Post by s t o n i c on Sept 3, 2012 7:24:16 GMT
Hi Everyone. Just thought I’d do an update after doing 3 trackdays in August. I’ve had my Sonic a while now but only every attended the Culborough owners day in the past. This year I managed to lose the Sonic key on the way to the owners day so turned around! Total nightmare but cheapest solution was to buy a new ECU off ebay etc. Cost me £70 to get it all running again so not bad.
Trackdays done... Castle Combe, Brands Hatch, Bedford Autodrome... Blyton Park next!
Castle Combe was interesting to say the least. I had done the tracking etc myself but was not 100% about it even before the day. Its a fast circuit but I just didn’t have the guts to push it to the max. The car was very twitchy even on the straights once above 90... Had two 20 minute sessions with an instructor. Car performed with no breakdowns.
Visit to Northampton Motorsports – booked it in with these guys as other members had mentioned them. Have to say they did a fantastic job correcting my poor settings. Front and rear tracking, castor, corner weight etc.. Took about 3 hours and £240 later.. But the car is transformed.
Brands Hatch evening. Wow.. The car is totally different. Can now drive with full power down the pit lane straight and hit the brakes hard for the right hander down the hill. The Sonic was eating most other cars on the track with the exception of an Elise and westfield both with very tuned engines and Porsche GT2. Had a 20 minte session with instructor. Managed 105mph on the pit straight but with me lifting off early before breaking area. Its only a 1.2 mile circuit so not too bad. Brands is fantastic. You can see most of the bends well in advance because it on a hill – the features make it really easy to memorise. No breakdowns..
Bedford Autodrome. Was a bit daunted by the selection of cars. Was run by MSV and they allow a lot of cars to the open pitlane evens and 30 on track at any one time. Did the sighting lap and then straight in for instructor session. The circuit (did the SEN circuit) is really good. Some really fast parts with pretty much full power through the chicane and some 2nd and 3rd gear bends. This time lots of people knew what the car was and lots of positive comments. After some warm ups and instruction the car was really flying. Managed 119mph here and the car felt really well planted. Hopefully it was a good advertisement for the Sonic.
So whats next... Blyton Park 22nd September!!!!! I’m booked so anyone else going?
I think its also time to invest in a more specific track day tyre since 90% of use will be tracks. I can also say that a bit more bhp would be handy. The theoretical 170 I have is fun but a bit more for the straights would be good. First plan though will be tyres to see how much more speed I can carry through the corners.
I’m now really pleased with how the car is handling. Northampton Motorsport where a bit derogatory about the Sonic chassis quality and weight distribution with rear engine and clearly favour Westfields etc... BUT they did a great job setting up my car and I think they are being unfair.
Hope to see some of you at Blyton...
Trackdays done... Castle Combe, Brands Hatch, Bedford Autodrome... Blyton Park next!
Castle Combe was interesting to say the least. I had done the tracking etc myself but was not 100% about it even before the day. Its a fast circuit but I just didn’t have the guts to push it to the max. The car was very twitchy even on the straights once above 90... Had two 20 minute sessions with an instructor. Car performed with no breakdowns.
Visit to Northampton Motorsports – booked it in with these guys as other members had mentioned them. Have to say they did a fantastic job correcting my poor settings. Front and rear tracking, castor, corner weight etc.. Took about 3 hours and £240 later.. But the car is transformed.
Brands Hatch evening. Wow.. The car is totally different. Can now drive with full power down the pit lane straight and hit the brakes hard for the right hander down the hill. The Sonic was eating most other cars on the track with the exception of an Elise and westfield both with very tuned engines and Porsche GT2. Had a 20 minte session with instructor. Managed 105mph on the pit straight but with me lifting off early before breaking area. Its only a 1.2 mile circuit so not too bad. Brands is fantastic. You can see most of the bends well in advance because it on a hill – the features make it really easy to memorise. No breakdowns..
Bedford Autodrome. Was a bit daunted by the selection of cars. Was run by MSV and they allow a lot of cars to the open pitlane evens and 30 on track at any one time. Did the sighting lap and then straight in for instructor session. The circuit (did the SEN circuit) is really good. Some really fast parts with pretty much full power through the chicane and some 2nd and 3rd gear bends. This time lots of people knew what the car was and lots of positive comments. After some warm ups and instruction the car was really flying. Managed 119mph here and the car felt really well planted. Hopefully it was a good advertisement for the Sonic.
So whats next... Blyton Park 22nd September!!!!! I’m booked so anyone else going?
I think its also time to invest in a more specific track day tyre since 90% of use will be tracks. I can also say that a bit more bhp would be handy. The theoretical 170 I have is fun but a bit more for the straights would be good. First plan though will be tyres to see how much more speed I can carry through the corners.
I’m now really pleased with how the car is handling. Northampton Motorsport where a bit derogatory about the Sonic chassis quality and weight distribution with rear engine and clearly favour Westfields etc... BUT they did a great job setting up my car and I think they are being unfair.
Hope to see some of you at Blyton...