RedRobin Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 Thanks to chungster (Lee) for inviting me along and giving me a passenger ride at a private track day. As I was passing, I called in on John_Carter but unfortunately he was at work. When I phoned him the cheeky fecker asked me if I would mow his lawn! I'll give you more notice next time, John, but I wasn't sure I could make it until the last minute. It's the first time I've been on track at 'The Combe' and I must say it's a very good circuit with plenty of room without being characterless. Lee's GTI is totally unmodified and Manual transmission. I continue to be impressed by how the Mk5 GTI handles. Lee introduced me to another GTI owner, Leo, and it turns out by coincidence that we already 'know' each other from an American Rabbit forum - Those rich yankee kids mod their GTI's something heavy and also within weeks of being new. So after lunch, Leo took me out on track in his DSG Superchips car. He's had Formula Ford experience and it showed in his driving style. It was particularly interesting to see how well paddleshifting DSG works on track - Lee's manual gear shifts were very smooth but the DSG box was seamless and didn't compromise 'making progress'. 'Making progress' very easily was a rather ropey looking Peugeot GTI with mudflaps! It got away from us and was very fast through the corners. Other cars on track were mostly Scooby's and Evo's, some very modified. There were a few Lotus and Caterhams and a beast called a Skyline Stager which is an estate car with massive rear roof spoiler - I missed taking its photo unfortunately. Most exotic car present, which didn't go on track, was this yellow Lambo: Following a drive in my GTI, Leo immediately added AP Racing brakes to his shopping list! As his style is to do all his braking before the corner, he'll find he can go much deeper before braking and his lap times, though we weren't doing any, cannot help improve. One day I might take my car on track - It's certainly spec'd up suitably. Weather was perfect and not too hot, and overall it was a really nice way to spend a Monday. The drive there and back was also a good one. Thanks chungster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzGTI Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 Great photos Red Very envious of your tracks in the UK. There is some talk of a GTI club being formed here at the moment so I hope we might get a run around Phillip Island (home of the Aussie Moto GP World Championship leg). It is a very fast very open track - unlike the Melbourne F1 GP track which is within walking distance of my house but has a 50km speed limit unless you are an F1 car for four days each March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekin_88 Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 RR is there a link for the photos ? I am reading this from work so might have them blocked. great post again RR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 Sorry, ekin, but no public link available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 In pictures 2 and 3 the front of the rear view mirrors look different, or is there something missing. Looks like you had fun Red? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 ....pic 2 is Lee's GTI, and pic 3 is Leo's 54-plate earlier car. I expect it's just VW build date difference. Yes, I had great fun . I expected to feel sick as a passenger, like I had felt in a much modded Mk4 R32 last year. But the Mk5 GTI is very stable and smooth, especially with DSG. It also doesn't feel over stressed on the track - Tyres and brakes take the most punishment I think. I'm realising that my car's mods make it very track-able, but I want to keep it a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowman Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 Great report Robin and mighty fine pictures... always nice to see a few GTI's lined up in the same shot. It was good to read that the completely unmodified manual transmission GTI (like mine) performed respectably! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekin_88 Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Sorry, ekin, but no public link available. [/ QUOTE ] Hi Robin, WOW............... awesome pics, really neat, that blue again is it the colour lazer blue ? 3 GTI's in a row kewl drool. one day I might get enough money saved to buy one. until that day i will keep haunting the forums and share your happy experiences. great post ps it was my work that blocked the photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 Yep, I think it's Laser Blue - The colour you can't get anymore. Btw, apologies to "Leo" whose name is actually Neo. It's all chungster's fault! