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A bright and breezy day greeted the Ferrari Owners’ Club for their annual track day on the full Brands Hatch GP Circuit, one of a number of track days they organise at various circuits around the country during the year. The event was well supported by club members, some of whom were en route to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race the following weekend, and had support from Hill Engineering and Kent High Performance Cars. Around seventy Ferraris partook in the gathering, ranging from a 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” to a pair of 599 GTB Fioranos, whilst there was a pair of Californias in the paddock, and they also ranged from standard road models to race prepared examples that run in the UK Ferrari Challenge series. A particular racing rarity was a 456 GT, prepared by Foskers, an independent Ferrari specialist based at Brands Hatch, which looked quite spectacular in black with a colourful ”Cavallino Rampante” and chequered livery.

The club’s normal track day procedure is to split the circuit sessions into three groups, which is based upon the participant’s skills or track experience. Therefore there is a novice grouped, with skilled instructors on hand to ride with them to advise on the correct lines, track procedure, braking points, etc. The second group is for those with previous track day knowledge and experience, whilst the third is for those with plentiful track experience, including having raced at some level. The aim of this arrangement is to have cars of similar speed, and drivers of similar capability, on the track at any one time. This allows newcomers to concentrate on the road ahead rather than their rear view mirrors, and also means that the faster and more experienced drivers aren’t constantly meeting “mobile chicanes”. As they say, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”, and the system can be said to be a success, as it is very rare for incidents to occur at any of their gatherings, particularly ones of any serious consequence, thus making for a well organised and enjoyable track day for all concerned.

Keith Bluemel


06/2010