Hi all,

I don't post often, but thought it'd be good to share my first track day experience at Bedford the Saturday just gone in what is my second S2000.
With my friend in his K20 engined supercharged Elise, we were set for a good day, alternating between the two cars, passengering each other. It was quite a tiring day but incredible fun.
Lots of high end machinery on the track, GTR, Viper, and loads of Atoms, which really are something else!
I went out driving first, with my friend who knows the track giving me pointers, all was going initially well, and then, I made a mistake and spun the car onto the grass, I've never really found the limits of the S on the road like that, it's a car that really does punish you for mistakes.
Then into the lotus to see how it's done, this helped me pick lines, and learn the track some more each time we went out, that car is pretty mad, near 300bhp in an Elise is just about right in my opinion, I would rather like a lotus like this one, but on with the S2000 stuff..

My second run was much better, smoother, more controlled, no incidents.

My third run was much more dramatic, I felt I was really starting to get a feel for the track, a bit of over-confidence into one set of bends, along with a sudden realisation that I felt a little out of my depth meant that I made yet another mistake, and spun the car off onto the grass again.
This time however, the car went from the nicely mowed grass backwards just a car length into some longer grass.
The engine was stalled, it wouldn't start, I then noticed smoke coming from gaps in the side of the bonnet.
Just as I popped the bonnet, grey smoke started flowing through the air vents in the car - i had the aircon on as it was a hot day, I'd purposely left the hard top on so that I could use the aircon and keep the cabin cool.
We jumped out of the car, and I lifted the bonnet to be engulfed by loads of grey smoke.
Stepping back a bit due to the smoke, then looking again to see where it was coming from, it looked like it was coming from beneath the engine, then I could hear crackling!
Then I realised that the grass beneath the car was on fire! The Cat had set the grass alight!
We waved at the marshalls in a rather desperate manner, then went back to the car to push it to the shorter grass, which we managed to just about do as it appeared to be stuck in some kind of ridge, but we managed to get it just so the car was sitting with the flaming grass just behind it, we tried to stamp out the fire, and the marshalls came with fire extinguishers, and put out the fire just as it was working it's way back under the rear of the car.
Luckily then, I managed to start the engine and drive the car to the track, well away from any grass!
The paramedic insisted we have a little check out following the obvious smoke inhalation, we felt okay, although we smelt like a bonfire, a bit like the inside of my car.

Anyway, I drove the car to the pit, it felt fine, no visible damage, no leaks, we stopped for lunch after which I took the car for a short gentle run to see if it felt damaged, which it didn't.
We then gave it a slightly longer run, but took it easy, no issues.
After that I had a session with an instructor, during which I learned quite a bit in a short space of time, and luckily, the car felt just the same as it had earlier.
A final run on my own confirmed the car was okay, and all in all I had a great day.
I have to say, AD08's are a top top tyre IMO, massive confidence, no issues with overheating from what I could tell, although i did a max of 4 hot laps of the rather long circuit.
I also has no issues with brake fade during the day, although my pads have all but disappeared at the front.

Unfortunatly my friends lotus developed a fault about 10 minutes before the end of the days track time, so I had to leave him waiting for the AA while I set off home.

All in all, a good day, some bad luck/good luck depending which way you look at it, but a story to tell, and an issue free 100+ mile drive home.

I know I'll probably get some grief from you lot for running with the hardtop, but for me, it was ideal, I could keep the cabin cooler, I could hear my passenger talking to me, I also had lots of positive comments from other drivers during the day, I'll probably do it that way next time.

What I will do though is invest in a fire extinguisher for my next track day!
The car is going to Dixon at the end of the week for a service & geo check, he doesn't know yet, but I think I'll be asking him to check for fire damage too!
I'm just glad that what could have been a very bad day, turned into a brilliant day.

Here's a couple of pics if I can embed them properly.






Comments, flamings (although I've had enough fire for now) welcome,

Cheers
Rick

 

Your car looks in very good shape, I bet your glad it stayed that way too !

 

Setting fire to stuff ?.........Top gear would be proud of you

 

Another reason why everyone should run a decat

Glad you had fun

 

Great write up not sure what track you were on however? The AD08's are great tyres and I would always try and get a few laps with the instructors at track days on tracks I have not driven on, glad your car was fine even though it was very dramatic I am sure I am hopeful to be doing quite a few more track days soon, nothing quite like being able to take your car to the limits in 'relative' safety that is. Thanks for posting, oh and relating to your hardtop if you like that then that is your preference don't worry about what others might say

Thanks

 

Nut, the track is Bedford Autodrome GT circuit, it's a good one to start with as there's not too much to hit should you go off the track.

 

what hard top is that?

 

Mugen , it's done the rounds this one.

 

Love the drama in the story. I was on the edge of my seat. Glad to hear everything is still perfect too. Bedford was my first time out here too. It happens to be very close to where I live.

 

Good post and nice hardtop, I wondered where it went to post Adrian's ownership