Trackday with spin RAF Lyneham

[Fishy Dave]

A new venue for trackdays, RAF Lyneham (now Army), nice to try somewhere different and since I've been racing this year the first track outing the Zed has had in 2017.
The guys on the gate were friendly and the organisation from MSE was excellent as always. The circuit? It was rubbish for the Z4, constant chicanes, only 2nd and 3rd gear needed and quite hard to learn with a sea of cones. Worse still was the surface, loose chippings/fine gravel that has sadly made quite a few chips on my formerly pristine front bumper. I only drove three sessions in my car and packed up early, you just couldn't follow another car for more than a few seconds removing all the fun.
I did have some fun in my co-directors Caterham Superlite R for a session, the gravel rash is less of a problem in these, aside from the collection that built up in the seat.
I didn't film the first session sadly, I had a play with a black E92 M3, he caught me so I followed him at a distance for a lap before he let me go and I pulled away. After coming in he came to find me to compliment the sound of the exhaust as I passed him and how strong my brakes were. 8) It was nice to be able to make use of the exhaust valve on track for once and you can hear when I press the button to open it.
The spin happened so suddenly, I wasn't expecting it and got opposite lock on too slowly.

https://youtu.be/0LBgj12dREM

[youtube]0LBgj12dREM[/youtube]

Lots of car cleaning needed tomorrow including removing grass from underneath!

 

[Vanne]

Lol zero traction coming from dry to wet.
I hope you mentioned to the organizers about the loose gravel and sand. That has no place in a race track.
Enjoyed watching, thanks for the clip.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I hoped this would be a good venue for MSE as they're running out of places to hold their airfield days now that Hullavington and Keevil are no more. Do you think the surface will improve with use or does it need to be formally cleared of debris?
The combination of change of surface and standing water is deadly - I've been in that situation more than once. My first Westfield met its demise when I unsettled the rear wheels by running over a cats eye taking the racing line leaving a roundabout on to a dual carriageway. The combination of such a short wheel base and an aggressive diff means the ///M swaps ends very quickly in such circumstances and it's very hard to catch. You did a much better job the second time around when you were aware of the risk!

 

[2dogs]

Dry to wet never a good mix, looks like you had fun out there thank god for big runoffs.

 

[Beedub]

that was such a cool slide, no damage to the old girl and pant wetter.... we've all had those!!

Also noted the pic of your rear brakes, are your pads correct shape, it could be a shadow but it appears theirs a unswept area on the inner rotor.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Why I like airfield track days, not much to hit

 

[Yorkie Z]

That looks like fun. I nearly booked up for this one but unfortunately my boss already had the week booked off

Would your recommend it apart from the gravel rash.? I really miss hullavington and I'm not that keen on Abingdon.

 

[Fishy Dave]

Lol zero traction coming from dry to wet.
I hope you mentioned to the organizers about the loose gravel and sand. That has no place in a race track.
Enjoyed watching, thanks for the clip.

Thanks, yes, I mentioned the gravel after the first session, not in a Mr Angry way, just as feedback.

 

[Fishy Dave]

I hoped this would be a good venue for MSE as they're running out of places to hold their airfield days now that Hullavington and Keevil are no more. Do you think the surface will improve with use or does it need to be formally cleared of debris?

That looks like fun. I nearly booked up for this one but unfortunately my boss already had the week booked off

Would your recommend it apart from the gravel rash.? I really miss hullavington and I'm not that keen on Abingdon.

I had really hoped this would be the answer, but unless the layout changed AND the surface was thoroughly swept there is no way I would do this one again. I gave my car a good wash today and have chips on the alloys, bumper, bonnet, windscreen and sills.
The circuit is better in something lower powered or nimble like a Caterham, but for anything heavier or more powerful it's poor IMO, although the double apex left hander is rewarding.

 

[Fishy Dave]

Also noted the pic of your rear brakes, are your pads correct shape, it could be a shadow but it appears theirs a unswept area on the inner rotor.

You are right, but it seems to be normal for the APs on standard rear discs, it was also the same whether running Pagid or EBC.

 

[Beedub]

Also noted the pic of your rear brakes, are your pads correct shape, it could be a shadow but it appears theirs a unswept area on the inner rotor.

You are right, but it seems to be normal for the APs on standard rear discs, it was also the same whether running Pagid or EBC.

20170805_142724.jpg

isnt that weird...... the AP rotor is the same size as stock ( just thicker) and it wipes edge to edge.....

 

[Fishy Dave]

You have the same braking set up as me iirc? Do you have any photos of your rear discs, would be good to compare the swept area. My kit were bought second hand from an E46 M3 but I thought the rear part numbers were the same? It's got me thinking now.....the pads I removed didn't end up with a lip and the EBC pads were ordered using the AP part number from the Z4M kit.

 

[Beedub]

heres a couple.... not the best but you can clearly see the difference.... Something definitely not right their Dave.