My Track Day at a wet Eastern Creek *Videos+pics*

[Aeron]

Yesterday I did a track day at Eastern Creek. I'd never been round Eastern Creek before so I was a bit worried when it started to rain just before my first session. It ended up raining all day long. Reality set in early when one of the guys in my group lost it in his Monaro on the main straight and hit the wall. Took out both the front and the back of the car - even the bonnet came off. Definitely written off.
Here is a video of me driving through just after it happened...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=274lAao4c98

If anyone wants to know what an edited XR6T is like on a wet track, I can tell you. 3rd or 4th gear just lean on the loud pedal and its sideways time. It looks slow on the videos but its quite scary.

Here is some footage that my dad shot of a bit of the sideways action...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUhUdmwLuXg

Also here is an in car clip of heaps of sideways action. You could drive the thing sideways round that track all day long.......so I did :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKsYJhrl-Us

In this last clip I talk you round a lap of Eastern Creek. Its not a tidy lap but it is entertaining. Keep an eye out for the turtle on the track too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fclOt27H1c

Now for some pics. Thanks to Dad, Kyle and Brasher for being my photographers for the day.

Ford Drift team




Me hunting an R32 GTR








So if ever you get the chance to do a track day, do one. And even if it rains you can still have a ball. In all honesty I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t dry out because you couldn’t have a red hot go.

[Kyl3]

More images from this event in the photography section

Aeron, thanks for inviting me out, had a good day despite the rain and cold!!

[Jock260]

some damn nice photo's nice driving mate

[EFFalcon]

Originally Posted by Aeron

Reality set in early when one of the guys in my group lost it in his Monaro on the main straight and hit the wall. Took out both the front and the back of the car - even the bonnet came off. Definitely written off.
Here is a video of me driving through just after it happened...

Must be a thing with yellow monaro's
one did similar @ Winton earlier this year

looks like a good day out though!

[cArSiK]

thats very entertaining mate!!!!!

[baboon]

Great driving, again your having so much fun with your xr6t. Excellent!

[pecker73]

Aeron.... Brilliant shots.....

Looks like u got the bug... Many more day's to come, I'm sure...

I had a day at Sandown in Vic on Saturday... Brilliant in the BF XR6T, until I had and 'incident', 360 degree spin... Took off the rear bumper... :

Oh well. Fix it up, and get out there again. :

Keep on driving :eclipsee_ :eclipsee_ :eclipsee_

[drcook]

what company runs these? and how much for the day?

[pecker73]

Originally Posted by drcook

what company runs these? and how much for the day?

I'm a member of the FPV & XR Owners Club Vic. We team up with the HSV Club in Vic and have club day's at Sandown, Phillip Island & Winton. Usually about 8 events a year.

Check out your local club.. Or even check with local tracks, when we need to make up numbers, we extend the invite to any CAMS affilicated club. In Vic, the JAG guys are always there for a spin.

Depending on the track it costs us between $140 to $180 for the entire day.. 'Bout the cost of a speeding ticket in Vic with out the demerit points !

WARNING - Its VERY addicitive !!! :evil_laug :P

[Firefox7]

Looks like you had some fun aeron and good drifting mate..hehe. That poor monaro...what happened to him...did he have a lose on main straight and kiss the wall? Aeron can you Pm me next time your going for a run on the circuit because I'll come along too.


Cheers

[Bluehoon]

Hey mate, how fast were you going??? Looks around 90kms?

Cheers

PS - MORE SIDEWAYS NEEDED ::

[Kyl3]

Firefox7... i might be able to get you in a spot on a wakefield trackday mid feburary if youre keen, be around $120 plus lic, if you dont hold one..

Sideways falcons, simply awesome

[Firefox7]

Originally Posted by Kyl3

Firefox7... i might be able to get you in a spot on a wakefield trackday mid feburary if youre keen, be around $120 plus lic, if you dont hold one..

Sideways falcons, simply awesome

Hi mate..

