Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

But you can watch Alien in glorious letterbox, swings and, err, roundabouts...

I'm driving the massive, fuck off company Ford Ranger pickup down to the Gold Coast tomorrow, quite looking forward to it... Will have to get my phone paired first thing so I can AA the way there...

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fucking company man.

what happened.

get a ginsters at a services.

Tiny company, BIIIIIG RIIIIIIG!!!

The boss was supposed to drive it, he doesn't like it... He drives a little Merc hatch... I personally think the Ranger is a little excessive for a not-for-profit but there you are... I don't make the rules...

have fun! i'd love a minging great truckasaurus. not until i fuck off outa ldn tho.

is that beast petrol or diesel?

poidh etc

"poidh" is prob his boss's name

Dave, actually... He's lovely... He interviewed me, man is clearly a genius...

Going with my dad for a track day at Dunsfold Park, Cranleigh. Just him driving.

Any tips, tricks or general advice on getting the most out of it?

Check tyre pressures and wheel bolts regularly.

Ha! Not using his car/my old mini.

It's one of those lambo experience sessions. I bought it for his birthday what seems like years ago but it's been delayed because of covid.

Edit: Supercar Double Thrill Lamborghini and Ferrari 430.

google seems to think my car is somewhere in FoHi right about now

It doesn't tell you where it IS, just where it thinks you parked it

AA only working when tethered is a bit shit tho.

Hardly any manufacturers have wireless AA yet.

Supercar Double Thrill Lamborghini and Ferrari 430.

Advice: don't blink or you'll miss it.

It'll all be over in ten minutes.

Get your foot in as hard as fuck straight away, you don't have time to "figure out" the track. No way you'll exceed the grip of the car, as it will be light years better than anything you've driven before.

So basically, go fucking hard then go home.

Unless it's wet.

In which case, sing Kylie as you spin right round baby.

Cheers. I'll just tell him to cane it.

At the moment it's meant to be warm, cloudy and dry. Which sounds perfect.

I did one at Thruxton, 5 laps in a Cayman with an instructor then 3 laps in a single seater. Very good fun, over pretty quickly but I was happy enough. Just enjoy it really is all the advice I could give.

I did a version of that one, the single seater is hysterical, made the F355 feel like a lorry.

It's something I've always wanted to do. When I was talking to my OH about getting it for my dad I was heartbroken by their input, "why, would you get that? What's the point?"

Luckily he's always wanted to drive a Lamborghini since he was a teenager, so was over the moon.

I remember a mate at uni who did one for his 18th commenting that they had way more fun in the boxer than whatever the Ferrari at that time was (360?) as it felt like you could go flat out and still be in control. As opposed to just shitting it and braking.

It's something I've always wanted to do. When I was talking to my OH about getting it for my dad I was heartbroken by their input, "why, would you get that? What's the point?"

That would make me want to do it more. I think with age I give less of a shit what other people think (within reason). Before I would have verbally agreed with them in case they thought I was stupid for liking something. Now it's "fuck off, who are you to piss on what makes me happy?"

2nd the advice to nail it from the get go. Some instructors will keep asking you to shift way too early (protect car from repeated thrashing) but I've just ignored it when that's happened, as long as you're not driving dangerously there's very little they can do.
Short-lived but excellent fun!

Whilst on the subject of track days, one of the best I've done that wasn't in my own car was a Lotus Exige experience at Thruxton. 12 laps split across two sessions and a couple of flying laps with the instructor driving.
Unlike with the supercars, here the instructor positively encourage red-lining the car, braking as late as possible, etc.
Great fun and you actually learn a thing or two.

EDIT: Doesn't look like they do the Exige anymore but same thing offered in the Alpine A110.

To make you feel better. A friend locked his bike up, was gone when he came back. Claimed on insurance. A few weeks later locking his new bike up sees his old, still locked up.

The big ute gets treated as a trade vehicle and is probably exempt from fringe benefit tax and a few other tax benefits... So actually good for a not for profit. That and ford do decent capped price service . That's why they are everywhere in straya. And yeah, anyone called Dave is a genius.

For £200 for 16 laps I fancy just booking that for me, good value I reckon

A to Z and OS maps :) in fact when I ever had to head in to North London I used to take a compass with me and often just head South until I got to the Thames and get South to my home ground :D