Oulton Park Aug 07

Report on Trackday at Oulton Park on 1st August 2007.

Well, Quite a good day out at a “sunny” Oulton Park Race circuit. The day started off as normal with the Drivers briefing at 08:30 followed by the usual convoy run around the long International circuit with “open Pitlane” for the rest of the day with a break for lunch from 12:30 till13:30 and finish at 17:00.
As there was only 24 cars booked it made it almost a free track for most of the day. I did a couple of sighting laps with normal road PS2’s on then came in and bolted full slicks on and took Peter Sharrett (independent writer for 911 and Porsche World) out for about 10 laps. He had organised for Steve Bennett, (Editor, 911 and Porsche World ) Mark Hales (ex touring car driver) and Anthony Frazier (photographer) to come with a Porsche GB car to do a comparison, and to see what difference the Quaife diff made, problem being on a hot sunny day they were struggling to get the standard car (equipped with PASM) to spin an inside wheel even at the Shell Hairpin.
After driving my car Mark commented that the standard car felt much stiffer with less roll than my none PASM car which made it more difficult to do any sort of comparison at which point Karel Deeley, offered his car, with lowered and stiffened suspension.
While we were doing all this not one but two Black Carrera GT’s had hit the track…….they sounded unbelievable as they came passed the pits in convoy, their V10 engines howling. It was just about this time that Mr Hales went out in my car with 19” Sport Designs and road going standard PS2’s. He exited the pitlane only a few hundred yards in front of the GT’s (which had been passing everything on track) Imagine our surprise when at the end of the next lap he was still in front of them.!!! It was a further 2 laps before the lead GT got in front and a further 2 laps before the second GT was on his tail. (just shows that: 1) that a sweet sounding V10 gives a bigger impression of speed and 2) Mark Hales can drive a bit.
While everybody went for lunch we had a free track and used this time to do a series of photographs for the magazine, getting direction from Anthony “hanging” out of the back of a Peugeot whilst driving within inches of not only his car, but also my car that Mark Hales was driving, was “interesting” to say the least. But everything appeared to turn out ok and the photographer was happy that he had the shots that he wanted.
After Lunch I asked the question of Mark Hales and Steve Bennet. “Which, in their opinion” was the best Porsche. Imagine my surprise when both said unequivocally The Cayman S…!!!!
We then continued with the track time until, while Gary C,was passengering in my car, we had a front near side Michelin de-laminate, which concluded our day. Well it was after four o’clock, so didn’t miss that much track time.
But at least we had 3 members out, Myself, Karel Deeley and Gary C who all had a very un hassled and enjoyable day, Pity that some of the other members didn’t “show” as I think they would have enjoyed it. (I know Howi’s in Florida and Jack had a last minute problem at home.) Never the less there were at least 2 Cayman’s that were waiting to chauffeur people round !!!!...............maybe next time ????
Thanks must go to the organisers MotorSport Vision for a well run and organised Trackday as well as all the Staff from 911 and Porsche World for asking all the questions and taking the photo’s (thanks for lunch by the way) and of course Mr Mark Hales who embarrassed a lot of more powerful cars in a 3.4 Cayman !!!!


Some of the photo's that the "Pro's" took.....full size are very impressive