***TRACKDAY SERIES - Oulton Park, Wed 17th Nov***

[CrissyUK]

The Scoobie is not as forgiving as the RX8 in any given situation. In fact, it seems to take great pleasure in magnifying any driving mistakes that I make.  

It\'s been tuned for drag racing so it\'s awesome down straight roads (you can almost do wheelies if you "accidentally" tickle the turbo too much) but as soon as you get to a corner it gets tricky to handle if you are not 200% careful and even then it tries to understeer into walls, ditches, trees, etc.  

The only creature comfort is power steering. No ABS or DSC.

Having said that it\'s great for off-road driving, little jumps here and there, scaring other road users with the noise and just general winter time poodling around the country lanes. If the RX8 is kaput I\'ll do Finmere in the Scoobie so you can see what I mean (then again you are going to tell me to man up)!!  

[shaunwil]

Is the suspension adjustable ? Maybe it needs looking at if it can\'t go round corners ! Surely the 4 wheel drive should help out much more than a rwd car ?

Shaun

[CrissyUK]

It appears that I have stock suspensions so not adjustable but unknown after market drop links at the rear.

It\'s a great drive but requires more skills than the RX8 to take it round the track and back in one piece. I don\'t think I am that good yet, certainly not that confident. So if I have to take it to Oulton Park just stay away from me and you\'ll be fine!  

[NickD]

4WD often understeers. Man up! :evillaugh

[C J R]

I\'ve booked for this event. Yahooo !!!
 
Totally hooked after the earlier track days.
 
Can someone suggest a decent hotel near the track please.
 
Thanks
Chris

[Casey]

:Thumbs-up Well done Chris!

I have been looking at local hotels and have emailed a few to confirm availability and price. A couple of pubs with rooms look the most promising, with B&B ~£40.

If anyone is on a really tight budget, there are 3 Travelodges reasonably close to Oulton, all of which were offering room only at £19/night early booking. The places I\'m looking at are closer, with off road parking and breakfast included.

I\'ve got one reply, awaiting the rest before I post up a recommendation. Will post up before the weekend.

[Casey]

OK,  Update.......

I\'ve paid for my place - yippee!!

We will be booking this via our friends at Mazdaontrack (MoT), who are offering us a £5 discount off the £149 price for this day for FULL MRC Members. In addition, FULL MRC Members will be able to claim a £20 contribution via Lisa (Club Secretary) AFTER they have attended the day, so the price could be as low as £124.

For those of you eager to book, here are further details of the event, and the booking form - CLICK HERE This is a full  day Open Pit Lane event on the fabulous International 2.7mile circuit (8 corners).

NOTE: The noise limit for this circuit is 105dB.

The discount code to be entered at the checkout is the same one we have used throughout the year. "Regulars" will know it already, but please PM me if you need it, or have forgotten it.

Some of us have a way to travel to this circuit, so I will be investigating hotels for us to stay at the night before and possibly the night of the event, to avoid driving home fatigued. I\'ll post up some details later. If anyone knows of any good, cheap, hotels they can recommend to accommodate up to about 20 of us then please let me know!

I\'ve had a reply from one pub/hotel, awaiting one more reply before I post up some suggestions. Expecting single room rate with full breakfast to be around £40-£45. Remember, if you are on a really tight budget, early booking at a Travelodge (about 10 miles form Oulton) is currently available for £19 (room only, no breakfast)

If anyone has any questions, please post in this thread, or PM me.

We\'re going to Oulton Park!
Casey - PAID
lennycarloff - PAID
C J R - PAID
HypoThermia
Rutz
CrissyUK
Arnie_O (possible)
brads rex
Nevryn

[CrissyUK]

just about managed to get back from Mazda with a seriously poorly RX8 which turns out is totally FUBAR\'d so it\'s really touch and go for me this event. I should know more next week.  

[Casey]

Crissy, does that mean the dealer accepted it has failed and will replace under your warranty? I guess it\'ll be up to the dealer to send their findings to Mazda UK before you\'ll know more?

Go on, take the Scooby!

[shaunwil]

Got engine back today Bit more expensive than I expected but there was more work involved to getting it running again. Going to book in the next couple of weeks.

Hopefully I\'f I don\'t have any problems and the weather is dry I\'ll fire it up before the end of the weekend. Engine almost dressed now (only got block back home at 14:30 !) Still far bit to do before I can start the run in miles !

Shaun

[C J R]

Got engine back today Bit more expensive than I expected but there was more work involved to getting it running again. Going to book in the next couple of weeks.
 
Hopefully I\'f I don\'t have any problems and the weather is dry I\'ll fire it up before the end of the weekend. Engine almost dressed now (only got block back home at 14:30 !) Still far bit to do before I can start the run in miles !
 
Shaun

 
Great news Shaun,
What was the extent of the work carried out ?
 
Chris

[CrissyUK]

Crissy, does that mean the dealer accepted it has failed and will replace under your warranty? I guess it\'ll be up to the dealer to send their findings to Mazda UK before you\'ll know more?

This is where it gets tricky: apparently the Nurburgring sticker and the Racing Brakes upgrade will have an effect on the warranty as the booklet clearly states that if you modify the car in any way or you do trackdays you are no longer covered.
 
And yes, they know I do them and even if I lied all they have to do is Google my name and they will find me on all sorts of websites including Driftworks (which I thought was cool) under "list of participants to xxxxxx track day/drift day", etc. A quick look on the owners club and they can even see me in action! A bit hard to deny the evidence.  :p
 
It really is down to the dealer as to whether they grass me up with Mazda or not, if they do they lose the opportunity of making a few thousands in labour fees as my car is going to Haywards. So this is an opportunity for them to turn the situation into a win/win one.
 
I haven\'t spoken to Haywards yet as I am waiting for the final verdict next week but I have already saved their number on my phone. Still hoping that the dealer will allow me to claim under warranty though.
 
Depending on the timing for the repairs/replacement I may attempt the track day in the Scoobie but only if I am likely to have the RX8 fully operational fairly close to mid November in case something goes wrong with the Scoobie which would leave me car-less...    then I WOULD have to buy an FD just to go out and about and you know I really, really, really don\'t want to do that...   :Tongue1

[shaunwil]

Great news Shaun,
What was the extent of the work carried out ?
 
Chris

Street ported to between street and extended (recommended by pip)
Plates skimmed.
New Apex seals, side seals and associated bits
Rebuild with all the relevant gaskets and seals

Need to do 1000 miles with a soft drive before it gets tuned (once refitted)

Shaun

[shaunwil]

Its Alive

Shaun

[TiddlesRX7]

Yay. Nice one mate. So 1000 miles run in now then:)