Never been on track - Airfield rack day?
Discussion
Hi All,
I have recently been upgrading my Fabia vRS (diesel, i know, diesels are a tow car, etc etc!) and now im finished think i should really take it on track to properly open it up and make use of that money i've thrown at it. Im new to track days, and thought a good place to start would be an oen pit day at Hullavington maybe?
Would this be a good start? What am i to expect? Any advice would be gratefully received.
For anyone mildly interested, here is the current spec of my lowly Fabia:
Engine:
Hybrid PD150 turbo – Larger impeller, housing machined to suit, cutback exhaust wheel.
Braided turbo oil feed.
Twin pass front mount intercooler (hidden behind standard bumper)
Custom 57mm intercooler pipework.
Piper 2.5” stainless turbo back decat, single silencer exhaust – Piper bespoke 2.5” non-polished exit.
PD160 air intake.
JabbaSport cone in box.
EGR delete (EGR cooler removed and pipework modified to suit).
Crankcase breather redirected.
CG Motorsport 6 paddle clutch with single mass flywheel.
Custom map by Dirty Torque Developments (including MAF delete, EGR Delete and launch control)
Chassis:
AP Coilovers.
JabbaSport Rear ARB.
Powerflex dogdone mount (65 shore).
312mm Audi TT/Octavia vRS front brakes.
Exterior/Looks:
Completely standard - the way it should be
It should be seeing around 230bhp/350lb/ft and actually revs really well for a diesel - Peak power is around 3500-4000rpm
I have recently been upgrading my Fabia vRS (diesel, i know, diesels are a tow car, etc etc!) and now im finished think i should really take it on track to properly open it up and make use of that money i've thrown at it. Im new to track days, and thought a good place to start would be an oen pit day at Hullavington maybe?
Would this be a good start? What am i to expect? Any advice would be gratefully received.
For anyone mildly interested, here is the current spec of my lowly Fabia:
Engine:
Hybrid PD150 turbo – Larger impeller, housing machined to suit, cutback exhaust wheel.
Braided turbo oil feed.
Twin pass front mount intercooler (hidden behind standard bumper)
Custom 57mm intercooler pipework.
Piper 2.5” stainless turbo back decat, single silencer exhaust – Piper bespoke 2.5” non-polished exit.
PD160 air intake.
JabbaSport cone in box.
EGR delete (EGR cooler removed and pipework modified to suit).
Crankcase breather redirected.
CG Motorsport 6 paddle clutch with single mass flywheel.
Custom map by Dirty Torque Developments (including MAF delete, EGR Delete and launch control)
Chassis:
AP Coilovers.
JabbaSport Rear ARB.
Powerflex dogdone mount (65 shore).
312mm Audi TT/Octavia vRS front brakes.
Exterior/Looks:
Completely standard - the way it should be
It should be seeing around 230bhp/350lb/ft and actually revs really well for a diesel - Peak power is around 3500-4000rpm
I broke my cherry at Hullavington in terms of full trackdays. Definitely a good place to go (along with Colerne etc) as relatively safe when it goes wrong compared to getting Camp corner wrong at Castle Combe....
You do however (due to the harsh surface) usually kill a pair of tyres on an airfield day. Llandow is quite rough on tyres, but the grip is excellent to contra that.
The fabia can be good fun on track and it sounds like the one above is fettled enough to make it a lot of fun. Just take some spare wheels, and potentially be prepared for a boost hose to pop off
You do however (due to the harsh surface) usually kill a pair of tyres on an airfield day. Llandow is quite rough on tyres, but the grip is excellent to contra that.
The fabia can be good fun on track and it sounds like the one above is fettled enough to make it a lot of fun. Just take some spare wheels, and potentially be prepared for a boost hose to pop off
Cheers guys. Im over on Brisky ('NoSmokeNoPoke') and am familiar with Mr TDI and his non-vrs fabia!
So, an airfield day it is, or the one you are organising, or both!
Would you think i'd benefit from a £25 additional cost to have a session with an instructor at somewhere like Hullavington to make the most of the car?
If im being honest, im confident in my driving abilities, but am a bit overwhelmed of the possibility of being our with some/a lot of quicker cars and people with track experience. I guess everyone has to start somewhere, right!?
So, an airfield day it is, or the one you are organising, or both!
Would you think i'd benefit from a £25 additional cost to have a session with an instructor at somewhere like Hullavington to make the most of the car?
If im being honest, im confident in my driving abilities, but am a bit overwhelmed of the possibility of being our with some/a lot of quicker cars and people with track experience. I guess everyone has to start somewhere, right!?
mbizzler said:
Cheers guys. Im over on Brisky ('NoSmokeNoPoke') and am familiar with Mr TDI and his non-vrs fabia!
So, an airfield day it is, or the one you are organising, or both!
Would you think i'd benefit from a £25 additional cost to have a session with an instructor at somewhere like Hullavington to make the most of the car?
If im being honest, im confident in my driving abilities, but am a bit overwhelmed of the possibility of being our with some/a lot of quicker cars and people with track experience. I guess everyone has to start somewhere, right!?
You're more likely to find people there will be surprised how quick your car is, rather than the other way around. But expect the slower cars which look a bit like total sheds to be quick in the bends. People who trailer trackdays cars usually have them well setup for bends. So, an airfield day it is, or the one you are organising, or both!
Would you think i'd benefit from a £25 additional cost to have a session with an instructor at somewhere like Hullavington to make the most of the car?
If im being honest, im confident in my driving abilities, but am a bit overwhelmed of the possibility of being our with some/a lot of quicker cars and people with track experience. I guess everyone has to start somewhere, right!?
Corners in my fabia, slow-in, fast out! 
mbizzler said:
Would you think i'd benefit from a £25 additional cost to have a session with an instructor at somewhere like Hullavington to make the most of the car?
If im being honest, im confident in my driving abilities, but am a bit overwhelmed of the possibility of being our with some/a lot of quicker cars and people with track experience. I guess everyone has to start somewhere, right!?
It's always a good idea to go out with an instructor ,, I was tracking my car at Coombe for years before I went out with an instructor and I would say I learnt a lot from him as far as track lines and braking zones
I'm sure you will be hooked once you have had a go
Here's a handy check list copied from another site
•Driving licence
•Helmets (may be provided by circuit)
•Clothing (long sleeves and trousers)
•Wheel nuts tightened
•All fluid levels checked & caps replaced
•Car fuelled. i.e. Full (you'll need it!)
•Loose articles removed/secured
•Tyre pressures increased for higher speed
•Windscreen cleaner (anticipate flies)
•Towing eyes (where separate) just in case
•Zero tripmeter on arrival if you wish to count laps
Also, bear in mind that some items on the car will wear at an accelerated rate on a track day.
•Check brake pads - they'll wear a bit (!)
•Consider tyre wear- if you're down to about 3mm you may not be legal at the end of the day!
•Ensure your spare is in order.
•When was your brake fluid last changed (Old fluid will boil more easily and lead to brake fade)
Remember that it isn't a race. It's an opportunity to drive your car as fast as you feel comfortable and explore what it can do in a safe environment. It's also an opportunity to receive professional driving instruction.
I would get tuition and have fun. there is always someone faster than you (unless your in a supercharged atom ;-) ) I would advise take one tuition session in the morning, and one in the afternoon if you are happy to spend the money, I've found tuition to be worth more than any modifications over the last 7 years of trackdays I've done.
I also did Hullavington last year and have to say it's a well though out track and lot's of fun. I found tyre wear ok there (may be different in a nose heavy FWD car), Llandow destroys tyres but is a great starter track + the chief marshal is piss funny!
Hamish
I also did Hullavington last year and have to say it's a well though out track and lot's of fun. I found tyre wear ok there (may be different in a nose heavy FWD car), Llandow destroys tyres but is a great starter track + the chief marshal is piss funny!
Hamish
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Having spent a lot of money on your car then £25 for an instructor will probably offer you the best return on investment in terms of going faster and safer. A No Brainer. have fun!
WHS, you will not believe how slow you are compared to a racing instructor. I went on track with an old boy in a Porshe cayman @ Thruxton, after one sighting lap he put his toe down, and could he peddal!!! Then my turn, couldn't get anywhere near his speed through the corners. It pays to get instruction, you will learn lots about balance and braking points. Well worth the money. wessexrfc said:
WHS, you will not believe how slow you are compared to a racing instructor. I went on track with an old boy in a Porshe cayman @ Thruxton, after one sighting lap he put his toe down, and could he peddal!!! Then my turn, couldn't get anywhere near his speed through the corners. It pays to get instruction, you will learn lots about balance and braking points. Well worth the money.
^^^^^ THIS!I've done a few laps of Castle Combe (not a full day though) and I took a passenger out last time (F.O.C) who knew the circuit very well and within about 3 laps I had all my lines changed and was making much better progress. Tuition by someone who knows a circuit like the back of their hand is very useful. I'd love to find someone like this (Sabine
) to guide me round the Nurburgring a few times. I feel like I know that circuit well too, but I doubt I do....If I'm at home on the day of the track day, I will come along and give you some instruction if you're happy to buy me a coffee?
And if you want a help with laps round the ring TDi.....I can give you plenty of tuition for that place too...done over 2000 laps of the place, so know it rather well
Both Colerne and Hullavington are very good, don't like Kevel as I think the surface on the permi track is awful.
Oh and if you want to do something at Combe...can help there too I've lapped at 1:12 so know that pretty well too
And if you want a help with laps round the ring TDi.....I can give you plenty of tuition for that place too...done over 2000 laps of the place, so know it rather well
Both Colerne and Hullavington are very good, don't like Kevel as I think the surface on the permi track is awful.
Oh and if you want to do something at Combe...can help there too
I've lapped at 1:12 so know that pretty well tooGassing Station | South West | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff