View Full Version : Bedfford Autodrome - the daddy of track days if you want to drive at/over the limit
Did a day at Bedford Autodrome yesterday. Fantastic track. Very long, lots of mixed corners and, most importantly, oodles of run off. Means that you can drive up to and over the limts of your car without fear of smashing it to bits.
Unlike airfield days that offer the same amount of run off youve got a proper surface to run on so you dont destroy tyres.
Very highly recommended and was huge fun all day, despite the morning being very damp and slippery. Didnt matter because there was so much room.
Now my favortite track, you cant beat being able to drive your car 105% :cool:
Sounds cool, I've always fancied doing a day at Bedford :) Nice cars there?
And get the practice in for slippy stuff, I have a feeling Oulton may be a tad greasy :wack:
Sounds good, got any video's?
I really want to get round to doing a track day in the future.
xxxxDIZZYxxxx
01-11-2009, 16:35
a mate of mine was there on saturday too
in a nova and he said he see a fast s body covered in apex stickers
Some reasonable cars there. GT3, Porsche Turbo, 450 bhp BMW Z3 M Coupe, Ariel Atom etc.
Had a good do with the 450bhp Z3 M. I was behind him. Pretty well matched in a straight, I was quicker through the fast corners, both were all over the place out of the tighter stuff (was still damp). He eventually lost it and spun in front of me. Was a good gigle whilst it lasted. The driver came over late in the day asking how much I wanted for my car :D
The GT3 came past me as I exited the pits. Was pretty well driven but I had him again on the faster stuff and got a better run out of the hairpin so just out dragged him down the back straight. Tim had shown me a trick or two at the next corner so the Porsche very much dissapeared at the exit :D I was only on T1Rs, the GT3 was on R888s and it was dry at this point.
Dont get me wrong, Im not saying my cars quicker over all than a R888 equipped Porsche, Im just blatently a hugely talented driver :D :thumbs:
Oultons horrible when its slippery.
No vids, the current camera mount cant locate the camera in a decent position, I need to get a different one.
I was chatting to a guy who came with a red Nova, he was asking about the conversion. Think that was your mates car? About to have a new engine dropped in it?
Great circuit, well worth visiting. Ill be booking Bedford over any other track day through winter, that for sure. The only track Id consider over Bedford through winter would be Elvington and thats only because its so close. Elvington has NOTHING on Bedford bar saving 4 hours travelling.
Tim also took me out for some laps in the Jag JP1 race car. He took me out in the damp early on and then again in the dry with slicks. Fooking hell, I mean, foooooooooking hell, thats one faaaaaaaast car. The cornering and braking forces are astonishing.
Tim also reinforced how good a driver he is, git!
Ill stick up a You Tube vid when You Tubes back up and working.
xxxxDIZZYxxxx
01-11-2009, 17:32
my mates nova is white red and blue if it was him dont listen to him he is full of sh*t lol
im going to build a bmw 325 i sport track car early next year to abuse round tracks like this 1
Tim also took me out for some laps in the Jag JP1 race car. He took me out in the damp early on and then again in the dry with slicks. Fooking hell, I mean, foooooooooking hell, thats one faaaaaaaast car. The cornering and braking forces are astonishing.
I drove one of those at the Palmer day - they are insane - you literally go into the corners thinking you are going to die as there's no way you are going to make it round... :wack:
Only downside I've heard about bedford for trackdays is that they are very stingy with noise limits :(
Noise limits are 86dB I think, have always wanted to go, even had an exhaust made specially this year to meet the regs (which is for sale :Plug: ).
Bren I'm jealous, do feel I'm missing out not having been to Bedford.
101 static. I didnt have an issues with noise :no:
craig8585
01-11-2009, 19:25
+1 for bedford being awesome! :)
I did a trackday there this summer and it was brill. Also had a blast in that Palmer Jag race car. I couldn't get over how well it stops, like nothing i've ever experienced! Well worth a go.
