John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 08:18 PM |
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The Phoenix at the Haynes Test Track
First of all, my sincere apologies to those of you who expressed an interest in coming with me and sharing the track. With such a small window of good
weather, I rang the circuit for a short notice booking and got one for this afternoon. This unfortunately meant there was no time to make contact and
arrangements on a group basis.
The charge of £70 plus VAT was in my view excellent value for exclusive use of the track for three and a half hours. Although they mentioned a noise
test in the booklet not only did it not happen but there was no sign of any officialdom at all. I didn't even have to wear a helmet; all very
relaxed and pleasant.
I'm pleased to say that the car ran faultlessly and I was able to do countless laps to bed in the brakes and tyres and make adjustments to brake
bias and shock absorber settings. The circuit is only a Km long but it is tight and twisty, ideal for a nimble car and for setting up.
All in all, a really good day with a big thanks to the very nice people at Haynes. If like me, you need to give your car a pre-SVA shakedown I can
thoroughly recommend the Haynes Circuit.
John.JPG)
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shortie
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 08:37 PM |
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John,
How can people book it??
Rich.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 08:51 PM |
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Hi Rich
Very easy to book. Ring 01963 440804 and speak to Tori. She looks after the circuit bookings and she'll sort it out for you.
Kind regards
John
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shortie
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 08:59 PM |
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Is it just you there, what about medical, marshalls or anything like that??
What's the run-off like??
Rich.
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hobbsy
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 09:15 PM |
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Hmm so could we do a group booking and it would work out less - do you have a diagram of the layout? Interesting.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 09:21 PM |
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There was a health and safety chap but he just put in an appearance, certainly there were no marshals or medics that I saw. For me, it was a breath of
fresh air having the minimum of supervision and absolutely no nannying.
There is very little run off and plenty of Armco but there really is no need to go off if you stay within your own limits.
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givemethebighammer
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 09:38 PM |
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Here:
http://www.haynesmotormuseum.com/commercial-services/other-services/test-circuit-hire.html
Prices look very good, I wonder how booked up it gets?
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 09:42 PM |
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old school tracks are a dying breed - I love them, but unfortunatly it only takes one money grabbing clumsy fool to ruin it for everyone.
Happened a track I ride my bikes at, a guy turned up with what I can only describe as argos skateboard knee pads on and set off, only to fall off,
fracture his knee and sue the track - now we can't ride there anymore.
nanny state and compensation culture is killing the uk.
Enjoy the track whilst you can!  it looks superb!
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 22/8/07 at 09:44 PM |
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smart51
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| posted on 23/8/07 at 07:44 AM |
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according to google earth, its only 440m round the racing line of the outside of the circuit or 450m round the centre line. You might be able to
devise a sprint circuit using all the loops that gets upto 1 km.
A quick analysis suggests 37 MPH round the MG hairpin, 44 MPH round the springback and just reaching 70 MPH down the straigts giving a 20s lap time.
It may be cheap, but you get what you pay for. I wouldn't mine one in my back garden though.
Didn't Scrapheap challenge use it for their steam cars challenge?
[Edited on 23-8-2007 by smart51]
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hobbsy
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| posted on 23/8/07 at 08:12 AM |
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Hmm it is a little short isn't it...
But all good for shakedown as long as you don't want to test high speed stability etc.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/8/07 at 12:36 PM |
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I was quite interested to read your comments about the circuit.
I used to work as an Instructor for Jonathan Palmer at Bedford Autodrome arguably the best Corporate motor sport entertainment venue certainly in the
country if not the World. They had then, when I was there, and still do, some very exotic and rapid motor cars with long circuits to enable their
performance to be used to the full. The circuit especially designed for Caterhams is only about half a mile long with a couple of straights and
littered with chicanes and tight bends. Top speed achieved well under 85 mph. Boring? Absolutely not because this is what the 7 is all about. Sheer
road holding and cornering ability. Being able to put it into a four wheel drift and hold it there. Being able to achieve top speed in in my view
irrelevant. Tiff Needell was with a Group at Palmer's and he drove my Caterham (not mine really, just the one I was using) and he got out with a
grin from ear to ear having been sideways virtually all the way round and finally spinning it on the final bend. Too much for you Tiff? No, just not
enough lock!!
At the end of the day guests filled in a questionnaire and one of the question was which was their favourite event. More than 75% said Caterhams and
as an Instructor, I would agree. Cornering and sideways motoring is like nothing else. Anyone can drive fast in a straight line, it's the
corners that sort the men from the boys. So, in my view, Haynes, although originally intended as Kart track is just perfect for a 7.
Interested in your comments.
John
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smart51
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| posted on 23/8/07 at 12:52 PM |
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What you say is all true. As well as 30 and 40 MPH corners, I want some 50, 60 and 70 MPH ones too.
Sevens are great at flicking into tights bends and sprinting down straights. I, personally, want a little more speed as well. My car doesn't
accelerate much once you get above peak power in top gear (about 105) but I like to drive up to that speed so my ideal circuit would be a bit faster
than the 70 mph 2nd gear straights at haynes. Turning into corners at 90 in a seven is the kind of fun that that circuit can't offer.
I'd still love to have a go though.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/8/07 at 02:32 PM |
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The best advice I can give you is save up and have a day at Bedford before you die. It is worth every penny and on the caterham circuit you will be
turning in at then end of the back straight at the speed you want. Go for it.
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Simon
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| posted on 24/8/07 at 10:08 PM |
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I think a nice tight circuit like that'd be a right laff. Means you take take your car to extremes of handling and still only be doing 50
ATB
Simon
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Dangle_kt
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| posted on 24/8/07 at 10:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett
The best advice I can give you is save up and have a day at Bedford before you die. It is worth every penny and on the caterham circuit you will be
turning in at then end of the back straight at the speed you want. Go for it.
Just been on there site
http://www.palmersport.com
looks v impressive!
Whats the £ approx? the website doesn't say and I'm on curious at the moment so dont fancy calling up or anything! 
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chockymonster
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| posted on 30/8/07 at 03:57 PM |
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I used to do a lot of sprinting at the haynes track.
I've just uploaded a video to youtube clicky
It's still processing at the moment but once it's done you'll get an idea of how little run off there is!
PLEASE NOTE - Responses on Forum Threads may contain Sarcasm and may not be suitable for the hard of Thinking.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 30/8/07 at 04:41 PM |
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Reminds me of that insane NZ powerboat racing where they howl around a twisty waterway in a tiny boat with a huge V8 motor...
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