Goodwood Lotus Day - Thank You Don Gray!

[Stevie-Heathie]

Wonderful Club Lotus track day at Goodwood yesterday.

8 x 15 minute sessions = 95 full fat, hassle free, no stress track miles on the hallowed tarmac of Goodwood - the worlds oldest unmolested Grand Prix curcuit. All in glorious sunshine, enjoyed with gentlemen and lady drivers of some wonderful Lotus motor cars.

After three years I’ve finally cracked the racing line and can link all the corners together. Hurrah! The Goodwood flow was discovered and now I need to keep it smooth and the speed will come and come. The Elan was pulling really well - comfortable, planted and stable even at well over a tonne on Lavant. Plenty more to give too. New Michelin XAS FF were a revelation too.

She had a hissy fit and blew an HT lead in the last session so we got towed back to the paddock. Luckily a fellow driver Don Gray had a spare dizzy cap c/w HT leads and was able to help - he donated one and we were on the road again.

The perfect gent, who is on this forum, and whom I would like to publicly thank once again. I’ll be sure to pay it forward Don

We stopped for a pint in the setting sun at the Crown in Chiddingfold on the way home. What a day, one of the highlights of the year.

[7skypilot]

Thanks for your kind words Steve, and I'm pleased the fix worked.
I agree, it was a really good day at Goodwood, with perfect weather and excellent company.
Don

[Stevie-Heathie]

And a big thank you to Chris Parker who impeccably organises this wonderful event every year.

[661]

Thank you Chris.

We Scots normally like to take a piece of the Wembley turf home with us, but I had to make do with some Madwick corner turf.

And before the door fell off.....

[rgh0]

.......After three years I’ve finally cracked the racing line and can link all the corners together. Hurrah! The Goodwood flow was discovered and now I need to keep it smooth and the speed will come and come. The Elan was pulling really well - comfortable, planted and stable even at well over a tonne on Lavant. Plenty more to give too. New Michelin XAS FF were a revelation too.

Looks like you have learned the old racers saying!

"Slow is smooth... Smooth is fast"

remember that when you're trying to go fast on a track

cheers
Rohan

[dj_powell]

Agree - big thanks to Chris, Doreen, and to Simon for turning up to do the paddock organising.

It was a great day, a few cars had issues during the day but glad to hear that everyone made it home safely.

We had a few idiots to deal with on the top end of the M23 and around the M25 - i think the idea of staying in lane and road courtesy was lost on a few people ! They obviously had somewhere much more important to be than the rest of the other road users, either that or they need to book a few track days to burn off the excess. On second thoughts, best to keep them away from the track.

Good to catch up with everybody after the long break, looking forward to next year.

Darren

[Stevie-Heathie]

Taking the addition of lightness to a whole new level, Graeme

Truly stunning and impressive bit of kit you have there, don’t let the inevitable teething problems get you down.

Best
Steve

Thank you Chris.

We Scots normally like to take a piece of the Wembley turf home with us, but I had to make do with some Madwick corner turf.

IMG_1612(1)jpg.jpg

And before the door fell off.....

BARO9144(1).jpg

[Stevie-Heathie]

A couple of minutes of video of the day: https://youtu.be/SQdMagUkdb0

Best
Steve

[vstibbard]

great cross section of cars, and what a day!! Graeme, was that a your first track day with the GTS? I'd love to have a day there, but sadly only managed to watch from the other side of the fence.... so far

[661]

Yup, first shake down.
Hit the rev limiter in 4th at Fordwater and Lavant ( 4.4 diff)

[vstibbard]

How much fun did you have!!! Are you running Dunlop 525's or 550's and what rev limit??

[661]

How much fun did you have!!! Are you running Dunlop 525's or 550's and what rev limit??

525 M series for races but on that day cars are meant to be road legal so was using avon cr6zz’s.