Track days around the South West

[Chris71]

Hopefully, by next week I should have a suitable track car for the first time in years. I've done a few events at Castle Combe in the past, but I was wondering if there was anywhere tolerably local that people would recommend for track days?

Llandow is quite a fun little track. I've not visited it from this direction before, but I'd imagine it's only 90 minutes or so from where I am in South Somerset. I've never done Thruxton, but it strikes me as a bit too fast for a low-powered car and the must be the potential for a big 'off' if you get it wrong in something more powerful? Not aware of any airfield days or anything, barring motorsport events like the Smeatharpe test day.

[Smitters]

Combe, Llandow, Thruxton, Abingdon is about it. Donington Park and Silverstone a bit further, as is Pembrey.

Used to be Hullavington (now to be houses), nearly Lyneham (Nimbys strike alongside short-sighted MP), Keevil (not sure - were talks to do something, but came to nothing).

Thruxton has strict noise limits too, FYI.

[Oreos]

I've done Llandow and Abingdon so far, need to do Combe next.

Llandow I can't recommend enough, staff are so relaxed and friendly and as long as you don't drive like a bell end you're usually fine.

[David Ramsbotham]

Ever thought about hill climbing? My son in law just started this season with an Audi TT and seems like a lot of fun. Recently did a sprint at Castle Combe but mainly concentrating on hill climbing at Wiscombe and Manor Farm. I think there is an event in Cornwall and certainly other courses not too far away.

[Chris71]

David Ramsbotham said:

Ever thought about hill climbing? My son in law just started this season with an Audi TT and seems like a lot of fun. Recently did a sprint at Castle Combe but mainly concentrating on hill climbing at Wiscombe and Manor Farm. I think there is an event in Cornwall and certainly other courses not too far away.

I do autosolos at the moment. I'd be keen to give hillclimbing a go, but it strikes me as a signficant step up in budget for less time on the course. And there's a lot more to hit. I grew up near Wiscombe and I've seen a few expensive accidents when people have got it wrong.

[epoch911]

Llandow is a nice little circuit (and as already mentioned, the people are great) but it's really short - more like a karting circuit. Great for shaking down a car but not really long enough IMO. I found it got a bit boring after a while.

Really it's Combe or Thruxton.

Thruxton is a fast circuit but it's still great in a low powered car. I raced there a lot in my Austin A35 - all 85bhp of it - and it managed to put a massive grin on my face. I learnt a lot about the handling of the car there.

Combe is lovely. Needs to be treated with respect but it's a brilliant circuit. And the potential for a big off is higher at Combe than Thruxton. It's not so much about the speed, more the proximity of the walls I think Quarry corner is the most crashed corner of any circuit in the UK.

Obviously every circuit has the potential for a big off if you're in a car that's too powerful for your level of skill or you drive like a tw*t.

[hairy vx220]

I've been to a couple of trackdays at Hullavington airfield in the past.

[Chris1712]

hairy vx220 said:

I've been to a couple of trackdays at Hullavington airfield in the past.

Owned by Dyson for their electric car testing now, so don’t think any trackdays will be happening!