johns

There's a thread on the MLR forums detailing lots of the work Donald has done on his car over the past year here: http://www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=249675

I honestly wish we could run our events at those sort of prices, but even 10 years ago we had to charge £65 for a 4 hour session to break even. Being a dealer, Autoecosse would be able to claim back the VAT, write off the costs against tax as a promotional event/advertising and the remainder can be recovered from the profit of one or two etxra car sales over the next 12 months making it a very viable proposition to run more events like this in the future. It was great that it has given so many the chance to pop their track "cherry", and given them the bug to come back for more John

I've uploaded my photos from both events here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsidc/sets...2511933/detail/ and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsidc/sets...6683264/detail/ 10 out of 10 for trying hard! John

It was great to see your car running so well at long last - and huge thanks for the passengers laps. Simply awesome! John

Cracking shots as always Neil

We have several Imprezas taking part, but I'm not sure of their build specs.

Great stuff Dale

Just had an email from Mike who is the curator of Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. They have 11 cars already confirmed for Tuesday's event, including a Gallardo , but sadly no Imprezas so far. If anyone is available on Tuesday, and would like to take their car around the track with some passengers on board, then please get in touch by sending me an email on john@sidc.co.uk The event is very well run, and the marshalls handle the loading of passengers etc. You then do 3 or 4 laps with them on board, going fast in a straight line down the "back" straight, before easing off around the corner and the "home" straight Not only will you get a free lunch and refreshments, but you will also get a £35 petrol voucher. Dale did us proud at the last event (photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsidc/sets...493024/detail/) and they would like a few more Imprezas to take part as they already have a couple of EVOs. John

I wouldn't rate them either. OEM pads lasted about 18k miles with a little bit of track use on my old STi. Red stuff pads lasted all of 7k miles with only moderate road use. Pedal feel was awful when cold, but better once warmed up a bit.

There are still about 10 slots left at this point in time, though quite a few have sold today since people are getting paid. John

Thanks for posting this up Tim. Just a reminder that we have the track booked ourselves from 9am to 1pm, so why not come along and make a whole day of it John

Welcome back

Here are some of my pictures from a fantastic afternoon at Grampian Transport Museum: All the images can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnsidc/sets...1493024/detail/ Huge thanks to those who gave up their time to come along and make it a great day out for hundreds of petrolheads - young and old! John

Chris/Mikey - any chance you could both drop me an email on john@sidc.co.uk with your current availability please? The museum are trying to finalise numbers and need to know if they need to continue looking for cars or whether they will have enough. Thanks John

Great engineering thinking Willie

Well sorted guys There will be quite a few people heading back south, so hopefully they can take it with them. Many thanks! John

It is Stewart Road, but it has two entrances onto the Main Street. It's no big deal if you go to the wrong one, as you can drive from one gate to the other this year - it's just a slightly awkward turn on bumpy grass against the flow of cars coming off track back to the holding area.

If the weather is anything like it has been there today when setting up, bring lots of factor 40+ sun cream with you and probably a hat as well. Absolute scorcher of a day and forecast is the same for plenty more of the same tomorrow. Also, we will be using both gates again as we did last year: Track cars enter via the public car park, and general parking/show and shine parking via the gate at the other end next to the railway museum entrance (next street down heading towards Aberdeen). The new building is now complete, and there's a tar road all the way around, and also a tarred area outside the building where we'll park up the show and shine cars. Cars on track will now be able to complete their laps and leave the track via the other exit to the right of the grandstand, and drive back around to re-join their same queue again. Remember also, there are some fantastic prizes on offer, including a PPP kit and Knockhill track sessions. Should be an absolutely fantastic day out, so looking forward to a record turn out John

It is in Alford which is about 20 miles west of Aberdeen. It's a great run up over Glenshee, via Braemar, Ballater, and Tarland

Fantastic

I've just been speaking to Mike Ward, the curator of Grampian Transport Museum and he is looking for a small number of "interesting and fast" cars to take part in their supercar event on Thursday 9th July (afternoon event from 1pm to 3:30pm). This is a very popular event that they run several times during the school holidays and brings lots of visitors to the museum, as they get the chance of a passenger ride in a "fast and interesting" car. Essentially you will drive a couple of laps around their track with one or more passengers at a reasonable speed, having lots of fun in the process. They are normally oversubscribed with offers from various ownes, but this year a few of them are away on holiday and unable to make it. Extra Information: GTM will fully insure you (public liability) and your car for any accidental damage. You will get a free lunch if you turn up at 12:00 You will recieve a £35 fuel voucher GTM will organise the loading of passengers into cars, and manage the queues (it is a popular event!) There will be regular breaks for drivers and cars to cool down You will be bringing a smile to many people's faces. I have volunteered my car and services during the day, and was hoping I could get one or two more from these forums who fancy an fun afternoon out. Thanks in advance John

Thanks guys - the more the merrier. Arthur - stopwatch would be fantastic Also, if anyone has a set of those walkie-talkies could they bring them along. It seems the re-chargeable batteries in my set have died and won't hold a charge any more. Cheers John

Brilliant - many thanks John

Hi Grant, will be great to have you along at the event. We will indeed be running the small sprint track all day so you can have some fun with your track car. There is no charge for vendors taking part, so feel free to bring lots of parts for sale on the day, price lists, brochures etc. John

I would hope to be opening the gates around 9am on the Sunday for the organiser to get in and get the last minute things sorted, with the gates opening at 10 for general entry I'm sure there will be a few from your neck of the woods heading to Alford and who could help with getting the stand along Cheers John