'Alfa Experience' day, Thruxton, 8/10

Just uploaded two pics from the mobile phone, but they've disappeared!

Originally Posted by alfaredthegreat

Just uploaded two pics from the mobile phone, but they've disappeared!

I will try one more time....

here's (hopefully) a couple of little ones.

See y'all later!!! Off we go....

Wasn't that fantastic!!!!

Sorry I didn't get to meet any of you folks - and put a name on you, so to speak... but what a great day!!!

Fantastic day wasn't it Alfared? Good bunch of people, wide range of cars, excellent instructors and good weather. Plus a mad woman with an inherent hatred of cones who caused endless merriment on the handling pad.

What better way to spend a Monday?

(Like the new avatar - did you get your pet pigeon to take it for you?)

Originally Posted by joegals

Fantastic day wasn't it Alfared? Good bunch of people, wide range of cars, excellent instructors and good weather.

Some of the instructors were better than others - but yes. Fantastic. I am still buzzing. I have to go and do this again asap. I may be hooked!!!!

Originally Posted by joegals

Plus a mad woman with an inherent hatred of cones who caused endless merriment on the handling pad.

I missed this. What happened?

I had fun on the pad too... although I only "stole" one of the cones - overcooking the lane-change manoeuver somewhat!

Originally Posted by joegals

(Like the new avatar - did you get your pet pigeon to take it for you?)

(I hate to disappoint, but actually, it's just from an upstairs window)

I was only a bit disappointed though to find, contrary to expectations, there were no opportunities for retail therapy... or did I leave too soon. It seemed to be fizzling out after the tiramisu...

Had an absolutely brilliant time!!!

Shame I didn't get to meet any of you guys (well, not knowingly, anyway ), but there was a pretty good crowd there.

I was surprised about just how much track time we managed to get . It was pretty much a solid two hours - as soon as you finished your laps, there was another car ready to go.

Great range of cars too - I was quite impressed by the diesels (although my enjoyment of the V6's was a little tempered by the muffling of the noise they make by the helmet ).

I was surprsed at just how much I loved the V6 159's .

Most of the instructors were great - and it was fantastic getting their feedback all through the day.

I <ahem> managed collect two cones on the tight corner in the "dynamics" section, and dragged them half way across the car park - much to the amusement of the rest of my group. Also managed to pretty much destroy the slalom route too .

Well, I never claimed to be a great driver......



At first I thought £85 was a bit steep, but then I thought about it. Most of the instructors were freelancers (and there were a fair number of them), we had loads of track time, and they laid on loads of cars (I think there must have been at least 18 just for the on-track section - with spares).

I think the AR marketing department must have picked up most of the tab, with no guarantees of new customers as the Cloverleaf Club membership is mainly existing customers.

Superb morning, although I also had a few meetings with some cones

Originally Posted by Green Cloverleaf

Had an absolutely brilliant time!!!

Shame I didn't get to meet any of you guys (well, not knowingly, anyway ), but there was a pretty good crowd there.

Yes - I should've tried to figure out who was who - but I was already with three friends, so the opportunities for mixing were limited.

That was me - with the pointy sidies, by the way!!!

Originally Posted by Green Cloverleaf

I was surprised about just how much track time we managed to get . It was pretty much a solid two hours - as soon as you finished your laps, there was another car ready to go.

Me too - Brilliant, wasn't it? I could've kept going all afternoon though - after a suitable break for lunch.

Originally Posted by Green Cloverleaf

Great range of cars too - I was quite impressed by the diesels (although my enjoyment of the V6's was a little tempered by the muffling of the noise they make by the helmet ).

I was surprsed at just how much I loved the V6 159's .

I was really surprised by the 2.2l Brera - that was my favourite of the day... until I discovered, at the far end, a Misano Blue 3.2l Brera. My last drive of the day - and the best!!! Boy, was I pleased!

The lap with James (the professional driver) was a complete blast, too! I'd expected to be scared, but I guess I was high on adrenaline long before I did that lap with him - just brilliant!

Originally Posted by Green Cloverleaf

Most of the instructors were great - and it was fantastic getting their feedback all through the day.

In general the young ones were better, less conservative. They also got more adventurous as the hours went by, didn't they? Which was good!

Originally Posted by Green Cloverleaf

I <ahem> managed collect two cones on the tight corner in the "dynamics" section, and dragged them half way across the car park - much to the amusement of the rest of my group. Also managed to pretty much destroy the slalom route too .

Well, I never claimed to be a great driver......

Me neither. I collected a cone on the lane-change manoeuvre - I got that one seriously wrong the first time - but otherwise the "dynamics" session was a real education too.

Originally Posted by Green Cloverleaf

At first I thought £85 was a bit steep

But no - it's difficult to see it as a money-making event for Alfa. Long may they continue though!!!!

Originally Posted by Fishington

Superb morning, although I also had a few meetings with some cones

Heh heh. Cool.

Here's the big smile: that's me, in the middle!