Was up at the Dreanought night tonight. 1st time I've been round KH with the Elise. Not ideal conditions for learning how it behaves unfortunately. Having only gone FWD round KH in the past I was hoping to be able to explore a bit more.
It was dry before the briefing, but chucked it down while getting the usual rules read out.
Took the 1st few laps cautiously to try and find where the grip was (or wasn't). My A048's were struggling and I couldn't seem to get any temperature in them to help. A few laps in, I gave it a bit more beans coming out of Clarkes and found the back very eager to come round for a look. Kept it in check but took that as a warning... so backed off a bit for a lap or 2.
Then, back at Clarkes a little later... I must have been a bit digital on the throttle and found myself in a position that opposite lock just wasn't able to correct. Found myself through the grass, in to the gravel and about a yard or 2 short of the tyres on the right hand side... managed to steer it back on to the track though without damage.
In to the pits for a check over and a laugh at the muddy patterns all over. Session was then stopped due to the well known Tuscan dropping it's gearbox oil from the hairpin in to the pits. I just wish it had dropped it at Clarkes, cos I may have been able to use that as an excuse.
Anyway, fair play to the marshalls... pit lane was open again in around 10-15mins. I left it another 5mins in hope that the people in front would create a bit of a dry line. It didn't really though. So another 10 cautious laps... and finally, a dry line was appearing. Although it was still a bit greasy on that line, I must have been getting more heat in the rubber as I was now able to stay with some of the other cars... but still very frustrating not feeling confident enough to get on the power as early as I would like.
Really hope the TT trackday is dry so I can finally see what this thing does on the right rubber.
Anyway... the session was stopped again at about 7pm because a Skyline had blown bits of engine/turbo and associated fluids up the main straight. All this oil is just bad news on a wet track. Must have been a biggy, because at 7:30pm, it still wasn't open. Hail stones then appeared, so with only 30mins left anyway, I took that as a sign to head off for a chippy.
Not sure if/when it opened therefore... if anyone knows anyone who was up there with a camera... I'd be interested to see if they have one of me doing a tractor impersonation in the Elise.
Andy.
Dreadnought night tonight.
Dreadnought night tonight.
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thinfourth
- Posts: 3177
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:06 pm
- Location: Playing in the mud near aberdeen
