First visit by Boxsey
Car : 964 C2
Weather : Wet for the first 2 hours and dry for the rest of the day
Date: October 2007
Track : International
Driver ability : Still a novice
Format : Open pit lane
This was my first go at Oulton and the day was made all the more enjoyable by having local expert Marcus 'the Goose' Carniel as a personal instructor for most of the day. Overnight rain made the track very slippery and daunting for a first timer. As mentioned in other posts above, certain sections under the trees were treacherous in the braking zone
. As the day wore on, a drying track and the instruction from Marcus turned this into the most rewarding trackday I've done so far. A brilliant venue.
Here's I my personal thoughts about Oulton (with the benefit of expert instruction on the lines to use):
Old Hall - hard braking at the end of the straight, down to 3rd and then as fast as you dare.
Cascades - hold your nerve in 4th and don't brake before the dip (stay left until then) that leads you into the bend. Surprisingly early turn in is the best line to get on the power early at the exit.
Lake - Settle the car by braking just before turn in and then power all the way round it in 4th. The car takes a natural arc that brings it back to the left ready for the next corner (there's no need to try and hug the inside line). One of the fastest corners on the circuit.
Shell oils hairpin - almost like a mini Karussel. 2nd gear. Hug the inside and power out and drift wide on the exit and smile at the Marshall as you'll get very close to him.
Foulstons Chicane - A PIA because it's so slow. Take all the big first kerb under braking. Quick shift down to 2nd, turn in and straight line the next two apexes with your foot on the floor. A real suspension tester as the car will get airbourne over the kerbs 3 times. Drift onto the kerbs on the right of the straight and blast down to Knickerbrook.
Knickerbrook - Tricky complex which tests your and the car's ability to change direction quickly. Down to 2nd and trail braking into the first right turn is a key to getting good speed in . Steady throttle over the next apex, drift to the edge on the right and then quickly get back to the left side. A quick change up to 3rd before the final right hander helps maximise the exit speed but being uphill it seemed to still be slow.
Druids - The most satisfying corner to get right and would probably be disastrous if you got it wrong due the close presence of armco and trees. Grip in the braking zone is in short supply so do it early. Down to 3rd, aim at the 2nd apex and let the car drift gently to the left of the track and unwind the lock smoothly on the exit. Feel your sphincter tighten on the exit as there is a dip that makes the backend twitch and squirm under hard acceleration.
Lodge - Another ar$e twitcher because you need to let the car drift to the left on the exit to kiss the kerb which is blind until you're almost on it. 2nd gear was best for me.
The lap finishes by taking a brave line through dear leap (within a few feet of a big tree) where the car first bottoms and then goes light and catapults you onto the home straight which was treated as a gentle curve that drifted the right and then back to the left for old hall again.
Overall I would say that Oulton is not a high speed circuit as the straights are quite short (I only remember seeing my speedo nudge 100 a few times) but the complexity makes it very rewarding to drive. Anyone with the track bug should do it IMO.
5 out of 5 from me. Can't wait to go back.