Motorsport test day, Snetterton, 20.03.08

[andrewc]

Just a quick note to advise that the CSCC (Classic Sports Car Club) are holding a testing session at Snetterton Norfolk on Thursday 20th March. Will be a mixture of classics and modern tin tops, plus single seaters.

Crowds - well there won't be any crowds which means you get the best angles from the public areas - so Russells Chicane, the Esses, Bombhole.

Cost - entry should be free. Test days are normally free.
The circuit cafe should be open for hot & cold meals / drinks

We're taking our ex-Rickard Rydell Reynard 883 F3 car for its shakedown test as we've got new dampers, different springs and very different tyres to get used to.

Equipment - a 300mm lens is ok.

Snetterton is about 15 miles south of Norwich on the A11.

[mrgubby]

I would have been up for this but some inconsiderate customer wants me for a meeting in Slough that day :'(

[maddog.mark]

I might be up for this if I can move some work commitments and get my hands on a 300mm lens for the day:D.

When does it start?

[tappilappi]

I will have to work that day, but what time does testing finish? I may be able to nip in for a few minutes after work (Its only 5 mins from home.)

[tappilappi]

Sorry - forgot to say - what camera do you have (maddog) Mark? If it is a Canon I can lend you a 300mm of some description.

[maddog.mark]

Sorry - forgot to say - what camera do you have (maddog) Mark? If it is a Canon I can lend you a 300mm of some description.

Tappi, I am a Canon user. Thanks for the offer, I may be able to get borrow one off a mate, but not sure yet so will let you know.

[andrewc]

Hi,

I think the testing will get underway at around 9am or so and will continue through the day with a lunchbreak at some time. Not sure when it will finish - I think the circuit has a noise curfew at 6pm, but its a question of popping by and seeing whats going on.

I'll be there with 40D, Sigma 100-300 f4 and 1.4TC.

Andrew

[maddog.mark]

Might make it over about lunchtime if I can.

Andrew I'll text you if I make it.

[maddog.mark]

not going to be able to make this now. To many work commitments not enough people to delegate them to. I'll look forward to seeing the results from the day.

[full auto]

My sisters boyfriend is at snetterton this weekend, he races in the single seater Locost class (they look like caterhams). I dont know what number he is, but his car is purple. If anyone gets any shots, Id like to see em

:)

Edit: He is no. 21, and its maroon, not purple apparently :S

[andrewc]

Am bumping this up as its the day after tomorrow.



We've blagged a pit garage so at least we'll stay dry(ish) if it rains. Got the entry list this morning and there is a good mixture of cars.



Group A - about 25 cars.

Chevrolet Camaro, Porsche 911, Triumph TR8, Alfasud, Lotus 7, 3 Corvettes, 2 Jag XJS's, Caterfields, Elans, Ford Crapi and a Crossle.



Group B - another 25 odd cars.

Jags, Mazda, MGB, Reliant Sabre, Clan Crusader, TVR Grantura, MG Maestro, Porche, Ginetta, Pug 205,



Group C - 15 single seaters

Lotus 18, Ralt RT30, 2 Dallara F3 cars, Reynard 883 F3, Reynard 903 F3, Van Diemen, JKS Monoposto 1200, Formula Vee, and some Jedis (no Siths)



First session 9am. 15 minute sessions, going group A, B, C with a 5 min clean up session between each session. Lunch between 1 and 2. Day ends 5.30pm

[maddog.mark]

How was the day any shots to share or was the weather too bad?

[andrewc]

Started off damp, then the track dried enough to try slicks, then the rain came in torrents. Most people packed up early as there was too much standing water on the track, and whilst wet weather practise is good, there comes a point where it becomes dangerous.

Reynard 903 (Monoposto 2000) at Bombhole
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/andrewcliffe/cscc%20test%20day/IMG_0021.jpg

JKS Speads (Monoposto 1200) between Esses and Bombhole
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/andrewcliffe/cscc%20test%20day/IMG_0064.jpg

Ginetta G4 along Revett Straight
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/andrewcliffe/cscc%20test%20day/IMG_0148.jpg

Subaru Lancer Evo wotsit. Through Esses
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/andrewcliffe/cscc%20test%20day/IMG_0167.jpg

Formula Vauxhall-Dallara chassis - Esses. He spun and the session was red flagged as he beached himself
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/andrewcliffe/cscc%20test%20day/IMG_0258.jpg

Lotus 18
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/andrewcliffe/cscc%20test%20day/IMG_0277.jpg

Reynard 883 (Monoposto 2000) - my brother driving. My favourite shot of the day. 1/60 shutter speed
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/andrewcliffe/cscc%20test%20day/IMG_0041-2.jpg

All 40D & 100-300 Sigma F4 EX. Some with x1.4 TC added.

[maddog.mark]

Good set Andrew, the weather looks horrible though

[andrewc]

It was :-)

Here is some of the 'highlights' from our on board camera

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YTgJjjf8ZqA

Gets progressively wetter throughout the video. This is a 1988 F3 car -about 550kgs with a Toyota 2 litre engine roughly giving 200bhp. In the dry we can often break 2g cornering and 1.5g braking - going around 135mph on the end of the long straight - not as fast as many things but we carry a lot more speed through corners.

Our first race of the season is at Snetterton in 10 days. Race on both Saturday and Sunday. Fingers crossed weather will be OK.

The onboard camera is a 580 line bullet camera with a fairly wide angle lens. It records onto a "Chasecam" which records at approaching DVD quality MPEG2 encoding onto a 4Gb Sandisk Extreme 3 card. No moving parts - so good for a harsh enviroment like this. We can overlay logged data from our datalogger and GPS system over the footage if we need to.

[badgerbaiter]

i think those photos would be improved drastically if the jpeg quality was upped to 8 from 6 (unless its photobucket thats altering the jpeg compression)

[andrewc]

Probably. They were quickly exported from Picasa using the default settings, then resized by photobucket as well. No sharpening either.