Better finish those tyres off before the rebuild...

Situated just south of Abingdon, this is another great MSE location. As with most airfields, it is flat and featureless as a venue, but the layout that MSE use is fun, with a mixture of fast corners and tight hairpins - and should you need it - plenty of run-off!

It is a perfect place to go for a first track day - as with any airfield day - with a relaxed atmosphere, no pressure to be on track all the times, nothing to hit, instructors on hand and usually an interesting mix of cars on track.

This was one of the rare weeks when we had the windscreen fitted - but as you can see, it was a wet day, so I was glad of the roof for the journey to and from the track day.

This particular day at Abingdon airfield with Motor Sport Events, just south of Oxford, was the last outing the car was to have before the rebuild. Track day was on the Friday, and Saturday Mark and I were to start tearing it apart. It wouldn't be quite true to say that this led to a certain 'abandon' on track - after all, I still had to drive home at the end of the day!

A genius idea on a cold airfield day - a fresh bacon sandwich!!

Small portable camping stove used to great effect!

You can't really tell in the pictures but the car has sticky Yoko 48's on the front and slippery/hard 539's on the back - the best format for sideways fun!

This one corner is perfect for this sort of thing.

A work colleague came along and had a quick go, spinning off into the mud with his enthusiasm - this sort of trackday is the place to do it though, with nothing to hit except mud.

Elise hasn't spun off, but is exiting the track to the 'paddock'.

Evidence of Chris's spin into the infield!

Evidence of need for a rebuild!

That patch under the car is not actually from our car!

Last few arty shots of the car before it was taken apart.

About to head off into the sunset - well, rain clouds...

The pictures of me sliding as seen above were taken by the trackside photographer - Chris very kindly bought the shots for me on a CD - they chose our shot to sell the deal!

A muddy wet airfield day will leave its mark!

Never to be cleaned again.....

...the car was garaged that night....

...and the following night it was in Marks garage ready to be taken apart. It seemed fitting that its last day was blasting around an airfield sideways!