Beginner - track days south west
Discussion
Easy go to http://www.motorsport-events.co.uk/ they do loads of trackdays suitable for what you are after. They are local, cheap and mostly based on airfields giving you loads of run off whilst you explore the limits of the car.
Trackdays tend to be hard on tyres and brakes so before you go it's worthwhile uprating the front pads and changing the brake fluid for Dot 5 at least.
Other things worth investing in...
Reasonable quality helmet.
Gloves (especially if you have leather steering wheel)
Tyre pressure gauge.
Hand held fire extinguisher obtainable from driver's seat.
Long sleeved t-shirt (you need to cover your arms on track and it can get hot in the cabin)
Spanner check your car prior to day, get it up on a ramp even if for only five minutes, have a poke and a prod make sure there are no obvious problems.
How far you go with the car is really up to you/your budget, you will soon know what you car needs to make go round in circles faster.
The best modification you will ever make is to get some instruction.
Above all. Enjoy!
Trackdays tend to be hard on tyres and brakes so before you go it's worthwhile uprating the front pads and changing the brake fluid for Dot 5 at least.
Other things worth investing in...
Reasonable quality helmet.
Gloves (especially if you have leather steering wheel)
Tyre pressure gauge.
Hand held fire extinguisher obtainable from driver's seat.
Long sleeved t-shirt (you need to cover your arms on track and it can get hot in the cabin)
Spanner check your car prior to day, get it up on a ramp even if for only five minutes, have a poke and a prod make sure there are no obvious problems.
How far you go with the car is really up to you/your budget, you will soon know what you car needs to make go round in circles faster.
The best modification you will ever make is to get some instruction.
Above all. Enjoy!
Bomber Denton said:
Easy go to http://www.motorsport-events.co.uk/ they do loads of trackdays suitable for what you are after. They are local, cheap and mostly based on airfields giving you loads of run off whilst you explore the limits of the car.
Trackdays tend to be hard on tyres and brakes so before you go it's worthwhile uprating the front pads and changing the brake fluid for Dot 5 at least. <snip>
I've also used motorsport events in the past. 3 times I think. It's well organised etc but I do get more enjoyment at a "proper" track. However, these guys are organised and CHEAP which drags me back.Trackdays tend to be hard on tyres and brakes so before you go it's worthwhile uprating the front pads and changing the brake fluid for Dot 5 at least. <snip>
On the brake fluid definately do NOT put DOT5 in. DOT5.1 would be acceptable and I assume thats what Bomber means
. Racing DOT4 is better. Proper racing DOT4 will go to a higher temperature than DOT5.1 but will need changing more often. Swing. Roundabout. You decide. 
Please don't use one of the Castle Combe "action days" as your first run on track. Not only is it grotesquely overpriced, it is utterly overrun with tossers intent on driving like complete tools. The airfield days mentioned above are great, with a key advantage being the run-off areas being mahoosive so it will be hard work to stuff up the bodywork.
Another one for MSE here.
Cheap, Brilliantly run, Plenty of run off, and you're going round with likeminded sensible people (most of the time!)
I did my first track day with them and am glad I did, I now have the confidence in myself and the car to take it round on proper circuits now.
For the love of god don't let Castle Combe be your first track day.....it's extremely tough on brakes and doesn't have any run off if you make a mistake.
Also, Ed Moore is still racing in FF's, but he's trying his hand at the Special GT's as well this season.
Cheap, Brilliantly run, Plenty of run off, and you're going round with likeminded sensible people (most of the time!)
I did my first track day with them and am glad I did, I now have the confidence in myself and the car to take it round on proper circuits now.
For the love of god don't let Castle Combe be your first track day.....it's extremely tough on brakes and doesn't have any run off if you make a mistake.
Also, Ed Moore is still racing in FF's, but he's trying his hand at the Special GT's as well this season.
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