North Wales meet & Anglesey, March 2019

[JLv3.0]

That is brilliant - just goes to show that they're not all c-units, in fact I've never met one who is, through not being one myself (I think).

[GG.]

Same spot a little while ago:

[Barry]

They were both cool guys to be fair to them, it was obvious what we were doing too. If they'd seen our run through Ogwen valley later that day I suspect they'd be a bit less cool with me.

[GG.]

other drivers even courteously pulled over for us to pass

I would also note slightly different experience to me where some knobber in a 4x4 with trailer decided to speed up to a dangerous degree to prevent me from overtaking round the triangle. Maybe he was just egged on though somehow I doubt it.

[Rich B]

its a well known fact that a Stagea is longer than that railway name.

[Mito Man]

Looks like a great trip

That is brilliant - just goes to show that they're not all c-units, in fact I've never met one who is, through not being one myself (I think).

And I 100% agree with this

[Coaster1]

Here’re a couple of videos:

One lap in session 2, my first ‘dry’ session


Three laps in session 3; last ‘dry’ session before the rain


Best on the day was about 2:09s; these cars should run comfortably sub-2 mins. Lose the passenger may gain me a second or two, so still need to find another 7s.

By comparison, my only other visit to Oulton Park was five years ago in my Integra, and my best was 2:19 with passenger (Barry did 2:17 in my car.

Integra DC2


Anyway, I had fun, it was wet, car back in one piece so it’s a win.

[Nic]

Awesome

[Coaster1]

Must admit, I did find myself browsing the ads this weekend...

If anyone is looking, feel free to pm me.

I had done, on and off, four years of homework on 996.1/2 GT3 so can point one to the right direction. Only 345 official UK cars, so a lot of cars’ history are known.

I even found an online advert of my car from Nov 2010. Just don’t look at the price then

42,000 miles
£39,995
2005/55 PORSCHE 996 GT3 THIS ONE OWNER EXAMPLE HAS TO BE ONE OF THE VERY BEST SET UP EXAMPLES.FITTED WITH MOTON 3 WAY ADJUSTABLE SUSPENTION FITTED BY TECH 9,6 POT PORSCHE FRONT BRAKE CA;IPERS WITH UP RATED FRONT DISC AND PADS,SPORTS EXHAUST,PORSCHE REAR BOLT IN ROLL CAGE,NOMEX PORSCHE CRESTED BUCKET SEATS WITH 6 POINT HARNESSES,RED BELTS,FULL SERVICE HISTORY,PAINT PROTECTION,AN EXHILIRATING AND VERY REWARDING EXAMPLE

[Barry]

Friday:

RS Trackday Oulton Park - This was a chance to get some more seat time in YKs wonderful GT3 (my addiction kicked in after a brief drive in Scotland last September). A wet morning so tentative lapping and general browsing of the glorious array of machinery in the paddock, anyone that has me on FB will have seen my attempts to capture the more interesting vehicles in attendance.
YK calmly mentioned to me during the morning that due to insurance restrictions I wasn't allowed to drive his car, as if the I'd thought that was even an option in the first place, but then he says I "should drive it tomorrow in Wales so you'll have more seat time for Sunday" WTaF?!







Saturday:

The brief for today was for me to use my reasonable local knowledge of NWales to take us and the Geordies (silver C2 in the pics) on a mini tour of the area, eventually landing at our digs that night on Anglesey itself, ready for early run into the trackday on Sunday.

Need less to say I have a few good routes in my head so I did the usual Ponderosa for a brew/whizz, then over Ruthin and some B road that takes us to the EVO Triangle (and a sneaky picture/fly by session on the secret side road).



It was at this point YK actually says to find a place to stop and I can take the GT3 for a lap. Initial concerns over crashing a machine like this are quickly overshadowed by the idea that it's not everyday you get to drive something iconic like this, so off I went. Suffice to say it was gently does it for the main but you can still tell how special these things are.



After that buzz it was another quiet road over to Bala for a light lunch before heading back over the top (A4212/B4391 for those that know) and over to Ffestiniog and then Beddgelert before a run up Nant Gwynant for another photo/breather. Weather was mostly kind, pace was kept sensible but brisk as it should be, everyone seemed to be enjoying their cars/views.



