Friday 7th September 2007
I was late getting going on Friday. I knew I would be. I just have such a lot going on that it was impossible to think about the track day before the morning.
So it was that at 10:30 after checking the oil and tyre pressures and getting the car quickly through the hand car wash that I set off, arriving at Castle Combe at 12 just in time for lunch.
Castle Combe is a brilliant place for a track day. Its relaxed, professionally run and has a very good atmosphere. The food is great and good value and every time Ive been there is been a lovely sunny day with a bone dry sticky track.
Friday was no exception. Perfect conditions even if a little bit hot.
Noise limits
The main objective of the day for me was a social catch up with Alan and his GT. I want even sure I would go out on the track as my SE is pretty loud and I didnt think the tequipment sports exhaust would pass the infamous Castle Combe noise test. But it did at 98dB which appears close but it actually far away from the Castle Combe limit of 100dB.
"the decibel is a logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the magnitude of a physical quantity (usually power) relative to a specified or implied reference level. Its logarithmic nature allows very large or very small ratios to be represented by a convenient number, in a similar manner to scientific notation. Being essentially a ratio, it is a dimensionless unit. Decibels are useful for a wide variety of measurements in acoustics, physics, electronics and other disciplines" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibels
Alan took me round for a session in the SE since I'm the rusties track day person in the world and forgot which side to let people pass in and the braking areas and apexes and I had missed the briefing. It was nice to exercise the SE even though Im sure I was the slowest person there I was interested in how close I could get to the right lines and how smooth that could be.
After that we sat and chewed the fat with everyone. As usual I didnt get a chance to speak with all the 928 owners but its just great to see 928's blatting round and its remarkable to me how different they all sound these days.
Two manuals, two different characters
Alan had asked me last time to drive his 89 GT round so he could hear it go past. So with some trepidation I lined up at the pit lane in my best mates beautiful 928. Now then. You really really dont want to prang your own 928 but the idea of driving someone else's round the track is truly frightening.
Alan's GT is totally unlike my SE, and its also totally unlike the 89 GT I used to have. These cars are individuals. Looking round the interior I can't help thinking its 1990 and Ive just picked up a loan car from Porsche while mines in for a service. Its really nice inside. The Blaupunkt has been updated with a nice one with buttons in exactly the right style for a 928. Its orange pin card caddy is the same clour as the hands on the updated analog clock - it looks factory original. He's got a 'Ruf' steering wheel (and marvellous Ruf Speedline alloys) and a little 'Ruf 1989 GT' badge on the centre console. It would have been great if Ruf had made a 928 and if they had it would have ben a GT they chose. This is as close as it gets.
Hes also got ice cold air which I didnt put on as it would just have made my SE seem even more inadequate.
Wow. Its totally different to mine. Its the same cockpit and controls, but the dashboard is different and its so quiet. It handles differently too. The brakes (ebc reds) appear to need more pressure but they stop the car really well. The steering is lighter. The car turns in as it should and accelerates as it should. It squats into the complex of bends just before tower. Its like being on tracks but the steering isn't the same as mine - its lighter somehow. I get to the last bend before the start and floor it. - After all he wanted to hear it flat out - about 95mph at the start finish and then over 100 on the next long straight. I was able to go over 100 in my SE past the start/finish and well up to 110 indicated on the line (of course these are just indications from different speedo's).
I did about 8 laps. Each time trusting the car more and more. Once the chequered flag came up I eased off and headed for the pits. Slightly relieved to be honest.
I cant get over how different it is from my SE. Its quieter and more refined. Its suspension and brakes are different. Its road noise is different.
Not better or worse just different!!
Thanks Alan for the drive! Alan took my SE round in the next session so I hope he will give us his viewpoint in due course.
Thanks to Richard A for organising another great day out!
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