1st Lotus

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mat glew

Original Poster:

116 posts

254 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
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Got my first 1st lotus airfield day in a couple of weeks- I've seen a few of you have been on them so what can I expect?

I've got a list of what we'll be covering but am I likely to need another set of rears once I've finished or is it a bit more sedate?

I'm going on 27th...anyone else here gonna be there?

DanH

12,287 posts

267 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
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Tyre wear is really down to your skill. I used a lot of tread on my first day through too much pedal mashing. Used not a lot in the middle 2 days. The final day I did on Friday used a lot as I was drifting.

As to what you'll learn, on your first day things like how to steer and brake most likely.

craigalsop

1,991 posts

275 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
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Yes you are going to use a fair amount of rubber - not sure what the surface is like down there, but when I went to one at Crail in Scotland, I found that it was worth putting some masking tape around the back of the wheelarches, to stop stone chipping - this worked quite well...

bogie

16,612 posts

279 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
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As above - 1st time I went I killed the shoulders of my fronts due to learning how to steer properly and doing oversteer/understeer exercises. If its wet its easier on the tyres.

The days goes something like:

Driver evaluation (braking, steering)
Braking practice
Rotational steering
High speed cornering
Oversteer/understeer exercise
Heel/toe technique
Mini circuit to practice the above
Anything else you want if you get time

Been 4 times now, wet day was the best for learning the cars limits in the wet - really improved my confidence in the wet handling after hearing all the horror stories

Going again next month

>> Edited by bogie on Tuesday 11th November 14:56

mat glew

Original Poster:

116 posts

254 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
quotequote all
thanks for your replies...I'm kind of hoping it's wet as it's my only car and this will be my first winter with it so I can get some proper practice in wet conditions.

dragstar

3,924 posts

257 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
quotequote all
be careful big-lad,

if you need tyres after, then id budget for some.

no point having a liz, in a hedge, when its icy, eh?

i booked a place at 1st lotus, but then bottled it, and have decided to wait till the weathers better.

keep it shiny side up.

good lad.

>> Edited by dragstar on Tuesday 11th November 19:56

DanH

12,287 posts

267 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
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Nah its best doing it in the wet. Thats when you get into trouble on the road normally and its kinder to your tyres.

For friday I paid extra to have the airfield fire truck dump some serious water. Was actually a bit overthe top until it had dried a bit though as there were big patches of standing water and I managed to hold not a single drift on the high speed corner!

Stone chips aren't a problem, for an airfield its decent concrete, but obviously slightly more abrassive than most tracks/roads.

Anyway I urge people not to delay doing the training. Although you learn a lot each time, if you want to actually be good you need to do it several times. There's so much to learn...

Also can't remember if you learn heal and toe on the first day. The days have all merged into one in my mind.

The first day is always fun though, its when you realise you can't steer, brake or change gear properly

jfrf

406 posts

261 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
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dont worry about tyre wear
ive doen 2 of these and 10000 miles

my tyres are still legal

just hope you dont get a puncture thou.
i did. apparently one person per week gets them

DanH

12,287 posts

267 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
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What did you puncture it on? I'm always looking for things floating about that the market stall people may have dropped, but so far no problems.

>> Edited by DanH on Wednesday 12th November 23:56

beechy

183 posts

257 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
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Where do you book this kind of thing up and how much dose it cost? I think it'll be going on my Xmass list.

DanH

12,287 posts

267 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
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