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chungster Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Good to meet you Robin and glad u enjoyed the day with us. This track day malarchy can be addictive. I'll be back there in August for the VW Driver track day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Yep, I think it's Laser Blue - The colour you can't get anymore. [/ QUOTE ] it is im 90% sure i have seen it on another forum and have it listed as laser blue on my hard drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekin_88 Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Yep, I think it's Laser Blue - The colour you can't get anymore. Btw, apologies to "Leo" whose name is actually Neo. It's all chungster's fault! [/ QUOTE ] thanks for the Reply Robin, Blue is a great colour chungster is a lucky Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Chungster may be a lucky man (I hope so!) but his GTI is Steel Grey and Neo's is Laser Blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmdrfire Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 'lo all, Neo here. Nice pics and writeup Robin, was a pleasure meeting you out there. Good fun day it was The 3 GTIs all lined up definitely look good! ekin_88 - the colour is Laser Blue. VW discontinued that sometime during the 06 model year - there aren't too many of them around (which makes me pleased ) Tracking is addictive - but can get expensive! I blew my DV which needs to be replaced - waiting for parts to come in. Also time to change around the rear discs and pads... so it goes Neo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekin_88 Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Hi Neo, Robin and the Gang, Sorry I got the cars mixed up oops. I think Robin did mention on his post somewhere else that the DV link is a week link and needs to be changed, did you have yours changed? I could be barking up the wrong tree, as i am barking Mad lol Yes that blue is so nice i would give my left leg for if VW still did it. as with DSG my left leg would be useless lol again thanks for the replys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chungster Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Neo has blown 2 DV's already. He's waiting for Forge to release the direct OEM replacement (Piston Type) to replace the crappy Diaphragm type of the standard VW jobbie. I think he blew this one trying to keep up with me on the track he he. Looked at my tyres today and I think I'm gonna do some tyre rotation in the next couple of weeks!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekin_88 Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Chungster Good luck with the rotation, have you modded your car yet with any upgrades ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chungster Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Nope. Mine is totally standard (at the moment) I might do a couple of things to it soon but more inclined to save up for a track day special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 Hi Chungster - If you mod, a remap gives you most return for your money and following that, brakes (expensive but awesome - Ask Neo) would seriously help your track enjoyment. Anti-roll bars are a relatively cheap mod with great benefits too - But where do you stop!? - The slippery slope of modding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chungster Posted April 22, 2007 Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 lol been there and got the T shirt with modding. One reason i bought the GTI was its all round ability straight out of the box. But yeah I might just do the Remap and Brakes. Then again I might not and just buy a new set of wheels with some sticky rubber for track days. We shall see. I've booked another track day. Off to Donington Park on 1st July. Should be another good day out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 ....Good idea about sticky rubber (as long as it's dry enough). ARB's could compliment the rubber . EDIT: [Thinks]....A day at Donington....I might join you but as a passenger on track if you're up for it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chungster Posted April 22, 2007 Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 Up to you Robin but this time it'll be a wee bit scarier as will be out with more cars and in novice group. Also you'll have to pay £35 for passenger pass and DP does not do helmet hire. I'm there with my peeps from SeatCupra.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmdrfire Posted April 23, 2007 Report Share Posted April 23, 2007 I'd agree with Robin 'bout the remap, for the price it does wonders. As far as DV is concerned... hopefully I get it this week as Lee said, I'm waiting for the Forge replacement, so far now I've gone through 1 'B' valve and 2 'C' valves. Hopefully the forge unit will be out in a month or so. Some pics from the day: My bro in the process of being overtaken by Lee A bunch of scoobies coming down from Tower A gaggle of Golfs My own car coming up to Camp Corner More pics up on my Flickr, tagged Castle Combe http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmdrfire/tags/castlecombe/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2007 [ QUOTE ] As far as DV is concerned... hopefully I get it this week as Lee said, I'm waiting for the Forge replacement, so far now I've gone through 1 'B' valve and 2 'C' valves. Hopefully the forge unit will be out in a month or so. [/ QUOTE ] ....Keep tags on this TSN thread: HERE and also Forge's UK web site where they'll report it under Latest News_: HERE. It shouldn't be long now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmdrfire Posted April 24, 2007 Report Share Posted April 24, 2007 Cheers Robin - I'll keep an eye out. I understood that Forge were releasing in a month or so - you've got your finger on the pulse more than me though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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