Taupo Trackday - February 10th - Track 1
Discussion
Good evening all.
My name is Ben Foote and I am organizing a private trackday at Taupo Motorsport park on February the 10th 2009. The track being used is Track 1 which for those who don't know is the A1GP Track.
I have organized 3 events in the past but I plan for this one to be very special. My first event was conducted in Decemeber of 2005 when I was 17, I am an active member of the New Zealand Honda Club, own a 1997 Honda Integra Type R (which sees the track) and study Chemical and Process Engineering at Canterbury University. Whilst I am a student I am also heavily involved in the transport industry and am interested in anything with 4 or more wheels!
I am looking for confident, courteous and most of all experienced drivers to enter. Hopefully George and Graham will be able to vouch for me as they have both attended my events in the past and from what I have been told they quite enjoyed themselves. There is a maximum number of entrants which has been set at 36, because of this the track time offered per entrant is higher than many other events and hence I would hope the overall experience is somewhat more enjoyable. Cost is $150 per car and is non refundable. The event follows the same sort of format as many other private trackdays held at Taupo; with an open pit style setup and of course a fair use policy so everyoneg gets their fair sahe of track time. As usual passengers are only allowed in vehicles that have a MSNZ homologated roll cage and the correct harnesses for both driver and passenger.
So if you wish to enter this event I would deeply appreciate it, although I am only young (I think I recall Graham mentioning he was old enough to be my father once!) I have had plenty of experience in organizing these events and hope that I can attract entrants of a high caliber which from what George has told me all of you most certainly are.
If you wish to enter please do not hesitate to contact me; my email is: ben@footebins.co.nz and my cell phone number is: 027 630 1539.
Thanks in advance
Ben Foote.
My name is Ben Foote and I am organizing a private trackday at Taupo Motorsport park on February the 10th 2009. The track being used is Track 1 which for those who don't know is the A1GP Track.
I have organized 3 events in the past but I plan for this one to be very special. My first event was conducted in Decemeber of 2005 when I was 17, I am an active member of the New Zealand Honda Club, own a 1997 Honda Integra Type R (which sees the track) and study Chemical and Process Engineering at Canterbury University. Whilst I am a student I am also heavily involved in the transport industry and am interested in anything with 4 or more wheels!
I am looking for confident, courteous and most of all experienced drivers to enter. Hopefully George and Graham will be able to vouch for me as they have both attended my events in the past and from what I have been told they quite enjoyed themselves. There is a maximum number of entrants which has been set at 36, because of this the track time offered per entrant is higher than many other events and hence I would hope the overall experience is somewhat more enjoyable. Cost is $150 per car and is non refundable. The event follows the same sort of format as many other private trackdays held at Taupo; with an open pit style setup and of course a fair use policy so everyoneg gets their fair sahe of track time. As usual passengers are only allowed in vehicles that have a MSNZ homologated roll cage and the correct harnesses for both driver and passenger.
So if you wish to enter this event I would deeply appreciate it, although I am only young (I think I recall Graham mentioning he was old enough to be my father once!) I have had plenty of experience in organizing these events and hope that I can attract entrants of a high caliber which from what George has told me all of you most certainly are.
If you wish to enter please do not hesitate to contact me; my email is: ben@footebins.co.nz and my cell phone number is: 027 630 1539.
Thanks in advance
Ben Foote.
Edited by Logger on Friday 24th October 08:40
Edited by Logger on Thursday 30th October 09:51
Logger said:
I think I recall Graham mentioning he was old enough to be my father once!
That was more a comment on how OLD I am, rather than how young you were at the time. 
Your previous events were well run, and I'll Book in for Feb as soon as I can check my diary with my social secretary.
I've been to one of Ben's days (the first one) and know him well so can vouch that it'll be a well-run day. I think Ben's aims are to keep this one small in terms of numbers with more experienced people coming along so it should end up meaning as much track time as anyone can handle.
