GOODWOOD: Saturday 20th December
Discussion
I don't think you'd kill the NSX brakes there: one of the characteristics of Goodwood is that most of it is flat out, with very little braking needed. 
As ever build up speed through the day: the cornering speed for most of the circuit is solely dependant upon how brave you are, and (as has already been mentioned) there is only a small amount of runoff in some places.
Watch out for St. Mary's as the only really tricky corner.
Enjoy - it's actually much more fun in the wet/damp, so you might be in luck.
>> Edited by jeremyc on Friday 19th December 15:57
As ever build up speed through the day: the cornering speed for most of the circuit is solely dependant upon how brave you are, and (as has already been mentioned) there is only a small amount of runoff in some places.
Watch out for St. Mary's as the only really tricky corner. Enjoy - it's actually much more fun in the wet/damp, so you might be in luck.
>> Edited by jeremyc on Friday 19th December 15:57
1 bit of advice:
If you happen to 'lose it' at St. Marys' (the only real left hander)- let the car go out to the infield. There's nothing but grass to hit there, whereas if you try & hold it & go off to the outside of the circuit/hit the tyre wall/spin back onto the track - any cars behind won't see you until they're commited to the corner.
Saw this happen to a skyline that had just overtaken me. His car slid across the track in front of me after demolishing both ends in the barrier, I stopped ok & then sat there 5hitting myself that the next car thru' would collect us both!
Enough of this doom & gloom.
I 2nd the motion that you take the NSX tho'.
If you happen to 'lose it' at St. Marys' (the only real left hander)- let the car go out to the infield. There's nothing but grass to hit there, whereas if you try & hold it & go off to the outside of the circuit/hit the tyre wall/spin back onto the track - any cars behind won't see you until they're commited to the corner.
Saw this happen to a skyline that had just overtaken me. His car slid across the track in front of me after demolishing both ends in the barrier, I stopped ok & then sat there 5hitting myself that the next car thru' would collect us both!
Enough of this doom & gloom.
I 2nd the motion that you take the NSX tho'.
Trackdemon, thanks for taking Jane and me out in the NSX, I was very impressed with the amount of grip the car has in the wet, felt very nice on track, was one of the quickest cars out there but didn’t seem to make any fuss about it, it just did what it was built for
Also thanks to Steve Heath for taking me out in the Griff, hope you got home ok.
Also thanks to Steve Heath for taking me out in the Griff, hope you got home ok.
Believe me, the pleasure was all mine 
Bloody loved it.
Well, as you'll have gathered I heeded all your worldly advice and took the NSX in the end (the missus pulled rank and said she needed the MSC anyway!).
First time at Goodwood, soaking wet almost all day - absolutely marvellous. Particularly enjoyed the section from St Mary's through to Lavant, although poking the tail out exiting the chicane was good clean fun
. I couldn't believe how quick the NSX was round here, only a race Exige and a 993 GT2 were quicker when I was on track - leaving roll caged Scoobies and Caterfields floundering in my wake . Managed a cool 130mph down the Lavant straight before braking on some of my quicker laps (I had to brake VERY early and gently everywhere to conserve the pads).
I'd heard that Goodwood was fast and scary, but I have to say that it just felt like the NSX was purpose made for this track - very composed and beautifully balanced everywhere. Lots of speed up the start/finish straight (top end of 4th gear so must be around 120mph) long, long braking zone and gently ease the nose into the first apex of Madgwick, very quick corner and easy to run wide if you overcommit. I was picking up a little understeer through the first 1/2 of the corner, balance the car and tease the nose into the second apex then gently opening the throttle and running out to the far left hand side of the track lining up for Fordwater; easily flat with just a nugget of stablizing understeer, now thinking about lining the car up for entry to the 'no-name' right hander before St Mary's - a deceptively fast corner. Its important not to get carried away through here as you exit then try and lose speed while bringing the car over to the right for the turn in to St Marys - if you don't get fully over to the right you'll compromise your run through St Mary's big time. Find the turn in point, gently ease the nose into the apex of St Marys and the understeer builds - it was very slippery through the first 2/3 of this corner, then as the track drops away the surface changes and you pick up a lot of grip allowing maximum attack on the run up to the double apex right hander Lavant, a very grippy corner through the first 2/3's but very slippy on exit, pushing the front end a little wide until I changed my line to turn in a touch later allowing full throttle all the way through the last 1/3 of the bend. I saw just over 130mph down the the Lavant 'straight' (its not straight at all, just a series of mild curves for you to draw a straight line through - I'll bet that’s interesting in a race!) before braking very early again (damn this car could do with better brakes) to get settled down for Woodcote. Ignore the first 'apex' turning in late and trying to ease the nose into the 'real' apex - found this corner very slippery in the wet, lots of understeer and easy overtsteer in third if you get on the gas too hard or early so again just smooth smooth gentle on the gas running out towards the armco on the left and a quick squirt down the straight before braking into the tight chicane. Simple corner this, just straight line as mush as possible and squeeze the gas on a little early for some tail out fun before shooting down the straight for another lap.
