ALPINA meet with track time? Feedback please.
ALPINA meet with track time? Feedback please.
It is about time I organised another Surrey based meet, but I have a dilemma. Whilst I enjoy meeting other owners and talking cars, what I REALLY enjoy is driving my car as it was designed to be driven. So I have been looking for somewhere in the South where we could meet and then get off the public roads and have a little fun maybe do some acceleration runs or a little bit of circuit driving but nothing too hard core. I have so far drawn a blank in Surrey.
The best option I have found with the help of a pal who organises track days for groups of friends is a half day at Bruntingthorpe proving ground in Leicestershire (Jn 20 M1). You will notice this is most definitely not in Surrey. However the advantage of this over more local race circuits is no barriers so if you overcook it you just slide into the grass rather than hitting armco, greatly reducing the chance of damage to cars. It is also cheaper than most race circuits. Assuming approx 12 cars, 3 on track at any one time this would cost about £80 each and give 15 min driving then 45 min break before another 15 mins session (or 10 mins on then 30 mins off) etc over the half day. We can alter the exact format to suit ourselves on the day. This is assuming people sign an indemnity to keep costs down and allows for a professional instructor and organiser to be on hand. My idea is we would meet beforehand at a nearby pub/restaruant, eat and chat and then go on to the track after lunch.
Would people be interested in this format? If we decide to go for it I would need commitment up front (in the form of a cheque!) I think 12 cars and 3 on track at once is a good compromise between driving time and cost. This would be open to ALPINA owners on a first come first served basis, would consider others if required to make up numbers. I aim to fix this during spring/summer.
Comments please.
The best option I have found with the help of a pal who organises track days for groups of friends is a half day at Bruntingthorpe proving ground in Leicestershire (Jn 20 M1). You will notice this is most definitely not in Surrey. However the advantage of this over more local race circuits is no barriers so if you overcook it you just slide into the grass rather than hitting armco, greatly reducing the chance of damage to cars. It is also cheaper than most race circuits. Assuming approx 12 cars, 3 on track at any one time this would cost about £80 each and give 15 min driving then 45 min break before another 15 mins session (or 10 mins on then 30 mins off) etc over the half day. We can alter the exact format to suit ourselves on the day. This is assuming people sign an indemnity to keep costs down and allows for a professional instructor and organiser to be on hand. My idea is we would meet beforehand at a nearby pub/restaruant, eat and chat and then go on to the track after lunch.
Would people be interested in this format? If we decide to go for it I would need commitment up front (in the form of a cheque!) I think 12 cars and 3 on track at once is a good compromise between driving time and cost. This would be open to ALPINA owners on a first come first served basis, would consider others if required to make up numbers. I aim to fix this during spring/summer.
Comments please.
Last edited by jezza on Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
2000 ALPINA B10 V8
2000 E39 540i (sold)
1989 E34 535i Sport (sold)
E21 323i (sold)
2000 E39 540i (sold)
1989 E34 535i Sport (sold)
E21 323i (sold)
nice idea.
would be interested in principal depending on dates and cost... also bear in mind that the surface on the main strip at bruntingthorpe is pretty harsh and not too kind on tyres...
also weekend rates will generally be more expensive than the mid week sessions.
would be interested in principal depending on dates and cost... also bear in mind that the surface on the main strip at bruntingthorpe is pretty harsh and not too kind on tyres...
also weekend rates will generally be more expensive than the mid week sessions.
2011 BMW 520d M Sport Saloon
2008 BMW 120i M Sport 5 Door
Previous ALPINAs
1984 E28 B9 3.5
1989 E32 B11 3.5
2000 E39 B10 V8 Touring
2005 E85 Roadster S #344
Twitter: d4bmw (follow me for all the latest ALPINA updates and other car related guff)
2008 BMW 120i M Sport 5 Door
Previous ALPINAs
1984 E28 B9 3.5
1989 E32 B11 3.5
2000 E39 B10 V8 Touring
2005 E85 Roadster S #344
Twitter: d4bmw (follow me for all the latest ALPINA updates and other car related guff)
Sounds good to me
M2
520d F11 M Sport Touring
B10 V8 #240
Mini Cooper S convertible
220d M Sport convertible
MGB GT
MG Midget
520d F11 M Sport Touring (sold)
118d F20 M Sport(sold)
118d E87 M Sport(sold)
John Cooper Works (sold)
D3 Touring #183(sold)
M3 3.0 E36 (sold)
523 E39 (sold)
520 E34 Touring (sold)
318IS E36 (sold)
520d F11 M Sport Touring
B10 V8 #240
Mini Cooper S convertible
220d M Sport convertible
MGB GT
MG Midget
520d F11 M Sport Touring (sold)
118d F20 M Sport(sold)
118d E87 M Sport(sold)
John Cooper Works (sold)
D3 Touring #183(sold)
M3 3.0 E36 (sold)
523 E39 (sold)
520 E34 Touring (sold)
318IS E36 (sold)
I've organised a session at Bruntingthorpe before so have a rough idea of costs etc.
The track is not brilliant - like most airfields its not the most interesting or challenging - but as you say has plenty of run offs and the 2 mile straight is certainly good for testing top speeds.
Andy's right about tyre wear it is certainly greater than a non-airfield track.
Funny enough I was talking about a track day with one of my friends who has just done some filming with me - video due soon. So I guess the answer is yep very interested - but also interested in exploring other options like other tracks - it would be good to get an idea on numbers....
The track is not brilliant - like most airfields its not the most interesting or challenging - but as you say has plenty of run offs and the 2 mile straight is certainly good for testing top speeds.
Andy's right about tyre wear it is certainly greater than a non-airfield track.
Funny enough I was talking about a track day with one of my friends who has just done some filming with me - video due soon. So I guess the answer is yep very interested - but also interested in exploring other options like other tracks - it would be good to get an idea on numbers....
I'd go for it, depending on the specific date of course.
Spring would work for me, if Summer means July or August
then it's more difficult because I'm out of the country quite a bit.
Bruntingthorpe itself is kinda boring, as noted. one way to spice it up
is to bring some cones -- you can set up a course on the long straight,
or even play with slides or donuts if you time it so that your tires
need replacing anyway....
David
B10 Biturbo
B6 3.5
Spring would work for me, if Summer means July or August
then it's more difficult because I'm out of the country quite a bit.
Bruntingthorpe itself is kinda boring, as noted. one way to spice it up
is to bring some cones -- you can set up a course on the long straight,
or even play with slides or donuts if you time it so that your tires
need replacing anyway....
David
B10 Biturbo
B6 3.5
Thanks for the comments so far. Please keep them coming in, even if it is just a "yep" or "not interested". Getting a clear idea of numbers is key to this.
I hear the comments about Bruntingthorpe, the plan is there will be a course set up with cones, and the straight should be fun for side by side acceleration runs. However if anyone can find an alternative circuit (further south?) which doesn't have barriers by the trackside, is kinder to tyres and can be had for under £100 between 12 drivers then please speak up.
I hear the comments about Bruntingthorpe, the plan is there will be a course set up with cones, and the straight should be fun for side by side acceleration runs. However if anyone can find an alternative circuit (further south?) which doesn't have barriers by the trackside, is kinder to tyres and can be had for under £100 between 12 drivers then please speak up.
2000 ALPINA B10 V8
2000 E39 540i (sold)
1989 E34 535i Sport (sold)
E21 323i (sold)
2000 E39 540i (sold)
1989 E34 535i Sport (sold)
E21 323i (sold)