By this point I suggested we hit the Ogwen valley/A5 for the run down to Bangor and into Anglesey and our digs, which was fine until I realised I had a fairly clean shot at the valley road so I put my toe in, followed by Craig in the C2 and YK bringing up the rear. Pace was a touch more than brisk but you don't get a clean run on sections like that very often. Little Civic did me proud, skipping along very well considering it's age. And no window collapsing or strange cooling issues, woo!




Sunday:

Early start and it's miserable weather, blowing a gale and sideways rain, we press on to the track nonetheless and get signed up. Some gentle learning laps for YK in the morning, the track is greasy and wet for the main, so no heroics. Drying later and YK offers me the keys to his car. I can't thank him enough for his trust in me obviously, it's a privilege I don't take lightly. So, gentle laps to get a feel for the car, all going well until a Focus outbrakes itself and parks on the exit of a corner, red flagged. YK calmly informs me to line back up on pit lane again, "we'll just go straight out again once they're cleared" (or words to that effect). Blimey. So again, more learning laps until someone else causes a red flag. Just not meant to be is it. A few more sessions as passenger (which is great in of itself) and more friends arrive after lunch and keen to let them experience the mighty GT3 YK suggests I take one of them out myself, and he'll take the other mate out after me?! Gob.Smacked. Annoyingly, and not unsurprisingly I couldn't get the GoPro to bloody record (20pictures I managed..) so we set off anyway. Now I was relaxed and dialled in a bit more I could start to flow a bit more, and much drier conditions meant less sphincter twitches too. A really good fun session, nothing silly but really getting to grips with this wonderful car now. Gutted I have no footage of it but hey ho, turns out the GoPro was over exposing anyway due to pointing too low so it probably wouldn't have been great anyway!



So yeah, three days of great company, great cars, excellent driving etiquette and I got to drive a GT3 on the Evo Triangle AND Anglesey race track!? Actual life goals right there.

Massive thank you again YK, top gent and no mistake.

[Barry]

Lashed my two clips together quickly, the GoPro position shifted so it over-exposed both of my stints, but I figured someone might still want to listen to it, even with me pottering about

[IanF]

Very cool. And great write up Barry!

[JLv3.0]

I don't get it, it all sounds awful. Why didn't you go fishing instead?



That sounds like a truly fucking brilliant weekend

[JonMad]

Awesome all round. I look forward to watching the videos later.

[Coaster1]

@Barry

Shame about the GoPro, we were watching your afternoon session from the control tower, and you were going at decent pace, didn’t think any car even manage to pass you.

By this point I suggested we hit the Ogwen valley/A5 for the run down to Bangor and into Anglesey and our digs, which was fine until I realised I had a fairly clean shot at the valley road so I put my toe in, followed by Craig in the C2 and YK bringing up the rear. Pace was a touch more than brisk but you don't get a clean run on sections like that very often. Little Civic did me proud, skipping along very well considering it's age.

Good and sensible pace all day Saturday, apart from the final section above, you were going a lot quicker than I thought you would. I wasn’t sandbagging and actually had to wind the engine up to chase.

I wouldn’t have pushed like that without someone with local knowledge leading. Great fun.

Awesome all round. I look forward to watching the videos later.

You can have a go in the future; I didn’t offer at Rockingham for obvious reason

[Coaster1]

One thing to add....the GoPro didn’t capture the engine noise quite well. Sounds too much like a K-series at low down. It’s nicer than that IRL.

[Barry]

@Barry

Shame about the GoPro, we were watching your afternoon session from the control tower, and you were going at decent pace, didn’t think any car even manage to pass you.

I was chatting with Jon a lot but no I don't recall anyone catching us now you mention it. And I caught and passed that smug Focus ST from the morning session too

[speedingfine]

One thing to add....the GoPro didn’t capture the engine noise quite well. Sounds too much like a K-series at low down. It’s nicer than that IRL.

How dare you!

[JonMad]

You can have a go in the future

[Coaster1]

Found some more pictures

https://www.barlow.org.uk/porsche-rs-day-2019.html