I'm just confused over this track day because eastern creek didn't list it in the events schedule unless I didn't notice it. Oh well....

I have a wakefield and a cams license, but the Qld round of the dutton is on in febuary & it depends on the date. Still i'd like to go so keep me informed. Are you planning a private day or just a regular practise day at wakefield.

What about this one.... Wakefield Sat 18 Nov, 2006 Open Practice Cars Only.


Cheers

[Aeron]

Originally Posted by Bluehoon

Hey mate, how fast were you going??? Looks around 90kms?

It looks like 90Km/h but by the end of the main straight I was doing about 185Km/h on a good lap. 140-150 between turn1 and 2. The in-car camera slows things down heaps. If I had a wider angle lens it would look fast. I couldnt hold 100% throttle in 4th because it just wanted to spin the rears (not fun at 140Km/h) so I just short shifted to 5th and just ride it out to 180.

Originally Posted by Firefox7

That poor monaro...what happened to him...did he have a lose on main straight and kiss the wall? Aeron can you Pm me next time your going for a run on the circuit because I'll come along too.

Cheers

The bloke in the Monaro didn't heel and toe, and also turned in a bit early so the rear end locked up and put him into the wall. :(

I'll PM you next time I go. The day was done with www.drivingsolutions.com.au and costs $250 (or $200 if you can group of mates together) I go with my doctors group so you could be included in that next time to get it for $200. Its a great day with lunch included. Yeh, its more than Wakefield but the track is longer, closer to home (for me) they have an Ambulance on standby, fire crew and instructors if you need a bit of help so I think its worth it. Heaps of fun but!!

[Firefox7]

Originally Posted by Aeron

The bloke in the Monaro didn't heel and toe, and also turned in a bit early so the rear end locked up and put him into the wall. :(

I'll PM you next time I go. The day was done with www.drivingsolutions.com.au and costs $250 (or $200 if you can group of mates together) I go with my doctors group so you could be included in that next time to get it for $200. Its a great day with lunch included. Yeh, its more than Wakefield but the track is longer, closer to home (for me) they have an Ambulance on standby, fire crew and instructors if you need a bit of help so I think its worth it. Heaps of fun but!!

Ahhh...that is why it was not in the event schedule as a drive/practise event. Usually these are held mid week and not on a saturday..it's why it had me confused. Eastern creek is a lot closer to me too & I prefer the track anyway, I like wakfield for testing purposes. I feel sorry for that monaro driver, watched the vid and his car was pretty busted up. Unusual for a lose at that section of track...turn 4 is the one to watch. Anyway thanks aeron & let me know when your going to the next one.

P.S
I hope they reintroduce the twilight drive events again..runs from 3pm to 10pm no speed limit as long as you have a Cams 2s minimum license. Would be good to get some shoots of the cars in the dark with the rotors glowing red hot.


Cheers

[RegSpec]

Aeron,what sort of camera are you using and how did you mount it for the incar footage?

[MRAH33]

thats some sick footage!! makes me wanna go for a spin after watching all those videos

[GXL078]

That forth shot is great. Definately one to frame. Well done.

[Aeron]

Originally Posted by BlueBAXR8

Aeron,what sort of camera are you using and how did you mount it for the incar footage?

I used my sisters Sony (It doesn't say what model). Here is a shot of the setup...



The straps attach to the bottom of both seats.

[jimmy_c]

that monaro was dammaged up good what was the story.

Good video shots too. Execellent.

[Aeron]

Originally Posted by jimmy_c

that monaro was dammaged up good what was the story.

Good video shots too. Execellent.

The bloke in the Monaro didn't heel and toe, and also turned in a bit early so the rear end locked up and put him into the wall. :( It was his first time on a track.

[StookEB]

Do u really only need to use heel and toe if your at high revs, do you use it (if yours is manual). He must of been going fast wouldn't he.
I've tried doing it ,wrong car to do it in though, my pedals aren't even there at different heights of the floor.

What would the monaro do about insurance, he wouldn't be covered would he?

