I hadn't been to Combe before, but gave it a crack yesterday...

It was a sessioned event, organised by the Lotus dealer who I bought the Exige from.

First few laps were wet, and a complete nightmare. Never known anything so slippy. I managed an unplanned powerslide on a fastish bend on my first lap, and managed to save it. Even in a straight line the car was snaking under power. My tyres were shot, but even then it shouldn't have been that bad!

It dried out by the second session and got some good laps in before lunch. Alas the track manners of most of the punters was not what i've come to expect (from BaT days which are spot on) and I think some of them thought it was a race... I didn't see anyone overtake with consent all day! Nobody would move for you without foce either. Ah well

Having just watched the footage I took from in the car, my driving can best be described as poor! Actually left feeling a little despondant, but I aim to improve.

I was doing 1:30 consistently, and some down around 1:27 (have to check as may be better) but my lines weren't great, I was hacksawing at the wheel a bit too much, and not that smooth, and I still can't heel toe in the Exige!

It's short, but actually quite a technical and quick track. Maybe not one for your first track day if you are thinking of it!

On the plus side, I got to meet Dox, Soulcrew and Starlight (lovely porker) so that was good. Sorry I couldn't do the passenger laps, chaps. My decision to bugger off early due to the pit lane queue was probably for the best

On to the video and pics....

Here's a decentish lap - ignore the first one as I was getting held up (all day) by an RX7 and Impreza. I got held up a fair bit through the day, which was annoying. Not many overtaking places either.

My hand gestures are towards the Evo, who decided to just dive through uninvited.

Castle Combe 1
(click watch in high quality under the video window) Need the volume up to appreciate the noise of the Exige!

Second vid:
Castle Combe 2

(Ignore the suicide overtaking move on the MR2 - that was a bit of frustration from being held up up and not indicating on previous sessions. He has seen me though as I chatted to him afterwards)

Pics....

Some nice machinery there.... 2x GT3 RS there but we all know what they look like so I took no pics.

Possibly one of the most impressive cars there was a chap in his 40's in a DC2. It was standard bar a couple of braces, and exhaust, and being stripped. I saw him punish an R400, and not sure I noticed anyone get past him









Broken Noble (Echo take note )












And the best sounding car of the whole day was the AMV8 Vantage - by far! No pics of it unfortunately, but it was stunning.

 

Cant see much wrong with the lines there Mark, speaking as a novice
Usual STI (Solid Turbo Idiot) who cant drive for toffee.
Thought you were a bit slow on the pedal out of the S bit...

 

Good videos as usual!

Thought you were going to go a bit risky with the MR2 overtake into the apex of that right hander...fortunately, you backed out - I was bricking it here in my armchair!

 

Nice pics....

 

thanks chaps. Steve, i agree. Did crack that a few times, but generally got it wrong!

Ron, glad it kept you entertained! I tend to play it safe, but i really needed to get past him!

 

You were well clear by turn in.

Good videos Mark. Really impressed by the way your car picks up of the throttle.Really usable power

 

Yep it's pretty sharp. The low weight and resistance from the drivetrain help.

PM you v soon!

 

Hmmm! Castle Combe, I love that track (my local). I wouldn't say it was short though at 1.8 miles long. My times around here are usually about 1:31 - 1:32, if you don't hit any traffic (that's in my Dolly Sprint, not the S). It is quite a technical track, as you said, & I like the chicanes best.

Some nice old cars there.

Edit: Just watched the vids. wish I could get my camera that steady!

I thought your lines were very good (in my humble opinion), just after the first chicane (the esses) you could do with getting to the left of the track a bit sooner & a bit wider, so you can hook up the next apex & carry more speed through the bend.

 

Its my most local too being in Somerset.
I was mentioning this thread to Karen earlier is a track-day-warmup-kinda-primer-way

First thing she brought up was the written off NSX at last years Japfest.
It was own fault though as it began to rain, cold tyres and showing off meant it hit the pit wall and rolled.
After your comments about the slippy track though Mark, it does make me think elsewhere would be better for us as an intro!

S.

 

Cheers Mart, tips appreciated! What's the score with the last corner before the finish line? It's such a wide corner I couldn't seem to hit the exit point very well, which suggests not a correct entry, on not going fast enough.

Steve, It's probably one track I wouldn't recommend as a first time track. I could see a write off being a certainty in the wet, with an over enthusiastic driver.

I;ve never had a spin on a trackday (touch wood) and to nearly have a highish speed one on a sighting lap was quite unusual for me!