I'm desperately hoping to have a car for this, but that'll be touch and go... either way I still intend coming along
I'm desperately hoping to have a car for this, but that'll be touch and go... either way I still intend coming along
Esprit said:
I've been to one of Ben's days (the first one) and know him well so can vouch that it'll be a well-run day. I think Ben's aims are to keep this one small in terms of numbers with more experienced people coming along so it should end up meaning as much track time as anyone can handle.
I'm desperately hoping to have a car for this, but that'll be touch and go... either way I still intend coming along
If you do some flag waving, I'll give you a pax ride I'm desperately hoping to have a car for this, but that'll be touch and go... either way I still intend coming along
Roger A said:
I'm not sure I count as experienced, having only been to two trackdays (Fraser club day at Taupo and Lotus club driver education day) but I hereby register my interest-just need to check my calendar
Experienced means you're not on your restricted, with your jeans halfway down your ar$e, believing you're a Drifting-god, and thinking that the mirrors are just for checking the angle on your cap. That's isn't just a crack at the young chaps as some of them are VERY good indeed.The three worst solo accidents I've seen at trackdays have been older guys in powerful cars, at their first trackdays, not following the briefing instructions.
I watched a video of a young chap at Taupo recently and unusually you could see his eyes in the mirror. He was driving quite well but only checked his mirrors 3 times in 4 laps.
On the othe hand I've lost count of the times that a driver in front has suddenly noticed a car behind and then promptly driven off the track into the kitty-litter.
You and the Fraser will fit in nicely
Ben, I would love to do this day but with a five lap limit it's not worth driving down for. I spent many years in Europe and have done countless trackdays. On a sessioned day they would run three 20 minute sessions per hour - beginners, intermediate and advanced. Or open pit lane where the track is open all day (exception of lunchtimes and marshal change overs) the pitlane marshall would control the number of cars on track at any given time - once at capacity - you release a car when one comes in, this normally only occurs first thing in the morning and after lunch. This worked brillantly as you could stay out as long as you wished and in reality meant very few queues and the freedom to go out when you wished.
With a five lap limit you just don't have enough laps to get to grips with the track. A couple of laps to warm up the tyres, a couple of laps of actual fun and a warm down lap. Having spoken to various organisers over the years here, the reasoning seems to be that this format is to prevent people running out of brakes. But in reality brakes just don't go off in the blink of an eye, if the pedal is going soft then come in! The majority of people on trackdays are sensible enough to follow this basic rule. My experience in Europe has borne this out and the Europeans are no different from us. What is different is the safety briefing which would generally lasts an hour and covers pretty much everything. In NZ it lasts about 5 mins and is woefully inadequate. I have never seen a case in Europe of an incident caused by a lack of brakes, but I have seen plenty of incidents on trackdays here caused by a poor safety briefing esp. overtaking rules.
In Europe there are strict guidelines developed over many years to avoid blue on blue incidents. Basically you must give way to faster cars by pulling off the racing line and turning an indicator on - overtaking is only on the left and never under braking or cornering. Failure to follow these simple guidelines results firstly in a warning and secondly in an early exit. In comparison over here overtaking can occur pretty much anywhere and the car being overtaken should stick to the racing line with the emphasis placed on the car doing the overtaking. This is crazy in my opinion since you have no idea what the other driver is likely to do - i.e. maybe he decides to suddenly move off the racing line for any number of reasons just as you decide to overtake i.e. runs wide on a corner gathers it up and cuts back in just as you are attempting to go through. With the emphasis on the driver being overtaken you have the knowledge that when he indicates and pulls over that he is aware of you. Should he fail to yield then a quick word with the pitlane marshal will ensure he watches his mirrors or packs up early. With only five laps drivers are more likely to make a dumb decision since they don't want to waste their limited laps stuck behind a slower car.
Apologises for the thread drift and the novel (the Army taught me to type with all ten fingers 20 years ago). But I think this thread could be useful to discuss the overall trackday scene in NZ and ways of improving it.
