:: Track Day Offer ::

Motorsport Events, the organisers of this great track-day have just contacted us with a great offer. Anyone who mentions Matey-Matey when booking a track day with Motorsport Events will automatically receive free laps of in-car tuition from one of their hugely experienced race-winning instructors.

To get in touch with Motorsport Events you can either:

E-Mail them: Enquiries@Motorsport-Events.co.uk

Phone them: 0870 7872116

or Visit them: www.motorsport-events.co.uk

* Click here to see this year's event *

::: Motorsport Events, Bruntingthorpe Track Day :::
- 22nd Sept 2001-

The 22nd September saw an eagerly anticipated blast up to Leicestershire to take part in the Motorsport Events Bruntingthorpe track day.

147 Miles later and we arrived at Bruntingthorpe airfield amid some fairly typical wet weather. Despite this, everyone was keen to get out on the track and get stuck in. During the drivers briefing a welcome change was announced in that we would run an open pit lane rather than distinct sessions and thus everyone would get more track time. After a few sighting laps behind a pace car I quickly set to it and began building pace and trying to work out the best line. The track was still wet and so braking and cornering were made that bit trickier but no less fun.

The track was superbly laid out and comprised both sweeping corners, tight chicanes, and a couple of very interesting "sequences". Best of all was that there was no 'one line' through a lot of the corners and so there was a lot of room for "playing" with your line as well as the way you set the car up for the corners. A few drivers of larger rear wheel drive cars were less keen on the layout as previously the chicanes were not at the end of the main straight. As a result they had been able to set up a nice drift around the bottom horseshoe of the track. I kept quiet at this point because the chicanes suited my car far better allowing me to take advantage of the cars minimal weight by braking far later than larger cars and being able to fly through the chicanes.

As the day progressed and the track dried so the grip improved both under braking and cornering. My confidence grew as well, and allowed me to explore the limits of the cars handling.

75 Miles later and I decided that the car had probably suffered enough abuse for one day, especially as it had to drive another 140 miles back home. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and would recommend to anyone that they try a track day. There are many arguments for doing so but my only excuse is that it is great fun.

It was the first time that I have track-tested my big brakes since fitting them and I was suitably impressed. Most drivers leave the track having completely destroyed their brakes but mine were strong and confidence inspiring all day long. The only part of the car to suffer were the back brakes where one of the callipers seized off and the other started sticking (which made trail braking that bit more exciting) so it's on with some new callipers and braided hoses all round before the next outing. No one inflicted any notable damage to their cars despite a few spinners and rearranged cones, so a good day was had by all.

The day was well organised and well attended and as the pics show there was a fantastic selection of cars from Ferraris to Fiestas. As always there was a representative selection of kit cars, Elises and Porsches, as well as few other rather special cars. Of note was a monstrous Evo 6 which is on its 4th engine (It's a T reg) as they never seem quite powerful enough for the owner. After a hair-raising ride I can confidently report it's without doubt the quickest A to B road car I have ever been in.

Also worthy of note was the Turquoise Green Porsche racer running a supercharger in place of the Turbo. This was being "run it" following a full rebuild and went past everything as if it were standing still. Despite still being run in, it easily hit 175mph on the 2-mile max speed run (The lunchtime break was used to blast down the 2-mile runway for those wishing to 'max' their cars out).

Other VW's in attendance included a Mk 3 VR6 and another 8v GTi . The 8v was in fantastic condition despite having covered over 175k, many of which were spent towing it's owner's Westfield. Despite owning a thoroughbred track car the owner clambered out of the Westfield and into the Golf before flying off round the track and returning to announce that the standard Golf was every bit as much fun as the Kit car.

The atmosphere was superb and all the other attendees were both friendly and chatty, ensuring a pleasant atmosphere both on and off track.

It seemed, as the photos testify, that Masking Tape is this year's 'thing' with many owners, paranoid about stone chips, covering almost the entire fronts of their cars in tape. I don't blame them bearing in mind the value of some of their cars but there were no reports of any damage being inflicted, and the track surface was pleasantly free from debris.

:: Just In - TrackDay Offer::

Motorsport Events, the organisers of this great track-day have just contacted us with a great offer. Anyone who mentions Matey-Matey when booking a track day with Motorsport Events will automatically receive an extra 5 free laps* of in-car tuition from one of their hugely experienced race-winning instructors.

* This is in addition to the standard three that every participant receives normally - to qualify simply mention Matey-Matey when you book!