306 in the night

Buckstone pass was the destination. Surely the snow had to have melted and the road drivable. I got to the meeting spot where Chris would soon be arriving where I sat for 35 minutes waiting. This gave me the time to reflect on the condtions and made me think how I would later drive the road. The rain was pelting down hard against the soft roof and the strong wind was rocking the car side to side as I was wondering what was taking chris so long. With the dipped headlights managing to vaughly light up the snow covered banks which must have been part of the landscape for weeks now, but thankfully at least the roads was clear, at least as far as I could see. I could’nt see much though considering the darkness up in the hills. There are no street lights, no other cars, and when on the road the only thing visable is what your headlights reveal infront of you. 

Finally though Chris did arrive, he had got lost but now that he had arrived we decided to do a run of the pass to check how suitable it was to drive in the current conditions. (heavy rain, standing water, snow banks which turned two lanes into a single lane, strong side winds and thick darkness) not to mention it was cold, the leading car provided spray for the car but, at least there was no sheep around so that is one plus to appreiciate. We made sure eachother understood this was a cruise down the hill and neither should initiate a race or be competative in behavior. This was definatly the correct idea to behold since my MR2′s kryptonite is tonights conditon, in these condtions traveling at pace is secondary in priority, primarily you should focus on staying on the road.  People would suggest that in the wet front wheel drive cars hold a certain advantage due to there understeering nature being more manageable when traction is low. MR layout cars will soon be leading with there arse if not driven with care due to the weight been in the back, also with the MR2 being rear wheel drive, Oversteering is promoted even more so. 

So with that in mind, my first run was to find my footing and reveal the condition of the road. Tonight my hidden agenda was to match the equally powered FF car, although it was’nt anything competative, you can’t help but keep an eye on your rear view mirror and get a sense of how the car behind is doing. The momment you leave the carpark you can open up the throttle and allow the car to sprint along at speed. Only at this time I was making sure each wheel had plenty of grip, and as it turned out the car held the road with no problem what so ever, but there was just a straight line. How ever driving on these roads you cannot become complacent, even a straight section of road will have the suspension working and is alot harder than driving a straight section on a race track which is actually as smooth as a airport runway. Coming up was too easy right turns which then sends you down in elevation towards a tight left corner which then raises in elevation at the exit, not to mention the brick wall at the apex and the ditch on the outside which will destroy you car should you make a mistake. The next corner is similar but not as tight as the first corner then its a up hill climb which vears off in a long long right hander. You have to judge just how long and how hard you are able to hold the throttle. It would be easy to oversteer for me, and although in cruise mode a let off alittle bit here and try to assess it abit more. I take a glance in the rear view mirror and wondered why Chris seemed to be trailing a little far behind, I could see rays off light coming from somewhere so knowing he had’nt hit the wall or entered the ditch I continued without concern. 

One thing that did catch me off guard was when the lights started reflecting a large amount of brightness back at me and I realised snow had gathered on the road at each side and there was a single lane through the middle. My brain calculated how fast I was going, how long the snow banks were, then if I could get through the snow with out having to slow down for oncoming cars. All this in a fraction of a seconded. Then following the snow section is a nice peiece of road which you can get through without turning all that much even though theres about 3 corners to tackle. Then entering a little bit of straight I became concerned since there was literally no sign of Chris. I slowed down considerably wondering where he was, had he hit the snow bank or span out. It wasn’t long till I saw the the rays of his head lights again shinning over the crest of the hill. I had become aware of his particular tint of head light. So travelling along I come up against a few trademarks of this pass. The bad bumps and the right angled corners at the dam. There was no issues to report. The MR2 handled a killer road with all kinds of elements and sections of technical and tricky corners. The only problem now was at the end of the pass, I was waiting. The longer you wait the worse the thoughts the thoughts are in you head. Before too longer he turned up and after chatting it was obvious that my knowledge of this road gave me a major advantage. Where I knew what to expect around the next corner or over the next blind crest, he had to slow down and take it how it come. To consider I was only at cruising pace, it demonstrated just how vital familiarity with a course or track can be. 

After going up hill back to the meeting pointing. We discussed certain points, and first opinion. This was the first time we had been driving with each other seriously on such a road, and completely a first in these cars. A second run down the hill saw Chris in my car and I gave him a basic tour. I told him what I thought was relevant as best I could then took him back to the top to go down again. So on my third run down Buckstone I followed. My chance to watch how the 306 behaves and if you know what your looking for, can can learn a great deal of things. His run was definitely quicker this time, I followed him and only felt held up a few times, which mostly consisted of braking points. This maybe the Brilliant MR2 brakes showing through as I felt I would be braking beyond that of the 306, or still Chris’s unfamiliarity of the pass. Probably both I think. It was the same pace back up to the top again and I remeber been impressed just how fast Chris had taken to the road. I’m sure that if we had spent more time there he would have surpassed me. Nothing to be ashamed of in my mind. I’m pretty sure I would have caned the MR2 in my old Fiesta ST, front wheel drive just has so much more  reassurances about it in the wet, so I did indeed expect a caning. But I think my experience on the pass held out for tonight. 

But the pace was really picking up and on our last run of the night (since I was running low on fuel) it was pretty fast paced action. I now had a good idea when and where the MR2 was stable and where the hazards lay. Chris was clued up and I knew he would be more than happy to keep up with me. Flying out of the car park onto the straight both cars howled. It was beautiful. Cars traveling in way in which they was designed to do. Through the two wall apexed corners and onto the long long right corner Chris’s was there, he was definitely faster than the first run. Going through the snow walls and onto the technical parts I was proceeding with caution knowing the killer bumps would soon be coming up. Where the appeared I positioned the car and braked a little to make sure I didn’t launch off it, but while doing so the front right wheel aqua planed on standing water making for some quick left right action on the wheel to make sure the car stayed straight over the bump. I could see his lights reflecting off my mirror all the way along. There was one section where you can hook your wheels in to the camber of the roads and I miss placed my judgement thinking it was coming up sooner than it was meaning I braked and lifted of for too long “versavee” Chris closed up the small gap between us. I drove over the camber and the left side of the car flowed into it as the car took the bend. Then came the damn corners and the last section with the dangerous right hand corner. What a thrill. It was a good run and a good night which was worth the effort. 

Its not just the action that took place, but the realisations I had afterwards. I was now starting to drive the MR2 without contious thought. It was now instinctive. I was driving fast with a car which notouriously spins out without the fear that previously held me back, in the worse conditions for such a car. Other than the long gears which gave the 306 an advantage when exiting the corners which was apparent on the tight dam corners, the MR2 was amazing tonight, we definatly seemed to co operated and act as one. Infact I leant alot about both cars. 

Take alook at Buckstone pass here