Post by Admin on Sept 1, 2005 11:55:35 GMT
Track days are a fast growing weekend leisure activity. As roads grow more crowded and speed cameras pop up everywhere, they are one place where you can speed in safety. They are also affordable, generally non damaging and great fun. So what are they actually like? Castle Combe Spring Action Day provided the ideal opportunity to experience a track day and to test out the various performance modifications fitted to the editorial ZS.
Firstly cost. Entrance to Castle Combe was £8 for the day (with another Peugeot Car Club -oops), while track time came in 5 lap batches at £30 per session. The circuit provided a basic safety lecture as well as helmet hire for those without. One short queue later and, having passed a noise test the ZS was out on the circuit along with about twenty other cars, including several 205 Gti’s of various specifications.
As the picture shows, the track was filthy wet and traction was an immediate problem for all the cars, but particularly the more powerful ones. Luckily the ZS with it’s smaller tyres, and light weight was well placed to make use of any grip that could be found. Sadly a few corners was enough to reveal that driving on a circuit is far removed from driving on a road, and a steep learning curve ensued as cornering lines, braking points and maximum speeds were frantically committed to memory.
With around 115bhp on tap the ZS was outclassed by most of the cars on the circuit, but the tarmac spec rally suspension and big group B vented brakes helped to even things up a bit. The driver of a rally prepared 205 GTi (in the background) confessed to having to work hard to pass the ZS, which was not bad for a 24 year old car. Sadly the 5 laps flew by and it was back to the pits for a calm down and a chat about how it was “out there”. Several passers by commented on the sound the ZS made at full speed (it only just passed that noise test) and some even said they thought it was car of the day!
So in short, money well spent, a great time etc etc and the warm glow of knowing that the old girl can cut it amongst newer and more powerful cars. Track days, try it, you might just like it!
Andrew Stephens
Firstly cost. Entrance to Castle Combe was £8 for the day (with another Peugeot Car Club -oops), while track time came in 5 lap batches at £30 per session. The circuit provided a basic safety lecture as well as helmet hire for those without. One short queue later and, having passed a noise test the ZS was out on the circuit along with about twenty other cars, including several 205 Gti’s of various specifications.
As the picture shows, the track was filthy wet and traction was an immediate problem for all the cars, but particularly the more powerful ones. Luckily the ZS with it’s smaller tyres, and light weight was well placed to make use of any grip that could be found. Sadly a few corners was enough to reveal that driving on a circuit is far removed from driving on a road, and a steep learning curve ensued as cornering lines, braking points and maximum speeds were frantically committed to memory.
With around 115bhp on tap the ZS was outclassed by most of the cars on the circuit, but the tarmac spec rally suspension and big group B vented brakes helped to even things up a bit. The driver of a rally prepared 205 GTi (in the background) confessed to having to work hard to pass the ZS, which was not bad for a 24 year old car. Sadly the 5 laps flew by and it was back to the pits for a calm down and a chat about how it was “out there”. Several passers by commented on the sound the ZS made at full speed (it only just passed that noise test) and some even said they thought it was car of the day!
So in short, money well spent, a great time etc etc and the warm glow of knowing that the old girl can cut it amongst newer and more powerful cars. Track days, try it, you might just like it!
Andrew Stephens
