Sveba

A trackday has been top of my To Do list for a while but the expense and fear my car wouldn't last has always stood in the way. That is until now.

I took my BMW 323i Coupe (e36) to Brands Hatch for the day and it was tyre squealingly awesome. I loved every minute of it. Only the shorter Indie circuit was open which meant more oppertuniy to perfect the perfect line and squeeze the accelerator a little more each and every lap.

There was no time to get scared but plenty of time to enjoy putting my car through its paces and reminding myself I'm racing around Brands. There were no leary opposite-lock moments but more rewarding was mastering each corner; getting smoother and faster as the day went on; getting more and more out of my car - which at the red line sounded as happy as I was.

The two things that surprised me most about the day was I was closer to being the youngest (being 30) than the oldest and my car was the only one that wasn't a Vantage, a Caterham or modified in someway. I'm sure if we were to compare specs it had the worst power to weight ratio in the pit lane. Nevermind though because I passed as many cars as passed me and the extra body roll and lack of bucket seats added to the excitement.

As for cost, the day itself cost no more than some language or music lessons and the memories will last a life time. And for the car, the tires and brakes are worn but fine but the engine has developed a ticking noise. The only real casualty was the steering wheel - bits of which are coming off on my hands.

Next on my To Do list is book another track day. Then strip the carpets out of the beemer; fit bucket seats and koni shocks and hope that ticking noise doesn't get any worse.

Maybe: I should've bought a track car.

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