I think the fact I can remember the track so well having been only once says a lot for how much I enjoyed the place - I'll be back again that’s for sure! If you've never been to Goodwood I recommend you get yourself down there soon as it really is a great driving challenge, only the noise regs get in the way if your car's a little loud and of course your constantly aware of the proximity of the barriers if you get it wrong.
Bloody loved it. Well, as you'll have gathered I heeded all your worldly advice and took the NSX in the end (the missus pulled rank and said she needed the MSC anyway!).
First time at Goodwood, soaking wet almost all day - absolutely marvellous. Particularly enjoyed the section from St Mary's through to Lavant, although poking the tail out exiting the chicane was good clean fun
. I couldn't believe how quick the NSX was round here, only a race Exige and a 993 GT2 were quicker when I was on track - leaving roll caged Scoobies and Caterfields floundering in my wake . Managed a cool 130mph down the Lavant straight before braking on some of my quicker laps (I had to brake VERY early and gently everywhere to conserve the pads). I'd heard that Goodwood was fast and scary, but I have to say that it just felt like the NSX was purpose made for this track - very composed and beautifully balanced everywhere. Lots of speed up the start/finish straight (top end of 4th gear so must be around 120mph) long, long braking zone and gently ease the nose into the first apex of Madgwick, very quick corner and easy to run wide if you overcommit. I was picking up a little understeer through the first 1/2 of the corner, balance the car and tease the nose into the second apex then gently opening the throttle and running out to the far left hand side of the track lining up for Fordwater; easily flat with just a nugget of stablizing understeer, now thinking about lining the car up for entry to the 'no-name' right hander before St Mary's - a deceptively fast corner. Its important not to get carried away through here as you exit then try and lose speed while bringing the car over to the right for the turn in to St Marys - if you don't get fully over to the right you'll compromise your run through St Mary's big time. Find the turn in point, gently ease the nose into the apex of St Marys and the understeer builds - it was very slippery through the first 2/3 of this corner, then as the track drops away the surface changes and you pick up a lot of grip allowing maximum attack on the run up to the double apex right hander Lavant, a very grippy corner through the first 2/3's but very slippy on exit, pushing the front end a little wide until I changed my line to turn in a touch later allowing full throttle all the way through the last 1/3 of the bend. I saw just over 130mph down the the Lavant 'straight' (its not straight at all, just a series of mild curves for you to draw a straight line through - I'll bet that’s interesting in a race!) before braking very early again (damn this car could do with better brakes) to get settled down for Woodcote. Ignore the first 'apex' turning in late and trying to ease the nose into the 'real' apex - found this corner very slippery in the wet, lots of understeer and easy overtsteer in third if you get on the gas too hard or early so again just smooth smooth gentle on the gas running out towards the armco on the left and a quick squirt down the straight before braking into the tight chicane. Simple corner this, just straight line as mush as possible and squeeze the gas on a little early for some tail out fun before shooting down the straight for another lap.
I think the fact I can remember the track so well having been only once says a lot for how much I enjoyed the place - I'll be back again that’s for sure! If you've never been to Goodwood I recommend you get yourself down there soon as it really is a great driving challenge, only the noise regs get in the way if your car's a little loud and of course your constantly aware of the proximity of the barriers if you get it wrong.
Yeah, I loved Goodwood in the summer- went there with my Cerb and ChopperEllis's 996 turbo. That thing was doing 150 down the back straight two-up! A very nice track, and very relaxed - not sure whether this was down to the drivers on the day, EasyTrack or the officials from Goodwood.
The only excitement for me was nearly putting a couple of wheels on the grass after not being set up quite right for Fordwater but -still- taking it flat out! The car drifted waaaaay wide afterwards and it was a little hairy. Mind you, at least i'd got past that damn Porker finally .. ;-)
The only excitement for me was nearly putting a couple of wheels on the grass after not being set up quite right for Fordwater but -still- taking it flat out! The car drifted waaaaay wide afterwards and it was a little hairy. Mind you, at least i'd got past that damn Porker finally .. ;-)
Steve Lewis said:
Don't forget the Insruction..
ONLY 130 down Lavant :-)
I'd have got you quicker and safer :-)
Best regs
Steve L
It was soaking wet, I was 2 up, and was braking very early (to make sure the brakes made it through the day). And remembr this was in an NSX - a quick car, but not THAT quick. I thought just over 130mph was pretty OK really!
Were you their on Saturday then?
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff