Silverstone - The Day

[Manders Mustang]

Sounds like you guys had a great day. A lot better than getting verbally abused and threatened by a bmw driver and then getting hailstoned on :lol:

We got the hail, snow, heavy rain, regular rain, drizzle, and sunshine (all before 10AM!!!!!) AS for abuse from a BMW driver, that's a daily thing when I flip them the bird for not using their indicators and cutting me up addle:addle:addle:.

No but in all seriousness, if my excitement wasn't conveyed in my posts, you can ask [MENTION=20886]car_ter2903[/MENTION] or [MENTION=21114]Snorty[/MENTION] about how much fun (I personally) had there as they were the first to greet me coming off the from the track.

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[stevec]

We got the hail, snow, heavy rain, regular rain, drizzle, and sunshine (all before 10AM!!!!!) AS for abuse from a BMW driver, that's a daily thing when I flip them the bird for not using their indicators and cutting me up addle:addle:addle:.

No but in all seriousness, if my excitement wasn't conveyed in my posts, you can ask [MENTION=20886]car_ter2903[/MENTION] or [MENTION=21114]Snorty[/MENTION] about how much fun (I personally) had there as they were the first to greet me coming off the from the track.

You still looked pretty excited when you saw me after my session.

 

[NornIron91]

We got the hail, snow, heavy rain, regular rain, drizzle, and sunshine (all before 10AM!!!!!) AS for abuse from a BMW driver, that's a daily thing when I flip them the bird for not using their indicators and cutting me up addle:addle:addle:.

No but in all seriousness, if my excitement wasn't conveyed in my posts, you can ask [MENTION=20886]car_ter2903[/MENTION] or [MENTION=21114]Snorty[/MENTION] about how much fun (I personally) had there as they were the first to greet me coming off the from the track.

The bmw driver was the one that reversed into me lol

 

[Gibbo205]

Hi there


So no need to talk about how today was organised, as many of you were there and Ford did a cracking job, plus we have Manders. ;)

During my pax laps with the instructor I started filming after a lap in, sorry I was not pointing my phone at the track but you get the idea:

[ame]


In short he absolutely loved my car, he felt it was stronger and pulled better in a straight line than any of the others he'd driven earlier in the day, so he was surprised when I told him power wise it was stock except for simple modifications to direct more cold air into the air box to keep IAT's down close to ambient levels. Clearly that works!

But the bigger story was the handling, he was amazing at how much higher corner speeds he could maintain with my car and not only that but how far better balanced and neutral the car was. This makes me very happy as I went for dampers and spring which were only 20% firmer over stock to maintain good road comfort, so the fact the setup performed so well on track is a huge bonus.

What was also impressive about my car which he loved was its balance and progressive nature, compared to the others mine was more planted in the rear and just had more grip at all four corners.

Even though in the video it is instructors driving the other cars as well the speed difference is huge, of course he was pushing it a little because in his words "oh my this car is so much fun" but saying that he managed a 1:27 lap with heavy traffic and not driving the car at qualifying or race pace, he was not flat out due to not being his car. I have no idea if that's a good lap for Silverstone International but in the car it felt hugely fast and we were hovering around 130mph on the pit straight with him driving, though he was only revving to 6000rpm as he said if its not his car he will drive to 8/10th's kind of pace, hence keeping revs low and not full on attacking the brakes.


So I took over and did around 20 minutes on circuit followed by a couple of cooling down laps, let car cool in pits for 10 minutes and then went out again and it started to rain, stayed out for a couple of laps but as track got more damp called it day as was feeling pretty tired and did not want to risk throwing it at the armco as the track got more slippy.

But from driving my own car at pace I am staggered at the levels of grip it has, on track it feels a far lighter car and is really at home on a fast wide circuit like Silverstone, as I was changing up at 7000rpm even manage to hit 135mph on pit straight.

The balance though is superb, right at the limit there is some understeer but the car is so forgiving you can actually dial in more steering and it grips and the rear stays planted, complete stook down, in fact with all the modifications have really not only improved grip levels but made the car a lot more chuckable whilst remaining forgiving at limits. Even as the track started to become damp grip levels were so high and we just left it in race mode.

My car really made the others look so much slower, obviously not just down to car but having track experience helps a lot, but it is always good bragging rights to never be over taken and literally be flying past everyone else.


Then I finished with 2-3 laps in 5th gear not using the brakes just cooling off around the circuit as I wanted no risk of over heating.


But there you have it, an ARDS race/instructor who has driven a few standard Mustang GT PP's then drives mine and says its faster, flatter, more grip, handles better, more forgiving and most of all is so much fun.

Think I got my modifications absolutely spot on!

 

[Manders Mustang]

[MENTION=13598]Gibbo205[/MENTION] you're more than welcome to come on a cruise with me when I pop over to stoke to talk to me about the car you ever knowledgeable track nut!

 

[Gibbo205]

[MENTION=13598]Gibbo205[/MENTION] you're more than welcome to come on a cruise with me when I pop over to stoke to talk to me about the car you ever knowledgeable track nut!

Yeah man, good to have a pro drive your car who has driven stock ones, so for me that was great thing about today. Come out of the rear tight corners he could just bury the throttle and it just catapult out, no squirm, just flat composed and hooked up.


Told a few guys about this forum as they were shock at how much faster I was than them and how my car was so flat in corners, so I told them to get signed up on this forum as all the details are here.

 

[Snorty]

Great post & Pics [MENTION=6713]Man[/MENTION]ders, thanks for taking the time to summarise the day so we have a permanent reminder of what fun we all had.

Would be great to do this again, guess we need to push Ford to repeat it at some point!

It was great to finally met you all & pair forum names with real names & cars, the car park looked great with such a range of colours all together in one place.

 

[Gibbo205]

Great post & Pics [MENTION=6713]Man[/MENTION]ders, thanks for taking the time to summarise the day so we have a permanent reminder of what fun we all had.

Would be great to do this again, guess we need to push Ford to repeat it at some point!

It was great to finally met you all & pair forum names with real names & cars, the car park looked great with such a range of colours all together in one place.

Or we could organise our own track day I know the owner of bookatrack and would be up for sorting a Mustang track day, did it a few times with 911 and they were incredible days. Of course not FREE though!

 

[Mustang65]

What a fantastic experience. Thanks to Andy Barratt, as well as the Ford Events team and all at Silverstone.

My second chance to drive the Mustang around a circuit, last time around the much smaller Stowe circuit, and it continues to surprise and delight. This is certainly no Yank Tank of old.

Went out in the 1115 session which turned out to be the most popular session. Even though there were loads of cars on track it didn't spoil the fun, in fact in some ways it was better being able to see other Mustangs going around.

Dry to start with it rained heavily towards the end and I found the limit abruptly resulting in a half spin. Apologies to those behind me; it certainly made the day memorable. Being in a Ford owned car probably made me too adventurous.

For those that missed out perhaps you take heart from a chat I had with Andy where he was talking about some of things he is considering to engage with the growing Mustang community. Fertile ground I would suggest if people want to discuss what they would like to see/do at future events and venues.

A day that reinforces what a bargain the Mustang is, it makes me smile every time I drive it and seems to make most people who see it smile too. Thanks Ford.

 

[Manders Mustang]

Or we could organise our own track day I know the owner of bookatrack and would be up for sorting a Mustang track day, did it a few times with 911 and they were incredible days. Of course not FREE though!

Make a post, sort it out, i'd be down to do this, albeit i'm sh1t scared of my car already and you better be doing it in the heights of summer :lol::lol:
[MENTION=21114]Snorty[/MENTION] you're welcome matey, nice to meet you as well!

You still looked pretty excited when you saw me after my session.

[MENTION=8211]stevec[/MENTION] to be fair, i was just excited to meet you and get a picture of your car... No, jokes aside i've still got a smile on my face now, it's definitely something i'll remember for a long time so as I said before, well done ford for a stellar day!!!

 

[Stark]

Nice write up Manders, my car is the CO that was parked next to [MENTION=8211]stevec[/MENTION] and [MENTION=14447]Centurion07[/MENTION] in your pictures, which funnily enough were the only 2 I spotted and managed to have a quick chat with, did not spot any others unfortunately, except you Manders and the girlfriend walking in the car park but I was too far away to say hi and was also in a rush so apologies I didn't look like a tit and shout hi lol.
Will post pics I managed to take of the mustang car park and also the pics my wife got of me on track tomorrow when I am in front of a computer and a little write up

Oh and whoever owns the race red MU57 ANB I hope you had spare underwear after that crazy sideways action on the last corner, which resulted in you scaring the crap out of my wife and another girl she was talking to on the pit wall you ended up facing at one point but thankfully saved :clap2:

 

[Lone Survivor]

I hate you all, that's all :rant:

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!!

When I grow up I'm going to buy my own race track and get new friends and give them stuff haha, that'll teach you all

 

[Manders Mustang]

[MENTION=12964]Stark[/MENTION] should have yelled Hi lol! i heard someone yell Hi, but they're yet to be identified yet!

 

[RobMJ]

Well done guys, looked like an awesome day out, hopefully my place went to someone on here. Great pics and write up. Would have been all over this if my car was here. Would have been great to also meet a few from here. I'm praying they do another one. Cheers

 

[rusgb]

Looks like I've picked the most unwanted colour going :doh:

There were three, including mine. Last picture on the far left - Reg BU16 is mine.

I am very happy with the colour, you will be too!

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