Happy Christmas

It was a prompt start for the Silver Vixen and Gorse Fox this morning. Not ridiculously early, but we did need to get going. Cousteau-Cub had purchased an "Experience Day" for the Gorse Fox for Christmas last year. Because of the pandemic, today was the first opportunity to use it. So i t was that the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen headed out through the Arun Valley and up into bandit country (Surrey), finding ourselves pulling in to the Top Gear track at Dunsfold.

When the Gorse Fox worked at British Aerospace, Dunsfold is where they would do the flight testing for the Harriers. Assembly would take place at Kingston, then the planes would be transported to Dunsfold for testing. That's by the by.

We were meant to arrive at 10:30 but pulled in about 15 minutes early. It was obviously very busy as we had a very long walk from the car to the check-in. The queue for check-in was long and very slow. In fact it was about an hour before the Gorse Fox got logged in and handed his credentials for the day. 

The Silver Vixen made her way off to watch the proceedings and the Gorse Fox entered the drivers' paddock. First one the agenda was a sighting lap whereby you are taken round in a 4x4 by someone who knows the track and gives you a briefing on the various aspects of the drive. It was just as well. In various places on the course chicanes had been indicated with traffic cones. It was not very obvious, however, where the route was meant to take you through the chicane. Many cones had been knocked over where earlier drivers had completely missed the correct route.

Back in the drivers' paddock the Gorse Fox waited to be called. It was 12:15 before his name bubbled to the top for a couple of laps in an Aston Martin Vantage V8. Gingerly he lowered himself into the car. It was a lot lower than he had expected. He checked that his backside wasn't actually touching the ground. There was a bit of a faff trying to unknot the seatbelt, then he fired up the engine. It gurgled and burbled. He had to move the seat though. Eventually he was ready and comfortable. His id tag and USB were inserted into the dash board and and eased himself onto the track with the instructor keeping an eye on the traffic. As he moved out of the "pit lane" he gunned it. He was pinned to the back of the seat as the car rocketed up through the gears. The chicanes came and went and he was encouraged to drive through the bends much faster than he would have dreamed. In moments (it seemed) the first lap was over and the car (at least he hopes it was the car) was screaming into the second lap. He could get used to this, he thought, and in his confidence he missed a gear change. No harm done, he just cornered more slowly than he intended. All too soon, it was over and, with a huge grin on his face (hidden by his COVID mask) he returned to the paddock. 

The Gorse Fox didn't have long to wait. Next on the agenda was the Aston Martin DB5 (Bond) car. After about 15 minutes his name was called. He went out to car and wandered around taking some photos. It really was a beautiful classic. Inside it even had the radar-like map in the centre console and a "bullet-proof" screen behind the seats. Again he turned the key and punched the start button. The beautiful old engine burbled into life and we were off. As before he took a cautious line as he moved out of the pits. The steering on the DB5 was so heavy - having no power assist. Once he had its measure and joined the track he hit the accelerator and took-off. This was a refined machine; immensely comfortable; fast; and completely docile. The Gorse Fox loved it. Again he had a couple of laps scheduled and this time, with a better knowledge of the track, he pushed the car a lot harder. He has no idea how fast he went in either car.  There was too much to take in without glancing at the speedometer.

That was it. All done. It was time to collect the Silver Vixen from her vantage point, go and claim the official photos and videos, and head back for the Skoda and a leisurely drive home.

It was a fabulous day, and a fabulous Christmas present.