Special Treat

It was with a big smile on my face and just a small bit of nerves that I presented myself at Castle Combe on Monday morning. The reason - I had a date with Stuart and a Porsche and some hot laps thanks to Mark Sumpter and Paragon.

Mark sells Porsches and had hired the circuit for his customers to bring their cars and try out going round the race track. Stuart and Steve were to be there to offer the customers their expertise, with a little one to one tuition or just to take the customer round to show them how their car can perform. They also were taking along the 944 that Stuart had used in the Porsche cup some years ago and that they had raced in last year in the Bill Taylor for some hot laps which was why I was there. It was hoped that they could run the 911 GT3 Cup car but the maximum noise level was 105 decibels and the car was over the circuit limit at 110 so that idea was shelved. Or was it??

Sunday had seen Steve and Stuart racing the GT3 in the afternoon on what ended up as a skid pan in driving rain. As we all sheltered under the motor home canopy after the race, Neil (their JW Racing mechanic) was laying on his back in the pouring rain and puddles, soaked through, working on the cars exhaust. Why? Then another mechanic was seen taking a seat out of another car and bringing it over and at that point we guessed the GT3 was going to go out after all. Sorry mates but we had spoilt your surprise.

Lyn with Steve in the 944
Lyn in the 944

The next morning Stuart and Steve were busy with the customers until a lull in activities when Steve took Lyn out in the 944. The GT3 was then warmed up but they found that the new exhaust was causing the rear bumper to melt. Rather than cause too much damage or a potential fire Neil took the bumper off. One gent went out in the car and came back smiling and telling everyone it was great and to try it but all too soon it was lunchtime. I am afraid to say I was a tad too nervous to eat much so I went back out and put myself first in the queue for the GT3.first passenger and they are impressed 
first customer

the bumper was removed
bumper removed as it started to melt

Suffice to say it was a squeeze to get in and thank goodness the photo taken of me in the car by my husband didn't come out (how lucky am I?). Helmet on, racing belts fastened as tight as possible and Stuart in the driving seat. A nice touch was the Nascar mirror which allowed the passenger to see the track behind and the driver. Steve, as per normal, belts in Stuart (they always look after each other during driver changes in the races as well) and tells him to go out and warm up the tyres for him!!! But I wanted to go fast with Stuart and I had been been out with Steve last year in the 944....

The acceleration always catches me out. It's like being in a plane but to a lesser extent and not for so long because we were very soon at Quarry corner. Brake hard, down shift to 3rd, turn, accelerate, change gear and off again. That was fun and so was seeing the marker posts flash past inches from the wing at the Esses. Half way round already and we were getting faster, the second chicane (Bobbies) caught me out as I missed the sign for left and only saw the one saying right! Good job I don't race! Round Camp and past the start finish line and round again. This time Quarry was even faster and Esses even closer and this was a warm-up!! Now Stuart asked if I was OK - OK he says?? I was really enjoying this though I had realised my belts weren't tight enough - either that or I had settled deeper into the seat. I was braced though as my feet easily reached the front of the foot well so I felt extremely secure. The worst thing was deciding what to do with my hands so I just held onto the shoulder straps - well until I started waving to everyone waiting in the pit lane. No-one waved back but there again we were doing over 150 mph and the wall was a bit of a blur.

           Kev waiting to go out      Kev in and out of the car    Kev in the car  

I kept waiting for Stuart to go back into the pits after the customary 3 or 4 laps but he wasn't ready to go in yet. Time and time again we went round until I had lost count but then he turned into the very narrow pit lane, went under the bridge and drew up alongside Steve. We managed a few words from helmet to helmet - mine were mostly 'great', 'fantastic', and 'more' before Steve was hustling Stuart out of the car and getting in himself. Not many people see a driver change from the inside of the car!

Off we went again (that was a bit unexpected) and this time I could compare the two of them, their lines, braking points and gear changes. I knew they thought they were very similar in their driving style and I could see that they were but Steve was smoother on the down gear changes. I later found out this was a difference between Steve heel and toeing and Stuart not.

It was impossible to talk as we went round as the engine noise was so loud but Steve said it is normally louder with the correct exhaust on. I have to say I enjoyed Castle Combe more than Snetterton where I found the Bomb Hole a bit stomach wrenching. This was just fast and exhilarating but bumpy in places. The circuit is nicely designed with really fast straights, tights bends and flowing corners and great for track days and racing.

All too soon my turn was over and I was pulled out of the car (blast!) and the next customer got in. I spoke to a lot of the people who went in it during the afternoon and everyone loved it. Quite a few decided they would love to have a go racing or at least improve their own car handling. Some thought they might actually come to a race and see how Steve, Stuart and Mark get on. My husband went in later in the afternoon with Steve and reckoned it was the best car he has ever been in (and I totally agree with him there).

and they were still queueing!   they were still queueing at the end    henry's 2001 GT3 Supercup

Eventually the GT3 ran low of racing fuel and the rides had to finish to the dismay of the queue of customers including Lyn. There were 3 other 'fast' cars you could go in and I did succumb to sitting beside Mark Sumpter in the 911 carrera 2 RS 1992 and found my ideal road car - that handles like a dream. Mark and I went round holding a conversation - a pleasant change to the GT3!!

A very big thank you to Stuart, Steve, Neil, Mark and Brenda for putting up with us all. It was a great day out and I bet all your customers thoroughly enjoyed themselves because I know we did.