When I moved back to NZ a few years ago I arranged a trip for all my UK mates. We hired Puke, Taupo and Manfeild. They all hired for the most part rent-a-dents from companies that didn't exclude non-timed events. So in other words a collection of by and large the most unsuitable trackday cars you could imagine. We ran the days under our normal rules (open pit lane) and other than one excursion into a tyre wall at Puke (not caused by brake failure) there were no incidents. A number of Kiwi's also took part and I believe thoroughly enjoyed the open pitlane format. There were never any queues and everyone got as much tracktime as they wanted.
So Ben would you consider running Taupo under similar rules? I am happy to help out and would be prepared to either run the safety briefing or give you as much information as you require on what should be covered. George (Esprit) would be happy to vouch my credentials.
The secret to a successful trackday lays in a comprehensive briefing and an organiser prepared to ensure participants follow the guidelines.
With a five lap limit you just don't have enough laps to get to grips with the track. A couple of laps to warm up the tyres, a couple of laps of actual fun and a warm down lap. Having spoken to various organisers over the years here, the reasoning seems to be that this format is to prevent people running out of brakes. But in reality brakes just don't go off in the blink of an eye, if the pedal is going soft then come in! The majority of people on trackdays are sensible enough to follow this basic rule. My experience in Europe has borne this out and the Europeans are no different from us. What is different is the safety briefing which would generally lasts an hour and covers pretty much everything. In NZ it lasts about 5 mins and is woefully inadequate. I have never seen a case in Europe of an incident caused by a lack of brakes, but I have seen plenty of incidents on trackdays here caused by a poor safety briefing esp. overtaking rules.
In Europe there are strict guidelines developed over many years to avoid blue on blue incidents. Basically you must give way to faster cars by pulling off the racing line and turning an indicator on - overtaking is only on the left and never under braking or cornering. Failure to follow these simple guidelines results firstly in a warning and secondly in an early exit. In comparison over here overtaking can occur pretty much anywhere and the car being overtaken should stick to the racing line with the emphasis placed on the car doing the overtaking. This is crazy in my opinion since you have no idea what the other driver is likely to do - i.e. maybe he decides to suddenly move off the racing line for any number of reasons just as you decide to overtake i.e. runs wide on a corner gathers it up and cuts back in just as you are attempting to go through. With the emphasis on the driver being overtaken you have the knowledge that when he indicates and pulls over that he is aware of you. Should he fail to yield then a quick word with the pitlane marshal will ensure he watches his mirrors or packs up early. With only five laps drivers are more likely to make a dumb decision since they don't want to waste their limited laps stuck behind a slower car.
Apologises for the thread drift and the novel (the Army taught me to type with all ten fingers 20 years ago). But I think this thread could be useful to discuss the overall trackday scene in NZ and ways of improving it.
When I moved back to NZ a few years ago I arranged a trip for all my UK mates. We hired Puke, Taupo and Manfeild. They all hired for the most part rent-a-dents from companies that didn't exclude non-timed events. So in other words a collection of by and large the most unsuitable trackday cars you could imagine. We ran the days under our normal rules (open pit lane) and other than one excursion into a tyre wall at Puke (not caused by brake failure) there were no incidents. A number of Kiwi's also took part and I believe thoroughly enjoyed the open pitlane format. There were never any queues and everyone got as much tracktime as they wanted.
So Ben would you consider running Taupo under similar rules? I am happy to help out and would be prepared to either run the safety briefing or give you as much information as you require on what should be covered. George (Esprit) would be happy to vouch my credentials.
The secret to a successful trackday lays in a comprehensive briefing and an organiser prepared to ensure participants follow the guidelines.
I would be honoured to have you onboard Ian. I had been toying with the idea of an open pit lane but was a bit scared of doing it for some reason :S. So yes the event will be run as an open pit lane event. I have changed the first post to reflect this. Will email you aswell, thanks!!!
A couple of issues to be considered.
If the UK format is used at this, and a couple of other trackdays but not all of them, then there will be a bit of confusion swapping from one regime back to the other.
It would be helpful if all the different trackday organisers emailed out a pdf of their briefing a couple of weeks beforehand, and there was also a copy of it posted on the wall of one of the garages. This is something I've been suggesting for ages but nobody seems interested. That way at the briefing you are only being reminded of what to do, not learning it from scratch.