101 static. I didnt have an issues with noise :no:
Really? Has it gone up? Sure with was lower than that when I looked.
tallpaul
01-11-2009, 22:24
I'm lucky enough to have Bedford as my local circuit. Done a bike track day up there and been passenger in my mates (750+BHP:eek: ) Evo6 but not managed to get the 200 round there. Yet!
Noise is a big issue though, the neighbouring villagers are always whinging and causing a lot of problems.
Is it the West Circuit at Bedford that EVO magazine use to test all their cars and do lap times etc?
Really? Has it gone up? Sure with was lower than that when I looked.
Its 101db static but they have drive by DB meters which are around 20 metres away. I have heard of the occasional person that passed the static noise test but got black flagged for noise out on track.
http://www.rmatrackdays.com/temp_downloads/v87f137n75p46c29y3e39d75w81u125m95v82t146k96e27/Bedford_Noise.pdf
robdriftit
04-11-2009, 10:17
Definaltly will be the first track i get the 200 on when its back on the road :)
Sxoc day next year? Know theres a few local guys about!
Im hoping to go again ont he 28th of november, trying to make it a bit of a biggie. Twsiting Gary @ APTs arm to bring his Evo, got alocal tuner with his 400bhp Impreza, Tim Marshal coming in his deisle Beemer who might be happy to give some flying laps in our S14 V8. Im about to phone Jez Horsham to see if I can persuede him to come etc.
Anyone else interested?
Its only £149, is perfect for newbies and experienced drivers alike and it makes no odds if its raining because it will still be a hoot.
Come on, anyone else fancy it?
http://www.clubmsv.com/car-home/event-details.aspx?productid=252
Okay, Jez is almost up for it, cool. Ill start a new thread.
Cheers for the call Bren - I'm in and will book up now.
Is it the West Circuit at Bedford that EVO magazine use to test all their cars and do lap times etc?
I believe so, yes.
I'm lucky enough to have Bedford as my local circuit. Done a bike track day up there and been passenger in my mates (750+BHP:eek: ) Evo6 but not managed to get the 200 round there. Yet!
Noise is a big issue though, the neighbouring villagers are always whinging and causing a lot of problems.
Fancu coming again? 28th November, have a looky here:
http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=433587
+1 for bedford being awesome! :)
I did a trackday there this summer and it was brill. Also had a blast in that Palmer Jag race car. I couldn't get over how well it stops, like nothing i've ever experienced! Well worth a go.
As above, come on the 28th, lets have some fun :nod:
I drove one of those at the Palmer day - they are insane - you literally go into the corners thinking you are going to die as there's no way you are going to make it round... :wack:
Only downside I've heard about bedford for trackdays is that they are very stingy with noise limits :(
Again, see above, 28th November :thumbs:
Definaltly will be the first track i get the 200 on when its back on the road :)
Sxoc day next year? Know theres a few local guys about!
And again, forget next year, 28th of November :nod:
http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=433587
Cheers for the call Bren - I'm in and will book up now.
Excellent :thumbs: Dont forget to quote 'SXOC' to save 10% :nod: :)
Bah - it's a saturday :(
I'm tempted, but it's only 10 days after Brands, and something's bound to break there...
I'm tempted, not done Bedford yet. I'll have to have a think.
Bah - it's a saturday :(
I'm tempted, but it's only 10 days after Brands, and something's bound to break there...
Youll struggle to break an MX5 surely, I thought they were nails? :confused:
I'm tempted, not done Bedford yet. I'll have to have a think.
You know you want to ;) Just remember, loads and loads of run off so it matters not a jot whether its wet or dry :no: :)
any news on filming mr bren?
I havent had time to phone them again as yet, will ask about fimlming and spectators as soon as I get two minutes. Got a silly hectic three weeks coming up so Im back against the wall at the moment.
Youll struggle to break an MX5 surely, I thought they were nails? :confused:
The base cars are, all of the bolt on go faster bits have a habit of falling off.. ;)
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