I've hired Winton Raceway on Saturday 3rd August and Wakefield Park on Wednesday 21st August to host some fun and friendly track days.
I've got a company called Circuit Club to run the days. They host the most casual track days which are perfect for the first timer. You don't need a CAMS licence or a track prepared car. You can "self scrutineer" your daily driver and get a licence from either venue on the day.
Go to this page first (www.yokohama.com.au/advan-motorsport) and use the promo code. Then the days will cost you $195 for Winton and $145 for Wakefield. This is the "Yokohama price" but I'll turn a blind eye for a VW 🙂
I haven't fixed the oil leak in my oval unfortunately so the Subaru is the weapon of choice for me this time. It's nowhere near as fun.
We've hired the whole Winton track. When I was down there for the Skyline Nationals we used the long circuit. As far as I know that's what we'll be using but I'll confirm.
I haven't invited Traction Tyres & More, the Yokohama motorsport dealer in Victoria. It's very unusual for people to buy tyres on the day. Sales at the event wouldn't cover a McDonalds Happy Meal on the way home let alone the diesel.
However, I'll be bringing down a few sets of wheels and some trolley jacks so people can try the tyres. I'm also taking a pyrometer and a bunch of tyre pyro pads to give drivers tyre temperature readings related to pressure.
Hi Steve, I'll get to your email. Strangely enough I have to go down to Don Cornell's next week.
Last time I ran No.8 Beetle at Winton, on the 'long circuit' [2008], it was over-revving down the straight. Short circuit would be OK, and I wold like to have a run there.
My tyres have only got one day in them, so would need new tyres for W.P. - Front, 205-50 X 16 R [M]; rear, 225-50 X 16 R [M]. Where's the best place to get them?
Best place to stay at Winton [Benalla] ? I have a AASA National licence, and AASA log book for No. 8.
Cheers, Greg
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
What tyres are you using? I remember you used to use Yokohama C.drive street tyres and you surprised me by getting a 1:16 or something on them around Wakefield.
I'll give you the rundown on the Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 street tyres and the ADVAN A050 race tyres.
For lap times the gun tyres to have are the Yokohama ADVAN A050s. Typically soft compounds are used when the tarmac is cold (winter) and the medium and hard compounds used when the tarmac is warm (summer). But in our light under-powered cars we can get away with softs all the time. Unfortunately not all the sizes are available in S so you may have to settle for Ms depending on size.
Lately I tend to use the ADVAN Neova AD08s. You can drive around on them everyday and still to track days. I'm getting too lazy to change my tyres at the track. I'd rather be in the cafe. You can also get them at Bob Jane T-Marts and Tyres & More stores.
We're about to launch the ADVAN Neova AD08R. That's one of the reasons behind these track days. They're supposed to be about a second quicker than the AD08s. That should only put them a second or so behind the A050s?? I won't be sure until we do some local testing.
We've just received stock of the ADVAN Neova AD08R is available in the 205/50R16 size. The 225/50R16s are still in Japan sitting on the dock somewhere, as are the 225/45R16s.
In the ADVAN A050 R-specs, if you want to go wider on the rear, would you consider 225/45R16s with a 605 mm OD? The OD is much closer to the fronts 205/50R16 609 mm. The 225/50R16 size isn't listed and the OD would be about 630 mm so your car would look more like a cal-looker.
The 205/50R16 A050 is available in both S and M compounds.
The 225/45R16 A050 is available in M compound
A050s are only available from Yokohama motorsport dealers such as Gordon Leven in Emu Plains.
But if you're coming to Winton PM me and I'll work something out for you.
We're leaving Sydney at 11:30 on Friday 2nd. I'll sort out the restaurant and accommodation in the next day or so. Last time we stayed in Shepparton which was fun.
Picked up the re-lined front brake shoes this afternoon. Will fit them over the weekend, and give the car the 'once-over'. Hope to get some speed down the straight, with the 'new' 2276cc engine....it's running well now, with the HI 6 ignition. The new A050 tyres look the go.
CT, do we enter on the day?
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
It was a fun day. Very busy for me. All the punters appreciated our help in setting the tyre hot pressures and doing a pyro reading. All but one came back saying their car was much better. It was a heavy R33GTR and we put an extra 2psi in the fronts.
I loved driving your car Greg. There's nothing wrong with swing axles and drum brakes, well the way you've set them up anyway. I can't get over the modification you did to the steering. It's genius.
I was trying to set some benchmark times on the older version of the ADVAN Neova AD08 street tyre with my 2009 WRX (AP racing front brakes and MCA coilovers the rest is stock). On my second lap Greg came out of the pits and held me up for a lap and for the first time I thought "bloody Volkswagens!". Greg got a bit of a lead thanks to some slower traffic. I thought beauty. Here's my chance to see what I can do on these tyres. I'll catch him. Bloody Volkswagen! I couldn't bloody catch him. I did a 1:12.8 then a 1:12.7 chasing him. That little black bug pulls as hard as the Scooby on the straight. It probably only reels the beetle in as the dac dac runs out of 4th gear. Then Greg's corner speeds were faster on the ADVAN A050s. It's an amazing car Greg and you certainly know how to hustle it around. In the next session I got a lap on the new Neova AD08Rs and did a 1:12.1 which will give you a time to chase Greg 🙂.
My oval needs more HP. I wish it pulled like your car. The torque is beautiful.