I was a bit horrified to watch an in-car video of a driver I overtook a couple of times at a recent trackday. Unusually, you could see his eyes in the centre mirror. While he was driving quite well, he was looking in his mirrors less than once per lap !!!
A possible suggestion would be to have trackside signs with
MIRRORS
like a real estate sign pegged into the ground at strategic points around the track
This shouldn't be necessary but I think for inexperienced trackday drivers there is so much noise and vibration and speed and stuff happening that they probably never check their gauges or mirrors. After a couple of trackdays it all gets much more manageable.
In open track format you will have cars doing cool-down laps at the same time as others on hot laps. While there is always a potential for faster cars and slower cars, might this cause a little more potential for conflict?
You would also have cold cars entering the track while others are on hot laps. The pit lane marshal would need to be much closer to the exit than most usually are and much more aware of what is coming down the pit straight. It is of course the responsibility of the driver entering the track to do so safely but this would be a new responsibility for most trackday drivers.
NZ trackdays are cheap and I would happily pay more to have one or two semi-pro flag marshals to work with the volunteers.
Two of my favourite overtaking points, where I can carry more speed into the preceding corner and turn tighter, are on the right.
If this would result in better, safer and more consistent trackdays then I would give up my two favourite overtaking points
If the UK format is used at this, and a couple of other trackdays but not all of them, then there will be a bit of confusion swapping from one regime back to the other.
It would be helpful if all the different trackday organisers emailed out a pdf of their briefing a couple of weeks beforehand, and there was also a copy of it posted on the wall of one of the garages. This is something I've been suggesting for ages but nobody seems interested. That way at the briefing you are only being reminded of what to do, not learning it from scratch.
I was a bit horrified to watch an in-car video of a driver I overtook a couple of times at a recent trackday. Unusually, you could see his eyes in the centre mirror. While he was driving quite well, he was looking in his mirrors less than once per lap !!!
A possible suggestion would be to have trackside signs with
MIRRORS
like a real estate sign pegged into the ground at strategic points around the track
This shouldn't be necessary but I think for inexperienced trackday drivers there is so much noise and vibration and speed and stuff happening that they probably never check their gauges or mirrors. After a couple of trackdays it all gets much more manageable.
In open track format you will have cars doing cool-down laps at the same time as others on hot laps. While there is always a potential for faster cars and slower cars, might this cause a little more potential for conflict?
You would also have cold cars entering the track while others are on hot laps. The pit lane marshal would need to be much closer to the exit than most usually are and much more aware of what is coming down the pit straight. It is of course the responsibility of the driver entering the track to do so safely but this would be a new responsibility for most trackday drivers.
NZ trackdays are cheap and I would happily pay more to have one or two semi-pro flag marshals to work with the volunteers.
Two of my favourite overtaking points, where I can carry more speed into the preceding corner and turn tighter, are on the right.
If this would result in better, safer and more consistent trackdays then I would give up my two favourite overtaking points
Edited by Kiwi XTR2 on Thursday 30th October 10:26
Forgot to add that I agree with the briefings usually being less than useful.
Also think that if there are novices at trackdays they should have a X on the back of the car and also get and extra briefing before they hit the track and a re-fresher briefing around lunchtime.
Also think that if there are novices at trackdays they should have a X on the back of the car and also get and extra briefing before they hit the track and a re-fresher briefing around lunchtime.
Edited by Kiwi XTR2 on Thursday 30th October 10:31
Thanks for your input Graham. At the moment I am hoping to have only entrants that have at least 2 trackdays under their belt. In reality I will be the most inexperienced there!!!
I see your point about having cars in different stages of warm up/race pace/cool down on the track at the same time. I think this could be managed safely through the use of well trained marshalls etc.
Perhaps if you and Ian could get together and write up the safety briefing and I will email it out to everyone. As the time gets closer I will hash these details out more closely. At this stage I need to get onto Tim and check that he's happy and up with the play on everything.
Of course after having a good think I've decided to bring my car up for the event so I'd better get my oil cooler and new radiator in quick smart!!
