Brands Hatch

[Shad]

I went to a track evening with Hondas-On-Track on Wednesday at Brands Hatch (Indy layout) with the revised CRX. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, performance wise. The track was full of CTRs, DC5s and S2000s so I didn't know where I'd fit in. And of course I hadn't driven the car with the wave of changes made since the last outing.

Well to sum up, the little CRX proved to be just about unbeatable under braking and around the corners, and even on the straights was a good match for cars with over 100hp more

It's a great little circuit though, really challenging. You just have no idea how steep Paddock Hill actually is until you drive it - I had to duck in the car to see under the sunstrip up the hill, otherwise it's completely blind!

No in car this time unfortunately, but my dad took some quite good video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...07819347547150

And some pics here: http://niknak.org/g/?p=/Cars/Trackda...tch+-+06-07-12

It was quite a busy evening, so I didn't get a chance to improve the setup. However even with the base settings I went with the car was just about perfect everywhere. The new tubular front cross member with rose jointed tie rods has removed all traces of understeer and given me masses more steering feedback, so not only is it much easier to get the power down smoothly, but when you get to the limit around a corner the car just drifts perfectly

Silverstone in about 2 and a half weeks eh Coco; lets see what that Vauxhall of yours is made of

[CocoPops]

You had better weather for Brands than I had!!

[Shad]

Well, just got back from a race meeting at Brands with TGM (1st place, fastest lap and pole, and a 4th place!). I was keeping an eye on the ex-Challenge car that was running, being driven by a very experienced racer.

His qualifying lap was only 2 seconds quicker than I was lapping on Wednesday night.

So ditch the passenger, add some heavier springs, better tyres, drop a bit more weight and gain a bit more confidence... me and my car will be seriously competitive

Next year is going to be nuts

[CocoPops]

2seconds is a lot on a 60second lap tho shad! lol!

[Shad]

It would be a lot to find if I was already on the limit. But the fact is, I'm not. I would be around 80kg lighter in race trim than on wednesday, with better tyres, more power, better gear ratios and more confidence into some of the corners.

I 100% believe that I can do it, even if it's just because the car is technically superior and I'm just plain crap