Bedord Redline Day -- 27th Nov
Discussion
Anyone else go to this yesterday? Was a really good trackday IMO. I was in a white Porsche 968 together with a friend in a red 968CS.
A bright day with some sun & no rain. Track damp at first and took until about 1:00 ish to be dry enough to rely on the tyres for max grip. I was on my TOYO trackday tyres.
After a briefing and 2 sighting laps we finally got on track at 9:45, open pit lane all day with no stoppage for lunch, track closed at 4:00pm. Running on the 3.7 mile, so called GT circuit, that uses most of the track there.
For the second week running the fastest car on the track was a Cosworth Escort thing -- incredible, when overtaking me once I could hear it spinning its wheels on each upward gear change. Lots of Beemers, Sierras, Pugs and all in all a surpisingly good level of driving skill was shown -- so no dramas to report.
Really pushed on as I like to rack up the miles (to get a high FVFMI !)-- ended up doing 292 miles from the time I first rolled on track.
Car going as well as it ever has, did 11.1mpg!, used about half a ltr of oil, trackday tyres now ready to be reversed on the rims, nothing else to report on that front.
That is defo it for me and trackdays in 2004 -- over and out.
Now what looks like good value in January!!
paul f
A bright day with some sun & no rain. Track damp at first and took until about 1:00 ish to be dry enough to rely on the tyres for max grip. I was on my TOYO trackday tyres.
After a briefing and 2 sighting laps we finally got on track at 9:45, open pit lane all day with no stoppage for lunch, track closed at 4:00pm. Running on the 3.7 mile, so called GT circuit, that uses most of the track there.
For the second week running the fastest car on the track was a Cosworth Escort thing -- incredible, when overtaking me once I could hear it spinning its wheels on each upward gear change. Lots of Beemers, Sierras, Pugs and all in all a surpisingly good level of driving skill was shown -- so no dramas to report.
Really pushed on as I like to rack up the miles (to get a high FVFMI !)-- ended up doing 292 miles from the time I first rolled on track.
Car going as well as it ever has, did 11.1mpg!, used about half a ltr of oil, trackday tyres now ready to be reversed on the rims, nothing else to report on that front.
That is defo it for me and trackdays in 2004 -- over and out.
Now what looks like good value in January!!
paul f
This would be you then Paul... 
Didn't get one of your mate but you looked like you were having fun pushing each other along. If you want higher res copies email me through my profile.
I was in the Tamora. Fantastic day - so few cars-per-mile of track and all the runoff made it possible to go that bit harder knowing that I would sometimes get it wrong (I managed a 360 at the chicane at the end of the straight) and spent some of the afternoon playing around with a bit of drifting
My day ended about 3:30 due to expired rear disk pads but I certainly got my money's worth out of the day.
Don
Didn't get one of your mate but you looked like you were having fun pushing each other along. If you want higher res copies email me through my profile.
I was in the Tamora. Fantastic day - so few cars-per-mile of track and all the runoff made it possible to go that bit harder knowing that I would sometimes get it wrong (I managed a 360 at the chicane at the end of the straight) and spent some of the afternoon playing around with a bit of drifting
My day ended about 3:30 due to expired rear disk pads but I certainly got my money's worth out of the day.
Don
legaleagleboy said:
For the second week running the fastest car on the track was a Cosworth Escort thing -- incredible, when overtaking me once I could hear it spinning its wheels on each upward gear change.
Ahem, he was nearly as fast as the CSL..... The problem was that I was only allowed to run until about 11 then the noise police throw me out! Supersprint is too muscular... Was enjoying myself too.
I then jumped in my colleagues RS6, and what a dollop that was. Too heavy and understeery, gearbox that was awful and power delivery of a 1970's Saab. Oh, anfd the brakes caught fire and boiled the fluid away, meaning I had to rejoin the circuit (dangerously) from the pits as I had zero (I mean absolutely nothing!) brakes turning into the pit road. Audi, what a pile of poo!
Enjoyed the day nonetheless.
From www.clubautodrome.com/track_day_faqs.htm#noise
At Bedford Autodrome we have two noise tests. First your car will be subjected to a static test, in which the noise level is measured 50cm away from your exhaust pipe with the engine at 75% of maximum rpm. The reading must not exceed 101 dB(A).
Secondly, and more significantly, your car must comply with our drive-by noise limits. The noise emission from your car must not exceed 87 dB(A) measured 20 metres from your car, which shall be accelerating maximally at over 60 mph.
All standard volume production cars will pass this test with ease, so, for example, if you have a standard Audi, BMW, Porsche, Subaru or Mitsubishi you will have no problems at all. The drive-by level will probably be less than 80 dB(A).
