As some of you are aware, in the UK we get a courtesy day with the Prodrive instructors and facilities when we buy the car. The owners club here in the UK organised a trip back to the facilities for about 30 of us that were interested in going back and putting the car through its paces again. Have to say it was even better second time round as we;ve now had 2ish years of experience of the car, its not brand new so you didn't have to be quite as careful as before and knowing what the track, adverse handling circuit and skid pan were about meant you could really really show what the car could do.

A thoroughly enjoyable day and well worth the pennies! I could have spent all day on the adverse handling track (the instructor described it well, imagine a scelectrix (slot car) kit, throw away all the straight bits and join up all the curves!) Brilliant brilliant fun! However from some of the photos, a lowered and kitted car would have had serious problems!

Here's a few shots of my car and the whole lot of us at the start of the day. Enjoy!

Skid Pan :




after a full 540 degree spin !




Tower Circuit :




Adverse Handling :

(the only straight!)


(waiting for larger picture from a friend, but that front end was pretty close to the ground on the hairpin!)


(an example of how twisty it is!)




RX-8 Parking Lot : half the cars at the start of the day

 

Real Nice Picture... And It Looks Real Fun Too... Your Veilside Kits Looks Great And Does Rims What Kind Are They And Size

 

Straight stretch?

didnt realize your passenger was that much heavier than you...

 

man, how come you guys in the UK get all the fun? all the cool cars, free track day with purchase, the nurburgring....

 

What circuit is that? One of the old airstrips?

 

LOL. Just about to lurch into the corner!


Thanks, was great fun! Rims as Kei Racing - Velocity in 19" - UK made. I couldn't justify the 3500UKP for the real thing (Volk, CE38N) !!!


Its a private test facility that Prodrive own - yes it was an old RAF airstrip - its in Warwickshire, about 50 miles from Silverstone.

 

Wow your car is sure squating down in the rear - what springs are those?

 

In the back was my wife, and the bloke who owns the black 8 in the pics

Seriously though, stock springs, just 2 adult passengers and full throttle!

 

LOL that makes sense now

 

A couple more - maybe do need some stiffer springs !

 

nice pics....but dang thats a lot of body roll...what type of suspension are you running?

 

Seriously. The side skirt is about to scrape.

 

It looks like a lot of body roll, but for 4 people in the car and stock springs (and Im guessing stock shocks/sways as well) its pretty good.

Also, i find it might look like a lot of body roll from outside, but inside it still feels pretty close to lvl.

 

Yeah, just stock all round as far as suspension goes. Was only two in the car at that point. The insrtuctor was erm, 'well built' - and it didn't feel that bad at the time!

Just made me even more cautious over speed bumps!

 

Funny you should say that... it was fine on the twisties, but if you look at the pic from the 'Tower Circuit' above, you can see how low the rear was with the 2 rear passengers. On the first quick lap of the circuit when the instructor drives and shows you the line etc, coming out the fast 80mph corner at the end of the straight there's a bump which he hit, suspension hit home followed by a hideous sound I recognised as FRP on tarmac!!! I made sure I avoided that bit when I was driving but there is a scuff and small chunk out the skirt, just at the rear wheel arch. Need to get it dried out, filled and some paint on it before it goes bad. Luckily its on the underside so not visible.

Still, the fun that was had more than made up for it - and I'd do it all again tomorrow if I could !