Claire G

Righto, couldn't find a decent GS300 for the money we wanted to spend. My husband is also a mega fan of Hondas and has also been after an Accord Aerodeck. We've found one at last through a main dealer and it's being delivered to Ascot from Derby ! So, a Lexus and a Honda - good stuff! Hopefully it'll be delivered before Christmas and his subscription to the Honda-R Club will be winging it's way :D

Some further info for you guys, from the gent helping to organise the event: Right, to answer your questions, and to try and let you know the relevant info. The £175 will include public liability insurance, ambulance cover and marshal's etc for the day, but it won't include the cost of insurance for your car if you have an accident in it, however there is the option of adding insurance cover on the BookaTrack site, with various levels for varying amounts of the folding stuff. Damage is rare at any properly run track day, and the way BookaTrack operate I think makes them the safest company by far, Honda R will not use any other, and we won't even "do it ourselves" now, even though we might be big enough to get away with it at some of the cheaper venue's. Back to Insurance, some "normal" car policies do cover you on trackdays, because although they are on a racetrack the event is non competitive, and timing is not allowed, (if anyone is caught timing they are sent home there and then as this invalidates everyone's insurance), however it's best to check with your company, and some companies it depends on who you speak to, i..e. Tesco.com apparently do cover you for trackdays, but most of the front line staff don't know about it, if you can find someone that does, I'd make sure you get it in writing before the event. The event itself will be a week day, i.e. Monday to Friday rather than a Saturday or Sunday, and BaT won't have any details from Donington themselves until the start of January. A lot of people's questions can be answered by reading the FAQ section of the BookaTrack site, but I'll be happy to answer any that you have. Most other people want to know about how much wear and tear you'll put on your car, and to be honest, if it's a dry day, it will be more than the same amount of road miles, and somewhere like Donington is hard on brake pads especially, tyre wear on a proper circuit isn't that bad though. A lot of it however is down to how the individual drives, be smooth and build up during the day and get some instruction, and you'll have a huge amount of fun, and smaller bills, drive like you think you know it all, and you're wearing clogs, and whilst you might still have fun, it'll cost you more and your car will not thank you for it! Apart from that make sure the car is "tight" i.e. nothing is outstanding from the last service, the fluid levels have all been topped off etc... and most reliable Japanese cars will take a track day in their stride, (I'm not sure about an LS400 or 430, but if someone wants to let me have the keys I'll give it a go for them :o). Can I add my own personal recommendation for the BaT people here, I've done close on 20 trackdays with various companies and BookaTrack are by far and away the best for newbies, and a "club" event like this is even better than their normal events as you are in amongst a bunch of like minded individuals who value their car as much as you value yours.

My hubby's got a nice line in scale model Ferrari's if that counts!

I get about 29 mpg usually and 35mpg on extremely good days :D

Not often enough - it's too cold at the moment! My car's filthy now and needs some proper TLC before Christmas :hohoho:

At college I wrote a thesis on the art and design of Volkswagon Beetles and went to Wolfsburg where they were built. The closest I got to the Volkswagon factory was their museum. Fantastic place, 1st VW beetle ever built etc.

Right guys and gals, Serious interest only please - I need your feedback urgently to allow us to see if there's the numbers we need to tie in with the Honda-R Club. Summer '03, the Honda-R Club are organising a track day at Donington (this will be mid-week). Three sessions are being proposed: Lexus Novice session Honda Novice session Joint Experienced / fast We need 20 cars per session. Are there 20 cars from LOC that would be up for this? Cost is £175 and a deposit to show you are serious, would be needed. Please could you post here to register your interest. Thanks.

If you ever get caught on a mobile speed camera, ask when it was last calibrated and to see the calibration certificate. If it's out-of-date, the Police can't prosecute you for speeding as they can't guarantee accuracy, apparently.

Kit from Knight Rider - I wanted a car that talked. Unfortunately the nearest I ever came to it was nearly buying an Austin Maestro as my first car - that spoke if you left the lights on (or something). Fortunately I saw the error of my ways and bought a Ford Fiesta <D'oh!>

I keep waxing lyrical on Lex Auto Leasing but I find them good. I got a brand new IS200 Sport, didn't pay any deposit and pay around the £450 ish mark per month on a PCP. If you aren't looking for a brand new car, it's worth checking them out as you can get a car that's around the 1 year mark and save yourself a fair bit of money. I'm thinking of doing this next time round!

Off out tonight chaps I'm afraid. I'll have to deprive you of my sparking wit tonight

I've got our nipper a Britax seat. Can't remember model, but it's one of the ones that lasts from about 9 months - 12 years. It converts into a booster seat. It's black and grey so blends in nicely with my car interior B) The coolest car seats I've seen though and that come really high in the safety stakes too are Riccaro kiddie seats! You can get them at Halfords. Most kiddie seats are ok in the IS200 but if you are in doubt, go to any Mothercare store and they will let you try out the seats and advise you of the best ones to go for in your car.

Our do was a meal and wine tasting session (but you had to do a mock marketing plan for a wine!!!!!!!!!) I couldn't make it as I was off sick. So, a few girls from the office and I will be 'bonding' over a curry and a few beverages (infinitely more fun than the work-do I hope)

Stop playing with our emotions Playa, you don't contact us then just a cheeky one liner and no replies. Tsk, these international men of mystery! :ooh-ducky:

The Vicar's from Maidenhead, my home town. Never mind the scientific or religious aspects, what a g*t for spoiling Christmas for the kiddies. They don't stay young for long, let them believe in Father Christmas for as long as possible

Misguided muppet !

Jammy git :P When did Radio 2 turn cool?!?! My memories are of my folks having Radio 2 on permanently and it always seemed to be the Cliff Adams singers. Scarred me for life.... Do you prefer Paul Weller now or when he was in The Jam?

Apparently there are still people naive to this...

There's some really nice stuff there. Plenty of the usual and some real unique stuff too !

For those of you who use eBay... In IT Week today: Fraudsters Steal Account Details Fraudsters have been obtaining account details of peopl using online auction site eBay by sending emails to users asking them to change their passwords. The emails direct users to a site that prompts them for crucial personal information, including credit card numbers.

Sammy and I best pucker up then Haven't heard from Playa for ages...maybe he's become a monk and taken a vow of silence (and chastity?!)

I don't have to worry about laughing at myself...so many others do it for me !

My hubby currently drives a VTEC Prelude and you have to get it to about 5.5 revs before it kicks in. He scared the sales man as he was trying to get it to kick in but the one on the Type-R is more 'progressive'. He took it to nearly the limiter and got some absurd speed..... and made our boy car sick!!!!! Guess, we won't be invited back for another go

Were you in the car at the time? Hope you got their insurance details

Ahhh, he's GORGEOUS !!! You're making me feel broody again - just as well I'm at work and my husband is at home ;)