I see your point about having cars in different stages of warm up/race pace/cool down on the track at the same time. I think this could be managed safely through the use of well trained marshalls etc.
Perhaps if you and Ian could get together and write up the safety briefing and I will email it out to everyone. As the time gets closer I will hash these details out more closely. At this stage I need to get onto Tim and check that he's happy and up with the play on everything.
Of course after having a good think I've decided to bring my car up for the event so I'd better get my oil cooler and new radiator in quick smart!!
I'll definitely be there in that case Ben - should be a cracker! As I mentioned if you need any pointers I'm happy to help out.
We don't realise how lucky we are down here. A day at Silverstone or Spa Francorchamps can cost close to NZ $1,000. Mind you they have professional marshals and an Ambulance on standby. Interestingly they have no restrictions on passengers. Funny how on one hand we are very laid back in certain areas and over the top in others. There's a corporate day at Puke each year I take part in where the organiser pays for the track and gives us petrol money. In return we take his corporate clients around as passengers. I presume the requirement for a MANZ approved roll cage is for insurance purposes?
We don't realise how lucky we are down here. A day at Silverstone or Spa Francorchamps can cost close to NZ $1,000. Mind you they have professional marshals and an Ambulance on standby. Interestingly they have no restrictions on passengers. Funny how on one hand we are very laid back in certain areas and over the top in others. There's a corporate day at Puke each year I take part in where the organiser pays for the track and gives us petrol money. In return we take his corporate clients around as passengers. I presume the requirement for a MANZ approved roll cage is for insurance purposes?
Kiwi XTR2 said:
A couple of issues to be considered.
If the UK format is used at this, and a couple of other trackdays but not all of them, then there will be a bit of confusion swapping from one regime back to the other.
It would be helpful if all the different trackday organisers emailed out a pdf of their briefing a couple of weeks beforehand, and there was also a copy of it posted on the wall of one of the garages. This is something I've been suggesting for ages but nobody seems interested. That way at the briefing you are only being reminded of what to do, not learning it from scratch.
I was a bit horrified to watch an in-car video of a driver I overtook a couple of times at a recent trackday. Unusually, you could see his eyes in the centre mirror. While he was driving quite well, he was looking in his mirrors less than once per lap !!!
A possible suggestion would be to have trackside signs with
MIRRORS
like a real estate sign pegged into the ground at strategic points around the track
This shouldn't be necessary but I think for inexperienced trackday drivers there is so much noise and vibration and speed and stuff happening that they probably never check their gauges or mirrors. After a couple of trackdays it all gets much more manageable.
In open track format you will have cars doing cool-down laps at the same time as others on hot laps. While there is always a potential for faster cars and slower cars, might this cause a little more potential for conflict?
You would also have cold cars entering the track while others are on hot laps. The pit lane marshal would need to be much closer to the exit than most usually are and much more aware of what is coming down the pit straight. It is of course the responsibility of the driver entering the track to do so safely but this would be a new responsibility for most trackday drivers.
NZ trackdays are cheap and I would happily pay more to have one or two semi-pro flag marshals to work with the volunteers.
Two of my favourite overtaking points, where I can carry more speed into the preceding corner and turn tighter, are on the right.
If this would result in better, safer and more consistent trackdays then I would give up my two favourite overtaking points
I adapted to the NZ way of overtaking instantly, no reason to assume it can't work the other way around. If someone doesn't start to change the way of things it will never change.. And imho it is a much safer way of doing things.If the UK format is used at this, and a couple of other trackdays but not all of them, then there will be a bit of confusion swapping from one regime back to the other.
It would be helpful if all the different trackday organisers emailed out a pdf of their briefing a couple of weeks beforehand, and there was also a copy of it posted on the wall of one of the garages. This is something I've been suggesting for ages but nobody seems interested. That way at the briefing you are only being reminded of what to do, not learning it from scratch.
I was a bit horrified to watch an in-car video of a driver I overtook a couple of times at a recent trackday. Unusually, you could see his eyes in the centre mirror. While he was driving quite well, he was looking in his mirrors less than once per lap !!!
