Your fleet running reports

[mik]

Just home from a full day at Anglesey International today with ScottA, Maurice, and a number of other non-forum driving buddies. Hadn’t seen most of them for ages.

5hrs each way (stayed Sunday night at the Premier Inn at Bangor - tables in the bar are made of 100% stickiness) so it’s a fair old trek, but we were super lucky with the weather. Windy, but dry all day and sunny in the afternoon.

First time I’d driven there, and first time on track in the Evora. I’m conscious that it’s very much a road-focussed sports car. MPS4S and OEM DS2500 pads, and I was a bit nervous that it was going to feel a bit soft… Whilst it’s definitely no track slag, it did just fine so long as I kept stints to 5-6 laps to avoid anything (everything?) overheating. Handling was predictable and very adjustable (although I know I should have been hoofing it far earlier in some corners at times to get the rear rotating the car more at the exit - needed more time/practice/skillz).

No driving games have Anglesey, so I was left to watch some YouTube vids to ensure I had some idea of the layout before I arrived, and ScottA (who has done hundreds of laps there via several Race Of Rememberence) kindly sat with me for the sighting laps reinforcing turn-in points & best lines. It’s an awesome circuit - wide and fast, with several loooong bends and some decent gradients.

Great to meet up with friends again, and a thoroughly enjoyable day/experience. Although Chris Hoy coming past in his new GT3RS at about 300mph and then fucking off completely within about 3 corners is pretty humbling.

[mik]

Forgot to say - drive home was feckin rumbly - a LOT of pick-up on all the tyres

Rears (almost dead before I got there - new pair ready to go on)



Front right. This is the tyre that got an easy time of it….


(These look feckin awesome compared to one of the crew who’d stayed out too long and caused the Cup2’s on his Cayman to delaminate - chunks of tread no longer present with threads therefore now showing )

[duncs500]

Excellent work @mik. Any more snaps from the day?

[mik]

Any more snaps from the day?

Loads of interesting stuff there, but non - didn’t snap anything.

The others have shots from the official track photographer too, but I will let them post their own.

[duncs500]

Any more snaps from the day?

Loads of interesting stuff there, but non - didn’t snap anything.

The others have shots from the official track photographer too, but I will let them post their own.

See Steve Williams there?

[mik]

See Steve Williams there?

I did indeed - although I wouldn't have known who he was. As we were already a pretty big group (11) I didn't chat to many other folks there.

On the Lotus front, there was a manuel V6 Emira in the paddock that didn't go out on track, and several other Elise & Exiges (in addition to Scott & Maurice's cars obvs).

Lovely red Giulia Quadrifoglio too - I didn't note what tyres he had on, but it was low and running a lot of camber, and it was fast.

Driving standards were generally excellent - with the notable exception of a (presumably remapped by the smoke levels) 330d convertible who struggled with his lines, but seemed to have little interest in actively allowing faster cars past.

[Matty]

Lovely red Giulia Quadrifoglio too - I didn't note what tyres he had on, but it was low and running a lot of camber, and it was fast.

Was chatting to him on the WhatsApp group - sent a few pics of his tyres with massive chunks out apparently Anglesey curbs are pretty harsh on the tyres.

He's running a pretty extreme setup, not sure on the deets.

Looks like a good day!

[mik]

Was chatting to him on the WhatsApp group

He was one of the few strangers I did chat to yesterday - came up behind him (with his tentbox on the roof) on Sunday evening and we exchanged "nice car dude" looks as I passed, so I made a point of saying hello. Not sure if it was the kerbs, or just the fact that Anglesey has several loooong corners so lateral loads are sustained.

[davejevons]

Looks fun - I really want to do a trackday at Anglesey but have never managed to make it happen. It's quite a pain to get to and I shoul dreally build it into a bigger holiday/trip.

...
No driving games have Anglesey, so I was left to watch some YouTube vids...

