Track Day

Was the trackday that you were at also in Mondello?? how come they are never advertised?

It was at Mondello yeah - fantastic day.. They advertise the trackdays on their web site...It was absolutely packed.

Have a few photos and vids too... few nice cars - E30 M3, Lancer Evos, Cossies etc...

Some girl was driving a green M3 Cabrio and was been overtaken by absolutely everything on the track - I'd swear she didn't get above 3000 revs - almost resulted in the car being written off when a hothead in a 156 GTA overtook on the inside on the first corner...

emm - it rarely happens but I guess when a dickh**d in an alfa almost writes off an M3 cabrio.

[I must admit being black flagged myself when the marshals were given their annual stint in the PDC (performance driving center) in Mondello (where you drive the Rover 25 GTIs and (rev limited) single seaters). Myself and another marshal decided to ignore the rules and race. I spun in Tarzan (the double right-hander) and the other guy right behind me spun to avoid me). We were just cautioned and let back out. Great fun - but wont be doning that kind of stuff in Sept.

I wasn't driving yesterday - just having a goo...

Some guy in a silver 95 525i couldn't take the first corner at all - kept missing the apex, missing his braking point etc... so this resulted in him spinning almost every lap. I have a video (albeit very blurry) of him really cocking up - he spun the car 360 on the outside of the bend just as it straightens up, then went spinning across the track in front of what I think was a brand new Lancer Evo - there was a cloud of dust , don't have a clue how the other driver missed him... and he spun it again and again - gashed the side of the car. (this all happened on the first bend, don't know the name of it)

There was a group of us there - no one could understand how he was allowed to stay out. He even spun it with his wife in the car at one stage.

I won't be making it down to Galway - am off to Corfu on Friday, so I'll send you my address by PM as suggested, cheers Killian

It was €5 per car to get in... a bit peeved at this considering half the cars were getting stuck in the field they got us to park in... but it was a good day so I'm not moaning too much... they seem to be making good progress on rebuilding the place...

Was that one intentional?

hehe...possibly.... although given how piss poor his driving was, I'd be surprised if it was!

I was talking to one of the Mondello managers. He was saying that a lot of the back street stealers get 520i/525i's for a few quid and bring them to the open days for tail out fun. It got so bad that a number of them were completely banned.

He was concerned that the club was possibly posing for a group of these nutters - I had to explain the background of the club and the purpose of the track day.

Note that it has been retitled a Better Driving Day - a chance to learn at your own rate.

At this stage there will be 3 categories based on experience (and possibly car power) running 10-12 minutes session each. This means that each session should be with cars of a similar speed = minimum overtaking.

People can drive at whatever pace they are happy with and can pit and return during their session.

I don't like to lack of control for open days - but our event will be more stringently controlled. It's our first - and I hope to build on it in the future. BMW Ireland will also be watching it - and we want to start on the right footing with them too.

Those who have been at club events hopefully have noted the more serious enthusiasm and concern for vehicles that people have - with a slice of fun thrown in of course!

when I attended the club event last year at Bedford Autodrome, there were so many cars there, you could hardly get out on the track. Not only that a load a skylines had turned up (joined the club for the use of the day, heavily discounted for members) they were doing some really scary stuff out there!

I believe the numbers will be relatively restricted and track time is only open to club members who have paid for the event. I am aware of many people who will be coming to the day (with their BMWs) just as spectators but if they haven't handed over the readdies then they will be just spectators! The club has rented the road for the afternoon so we decide who can drive - Mondello can't turn around and allow a dozen outsiders in.
I think I remember a discussion about club members being allowed to bring non BMW cars but B318isP can answer that better.

I've posted up one or two photos from Mondays track day at http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44 for anyone who's interested!!

Edited by kdevitt

I think we can all safely assume there wont be any idiots on our day out.