A possible suggestion would be to have trackside signs with
MIRRORS
like a real estate sign pegged into the ground at strategic points around the track
This shouldn't be necessary but I think for inexperienced trackday drivers there is so much noise and vibration and speed and stuff happening that they probably never check their gauges or mirrors. After a couple of trackdays it all gets much more manageable.
In open track format you will have cars doing cool-down laps at the same time as others on hot laps. While there is always a potential for faster cars and slower cars, might this cause a little more potential for conflict?
You would also have cold cars entering the track while others are on hot laps. The pit lane marshal would need to be much closer to the exit than most usually are and much more aware of what is coming down the pit straight. It is of course the responsibility of the driver entering the track to do so safely but this would be a new responsibility for most trackday drivers.
NZ trackdays are cheap and I would happily pay more to have one or two semi-pro flag marshals to work with the volunteers.
Two of my favourite overtaking points, where I can carry more speed into the preceding corner and turn tighter, are on the right.
If this would result in better, safer and more consistent trackdays then I would give up my two favourite overtaking points
Edited by Kiwi XTR2 on Thursday 30th October 10:26
Regarding cool down laps and out laps, on a cool down lap indicator on and off the racing line, on an out lap, firstly the pitlane marshal should ensure there is a good gap and secondly check your mirrors!
With regard to people not checking their mirrors, firstly in an open pitlane format there is no pressure so if you catch someone who doesn't let you by, just back off. Secondly the flag marshals should be waving their blue flag, thirdly report the driver to the marshals when you come in.
Open pitlane works best with drivers who have a few trackdays under their belt, but it also relies upon experienced and generally quicker drivers to show a bit of common sense when they come across a slower novice who doesn't yield by either backing off or coming in early and informing the organiser. There is no excuse on a straight not to glance in your mirrors, esp. if you have had it drilled into you during the briefing and perhaps have been warned once during the day. At the end of the day if you can't follow the basic rules then you will be doing everyone a favour by being excluded. Trackdays are first and foremost about safety and drivers who cannot follow the basic rules have no right to be on track with those that can. PC correctness stops firmly at the entrance to a track...
Overtaking is always done on the left in the UK, sure it may not suit all tracks, but it is consistent.
In reality I have only seen a couple of drivers ever send home and the organisers did us all a favour by excluding them.
Kiwi XTR2 said:
iwilson said:
. . . I presume the requirement for a MANZ approved roll cage is for insurance purposes?
I think it's a rule that Gavin has set for anyone who hires the Taupo track?Ben, I fully echo Ian's comments. Given that he's probably got more trackdays under his belt than the rest of us here put together he's pretty much seen it all... here, all over Europe and even a few in the States.
Open pit lane is something I'd love to see, been on a few trackdays like this here in the past and it's so much easier to get into a rhythm this way... you can gently bring everything up to temperature rather than trying to hammer your tyres and brakes to try to get them working optimally to give you 3 flying laps to get some meaningful info out of.
I DO agree with the standard 5-lap format for first-time trackdayers as people DO sometimes do silly things like running their cars out of brakes, especially when they're new and/or are driving some of the cars you see at trackdays (big, powerful old cars like Falcons, Jag Saloons etc) But as Ian said, any semi-experienced driver should have the wherewithall to sort this all out.
The bonus of running open pit lane is that you're simply not forced to "get on with things" and can just follow your own pace. I like them because I can go out and do a good number of laps and also take more time to do slower laps to really work on my lines without feeling that I'm wasting my track time. It also gives the chance to have 2-3 (or more) cooldown laps at the end of a session, which is much better for a car than the 1 lap you get running 5 lap sessons where your car gets back to the pits and cooks.
Personally I think the rules should go like this (as a clarification of Ian's suggestions above):
- Overtaking only under power, not under brakes. This is because cars are at their most unstable under brakes. Everywhere else is fair game
- The overtaking car must ONLY pass the slower car by passing n the left. No exceptions... this just makes sure that everyone's on the same page and there's no questions about who's going where.