Cars, which tend to fail the test include most bike-engined cars, eg Westfields, Radicals and Caterhams, plus cars fitted with particularly loud “high performance” exhausts, as sometimes fitted to, for example, Caterhams, Lotuses, TVRs and Subarus.
My Tamora was 94.2 in the static test, don't know about the drive-by. I thought the static test chappie said that the maximum allowed was 98.1, but that contradicts the website so maybe I misheard him.
At Bedford Autodrome we have two noise tests. First your car will be subjected to a static test, in which the noise level is measured 50cm away from your exhaust pipe with the engine at 75% of maximum rpm. The reading must not exceed 101 dB(A).
Secondly, and more significantly, your car must comply with our drive-by noise limits. The noise emission from your car must not exceed 87 dB(A) measured 20 metres from your car, which shall be accelerating maximally at over 60 mph.
All standard volume production cars will pass this test with ease, so, for example, if you have a standard Audi, BMW, Porsche, Subaru or Mitsubishi you will have no problems at all. The drive-by level will probably be less than 80 dB(A).
Cars, which tend to fail the test include most bike-engined cars, eg Westfields, Radicals and Caterhams, plus cars fitted with particularly loud “high performance” exhausts, as sometimes fitted to, for example, Caterhams, Lotuses, TVRs and Subarus.
My Tamora was 94.2 in the static test, don't know about the drive-by. I thought the static test chappie said that the maximum allowed was 98.1, but that contradicts the website so maybe I misheard him.
Ffirg 005 said:
Noise stuff.
I'm aware of their stated policy, but also interested in real world examples of cars that fail (and why) and those that don't get thrown off.
I know I'll easily pass the static test, but it is nigh on impossible to determine whether I'll pass the drive-by without paying my money and attending.
Mind you, they've pretty much told me they don't want my business:
Bedford Autodrome said:
Cars, which tend to fail the test include most bike-engined cars, eg ...Caterhams, plus cars fitted with particularly loud “high performance” exhausts, as sometimes fitted to, for example, Caterhams, ....
>> Edited by jeremyc on Monday 29th November 17:02
There was an Ultima owner there who had been sent home the week before after passing the static but failing the drive-by. He returned last Saturday with bolt-in mufflers in place and then FAILED the static 
, but was OK on the drive by, so he got a full day on track.
Edited to add - It says somewhere else on the site that they'll do a free noise test.
>> Edited by Ffirg 005 on Monday 29th November 17:09
, but was OK on the drive by, so he got a full day on track. Edited to add - It says somewhere else on the site that they'll do a free noise test.
>> Edited by Ffirg 005 on Monday 29th November 17:09
Ffirg 005 said:Will they do a free drive-by noise test though?
Edited to add - It says somewhere else on the site that they'll do a free noise test.
I can even pass the 98dB static test at Goodwood, but not being able to know whether I'll pass the drive-by at Bedford doesn't make it worth my while going there. Shame, 'cos I'd really like to do the GT circuit again.
Best bet is to call them - they seemed to me to be pretty reasonable people and of course they do want your business.... as long as you pass the noise tests.
Their noise test equipment is linked directly to Bedford Council so even if they wanted to be lenient, they really have no option but to stick to the letter of the law they've been given to operate under.
Their noise test equipment is linked directly to Bedford Council so even if they wanted to be lenient, they really have no option but to stick to the letter of the law they've been given to operate under.
i did last years track attack and it was awesome. this year i didnt go as i didnt trust the weather to be good.
if anyone saw the black and white saxo tearing around,he said he enjoyed the day. maybe next year there might be 2 nutty saxo's there at least.
glad people enjoyed it though,its a great track to drive.
if anyone saw the black and white saxo tearing around,he said he enjoyed the day. maybe next year there might be 2 nutty saxo's there at least.
glad people enjoyed it though,its a great track to drive.
Great pictures above, just love those Audi discs -- but not if I was in the car!!!
If noise is an issue for any of you guys then 'noisy' days at Donington are probably where I would go for a trackday with no probs. It is such a good track as well.
I sympathise though -- to pay for an event and then not be able to do it, must be really gutting.
paul f
If noise is an issue for any of you guys then 'noisy' days at Donington are probably where I would go for a trackday with no probs. It is such a good track as well.
I sympathise though -- to pay for an event and then not be able to do it, must be really gutting.
paul f
legaleagleboy said:Don't worry - I've done lots of days at lots of different tracks (including Donington).
If noise is an issue for any of you guys then 'noisy' days at Donington are probably where I would go for a trackday with no probs. It is such a good track as well.
Would be nice to include Bedford in my conquests though....
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