Sorry i'm just learning thanks.

[RegSpec]

Thanks Aeron, am doing a track day at Wakefield soon and after looking at the footage you did Id like to get some of my own.
Thanks again for the tip :1syellow1

[sprjenkins]

nice driving mate, the car looks pretty quick, you had no problems catching the 350z or the skyline. What mods have you done to the car?

[Firefox7]

Originally Posted by EArulz

Do u really only need to use heel and toe if your at high revs, do you use it (if yours is manual). He must of been going fast wouldn't he.
I've tried doing it ,wrong car to do it in though, my pedals aren't even there at different heights of the floor.

What would the monaro do about insurance, he wouldn't be covered would he?

Sorry i'm just learning thanks.

Then you modify your pedals to suit your ideal foot size Vs the respective heights & widths...etc. I did...
For high speed driving on a dry track, heel & toe is not mandatory....but it certainly helps. On a wet track is a whole new ball game. Heel and toe is all about keeping the car balanced and straight. Any compression lock, slight or severe when changing down gears in the wet, is a recipe for disaster if your on a circuit and running very high speeds. It's a fine art to learn, but persist with it because it has more advantages than disadvantages in any condition.

The monaro driver was probably going full belt down the track in the wet...changed down a gear at the 200-100 marker...got a compression lock from the gear change, panicked...car over-steered quickly and punted the nose into the wall...inertia caused the car to do a 180 punting the rear as well.

No insurance on a race circuit unfortunatley....if their was insurance for the circuit, i'd be punting people off left right and centre....get out of my way... :


Cheers

[Aeron]

Originally Posted by sprjenkins

nice driving mate, the car looks pretty quick, you had no problems catching the 350z or the skyline. What mods have you done to the car?

Just CAI, Edit with 10psi custom tune, king springs & Whiteline sway bar. That GTR Skyline wasn't as quick as I thought it would be in the wet.
I was in the noob group because I hadn’t been there before. In the other groups there were some quick VY SS Commodores, bloody hell they were quick!!!


The owner of the Monaro is a mate of my Doctor (my Doctor was there in his car - he encouraged me to join his group for track days, when i saw him for a check-up one day , he called his insurer today and they said because it wasn't timed racing and because there were Driver Trainers there they may pay up, because it was Classified as Driver Training. He has to speak with someone higher up on Monday to see what will happen. They said he'd be in a better situation if he'd told them he was going. We'll see hey.

[Brute6]

Originally Posted by Firefox7

No insurance on a race circuit unfortunatley....if their was insurance for the circuit, i'd be punting people off left right and centre....get out of my way... :
Cheers

There is insurance you can get, but its ridiculously expensive.
Great vision Aeron, for these days, do you need anything done to your car? I guess its not a CAMS run event? I'm involved in the Track/Club days that Pecker73 mentioned about and for our events, along with the Level 2s licences and helmet, also required are fire extinguisher, and secondary bonnet restraints. Harness are optional, as are R spec tyres but your looks a bit more casually done than ours....
I likewise set up a camera mount in the Ute, and get heaps of great footage to look back on! Its always good to re watch it afterwards - if you made a mistake somewhere, you are able to watch it to work out what you did wrong!!
Its the best thing to do with your clothes on I reckon!!!

[StookEB]

Thanks for clearing that up.
What is the auto like on a track, worse? and would it lock up easier?
sorry to hijack your thread mate.

[Aeron]

Originally Posted by Brute6

Great vision Aeron, for these days, do you need anything done to your car? I guess its not a CAMS run event?

All you need is a car, helmet, long pants + sleves and a drivers licence. And thats it.

Originally Posted by EArulz

Thanks for clearing that up.
What is the auto like on a track, worse? and would it lock up easier?
sorry to hijack your thread mate.

I dont know. I've never driven an auto round a race track. I know they can lock up still.

[NC_GHIA]

Hey did you happen to see a GT-R R33 with 3spoke rims when you were down there...