GOODWOOD TRACK DAY SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER 2001
The Goodwood track day was hosted by the ‘Z Club’ to
celebrate their 25th Anniversary and they had kindly invited other Japanese
sports car clubs such as ourselves to join them.
Goodwood is a famous racing circuit famed for its historic races and is
located just north of Chichester on the south coast and retains an atmosphere of
50’s/60’ motor racing nostalgia with immaculately kept grounds and grass verges
in open country side. The track itself is a driver’s delight. 2.4 miles long
with many fast sweeping bends and a smooth grippy surface - and a twisty chicane
at the end that was just made for MK1’s.
Being a Z club event the majority of cars were Datsun 240’s and 260Z’s with a
host of other Japanese sports cars including a large turn out of FTO’s. Honda
S800’s and Nissan Turbo’s. There were four MK1’s, Miles Gittings from Slough and
myself, Alan Head from the IMOC and another from the Drivers Club.
As I had booked before 1st September (as recommended on the website) I was
able to obtain an unlimited track pass for only £50. Those who turned up on the
day could purchase single sessions at £30 each so for future reference it is
worth booking these events early.
We arrived at the circuit just after 9.00am. The weather was perfect, blue
sky and warm. Once past the wide entrance gates you drive through a narrow
tunnel that passes under the track and into the paddock area where we signed in
and undertook a sound test revving to 5600rpm. We then joined the single queue
of cars that led to the pit area. Only five cars were permitted on the track per
session due to noise restrictions so waiting to reach the front of the queue
took some time. At last it was our turn next, we put the helmets on (borrowed
from a motorcyclist friend) and started the car and waited to go.
The start of the track sessions were controlled by pit lights, each car
starting off at 20 second intervals so there is not the normal frantic rush from
a standing or rolling start. This also gives the advantage for the driver to
take the proper racing lines and explore the limits of the early corners.
Finally our light went green and we were off, accelerating to 70mph in third
gear before turning into ‘Madgwick’ which is a fast and furious right handed
corner. We kept the right foot planted on the floor sweeping past the right
handed ‘Fordwater’ at 90mph before slowing down for the ‘St Mary’s’ and ‘Lavant’
sweeping left and right. The ‘Lavant Straight’ is the fastest part of the
circuit and we’re reaching 100mph but the N/A is beginning to run out of puff
and I’m wishing I was driving a supercharger! As we approach the two right
handed bends at ‘Woodcote’ we slam on the anchors and the offside wheels rumble
over those red and white kerbs. (Oh I just love that sound) Shortly after we
come to the ‘Chicane’ where you need to brake hard, slip it into second, flip
round and then floor it to maximum revs to achieve a slight power slide out onto
the pit straight before the finish line in full view of the spectators.
The session lasted for five laps and when we came back into the pits we
immediately joined the back of the queue to await the next session.
Everyone at the event was very friendly, we chatted endlessly to all sorts of
other sports car enthusiast’s and found that many had travelled from all over
the country to be there.
This was my second outing on a track day, it felt a completely different
experience to my first. (see my story “Debut at Castle Combe” in September’s
magazine) This time all my inhibitions and worries had gone, I almost felt
experienced! I was able to concentrate and enjoy the driving more, and explore
the limits of the car, which I obviously did because after the track session the
car got extremely hot! So anyone who still hasn’t taken their MR2 onto the track
yet let me tell you, its great fun!
Many thanks again to the Z Club and congratulations on their 25TH birthday.
ALAN CAYZER
ALAN AND MARK NEGOTIATE THE CHICANE
