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

[C J R]

I\'m not really sure why this is so. The 7 is great track weapon and it\'s really a place where one can enjoy the car in a way that\'s impossible (legally) on UK roads. Drag racing is great up to a point; straight line speed/acceleration has it\'s fans, but twisty tracks are more fun & challenging (my own opinion of course!!:Laugh)
 
One factor maybe the noise regs. A lot of 7\'s seem to have very loud exhausts? Having said that, several 7\'s running 400+ bhp don\'t have any problem with the 105dB limit operated at most tracks.
 
Another factor (maybe) is cost? Maybe 7 owners have to spend all their spare cash on keeping their cars running
 
Being a 7 owner and heavily in to drag racing I can offer strictly my own view that whilst the thrill and excitement of drag racing has its appeal, I find I get a longer \'buzz\' out of track days.
Depending on you and your car, drag racing can equate to 10 to 15 seconds of exhilaration and a long wait in the queue to get back on the start line.
Track days provides an amount of apprehension before venturing out on track, (will I stay on the black stuff or be the first on the recovery truck, etc etc), which is quickly followed by long periods of exhiaration as you learn the track, culminating later in the day (in my own opinion) of those very fast hot laps when you have the confidence and some knowledge of how to deal with the particular track.
Personnaly I am hooked and will continue (cash allowing) to develop the car to enjoy next years events.

[shaunwil]

Shaun... First off you came to the Lakes (my play ground!) and didn\'t get in touch. Naughty naughty! Secondly, don\'t worry too much about the coolant hose leak. Mine used to leak from there for around 2 1/2 years. I always thought it was the heater matrix but it turned out to be the copper pipe that the coolant hose fits on. Took me ages to find it and my car regularly used to drop coolant and I\'d have to top it up when the buzzer went off. Granted mine wasn\'t a major leak but still don\'t worry too much.

Ade

Hopefully, had a big air bubble in the engine this morning. Coolant alarm went off as soon as the thermostat opened ! Filled it up straight away and have just stuck another 2/3 lt in once it has cooled down !

Wished I had stopped straight away but the buzzer only went off for a few seconds and wasn\'t all that loud in the current setup. It lost a lot of coolant but I didn\'t let the engine sit off to get crazy hot without the electronic water pump. I\'m going to ring pip about it later tonight and see what he says. May end up going down to get the coolant system tested !

Fingers Crossed !

I think the noise is a major factor with the 7\'s. Plus alot are down south and don\'t really like to travel too far north. Maybe one of the days at rockingham or silverstone will get a better 7 turn out. Plus the weather is getting iffy and quite alot of the FD\'s are put away for winter, or for some major mods !

Shaun

[shaunwil]

I\'ll come up when its tuned. Not much fun with max 20% throttle, no boost and 4k rpm on the run in !

Shaun

[marcusd666]

@ Shaun, Hope all is well mate with the coolant system and that you caught it in time I\'m sure things will be ok, just air locks hopefully.

As for the lack of 7\'s at track days, I think it\'s down to the cost of keeping 7\'s on the road at the moment, noise is a killer as well but the bid one is a Shaun says the most of them live down south and with the cost of fuel at the moment its taking a lot to fill you tank up for the day!

When I went to the ring last year I was the only 7 there which was a bit of a surprise. I know next year I will hopefully taking mine out on the track just wish I had the funds for this year.

[shaunwil]

Me too, not sure I caught it in time though ! Booked in Saturday for a coolant test at Pips.

Shaun

[marcusd666]

/\\/\\/\\
Fingers crossed for you mate hope it goes well will see on the 17th at Outon.

[shaunwil]

Good news. Looks like my water seals are fine. Went on dyno too this morning thanks to pip and now have the initial tune on the car. Have 0.8bar of boost with a max 6k rpm in the morning and 6.5k in the afternoon at Oulton. Made around 350bhp at the flywheel at around 6k and 0.8bar with a rich map.

Hopefully we should have some more 7\'s too if places are available

Shaun

[Casey]

Great news shaun! Relieved to hear all is well :Thumbs-up

Yep, places still available as far as I know - not showing as sold out.

The more the merrier! Currently there are  8x8\'s and 4x7\'s

[mattfduk]

Just booked

[shaunwil]

DI\'d you get more time drifting in the fc ? Weather went down hill very quick on the drive home !

Will you be running in the 3 rotor ?

Shaun

[Casey]

Welcome Matt! I look forward to meeting you at Oulton. What car are you taking along - a triple rotor would be awesome :god

For all of us going along, here is a basic circuit map (so you can start thinking about all those corners!). Click on the map for a larger version.

I\'ve also thrown together a briefing pack. It\'s probably very basic for many of you, but we have a mix of racing drivers, trackday vets and first timers!

[mattfduk]

Yes I finished about 3.30 after busting the diff! One wheel drive doesnt work!!!
 
Yes will be in the PP Shaun and Casey

[shaunwil]

Best sound ever

Shaun

[marcusd666]

Nice one Shaun glad everything is fine mate looking forward to seeing you on the 17th :Thumbsup!

[mattfduk]

Hope it\'s a dry day, getting the R888\'s cut to allow some water out just incase!
 
Re-made the broken splitter last night too Shaun
 
Will be ready for battle by the time my new tow eye arrives :3gears-rh