First event for my 2005 Lotus Exige 240R (number 17 of 50.)
I drove number 17 up North on Monday 27th, for a night stop at Premier Inn Northwich (Sandiway). A distance of over 170 miles. The first long-ish (over 100 mile) trip I've been in the Lotus.
On the way up, I had an EML light come on. Alas, no OBD reader. I was thinking it was going to be a very quick visit to Oulton Park (just sighting lap then go home), but fortunately the EML light went off just before I arrived at the circuit on the 28th.
I did the sighting laps, and popped out 3 times afterwards. I guess I must have had maybe 15 laps around Oulton Park. I think it is one of the most difficult tracks I have been on, blind brows, blind corners, a challenging circuit.
I made a boob with my insurance, I forgot to tell Classic Car Line 48 hours before the event, and then they said I would not be insured, so I had to pay £250 for track day insurance. I think it is sensible to have track day insurance, just in case. I have doubts I will continue with Classic Car Line going forward. Having my Lotus on a multi-car policy, and shelling out for single day track day insurance, is going to be more flexible for me and I can't see it being any more expensive than having my main car insurance (with Aviva) and a separate policy for the Exige. Or maybe I should get rid of my Audi and just have the Lotus 😆.
Anyway, apart from the EML light that came on and then went off, the car was very good. About 400 miles driving in all (I should keep better records.) £85 worth of super unleaded. Say 12 gallons. 33 MPG - incredible (and I wasn't driving slow on the way there and back home).
- Best: An incredible undulating circuit. Incredible experience. Loved driving my Exige on the circuit.
- Worst: Having very fast drivers and cars mixed up with leisurely drivers (like me.)
- There is a massive difference between someone who drives 150+ miles to a track day, does the track day, then wants the same car to be able to drive 150+ miles back home (in other words, doesn't want to drive their car to the limit, just wants to enjoy the experience of the track and freedom of not worrying about Police and speed cameras); and people who turn up with trailers with their cars in the back (if they break/bin their car, they don't care so much, since they are going home with the car in their trailer.)
- There is a massive difference between someone on a budget and mindful of costs, versus someone who doesn't need to apply the same level of mechanical compassion to their car.
- I think a lot of people get put off by being mixed up with much faster people (seems like there are less and less leisurely type drivers these days). And when everyone pays the same amount for the track day, everyone has a right to be there, slow and fast.
- I am sure some people are timing themselves (the Lotus-on-Track rules prohibit this) and trying to beat their lap times.
- Some people don't know the overtaking rules. Many times cars overtook without my indicating it was okay to pass - which is breaking the Lotus-on-Track rules. I know other Track Day firms rules just say to always pass on a certain side and don't mention the waiting for the driver in-front to indicate
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