Scottish Elises

I have the off season to ponder the pros and cons, risk reward, and cost benefit of possible track day machines.

How much of a problem for you track drivers is lack of mirror use by slower cars or lack of comprehension by others that power superiority doesn't = lap time superiority?

For example, are you held up, on average, once every 2 laps? Once every 3, or more like once every 10?

I realise it'll differ with different numbers, but lets just assume we're talking an SIDC sell out on a dry track.....

Cheers,

Rory (CTR)

Everytime I'm behind Ed.

Everytime I'm behind Ed.

cheeky cnut!

People are normally pretty good at getting out of the way. With SIDC days John is very keen on the use of the blue flags which is great but sometimes the stewards dont bring them out often enough.

I would estimate 1 in every 10 would be closer to the mark for me anyway!

totally depends on the track day and often conditions too.

By and large this year for me (in my reduced track time) was pretty good for driving standards, and only the Rage machines and a few people at East Fortune held me up much. There will be afew more than that, but SIDC and Brunty's efforts have been pretty sound.

The last SIDC day I thought was very well driven by everyone I saw despite the conditions though.

Did take a more aggressive stance to getting stuck behind people as the year went on though, and it seemed to work better for me.

Till next year

I used to always get held up by this one tosser who drove a CTR



Mac

Well the CTR is the proving ground for tossers. Once they graduate, they move on to Loti and Subari.....hence my interest in following suit

Strange you should say that - said tosser now drives a Scooby and will still hold me up next year


Mac

Oh....I thought you were having a laugh and were referring to me (with some nice irony, as we all know I jump out the way of faster cars ).

Anyway....only Ed, and to a point Paul, really answer the question (10/10 for Reading Comprehension Ed )

lol@mac

I actually dont mind following cars for half a lap or so just to see what lines etc they take.

ed wrote:

lol@mac

I actually dont mind chasing cars for half a lap or so just to say that I was held up, when in reality I was on the bleeding edge of my talent.

what?

You dont half hold a grudge Mac

Most trackdays this year have been pretty good, one or two people slow to move over but I usually give them the benefit of the doubt that they are track newbies and not playing silly buggers and try not to be overly aggressive about getting by.

One or two notable exceptions.

The Peter Stringfellow lookalike in the blue 350Z, stuck behind him for a few laps when he refused to move over, nearly went into the back of him went he hit the brakes at the bridge on the main straight.

Maroon 200sx that thought he was on a drift track, over a dozen laps at snails pace.

On busy days just the general mix of cars can lead to some hold ups, most frustrating thing for me are the ones that assume because you have caught them quickly in the twisty bits you are going to blast by them on the straight, usually happens at Clarks when someone has let you alongside them then parked on the apex.

I have done 4 this year and have been held up not very often because I am s l o w .

/honest

Shug wrote:

ed wrote:

lol@mac

I actually dont mind chasing cars for half a lap or so just to say that I was held up, when in reality I was on the bleeding edge of my talent.

what?

this thread has much danger of turning into a willy waving contest


Seriously though, in the elise - I'm held up rarely. When out with others in faster cars, sure I've been held up. IMO everyone's paid the same and we're all entitled to the same time (and space) on track. I think its just as bad to have newbies turned off track driving by constantly being off line and living in their mirrors as it is to have faster drivers held up for a lap or 2. Its a fact of life, and one I don't particularly mind (maybe I just haven't experienced!) for the money I pay. I still view the chance to be out on a track as a privilege rather than a right.

/2p

I would reckon that Once in every trackday is as much as I get held up. I don't consider someone taking a couple of corners to let me past really holding me up. And like Ed said it is good to watch them for a bit, especially if they are really trying to stay ahead. That's when you catch the spins on film.

Oh and I see you mention Lotus and Subaru and no mention of the superior brand Mitsubishi.