Trackday at Z today... includes T1 off for me! :P

[alfaquad]

So, dusted off my Alfetta and took it to the track today. Short track day, only 9am to 11am, but managed to get about 5 sessions in!

Car ran well, overheated in one session, but there is a water leak somewhere that I can't find. Grip was on the lower end today - took 3 laps to get the tyres hot and grippy. Did a new personal best for me in the old skedonk - a 1:25.9. Not too bad if you take into account there are many, many dead horses under the bonnet!

On the last session with a minute to go, I managed to make an ass of myself and go off spectacularly in T1, foot flat in 4th gear. Turned in too early and ran out of road. Nearly rolled it! Couldn't drive to pits as car didn't want to start. Investigation shows that the Watts linkage must have hit the fuel line and ripped it off the tank. Popped that back on and all is well. Drove the car onto the trailer!

Was an awesome day out!

Here are links to vids of the fastest lap, and the off in T1. Check around 12 seconds into the clip how almost I flipped it!

1:25.9s lap
Going off in T1, full-tilt!

[ysman007]

Nice round, and even nicer Dr. Evil laugh

[KaizerG]

Nice vids! wish we had a track here in KZN

[MSV]

Originally Posted by alfaquad

... On the last session with a minute to go, I managed to make an ass of myself and go off spectacularly in T1, foot flat in 4th gear. Turned in too early and ran out of road. Nearly rolled it! ...

Here are links to vids of the fastest lap, and the off in T1. Check around 12 seconds into the clip how almost I flipped it!

That vid of you going off is so scary! Wow. I had a flash forward to the Alfa Trackday... I think I'm going to stay in first gear all day Glad it ended 'well' though.

Congrats on the new personal best

[corriedw]

Glad you made it ok.

I am so scared of turn 1. All the run-off is downhill, cut grass with no grip. I also lost it there once but managed to stay on the tar. But I looked like the wandering jew. I find the turn-in spot very difficult on turn 1.

I am very scared of T1. If you lose it there you can also spin to the inside of the corner and hit the wall. Glad you made it through the day okay.

[alfaquad]

I was actually bracing for impact on the impact wall - luckily the spin stopped and I just hit the brakes when I felt the car running backwards.

I've always loved T1, and I still do - now I just know that I should rather not turn in that early :P Experimentation teaches!

Had the car on the weigh bridge too - without me in the car it came to 1007kg! Don't know how much fuel was left. I know the passenger seat is 18kg that can be chucked out. Was quite surprised at how light it actually is, especially if you consider how big an Alfetta is!

Was great fun just driving again! Had a lot of fun!

[Eric Metz]

Glad no serious damage was done Waldo, other than your undies I assume

I personally hate turn 8, no idea why ...... oh, wait,

[alfaquad]

Originally Posted by Eric Metz

Glad no serious damage was done Waldo, other than your undies I assume

I personally hate turn 8, no idea why ...... oh, wait,

LOL - you should know by now that I'm way too stupid to worry about my own safety in a car I've never been 'scared' in a car, even when losing it... must be stupidity

[Eric Metz]

Or a big pair of brass... uhm.... marbles