The following reports were sent in by some of the owners that came along to this year’s ‘Marlin Track Day Event’ held at Colerne on the 26th July 2008.
A change from the Llandow track day of the previous 2 years, it was decided that, by now, Marlin owners would be ready for a new and different challenge. The event was organised by Ken Robson (who run’s the Marlin Sports Car Club) and booked through MSE.
Along with the Marlin race team; there were also experienced Marlin owners on hand to offer any hints and tips on how to make best use of the circuit. Marlin were also kept busy giving rides out in their stunning midnight blue 5EXi with its powerful Honda ‘R’ VTec engine.
As Robin Manns, a 5EXi owner says “ For those of you unsure about track days, it’s not about speed and burning tyres but more about having fun and driving your car like it’s supposed to be driven; and it would be great to meet up with more owners of this unique car – if only to show up all those other run-of-the-mill cars!”
As you will read below it was a great day out and best of all it was proably the only sunny day of the summer. :-)
From Robin Manns - 5EXi owner
Only my second track day of the season, but the first with my partner and friends this year. My friend’s into drag racing and I’ve been along to Santa Pod but still reckon it’s a bigger thrill on the track so today was a great chance to prove it to be true!
We set out bleary-eyed @ 630am and cruised towards Colerne Airfield along the M4 under a blue sky and the promise of great weather. Topping up the petrol tank before climbing the hill from Batheaston I could feel the anticipation grow as we bounced along the straight before reaching the airfield. It’s the noise testing prior to sign-on that marks a loud start to the day’s proceedings – fantastic!
Rolling up to the Marlin ‘paddock’ we were greeted by Terry waving us into the parking area. Just driving around in my 5EXi makes me grin from ear-to-ear so you can imagine how cheesy my smile was lined up with 5EXi’s and Sportsters all ready to fly around the 2-mile course that has a layout to push your car as hard as you like (or not! read on to find out more). Sign on and briefing were easy; as usual Motorsport-Events providing great banter and grounded advice about the day of fun ahead. I was in Group 2 for the first sessions so could relax a little before the off.
My Capri-owning friend jumped into the car with me for the sighting laps and we cruised round the track weaving round the bends to get a feel for the grippy surface and blow out the cobwebs. Coming back into the paddock it was chance for me to catch up with Mark and Dylan, check tyre pressures and chat about car set-ups and the Special GT Championship.
Out on the track at last - Helmets on and high revs all the way! I’m always astounded by the punishment my 1.6 K-Series engine takes when each lap I’m growing in confidence and pushing just a little harder. Colerne’s great for hard acceleration down the straights, threading your way through the complex of sharp turns and feeding the power along two wide bends. At first I though I’d see how long I could stay ahead of the BMW M3 breathing down my neck on the straights but after six laps I let him by and found sitting on the tail of him was great fun too – I’m not do-or-die when braking on the approach to corners so maintaining a good speed through the bends and chasing on the straights was the best way for me to keep right behind him, even backing off at times when I took a better line
After lunch a Healey Sprite with slicks was a great target to chase, though my road tyres begged to differ, as the track temperature increased compared with the morning sessions. He was clearly making the most of the additional grip he had but my gradual improvement in the lines as I drove around the course were paying off. I was really enjoying the track and staying out much longer than I had the previous season.
It had to happen at some point since the tyres were losing grip lap-on-lap. The engine and car were going great and I was keen to better my approach through the chicane. Turning right then left to exit the chicane I felt the rear end step out – not a problem usually. I reacted late and we slid off sideways to the edge of the track; a cloud of grass floating gently into the cockpit a second or two later. Slight embarrassment and ribbing for my off (especially since my partner was in the passenger seat at the time!).
Pulling into the paddock, we decided honour was the better part of valour and to call it a day – made to feel better since Mark had spun the 5EXi-R on road tyres too! So off we set at 4.30pm having had a thoroughly great day and my friends converted on track days and plans afoot to try a few tracks as well as RWYB days @ Santa Pod next year!
BTW When I checked over the car at home I’d scrubbed the tread completely off the rear tyres so my off was not just down to my driving! Toyo R888’s are my next buy before an autumn track day so there’ll be no more excuses. For those of you unsure about track days, it’s not about speed and burning tyres but more about having fun and driving your car like it’s supposed to be driven; and it would be great to meet up with more owners of this unique car – if only to show up all those other run-of-the-mill cars!
Thank you to Terry, Mark and Ken at Marlin for organising the day, good luck to Mark and Dylan in the Special GT @ Castle Combe and I hope to meet you on a track day this year or next!
From Andrew Cripps - 5EXi owner
After having had such a great time when I first took the 5EXi out on a track at LLandow in 2007 I was really looking forward to this year's Marlin open day well in advance. I’m embarrassed to say that on the way there we ran out of petrol so we arrived a few minutes late and missed some of the drivers briefing but were quickly out on the track and enjoying some decent sunshine too. 
The circuit at Colerne airfield is quite a bit longer than at LLandow with a more corners which was great fun but pretty tricky too as I've not driven on track days much before. We had a couple of excursions across the grass and a spin which held everyone else up as the battery had decided to quit and would not restart the car, leaving us stranded in the middle of the track and needing a tow. After Marlin’s assistance we were soon sorted and back on the track for a few more hours of fun. Besides this small incident the driving was brilliant and it was a fantastic day.
A big thanks to everyone at Marlin again for organising everything. Hopefully next time will be just as good
From John and Linda Clements - Sportster owners
Linda and I have been to a number of track day events but this was the first time we have visited the Colerne circuit with the Marlin Sports Car Club. The track day experiences with our Sportster is not just about going fast, it is about learning how the car will handle when pushed and I must admit, until now, the M3 engine in the Sportster has never been worked hard to anywhere near its limit due to my driving ability.
Colerne track layout is very smooth with sweeping curves, with no drain covers or potholes to dodge like our normal M or A roads. There is plenty of room and very good marshalling by the organizers, so it is more relaxed than other tracks that we have visited. I had great fun using my Marlin Sportster, which was always designed for track and road use and along with advice from members of the club about tyre pressures and handling it was another great experience and good value for money especially as you have the whole day to work it out. This was proven in the afternoon when the track cleared of traffic and I got to know the breaking and turning points really well and found that everything then felt like it had all came together.
It was a very enjoyable days meeting with like minded members. After the track day we stayed in a Wiltshire B&B nearby and visited Avebury Avenues and Lacock and then drove on down to Devon’s Jurassic coast from Weymouth to Sidmouth in B&Bs . It was a good track event and holiday all in one. Hope your readers will be able to enjoy their cars to the full as we do.