VIRGIN POPS CHERRY.

[StuH]

I took my B5 S4 to it’s first track-day on the weekend. This is what I found out >>>

All people at this "wheel nuts" days were good guys, all friendly, all really helpful, regardless of whether they were driving an XR2 a Gallardo or testing a lemans prototype.

An S4 with standard suspension and brakes is hysterically fun to and easy to drive at 100% on a track. Goodyear f1’s go off after 2 laps and are completely knackered after 50 laps. The suspension is far far far too soft with under-steer being an issue in slow corners but huge 4 wheel drifts easy in 3rd and 4Th gear.

Brakes travel lengthens considerably after 2 laps but despite the extra travel they still continue to slow the car nicely for 7-8 laps. By which time they are smoking heavily but the ABS continues to work properly . The disks haven’t warped and the pads don’t seem to have worn too much however the wheels got so hot that the plastic wheel centers melted and fell out .

I was told by Doug that my noisy turbos are due to pop soon if I push them so the plan was a 5K RPM limit. That went straight out the window though and we absolutely thrashed the car for 5 x 10 lap sessions, it spent all track time between 4K-7K rpm and it seemed to absolutely love it. The engine oil was running at 120C but didn’t seem to go any hotter, a check today confirmed that no water or oil was used .

Performance wise we were very evenly matched with a 1992 911 Carrera, a new Scooby STI and a couple of import MR2 turbos. However all these 300bhp heavyweights were comprehensively beaten by lightweight Caterham sevens 7’s Elises track prepped hot hatches including a 123BHP 700Kg Skoda favorite (admittedly GRP A suspension)

I am now utterly addicted so I am hunting for a old 205 GTI, Saxo VTS, R5 Turbo or alike so I can afford to do this every month without an enormous bill.

[ZeroK66]

Thats awesome stu, sorry I couldnt make it!! Time for me to pop my cherry!!

[derdle]

I was sort of inclined to get something cheap to throw around a track but decided not to.... no room back att he ranch for a start!

Glad to hear you enjoyed your first trackday. Addictive or wot?

Paul

[StuH]

Absolutely addicted, like you Paul i'm tempted to get something cheap and light just to do track days in . 205 gti, origanal MR2 . Tell me though if i was to adapt the s4 to be more suitable as a track car does anyone know of a track day tyre that will cope with the weight of these cars and last more than 1 day?

[derdle]

I suppose it all depends on how much "adaptation" you do! Would you go so far as to strip the interior and all the weighty stuff out of the car, or has the car got to retain some form of on-road use for you/family?

I've no idea on the trackday tyre front though, some tracks allow you to use semi-slicks others stipulate proper road legal tyres. Anyone else any ideas?

Paul

[StuH]

No kids yet but it would break me heart to tear out all the pristine leather and aircon. It was funyy on returning to the padock to see what the stripped out specials had done to ther drivers. They were all struggling to climb out through their roll cages , nearly deaf, hot as hell and looking exhaused. Then they see the guy that passed them emerging unruffled from his 18 degree C enviroment to find they've been listening to Vivaldi and using the trip computer on the straight to calculate how many more laps he can do before filling up.