Donnington

I thought I would give you a little story of my day today at Donnington.
I left yesterday 29th and stayed in a B&B as it took me about 4 hours in the bad weather to get there. I woke bright and breezy, and went and signed on at the track and was rearing to go.
Now this is the first time I have done a track day, the track was wet, and very very slippery. I followed the pace car around twice, and then it was all hell let loose.
I took the first bend (Redgate), and spun my V70R AWD, lucky enough I spun on the track and managed to keep going. After that I took it a bit easier, but still managed to spin again at another corner (Old Hairpin). I was not the only person to spin, I was just one of many, the track was so slippery.
After a few sessions the race line started to dry, and I could see where to go and managed to get the power down earlier on the bends, the fasted I reached was about 110on Starkey's Straight, with a lot of braking at the end of it. I must say that my Volvo was not the slowest on the track, but come close near the bottom. The Subru's were lighter and fater round the corners, and the straights, may well have been modded, and the Escort Cosworth was faster then them too. There were quite a few Caterhams, which varied with speeds, some which I did over take.
Other cars on the day were, a few 205's, 2 Focus RS's, Two Ferrari's, one which was a 355, various Porsche's, two very modded Beetle's, not standard engines, lots of Cosworths, and many more to sya the least.
Great day, now I know I need to chip, and upgrade for better brakes, Christmas around the corner!!

[Ross9]

Quality, a few spins are always good to have just to show you what can happen etc. Sounds like you got away with them cleanly. I remember my first one, lost it at 80, spun onto the grass still doing 50, came to rest 2 corners further round the track in a gravel trap. Certainly clenched the buttocks.

Sounds like fun was had, shame it was wet, though having 4wd would have helped, I'm sick of the Scooby and Pulsar brigade praying for rain before events just cause it gives them huge advantages over 2wd cars lol. Good quality cars there to compete with as well from the looks of it. Nice to see it's inspired you to mod it and go back for more, it's a slippy slope though, you'll end up going with no back seats, no spare wheel, not eating the day before etc just to save kilo's etc and go faster lol.

Nice report Ryan and well done on your first track day. I am glad you have got the bug to go again.

Did you manage to get decent insurance in the end?

I am sure at the start of 2004 there will hopefully be more of us Volvo drivers joining you and I for sure will be one of them. Also we can get some pictures / videos etc..

Neil

[RMAX]

Sounds good:)

No damage I hope Ryan!

Stu.

There were 4 crashes on the day, one Escort Cossie damaged heavily on one side, and a few caterhams, but none for me. I was lucky that I spun on the track, and didn't actually leave the track.
Once the racing line had dried out, I did push the car to the limits, accelerating hard on leaving the turns, and just getting close to the edge of the track, but even still the Subru's seemed to go quicker. I think I had the heaviest car on the day, well apart from the Ferrari's, maybe that made a difference. As there was not many straights at donnington I think the smaller faster 4WD cars went a lot faster round, still I am hopefully going to get some upgrades now to make me go even faster. There was a Caterham behind me that filmed my spin, he said that it maybe on telly, so if anyone see's a laser blue volve spinnig at Donnington, that was me!!!