The new Bloomsbury Car Club in Cape Town got off to a flying start with their inaugural track day, held at the Killarney racing circuit in Cape Town yesterday. Around 15 drivers brought their exotics to the race track for an afternoon of high-speed thrills. A range of manufacturers were represented including Ferrari, Lotus, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin and even an Ariel Atom.
With some expensive machinery on track, drivers were understandably respectful of each others “space”, with no overtaking allowed in the corners. No lap times were recorded, as the purpose of the event was not to race but rather to allow the owners to drive their cars in they way the manufacturer intended. Apart from a handful of track days each year, most owners don’t get a chance to “blow off the cobweb’s” in their cars and the track day provided the perfect opportunity.
Some drivers were kind enough to offer the opportunity to ride as a passenger for a few laps of the circuit. Sean McKay, who brought his brand new Ferrari F430 Scuderia to the track for the first time, took me out for a few quick laps. Take a look at the in-car video footage for an idea of what the F430 Scuderia is all about.
A track day is a great way to learn more about your car, or motorcycle, in a safe and controlled environment. When you know what corners are ahead, have no outside influences such as pedestrians, taxis, stray animals or unknown road surfaces, you are able to concentrate on your driving. This means you’re able to discover your car’s potential as well as your own limits, safely. Back on the road, this translates to safer driving as you know how your vehicle reacts, as well as its capabilities and yours.
If you’re in Cape Town, the Killarney Training Centre offers advanced driving courses to help you improve your car control and road safety.
Thank you to Allan and Justin from Bloomsbury and Lamborghini Cape Town for inviting me to share the fun with their club members and fellow motoring enthusiasts, as well as Sean for the drive in his Ferrari.
