Oulton Park 18/05/10- Second outing in the Z4MC

[moonigan]

I had the second track outing in the Z4 on Tuesday. This time I went to Oulton Park with Focussed Events. Once again it was a fantastic day and very well organised. Focussed made a point of asking for feedback in the briefing and explained that they had come under flak from customers and competitors alike. They explained that all they want to do is offer track days for less money than some of the other TDO’s. They admitted that in order to do this cost effectively they have to increase the number of cars. That said like Anglesey a month earlier this day was undersubscribed with plenty of track time, no queues and only two red flags in the whole day. The cars on show ranged from the sublime (old school fezza in track day/race trim seen and more importantly heard towards the end of the first vid) to the absolutely ridiculous (A Max Power Corsa with a roll cage that had to modify its exhaust due to being too loud that was slower than a slow thing).

This was my first visit back at Oulton in 8 years and then it was in XR2 stock hatch which was trailered to and from the track and had sufficient protection to prevent a serious injury if the car decided to leave the track. This meant I was quite happy to throw the car round the track without a care in the world. This time it was different, whilst the Z4 does not carry an exotic price tag the knowledge that Oulton doesn’t suffer fools gladly (This was experienced first-hand by the driver of the Impreza that got it wrong at the braking point for druids and then took his car home in bin liners) and the Z4 is my daily driver was always at the back of my mind throughout the day.

Since my day at Anglesey I have fitted some Kumho V700’s to my 18” rims and they were a revelation. I’m so glad I didn’t spunk twice the amount on cups now as I can’t see them being twice as good. The car now has the grip that the chassis, engine and suspension deserve. All of the individual components now come together to give something that is nothing short of spectacular (relative to the value of course). Whereas at Anglesey the tyres were the weak link now it’s the brakes but not to the extent that I feel the need to fit an AP kit or similar. I could do 7 or 8 laps before I needed to come in and let everything cool down. I’m happy with that to be honest because I’m not trying to win any world records for most number of laps and I think it a good idea to show the car some mechanical sympathy.
Looking back at the video I can see myself there is lots of room for improvement but that will come in time I’m sure.

In short I’m loving this car which is something I haven’t really meant since I had my P1 10 years ago. Here are a couple of vids. The first is 7 or 8 laps from the entire day and the second is with the camera facing backwards showing a R26.R, Lotus 211, Radical (how flippin fast are these things) and something else that I have no idea of.

http://www.vimeo.com/11912605

http://www.vimeo.com/11906270

Cheers
Paul

 

[Raify]

Focussed made a point of asking for feedback in the briefing and explained that they had come under flak from customers and competitors alike.

They got some flak on Pistonheads recently for cancelling a track day, offering an open pit lane alternative date, then changing that date to a sessioned day shared with bikes.

 

[mmm-five]

That baby blue Corsa sounded horrible :thumbsdown:
It was as if you'd stuck your head in a metal bin and thrown some lazy wasps in

I like Oulton, and it looks like you got good weather. Pity that there were what looked like two patches of oil/coolant thrown down.

BTW, were you taking it easy in that first video, as the climb out of Knickerbrook up Clay Hill and the kink along Water Tower are normally flat

Athough, saying all that, it always looks slower when you watch it on video compared to actually being in the car - and I have been off at Druids in the past (no recovery needed though)

 

[Z4//MMY]

I like the staeady increase in the number of flies plastered to your windscreen as the day wore on!

DSC on or off? :evil:

 

[moonigan]

That baby blue Corsa sounded horrible :thumbsdown:
It was as if you'd stuck your head in a metal bin and thrown some lazy wasps in
I like Oulton, and it looks like you got good weather. Pity that there were what looked like two patches of oil/coolant thrown down.
BTW, were you taking it easy in that first video, as the climb out of Knickerbrook up Clay Hill and the kink along Water Tower are normally flat
Athough, saying all that, it always looks slower when you watch it on video compared to actually being in the car - and I have been off at Druids in the past (no recovery needed though)

There are a couple of places I know I could go faster that being one of them but the crash earlier in the day made me a little hesitent. I'm going back in June so I'll be looking at making some real improvments.

I like the staeady increase in the number of flies plastered to your windscreen as the day wore on!

DSC on or off?

Off. There is no need for DSC when its dry, in fact I've started turning it off on the road now

 

[mmm-five]

Off. There is no need for DSC when its dry

Except maybe for that little bump on the exit of Druids - but only if your foot's to the floor and you've still got some lock on