Stutopia

Today I've been up to Croft for my second ever track day, thank you kindly Jaaaaag owners club. It was an introductory format with four groups getting four 20 minutes stints over the day, which is perfect for my level as it stops me getting tired on track and gives the car a nice break in between sessions, as well as time to check out the stunning Jaaaags - old and new. Not much Jap action on show so The Shark got some great attention, which I was quite proud of, the kids especially seemed to like her and the sprinkling of ladies on show. I also bumped into a couple of former Zed owners (one who bought a 3250 new and only ever ran it on regular :scare: ) who were very interested to have a look at The Shark and chat about Nissan, no one had a bad word to say which is nice as there were some premium cars on show, as you'll see. Conditions were much improved over my first track day at croft, where it hammered down rain all day, so I got to learn about the Zed's dry handling today with OEM suspension components all round. Naturally, I was tentative to begin with as the surface was wet from overnight rain and you don't want to be the guy who spins out in the first session (take a bow Cayman driver!). I was really impressed by the Zed today, it felt really nice and planted and the few times i probably got a bit over confident it gently crept over the surface in a well balanced way, but did let me know that the edge of grip was fast approaching. There was none of the drifting I'd enjoyed during last weekend's stag do karting grand prix (fastest lap holder and overall winner - no big deal ), it was much more controlled and smooth than the wet track day, which was great. My proper mount for the video camera didn't arrive in time, so I had to just wedge it in the passenger sun visor then crop the video down, so it's not the greatest footage you'll see from a car, but it gives you a decent view of Croft, which is a circuit I massively enjoyed driving. It's not got a huge straight, the Zed gets up to about 95mph before Tower Bend (it's not a bend it's a bloody hairpin!), you think it is a 90 degree corner on approach but is more like 120 degrees when it creeps up on you . The Jim Clark Esses and Barcroft are high speed (not for me, but defo for good drivers!) so you can be as aggressive as you want to be and there's a bit of run off there too so you don't feel too scared as you build up your confidence. The Complex is a nightmare in the Zed, its too tight for the big heavy beast and it's somewhere in between 2nd and 3rd gear. Clervaux, at the end of the start finish, is a really great little bend as you're obviously braking in quite hard but you can carry speed if you're brave enough and it's really satisfying when you do AND avoid the gravel on the outside All in all I'd recommend Croft for track day noobs like me, it's got plenty to offer in education and the armco is a nice distance from the track! I'll let the pictures do the talking but a very broad mix of cars, with naturally a heavy Jaaaag presence. How they take some of the classics out on track I'll never know, I'm terrified in my Zed and it's worth a fraction of some of the classics that were out. Beautiful C Type Makes the Zed interior look plush! Massive Rims - I think they're about 24" Beautiful new Jaaags as well as old ones. The bonnet alone is a work of art! Cheeky bit of Fezza action too. And some muscle too in this replica Viper, Rover V8 powered! I fell in love with this little thing, it's just so cute. Loads of classics out today. As well as modern classics. To top it off, some BGW action...

Aaaaahh it's nearly born!!! Looks mean.

The way I I look at it's this .......the world is chock full of arseholes.......colour has little to do with it. In terms of what Clarkson said.......well my 54 year old absolutely non racist mother said to me the other day 'it's sort of a n***** brown colour' I nearly choked on my tea but apparently that's just what it used to be called years ago - she didn't mean anything racist by it but it blurted out non the less. Yeah, but (and I'm guessing here) your Mum isn't a world famous TV presenter with 30 years of media training?

Good price, might give it a spin.

I'm not after replacing my foam lance, as such, I'm hoping to use it as an extra jet of shampoo directly into the mitt for particularly heavily soiled areas (like bumper bugs) to add lubrication during the TBW.

Couldn't find it on the uk website, but US says $120k which seems very reasonable for a flying car http://www.flyskyrunner.com/#buy Anyone want to go 120ths on one? We'd have for 3 days each per year...

There's only one word for this, and the word is AMAZEBALLZ Sorry if re-post. I did search!

You've been busy, the tar removal looks like the world's worst job, extreme commitment. I really like the great use of the left over carbon to hide those stone chips, great thinking.

Of course (and you already know this, but we can role play ) that both context and tone are much more critical factors in the intent of the language a person uses, than the vocabulary itself. Which is why it's so tricky to have this type of discussion online, where as with a pint, face to face, I'm pretty sure we'd all be on the same page. Worked Example You come home from work and announce, "The breadwinner hast returned to the homestead. Fetch me a flagon of the frosty brew at once buxom wench, with a tray of your finest savoury treats and skimp not on the cleavage bearing". You could end up with either a cold one and some twiglets and a wry grin (on a good day) or a string of expletives and a wet head with a twiglet up your nose (on a bad one). Both would be totally reasonable responses Now in a meeting at work with an external 3rd party, if you were to say, "Be quiet dear wench, for the menfolk doth discusseth the number of guineas this here IT contract be worth, busy yourself with the tea making and biscuit wrangling". You'd be getting a P45 every time!

Desmond's was quality, I forgot about that show.

Those yellows look sweet, more racey. Want one.

That combo worked a treat for me with the same symptoms in traffic.

Yeah, that's a bit of a no no now. FWIW, I think it's "caste" as in the caste system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India I believe multi-ethnic is allowed as well as mixed race.

I've got a mishimoto, it was particle free on last change so it's either rubbishy magnetic or my engine is in great shape (45k miles).

Ip dip dog sh** You are not it. Much more appropriate for teachers

I'm toying with adding one of these to my detailing arsenal, mainly for supplementing the three bucket wash phase. http://www.chemicalguysuk.com/Chemical_Guys_Foam_Blaster_Cannon_Wash_Kit_p/foamcnn.htm Anyone got one, or used one and rated it? On a hose not a pressure washer. Ta!

Nice one, sounds mint. I really like my scorpion, especially since the Berks went on too.

Thanks bud! Appreciate that. It really is. Can you tell us the secret or is it just a super awesome camera you've got there?

Nice gesture paddy! You've moved into touch ups now Wasso? Does SMD know? Doesn't he pay for the monopoly on that service on here?

Nice nuts. Hope the Mrs enjoys them too

I've been after some trainers for a while, never really given much thought to them as "driving shoes" before. The next step is obviously string back gloves . Took a punt on some Pumas after seeing your post brillomaster, bit strange for me as I'm a Nike boy through and through, but they feel amazeballz! Top tip, thanks I know getting ferrari badged shoes is supergay but you can't see the prancing horses when they're on and the rest of them just looked so FIT and feel so good

Nice work, now about that free plenum polish...

I can cope with people using racial slurs, the misguided saying, "it's not even England for the English anymore", "we're a minority in our own country" but I WILL NOT just stand by whilst someone shamelessly says that Clarkson is "quite funny". There is a line you just cannot cross!!!! PS - I had subway for lunch, it contained ham* *ham is used to mean a product that was at some point alive, on, or near, a pig.

along mate. Loads of places to buy mods just right here on the forum, just remember to show us what you've been up to!

With respect, I think that argument's already been won - whistleblowers rule and so they should. The important challenge (and the theme of this thread) continues to be racism. Let's not get diverted. The thread subject is Clarkson. The original post links to an article which clearly states that this is "unseen footage". The OP has specifically asked, "So what's peoples thoughts on this topic after today's news from the mirror?" The Public Information Disclosure Act (whistleblowers) not only goes in to the type of disclosures under which people are protected, but also the method that the disclosure is made, with specifc reference to the press, and what recourse should be taken before disseminating information to them. Given those things, I fail to see why what I've written is not relevant to the thread.