- The driver behind may NOT pass the driver in front until the car being passed has signalled (using indicators or hand signals) that he is going to pull to the right to let the overtaking car pass on the left.
- If you're following a slower car waiting to pass, be patient. You've got as many laps as you wish to run and you don't have to worry about wasting laps. They simply may not have seen you. If held up for more than a few corners, feel free to flash your headlights to make yourself known. If they still don't signal to pull over and let you past, then a flag-marshall or a track controller will flag them with a blue. If this still doesn't wake the slower driver up they will be spoken to after the session. It's a mistake they'll only make once.
- If you're a faster driver and a driver in front is refusing to acknowledge you and let you past, just chill out. If necessary slow right down and give yourself a large gap before getting back "on it"... again I reiterate that you're not wasting laps, it's not going to ruin your day. Have a word to the track controller about any non-attentive slower driver after your session and they'll be reminded of their obligations.
This is in an ideal world though and to my mind it makes the best sense for people with more than a trackday or two under their belt.... in NZ the 5-lap session is still the way to go for trackday newbies (or certainly when you've a lot of them on any given day). In the difference with the newbies is that they have to spend (literally) a couple of hours in a track/safety briefing before getting on the track, whereas here the safety briefings are pretty inadequate by comparison.
Like Graham, I'd greatly support a full on briefing PDF being e-mailed out to participants the week before. This can be summarised in the verbal briefing. Most people going to trackdays are enthusiasts and WILL read this.
Anywya, I've gone on long enough...Im just gutted I won't be driving
You should be able to count on my support though Ben and I'm happy to help out on the day with regards to helping to run the event or wave flags or whatever ^^ ^^
Agree what he said
Just my take and experiences, I guess with the 5 laps each outing is to cater for newbie’s with cars that have std street pads, fluids and are essentially land barges to keep everyone safe, Club events esp like to cover themselves.
Quite a few years ago I got invited to a private track day at Puke with the open pit lane format so you could go around as many times as you liked, the briefing was essentially sign here, keep the sunny side up, go out and enjoy !!!. Being a complete novice (still am really) I realised what a spongy pedal was the hard way after complaining to a mate I had no brakes all of a sudden!!! This resulted in a nice little spin at the hair pin from over cooking the turn with essentially no brakes oh and coming down off 240km not funny!!!! So a hard lesson learnt, I was pretty embarrassed to say the least. Most of your cars lets face it, are equipped with race badge snobbery equipment to enable you to run all day long. Would you really want someone up your rear experiencing brake fade for the first time?? What I know now I am horrified and you will only see me on a grid these days with like minded individuals. Call me a snob but that’s my choice.
What Graham said about planting a big fat X on cars is certainly the right direction to take. Each newbie car needs a full going over and questioned asked about brakes for starters. If they don’t know what they are running and last time their fluids were changed well there’s an alarm bell already.
Agree what he said
Just my take and experiences, I guess with the 5 laps each outing is to cater for newbie’s with cars that have std street pads, fluids and are essentially land barges to keep everyone safe, Club events esp like to cover themselves.
Quite a few years ago I got invited to a private track day at Puke with the open pit lane format so you could go around as many times as you liked, the briefing was essentially sign here, keep the sunny side up, go out and enjoy !!!. Being a complete novice (still am really) I realised what a spongy pedal was the hard way after complaining to a mate I had no brakes all of a sudden!!! This resulted in a nice little spin at the hair pin from over cooking the turn with essentially no brakes oh and coming down off 240km not funny!!!! So a hard lesson learnt, I was pretty embarrassed to say the least. Most of your cars lets face it, are equipped with race badge snobbery equipment to enable you to run all day long. Would you really want someone up your rear experiencing brake fade for the first time?? What I know now I am horrified and you will only see me on a grid these days with like minded individuals. Call me a snob but that’s my choice.
What Graham said about planting a big fat X on cars is certainly the right direction to take. Each newbie car needs a full going over and questioned asked about brakes for starters. If they don’t know what they are running and last time their fluids were changed well there’s an alarm bell already.
Gassing Station | New Zealand | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff