Silverstone trackday

[James Buckley]

They had every colour but not white, i'm very happy that i've choosen Titanium now.
10 out of 10 for the whole day!! 6 hours of really good fun!!

[ANDY400R]

Thanks for the feedback guys, sounds like a really good day, now just cant wait for my turn.

[sin]

Originally Posted by NismoR35GTR

Hi, guys got back from Silverstone PM Event. Awesome is the only way to describe. I got directed to the BRDC Suite at Silverstone where they have all the arrangements for food/brief etc. A good variety of gourmet food was on offer – Chicken/Beef /Pasta and Vegetarian offering.

Everyone was issued an Black open face Arai helmet with the GTR logo on the – to top it the Helmet bag had each individuals name engraved. NICE!!
You get a name badge and a goody bag with a CF card and a USB CF card reader (with a GTR Logo) – This is to record footage of you driving the GTR. (Each GTR is fitted with 2 cameras one facing the driver and other facing the road)

There are approx 10 cars - Black/Red/DMG/Titanium/ - Standard and Black Eddition

The Titanium - not a favourite from the poll is indeed a very nice colour.

There a 4 stages:

Circuit Driving – Silverstone national Circuit – Left Hand Drive Cars for this stage - approx 15 Laps – 1 to 1 with instructor at all times

Dynamics Course – DIY set up in car park - 5 short laps – 1 lap with instructor – 4 laps on your own

Drifting – 350Z - approx 5 Laps – 1 to 1 with instructor at all times

Time Attack - approx 5 Laps – 4 laps with instructor – 1 lap on your own against the clock

Remember whilst you are in th car it is all being filmed. Top Gear - Stylee

I managed to get up to a max of 110mph on Start/Finish Straight (Circuit Driving stage) and that was not flat out in 5th Gear. The Car does not feel like 1700Kgs – the steering and the way it turns direction is very impressive. Brakes stop quicker than you can thick and without any fade after 15laps. I did experience the understeer but that was more my driving style than the car. When the instructors drove the there was very little if any understreer at all. What was worrying is the amount of rubber the GTR can get through. I was told 1 car had to have the rear tyres replaced before the afternoon session started as it would not have got through the afternoon session.

All in all Nissan have made a very special occasion of this event. I have not experienced this kind of hospitality and helpfulness from any manufacture.


Hope you guys enjoy this as much as I did.

Thats the kind of write up i wanted to see, thanks NismoR35GTR for taking the time out to write this, sounds abosolutely fantastic and i cant wait for my turn, roll on the 24th (am).

[BJohnson]

Originally Posted by rustkinguk

By the way in answer to a previous question there cars in each colour to look at and for what its worth Titanium is the best in my humble opinion

Titanium is a nice colour, but the trouble is that my Omega Elite is Titanium and the two cars might look a bit weird parked side by side. Let's face it, the Omega is a nicer shape.

[FALCON_GTR]

I also attended yesterdays PM session @ Silverstone. Nissan really did excel themselves here! BRDC Hospitality and the best instructors available just made the experience so much more enjoyable. Also hello to all the guys from team Kuro.

I think the reported understeer is driver error from overcooking corners and remember that the traction control was kicking in so you couldn't get the oversteer to even the car out. The car is hugely capable and effortless to drive fast. When the instructors do a 2 lap race with you in the car it felt 100% balanced and sure footed - NO understeer.

Can't wait to get my GT-R in 2009!

All you guys who have booked the Race Academy day will love it!

[evoscott]

well what can i say what a day i attened yesterday pm fantastic

to the answer about colours all coulours where there apart from white .. which i undersatnd wilol be coming up from the motorshow today.

abousloute top day

[R35Bren]

Never tracked a LHD car before did it feel alien?

[NismoR35GTR]

Just to confirm Pearl White was not there.

A point worth a mention is that the instructors were actually encouraging you to drive fast and hard as long as it’s within your own limits and not being dangerous.

I have just being watching the footage which we got to take away and it’s excellent. You can hear the engine sound and exhaust note. The car engine sound is spot on, I was expecting more of a whistle or turbine noise but you do get to hear the V6 PUR which sounds amazing. It’s a very positive sound for a V6. Inside the car is quite, if your stood outside listening when it takes off its sounds a lot more than a V6 and more powerful that it looks.

For the little bit of chav in me I did get excited when I heard the dump valve/BOV noise. This is really not like the noise you hear from Fast & Furious type of cars but just very subtle in the background.

I was concerned about the gearbox rattle/noise as a few peeps have mentioned before, I drove 5 different cars and it was not apparent at all unless you really are listing out for it. and I’m very fussy.

The point about the gears changing up very quick in auto mode is true, before you know it your in 6th gear at about 30-40mph, but I really don’t think it will bothered me much as I will be driving it with a bit more enthusiasm.

The ride is very good in conform mode for this type of car – I could relate it to say the current BMW M3.

The understeer issue is more the knack of getting familiar with the throttle and feeding in through the bend rather than nail it, which is what I was doing (I just couldn’t help me self)

You have to be very precise when changing down gear – if you’re not in the right rev range the car will not change down. I haven’t driven a paddle shift this hard before so took a little while to get used to – I was told to brake.…pause….then change down (the last thing you do before taking the corner) which worked quite well.

MPG must have been in high single figures – you could see the needle dropping. The cars run quite rich as you can smell the fuel from the exhaust when blipping the throttle.

From what I understood Nissan Race Academy will be organising events which peeps will have to pay for this is after you have delivery of your cars, so I’m assuming it will your own car you will be using.

At the end of the event we were told there are a few other surprises before we take delivery – they were very tight lipped about this, I see this event as the icing of the cake and anything else, the cheer on top.

Apologies if I haven’t used the right type of terminology but I’m just trying to express what I have experienced in my own words.

Thanks

Sorry posted this in the wrong thread first.

[NismoR35GTR]

Originally Posted by R35Bren

Never tracked a LHD car before did it feel alien?

LHD is easier on track as you can see the the entry/exit on right hand cornners sonner than RHD. As you will be using the paddle's you wont be hitting your left hand on the door. So you will be Ok.

[R35Bren]

Originally Posted by NismoR35GTR

LHD is easier on track as you can see the the entry/exit on right hand cornners sonner than RHD. As you will be using the paddle's you wont be hitting your left hand on the door. So you will be Ok.

Thanks for that and for the detailed post! It should only be a few days before the first vids hit YouTube

[evoscott]

i have put a thread in genreal chit chat for all to stick there lap times for the day up so lets see
them guys

[evoscott]

here is the link silverstones track day show us your times

[michaelsk]

attended today PM (5/08) awesome day.

Pearl white is now in attendance having just arrived from the motorshow

cheers

Michael

[BigNige]

Excellent write ups! can't wait till tomorrow!

[Jacey Boy]