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Zhuhai F1 circuit, China - wish me luck?


loks

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HKAA - China Track days – Sat and Sun this coming weekend.

 

Well what do you think are my chances against this lot? Remember rain forecast :eek:

 

9x Ferrari (mostly 360 Modena's) :devil:

3x Lamborghini (Diablo, Gallardo, Murcielego)

11x Porsche (mostly 996's)

1x Masarati Coup Cambiocorsa

1x Merc E55

4x BMW M3's :devil:

6x Audi (mostly TT's)

2x Lotus Elise

2x Skyline (one GT-R)

2x Honda NSX

1x Mitsi Evo7

1x Subaru WRX Sti

1x Lexus GS300

1x Opel Calibra :moo:

1x Renault Megane :moo:

 

and me – 1x Toyota Supra TT Auto (10 years old) slighty BPU + one crapping himself driver without RLTC :(

 

As I'm very likely to be whooped by most of the car's above (it is my first time of trying this you understand :innocent: ) I am looking forward to the drive to the circuit from Hong Kong. Under China police escort all the way for 3 hours or so. Instructions are great - “When under police escort you are not required to stop for red lights , keep a reasonable distance from the car in front of you and switch on your hazard lights and headlights”.

 

Should be hell of a sight with 47 performance cars travelling in a VIP convoy at break neck speed through the China highways. I've seen these VIP convoys before and they do not hang about.

 

If I do make it back out alive I'll give you an update on how badly I did ;) :D

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Have fun Dave and do us proud:)

 

Who stops for redlights in China anyway ;) I'd definitely be more scared about driving on the Chinese roads than the track, watch out for the family of eight with ten chickens in cages all on one moped doing a u-turn on the highway on the wrong side of the road infront of you :eek:

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Cheers all for your words of encouragement. I'm really looking forward to it a nervous sort of way :eek2:

 

Alex, got you on the breaks. New race pads fitted and new HKS break fluid to help me annoy them a little bit :devil:

 

Nic, next time you'll have to join me on the family moped slalom ;)

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Wow – what a laugh that was. Whole weekend was totally amazing. :cool:

 

Left Hong Kong Friday lunchtime and after crossing into China the ‘race’ began! Although we (47 cars) were supposed to be under police escort the 200km to the Zhuhai circuit it turned out to be just a Mitsi Landcruiser from the circuit management only – with a police siren and hazards :devil: . Needless to say that all the drivers got a little impatient and within 10 minutes the race was on. Everyone, and I mean everyone, picked up the pace and no-one wanted to be left alone. It was a fine sight with all the Porsche’s, Ferrari’s and Lambo’s all going for it through the highway traffic. I just hope the video does it justice. After the main town and heavy traffic was left behind it went from mischievious fun to seriously mad stuff.

 

Although I was averaging between 180-200kph (112-125mph) at this stage we were getting left behind by the big boys. The Lambo’s were apparently hitting 300kph (186mph) - gulp – if you know the condition of the roads and the driving mentality in China!

 

This was when my 10 year old Supra decided to let me down with the front under spoiler being ripped from it’s mounts due to the high speeds and rubbing on the floor. It was quickly ripped off totally with aid of a handy pen knife (didn’t want to left behind you see :innocent: ) and we were back on our way again.

 

Totally amazing sight that evening as 47 (mostly) stunning motors were parked up outside the Zhuhai Holiday Inn for the evening. The locals were in total awe.

 

Saturday at the circuit was a complete washout and it lashed down all day. Not good for a novice driving and no RLTC. The briefing was given in the morning and as it was all in Cantonese no good for myself . The last comments were in English though – “Sign the death disclaimer, it’s a race and be careful”. ;)

 

We were split up into 3 groups (including the circuit Lotus elise’s) and given 30 minute sessions (read ‘free for all’) from 10:00am until 5:00pm – not bad eh? I missed the first session as I did not bring a full face helmet :music: . It was heaving it down so first excuse used.

 

Spent the rest of the day flirting with death.

 

Note to BBS – even bigger UK front discs and calipers are crap after about 3 laps racing – IF you have an auto box. Oh joy, when you hammer down the main straight and slam on the anchors for the T1 corner and there’s nothing there. Heart in mouth and soiled underwear.

 

The cars that stood out all day was one particularly quick WRX and the 3x Audi RS4’s – 4 wheel drive certainly helped. Casualties – 996 Turbo (wall), Lotus Elise (wall) and Masarati (gravel trap).

 

Sunday started off pretty much the same with a wet circuit but managed to get one session with a dry track. Now that was more like it. I managed to keep up with pretty much everything on acceleration and on the straights but was crap on the corners because I had to brake so early.

 

Of course the Lambo and Ferrari big guns came into their own now and the racing was terrific. Casualties – Ferrari 360 modena (blown engine ), 2x 996’s (walls but drivable but seriously patched up), Audi RS4 (wall) and due to the much higher speeds – a whole bunch in the gravel traps. No deaths.

 

Not too much racing on the journey back to Hong Kong. Everyone was just too knackered.

 

No timings were taken but hell to it I had the time of my life. I hear there is another track day there, in December and nothing shall stop me going again. The bug has bitten – new 6-pot AP brakes and discs are on order as we speak.

 

 

The End.

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Originally posted by loks

Note to BBS – even bigger UK front discs and calipers are crap after about 3 laps racing – IF you have an auto box. Oh joy, when you hammer down the main straight and slam on the anchors for the T1 corner and there’s nothing there. Heart in mouth and soiled underwear.

 

:eek: :( and just when I think my car is ready for the track!

 

Sounds like a mad trip and a good post Dave :)

 

Bobbeh, how did your brakes hold up at the ring ?

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Sounds awesome :)

 

Originally posted by loks

new 6-pot AP brakes and discs are on order as we speak.

 

Out of interest were you on stock pads, fluid and hoses?

 

Normally pedal feel goes from boiling the fluid / expanding brake lines, no brakes comes from the pads "gassing", as they get too hot the material virtually vaporises pushing the pad away from the disc.

 

I managed to lose the brakes on mine during some very spirited road driving and again on a trackday - I reacted to this by changing the fluid to a better DOT 5.1 (some SRF I had knocking around), braided hoses and Hawk HP+ pads with new standard discs - a massive difference!

 

I can't help wondering if this is all you need to do rather than going for the AP's - they look pretty and offer a larger heatsink but I suspect they won't make you stop any better that standard disks with a mild upgrade of the surrounding components.

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sounds like a great day:thumbs:

 

i have 3g (brembo) 20 grove discs, endless fast road pads and dot 5.1 fluid and i have not had ANY fade yet:thumbs:

i spent the entire day last wednesday on Castle Combe constantly braking from ton plus speeds and my brakes performed impeccably:cool:

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