So, I got a call from everyone's favourite Circuit Clubber, Mr N. "George is out, you want in?"
Like he needed to ask.
You see, Johnny Boston and the Rally School guys had decided to run a track day around Oran Park GP. It was well subscribed long before I heard about it. Just over 90 drivers. One of whom was George, legendary in Circuit Club circles as 'that' yellow and black MX5 from Blackheath. George couldn't make it, and for that I am hugely thankful, because it means that I got my wish, which was to drive Oran Park GP before it is gone forever.
When you do your first track day around an unfamiliar circuit, you are reminded of the giddy histeria of driving around a race track for your first time. But for me at least, Oran Park was more than this - it demanded that I bring to bear all of the driving skills I have learned so far, and then it's as if the circuit is snapping at your heels every inch of the way, waiting for you to make a mistake. This is not by any means a fearful experience. Rather, it's hugely exhilarating.
It's for this reason I think that you often find people tripping over their words in an effort to explain just how much fun driving laps of Oran Park GP really is. It's both demanding and laugh out loud entertainment from start to finish. Each part of the track, even in a forgiving car like the NC, has it's own tricky requirements, and I was able to drive the NC in a way I hadn't done previously.
So, topping out at around 180km/h down the main straight I discovered that while the NC requires not that much braking to settle through the kink, but that this then leaves you with very little track left to set yourself up for turn 2, and the back of the car unsettles a whole lot more than the Wakefield turn 2 entry (much higher entry speed). Turn 2 took me at least half the day to get right. Turn 3 was off camber enough to induce power over in 2nd. Turn 4 has a lovely ripple that resulted in my first snap oversteer moment in this car when I tried to trail brake it into the apex. Exiting off the bridge high in 3rd in a full drift will remain one of my great driving memories. As will just about every time I got a clear run through the flip flop.
Which is a nice segue to the only drawback with this track day - crowded, mismatched groups. By the time I'd sorted out my way through the whole track, laying out my attack with the expert assistance of Ian Dyke (who I knew from Altezza Club Luff days) and Dave ????, I didn't manage a single clear lap. I was either easing off to wave someone safely past, or I was trying to wrangle my way past a higher powered car around the back of the circuit, so I could put some distance between us before the straight! There wasn't a single lap of clear circuit that enabled me to string the whole circuit together uninterupted.
Nevertheless, I managed to just dip past 1:30, my goal I'd set for the day, for a 1:29:945. Working your way past more powerful cars also has it's own rewards, of course, although with such a mixed bunch in my group, I was reluctant to participate in any door to door racing. (I'd be lying though if I said I didn't want to get involved with some proper racing down the track. So to speak
) And at the end of it all, I just wanted to get involved in the Oran Park GP experience, and savour it as much as possible. I will also say this - as you will see here, there was a great mix of cars present. Chatted to a variety of drivers, met some great people.
By the time my last session rolled around, I had done just that, and my rear pads were squeeling for mercy. So much so that Reggie very kindly picked up some Lucas pads and took my car to Indy's the next day while I was at work. These are just to tie me over until my replacement rear discs and Carbotech pads arrive from the US.
