Bedford. My only fear is other drivers there, so I tend to give the aggressive guys (yes you mr 123d) a wide berth...