Rally Day at 'Drive & Survive'

[Defector]

Further to my birthday present of tickets to the MPH04 show (as mentioned in previous thread), yesterday I got the main part of my present! A rally challenge day at 'Drive & Survive' near Oxford:

http://www.driveitall.co.uk/Public/rallychall.asp

This is the first proper track day type event i've done, and i have to say it was absolutely excellent. Massive amounts of fun with the added benfit of learning a thing or too.

The weather was foggy, raining and absolutely freezing but it didn't matter. I highly recommend the 'Drive & Survive' day and instructors, although the catering facilities were dire (you were dead right Fas! :eek: ).

Here are some pics, not very good ones im afraid as mixture of weather and cheap digital camera gave poor photos. Most shots of me in action were captured on a camcorder, but a 5 year old analogue one, so im still working out how to output to digital.

http://www.4potfury.kanukai.com/images/rally1.jpg
http://www.4potfury.kanukai.com/images/rally2.jpg
http://www.4potfury.kanukai.com/images/rally3.jpg

The just taken off helmet look!
http://www.4potfury.kanukai.com/images/rally4.jpg

Cars used were old Toyota Corrolla GT's, rear wheel drive, 140bhp and the all important lsd. Track was very very very muddy with the occasional gravel thrown in. Perfect oversteer conditions.

We did a couple of timed runs and my best time was about 19 seconds off target time set by instructor, which put me in about 4th place. Which out of 12 drivers, i was quite pleased with.

http://www.4potfury.kanukai.com/images/rallytime.jpg

Couldn't understand some people though. I went round as fast as possible all day, the result being some reasonable times but a couple of 360 spins and 40-50mph sideways skid down the hill. But some people just drove round as if they were on a sunday drive! Whats the point in going if you're not going to get sideways and beyond your normal level?

Anyway, great day. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend this place and rally days in general. :D

[BigFas]

Awesome. Those Corollas are awesome. NO driver aids whatsoever and RWD conversion using LSD and race gearbox :)

Glad to hear you had a good time and made the most of it

[Afif]

whoa looks like fun. might ask for this for part of my 18th :D

[Defector]

Cant recommend it enough. Definitely go for it if you have the chance. It has taught me a thing or too as well. Might not get quite so caught out on wet roundabouts. Although with 8.5 rears and a 4 pot, it doesn't happen often! :(

If you do go, take a picnic...unless you like very very poorly cooked bacon baps and burgers. I've eaten at some pretty dodgy road side burger vans before but bloody hell! :eek:

Although in my case the burger caravan ran out of gas at lunch time so we all went in convoy for a pub lunch! :)

Yep, Fas, those Toyotas are excellent. Never thought i'd have so much fun in such a ropey looking car. Pure rear wheel drive madness! ;)

[Afif]

yea i got the 8.5 rears with the 255's and a 4pot and my back end went the other morning :eek:!!!. Think their might have been a touch of ice on the road cos it surprised the crap outta me. Good thing i corrected it quikly :D. Had lots of practise skidding motorcycles on holiday and my mates quad bike but this was first time id remotely drifted a car.

[330ciSport]

You wanna try a 330 with shit rear tyres then. I have to carry at least two pairs of Calvin's in me pocket at the moment.