Too late now, but for the future, there is a mod of Anglesey for Assetto Corsa here: https://www.overtake.gg/downloads/angle ... cuit.9100/ With some hunting around you can usually find an Assetto Corsa mod for most tracks. The quality of the mods varies a fair bit though.

[mik]

Too late now, but for the future, there is a mod of Anglesey for Assetto Corsa

Ah.

[scotta]

Looks fun - I really want to do a trackday at Anglesey but have never managed to make it happen. It's quite a pain to get to and I shoul dreally build it into a bigger holiday/trip.

...
No driving games have Anglesey, so I was left to watch some YouTube vids...

Too late now, but for the future, there is a mod of Anglesey for Assetto Corsa here: https://www.overtake.gg/downloads/angle ... cuit.9100/ With some hunting around you can usually find an Assetto Corsa mod for most tracks. The quality of the mods varies a fair bit though.

Mik plays on playstation.

[DeskJockey]

Galaxy now fitted with new discs and pads on the back, and a new O/S rear caliper.

Both discs had a pronounced lip, one of the pads had come away from the backplate and the pistons didn't move properly in the caliper. I knew the discs were heading towards replacement, but was hoping it could all be done in January.

Fronts will get done at the next service in January. The joys of driving a 12yo/128k mile car never ends.

Cat is definitely quieter, and the brakes feel better, so there's that.

[Jobbo]

MX5 update. I've been driving it to work a bit this week since the weather has been rather lovely - almost autumnal. The heater warmed up quickly today despite the temperature only being 10C. Despite which all the convertibles of any type I passed on the way to work had their tops up, unlike me. I think MX5 owners generally don't commute early because I haven't seen a single current shape MX5 on my journeys, and only three mk3s.

It goes in for the wrap next Friday, will be there for most of a week I understand. I do like the grey so I'm hoping I love the teal. As I washed it last week I looked at all the details and realised how much of a faff wrapping a car must be. I thought it would be quite simple because it's small but shutlines, arch liners etc are no doubt a real pain. I'm also pondering getting some US-spec side reflectors (next to the wheel arches); I quite like the look with them and the UK cars just have body coloured inserts:

[scotta]

Stuff..

Great day on Monday. the above is the best of the images of my car.

Totally destroyed the inside rear. could have done a lot more laps but still had to get it home.

[MikeHunt]

This fred is making me regret never owning a lotus, stop it please!

[IanF]

This fred is making me regret never owning a lotus, stop it please!

I think other cars are allowed on track Mike!

[mik]

I think other cars are allowed on track Mike!

Hehe.

Our group (in addition to Scott and I) included Maurice’s Exige 430, Caterham R400, GT4, GT4RS, Mini GP3, 996.1GT3 (the only yellow one that was ever made) and two Caymans (Caymen?) - one a little track focussed, the other quite significantly.

Fastest car there was this Manthey GT2RS. Brakes looked bigger than the Elise’s wheels….

[Rich B]

I think other cars are allowed on track Mike!

Hehe.

Our group (in addition to Scott and I) included Maurice’s Exige 430, Caterham R400, GT4, GT4RS, Mini GP3, 996.1GT3 (the only yellow one that was ever made) and two Caymans (Caymen?) - one a little track focussed, the other quite significantly.

Fastest car there was this Manthey GT2RS. Brakes looked bigger than the Elise’s wheels….

blimey, big boy toys!

what’s the yellow gt3 comment about? inside joke?

[mik]

what’s the yellow gt3 comment about? inside joke?

No, apparently it is the only RHD speed-yellow 996.1 GT3 in existence. I’m repeating what I was told though - I haven’t actually checked the accuracy of this statement.

[Broccers]

what’s the yellow gt3 comment about? inside joke?

No, apparently it is the only RHD speed-yellow 996.1 GT3 in existence. I’m repeating what I was told though - I haven’t actually checked the accuracy of this statement.

Looks like a great day.

Is that right? Nice fact.

A later one we drove around donington