Track days in this country are always a bit of a gamble when it comes to the weather. So it was that, after one of the hottest and driest periods since records began, it poured. Unfortunately this uncharacteristic bout of inclement weather happened to coincide with the PCGB Silverstone Track Day.

As a result of the appalling rain significant track time was lost, with standing water rendering the track undrivable. Prior to stoppages, cars had gone off the circuit whilst attempting nothing more dramatic than driving down Hanger straight.  Cars were damaged and, generally, things could perhaps have been better.

By pure coincidence, that evening a group of 944 register members had booked a track evening with Gold Track, also at Silverstone. A sort of a Soirée Vitesse if you will.

In all nine 944s turned up for the event. The majority of the bunch were armed with Turbos , or Turbots as they have become known within the Titanic forum. Many, most or, more likely, all the Turbots supported some form of modification or another – as if they weren’t quick enough in the first place. These improvements ranging from the obligatory Boost Enhancer to trick suspension and hot chips (the engine management kind not the English fare usually accompanied by battered fish). My particular secret weapon was Red Painted Towing Eyes, that made them sit up and take notice I can tell you.

Whilst many opted for the interior trim weight reduction option, Peter Empson has gone with the full “Less is More” philosophy. Not only has he replaced his heavy glass tailgate with gossamer light polycarbonate but also elected not to carry a nasty big heavy turbocharger with all its associated weighty pipe work. These changes have obviously had significant effect as Peter has now also adopted a monster rear adjustable spoiler to keep the car on the ground.

We arrived at Silverstone, shortly after the monsoon but the track was still very wet. There remained considerable doubt whether the evening session would go ahead at all. Fortunately, the rain had stopped and the standing water was dispersing so… we were off! And indeed some were!

At the start of the evening, the track was still very wet & very, very, slippery.  Little focuses the mind more than having your car attempt an opposite lock moment when accelerating up the   Start/finish straight. The pit wall is very hard and very adjacent at that point!

Whilst Mr Bailey was the only one of our group to admit to going off the track (well Beckets is very challenging), I managed a slide of some shape or form at just about every point on the circuit. My most buttock clenching moment was full opposite lock through Copse. What surprised me, probably more than the Marshals, was that I didn’t spin. I spent the next 10 minutes with the biggest grin you have ever seen, uttering the words of the short guy from Top Gear ''I am a driving God!" My new found divine skill would have to be attributed to the car, in truth, not a visitation of Gabriel with driving gloves.

Although I used to race a Westfield, this was my first experience of a 944 Turbo on the track, and I loved it. The Porsche is obviously much heavier than the Westfield but, armed with a limited slip differential and big rubber, the traction is spectacular. The Westfield is a constant fight to maintain grip, where as the Porsche achieves a level of balance which makes the whole experience far more pleasurable. Whilst both are a treat, one is, perhaps, like a Milky Way the other a Marathon/sorry Snickers Bar. One is light and flirty the other of greater substance, but more satisfying. I was going to use the comparison of an evening with Kylie Minogue compared to someone else, but having thought about an evening with Kylie all other alternatives seemed to escape me.

As the track dried out, speeds increased and earlier, frustratingly quick, Honda race cars became less of an annoyance and more of a bench mark. They do get cross when they can't get away from you! Very satisfying, a bit like an evening with ....

Towards the end of the evening all groups were combined with an “Open Pit” session. This is great fun for fast cars, as they have lots of cars to catch, but perhaps less encouraging for the slower cars. My new found, god given, driving prowess has further endowed me with modesty and humility so I couldn’t possibly mention how much fun I was having.

All too soon, and with the fuel gauge fast approaching empty, the evening was over.  The track and paddock cleared quickly and, as the sun set theatrically over the back of the grandstands, we assembled the contented gathering of 944’s for a final “Kodak Moment” in the hallowed pit lane.

In closing, I must extend my thanks to Robert (Robbiemeister) Bailey for co-ordinating yet another superb 944 event, Gold Track for their faultless organisation (and economic pricing) and Rick Cannell who chose to forsake the thrill of driving to capture our moments of glory in pictures. Finally thanks to Robbie, Paul, Mark, Tony, Peter, Pete, Dave and Rick for their good humour and comradeship.

Now what did I do with those gloves that Gabby gave me??

John Sims 29/10/03

Much thanks to Rick Cannell for the following images from Silverstone