UK Paul

[QUOTE]Originally posted by andylong
[B]well I finally got up to bedford autodrome on Friday
for a work bash - lots of fun cars to drive

http://www.palmersport.com/tms/


all too quickly my time is over, sigh, and that's it.... i think.

but my mate has meantime been having a word with his
instructor - and told him that I am getting one, and that
I have been driving him bonkers about it for the last few months.

so he persuades this *Star* of a race instructor to take me

mrsoften

I'm up for a spring track day, should have the car run-in by then

patience....

Often.

Tonky

This is interesting! Actually reading Andy's original post I was amazed he found the car quite so compliant for a first time drive at those speeds! Any chance Paul you can find us the answer on the sway bar thing, it's been much discussed in other posts?

Frenchie

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ianl
[B]I would really love to do this - the idea of taking someone else's S2000 onto a race track appeals greatly . What chance of orgainsing a S2000 owners day out there in the Spring - a nice drive to Bedford, a days mayhem on the track and then off for a meal to discuss the days events - sounds pretty darned good to me

Ross

I came very close to persuading the boss to take us all on one of these days, but business just went too quiet

Would love to drive someone elses S2000 round a track, and not worry about my tyres, brakes, paint etc....

Maybe next year.

UK Paul

Cedric,

I'm just passing on the info this Andrew Kircaldy told me before he thrashed the S2000 around Bedford. He said it was done so punters wouldn't put the S2000 in the field at every tight turn when they lift off, reckoned it made him slower at the tight hairpins.

Similiar story for Palmer VX220 (3 seconds slower over ~ 3 mins)
& Palmer SLK 320 3.25 seconds slower. Then ITR 1.5 seconds further down the line All driven by Palmer instructors or racers and on race rubber, better pads.

A Palmer TT225 with race rubber, huge discs & race pads was some >6 seconds slower than the S2000 and 'only' 5 seconds ahead of me with a Palmer pilot in who new the course probably like the back of his hand.

My little bog standard S2000 did quite well, I got slowed by a Griffith(easy 1 second) and it was a very warm day, I can see my self easy picking up 5-6seconds with just tyres and brake improvements, still I was probably faster than 95 % of the machinery there if you include their pitstops


Interesting that this circuit is quite a leveller of 300 Bhp Imprezas / EVO 6's and specials, they may leave you standing on a 0-60 mph dash, but they take longer to brake, and are much slower in hairpins, and even some of the sweepers.

Tonky

Paul:

Thanks! Doesn't this just go to show that there's a bit more to a great sports car than just BHP and brute force. I'm all for tweeking, but I can't help but think there's a point where we just stand to spoil what we've already got!

Mad Max

Yeah, what Paul said.

I've done the tyres and brakes but its been wet every time i've been to Bedford! Pics soon from my last day there.

Cedric

My car doesn't ride aswell for the road and the Mugen anti-roll bar takes away some of the initial turn-in (returned by the Michelins) but wothout doubt my set-up is much faster for the track. Confirmed by two Palmer instructors who drove my car in the pissing rain, last time I was there.

BabyNSX

The Palmersport S2000s are definately modded, I drove each time I was there and they feel much more controlled than a showroom car.

Also, I got a brief fuel starvation coming out of one of the really fast sweeping bends after the chicane, on every lap. I remember after the tight chicane theres a couple of flat out bends, I get a little stutter coming out of those (probably the highest Gs on the circuit at that point). Did any of you guys get that problem?

UK Paul

Hmm, the long left, right left leading up to the corner on the straight, I take it you mean, I had no problems there, this is where I had my best / smoothest work pay off, pulling away from some guy in a Porsche Carrera 2! on one occasion and making a chump of a Escort Cosworth. Definately the one bit I got right, but only after the instructor tipped me off that I should be in 3rd entering the chicane, 3rd pulling out of it 4 th when it straightens slightly and 5th if high enough speed obtained!! before the sharp left onto the straight, this corner I got all wrong in my warm-up, spinning in 3rd after another instructor told me to be in 3rd 55+ish through it, stuck to second and 45ish! Interestingly I went round with the roof up for my How-Fast lap, instructor went roof down, my trap speed on the straight was 120.15mph, his was 118.06mph, Palmer sport VX220 was 11 seconds faster than me over the lap but only maxed @ 115.36mph!