PAST EVENTS PAGE 86
TRAX - SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT SUNDAY 8th SEPTEMBER
2002
Trax is a pretty crazy day and that’s just getting
there! After what seemed like an unbelievable two and a half hours to travel the
last two miles into the circuit we finally arrived, very late! Toni, Mark and I
were due to meet Andrew O’Brien who had organised the event at something like
9am. Dream on! We also had a track session organised at 10.40 which is about the
time that we actually arrived.
Not a good start then as although the marshall’s were very helpful, they
basically instructed us to sprint from one side of the show to the other to make
the drivers’ briefing. So off Toni and I went. Needless to say we didn’t make
it. “That’s okay, come back for the next one in forty minutes time” the girl at
race control said. Well we would have made that one if the lurvely people from
Jap Performance (magazine) hadn’t spotted Toni’s Supercharger and insisted on a
complete history and lots of pics of the car. Tart! So we missed the next
briefing again after a mad dash across what seemed like the entire show display.
At this point nerves and tempers were fraying (mainly mine I’m afraid!) and we
decided to wait by race control.
I must say that there were some very impressive cars on display with some
crazy and very expensive looking paint jobs. Although a number of people said it
was a bit Max Power, you had to admire the detail and sheer extravagance of the
cars which were created for maximum visual impact and not neccesarily max power!
There were Novas, Escort and Saxos as far as the eye could see all in various
states of having body kits and neon lights fitted. Hmmm.
Back to the main mission of the day and driver briefing over with Toni and I
had around twenty minutes to get car and driver ready! Of course at this point
we finally met up with Andrew and Vashy who were enthusing over their track
session. This wetted our appetites no end and finally with around five minutes
to spare we got to the pit lane.
And then we were off! Now I have always wanted to drive Silverstone and this
was a chance to go on the International Circuit (which the touring cars use)
here was my chance to follow in the tyre treads of Herr Schumy himself (no
sarcastic comments from the Ed please!). Well there were some pretty quick cars
out there with the odd Ferrari, a plethora of Scoobys and lots of Porsches,
Cossies and a TVR.
The first lap was a parade lap giving me the chance to see where the road
went! After that though it was pedal to the metal in the usual style and getting
down to work. I could immediately see that Copse could be a tricky one as the
camber is the ‘wrong’ way though I took it easy on my first flying lap and
fairly cruised Copse at around 80 mph or so. The Maggots/Becketts chicane is
nice and fast and a little tricky on turn-in as the car really wants to spin,
but best really to keep the car and throttle balanced and once into the turn you
can then straightline Becketts heading towards Ireland hairpin. It’s very much
like Surtees at Brands in many ways. Then hard on the brakes desperately trying
to scrub enough speed for the sharp right that is Ireland. Flat out down the
straight to Farm corner. This is a bit of a pain as it really is a tight hairpin
and the car just doesn’t want to turn-in at all. Lifting off on initial turn-in
seems to get the rear end pretty lively and using my new LSD (limited slip
differential) I applied a bit too much throttle and just lit up both rear tyres
and the next thing I am well into a big powerslide. This seemed odd as there was
just no grip (maybe I was off-line) but within a second or so I was going
backwards off the track! It was all pretty low speed so nothing too dramatic.
It’s flat out through Abbey Curve and onto the shortish straight to what to
me was the best corner on the circuit, - Bridge Corner. This is a long sweeping
corner with a dip under the bridge that obscures the exit of the corner. I was
taking this flat in fourth at 100mph and as you can’t see where the road exactly
goes you pick your line and just sort of hold on for dear life hoping that the
car doesn’t run too wide and onto the grass! The crazy thing is though is that
just as soon as you get the car straight you have to slam on the brakes to scrub
off speed for Priory which though wide is quite tight on entry and the line
through here is fairly crucial as it has a knock on effect for the next few
turns. Luffield is horrible, it’s a very long double apex that takes you back
onto the start/finish straight and a bit like a never ending roundabout!
After a few laps I got some semblance of a rhythm going and flat out at
110mph on the start/finish straight lost in nostalgia and determined to really
attack Copse I fairly wacked the brakes and changed into third, took my line and
planted it. Well I entered Copse at around 90mph and just knew the rear was
going to slide. Without having time to think a quarter turn of opposite lock was
immediately on as I balanced the throttle and accelerated, the thought of “Just
don’t get this wrong” as there is little room for error with the armco so close
here. Fortunately the LSD helped save me as it locked as the car slewed
sideways, I caught it though and powered out of the slide, right in front of the
crowds too! A heart-stopping moment that! All the hassles of getting to the
circuit had been worth it. Brilliant!
Silverstone isn’t the best circuit, nor the most rewarding to drive but to
follow in the tracks of the Formula One boys was special enough for me.
Lauren Blighton - Trackday Queen