I'd been itching to do a track day or two ever since the VX220 arrived back in August. I was all set to take the little silver sledge along to a Wheeltorque day at the Bedford Autodrome, but an errant ECU meant I had to abandon it and take the Impreza WRX instead. And excellent fun it was, too, but the VX itch went unscratched. Then, after waiting almost a month for a another track day that didn't clash with work commitments, two came along at once. Typical. Wheeltorque again, this time at Brands, or Goldtrack at Silverstone, which got the nod 'cos it's closer.

The VX had just come back from Wales with fellow fast fleeter, Ducatiman John Hayman. He wanted something comfortable for the long haul and reckoned the VX fitted the bill. Bikers, eh? On the way he picked up a puncture on the right rear Bridgestone ΂- fortunately he located the can of mousse under the front bonnet. He also had to pick up the front number plate ΂- it's only stuck on with double-sided tape ΂- and when it wouldn't restick, stuff it behind the driver's seat.

With just a couple of working days and a weekend to go before my track adventure, I was relieved to locate a new tyre without much trouble (΂£136 from Central Tyre in Wellingborough). I then spent the Sunday morning giving the VX a thorough wash and checkover, including the fluid levels: the engine needed half a litre of oil to bring it right up to the mark, and the brake reservoir had fallen just below full, triggering an ultra-sensitive warning light. I decided not to refix the number plate till after my track day. The extra streamlining might be worth a couple of tenths a lap, you know...

The final touch was to pump the tyres up a couple of psi all round ΂- no need to go mad, it's such a light car ΂- then with track day veteran Roger Green in tow, it was off to the home of the British GP (short for Gross Profiteering, or is it Gullible Punters, I can never remember).

The GoldTrack Driving Club is one of the most reputable track day companies, and it didn't take long to realise why. The organisation is first class; they seem to attract people who enjoy fast cars but don't feel the need to behave like total arses to prove it; there's plenty of track time, and there's a great selection of machinery ΂- everything from the usual Caterhams and Elises right through to a 1960s Bizzarrini supercar and a couple of GT Cup Porsches. I tucked into the novices group.

It's a heart-in-mouth moment when you venture out onto the full Grand Prix circuit for the first time, but everyone's been told to build up pace gradually, and after a few acclimatisation laps you soon forget your nerves and start to enjoy yourself.

And we did. In the VX you have no choice, it's just such a great tool. Flyweight, almost telepathically responsive, and seriously quick. There is, however, one flaw ΂- and a potentially serious one. We found that after a handful of quick laps the ABS became ever more eager to kick in, and as it pulsed away, stopping power became progressively weaker. Both Rog and I reckoned we'd rather take our chances with a non-ABS set-up, like the Elise's. You'd have to drive very hard on the road for a sustained period to reproduce the effect, but it's still a worry.

Otherwise it's a spanking track car, one that sends a torrent of messages through the steering and the thinly-padded seat. Which made me feel even dafter when I ignored the signals and went in way too quick into an already quickish right-hander.

If anything, my second rotation felt more violent than the first. By some fluke I managed to keep it on the tarmac, and even finished up facing the right way down the track. I might even have driven off with a nonchalant shrug. Had I not stalled.