Anyone done a Car Limits day?
Discussion
Me and a few driving friends are thinking of doing something different and more like a training day.
We all have years of experience in various cars, sports/super/track etc, but our current road cars we haven't got to the limits as you generally do not on the road. So we thought it would be a good idea.
Car Limits is all i can find and has been recommended by a friend. I want to be sure we get some benefit out of it, the cars are ranging from M2, to 570S in the group.
Has anyone who has good experience of their own cars on road and track done the car limits day and found benefit from it?
Thanks,
We all have years of experience in various cars, sports/super/track etc, but our current road cars we haven't got to the limits as you generally do not on the road. So we thought it would be a good idea.
Car Limits is all i can find and has been recommended by a friend. I want to be sure we get some benefit out of it, the cars are ranging from M2, to 570S in the group.
Has anyone who has good experience of their own cars on road and track done the car limits day and found benefit from it?
Thanks,
Yes. I did a 4 person day on North Weald airfield with 3 car minded friends, all with decent experience of track driving etc. I was in an e92 m3. Main technique was doing the same bend over and over again. Andy Walsh was good at getting you to feel what the car was doing and to work out how to get round the bend as quickly as possible. He recommended pumping the tyres up to 50 plus psi and the tyre wear was not tòo bad.
I did a day a few years ago using my Honda S2000.
Great fun and as Waremark says, Andy really ups your game by getting you to feel what the car is doing through your finger tips. By the end of the day you're getting round the main corner at speeds that didn't seem possible at the start.
The downside was that my tyre wear was pretty heavy and someone else with a BMW 3 series really needed to source replacements to drive home afterwards. The course works on the basis that when you're spinning through 360+ degrees at 70-80, you know you've miscalculated somewhere and need to try again!
Great fun and as Waremark says, Andy really ups your game by getting you to feel what the car is doing through your finger tips. By the end of the day you're getting round the main corner at speeds that didn't seem possible at the start.
The downside was that my tyre wear was pretty heavy and someone else with a BMW 3 series really needed to source replacements to drive home afterwards. The course works on the basis that when you're spinning through 360+ degrees at 70-80, you know you've miscalculated somewhere and need to try again!
I've done 3 x 4 person days (and a few activity days).
The first in the Skyline at North Weald, the 2nd in the Noble at North Weald, and the most recent (a couple of years ago) in the Noble at Blyton Park.
You'll definitely learn quite a bit. Usually start with the corner as another poster mentioned. He'll get you to go round a 90 degree bend as fast as possible until you spin. Then show you how to get round at 10-20 mph faster without spinning.
If all 4 of you are together on a 4 person day, he's usually pretty flexible and can teach you whatever you're particularly interested in - whether it's techniques for the road or track - trail braking, car balance etc.. Whether it's Andy or Mark instructing, they are both very good.
You usually finish with a "course" round 5 cones spread out across the runway, and do it several times to try to improve your time.
Only 1 car is in action at any point, so no chance of crashing into anyone.
North Weald isn't the flattest surface, and you will get some tyre wear:
Example from GTROC activity day here
Blyton Park (in Lincolnshire) is a very nice little circuit with smooth tarmac. On a 4 person day you have the whole circuit to yourselves. Example video
ETA:
One other training provider that the GTROC use a fair bit, and many people are very happy with is CAT Driver Training. They offer similar (up to 6 person) days and have access to Millbrook proving grounds. I've no personal experience myself, but know of several people who recommend them.
The first in the Skyline at North Weald, the 2nd in the Noble at North Weald, and the most recent (a couple of years ago) in the Noble at Blyton Park.
You'll definitely learn quite a bit. Usually start with the corner as another poster mentioned. He'll get you to go round a 90 degree bend as fast as possible until you spin. Then show you how to get round at 10-20 mph faster without spinning.
If all 4 of you are together on a 4 person day, he's usually pretty flexible and can teach you whatever you're particularly interested in - whether it's techniques for the road or track - trail braking, car balance etc.. Whether it's Andy or Mark instructing, they are both very good.
You usually finish with a "course" round 5 cones spread out across the runway, and do it several times to try to improve your time.
Only 1 car is in action at any point, so no chance of crashing into anyone.
North Weald isn't the flattest surface, and you will get some tyre wear:
Example from GTROC activity day here
Blyton Park (in Lincolnshire) is a very nice little circuit with smooth tarmac. On a 4 person day you have the whole circuit to yourselves. Example video
ETA:
One other training provider that the GTROC use a fair bit, and many people are very happy with is CAT Driver Training. They offer similar (up to 6 person) days and have access to Millbrook proving grounds. I've no personal experience myself, but know of several people who recommend them.
Edited by C&C on Monday 18th February 16:06
waremark said:
Yes. I did a 4 person day on North Weald airfield with 3 car minded friends, all with decent experience of track driving etc. I was in an e92 m3. Main technique was doing the same bend over and over again. Andy Walsh was good at getting you to feel what the car was doing and to work out how to get round the bend as quickly as possible. He recommended pumping the tyres up to 50 plus psi and the tyre wear was not tòo bad.
Did exactly the same thing in my c63 last summer on what felt like the hottest day of the year. I didn't pump my tires up and they only lasted another 2k or so after that sesh with major lumps taken out of the tire. Its a pretty harsh surface it has to be said. Did one a few weeks ago, very good experience, have learnt loads.
Going to do it a few more times so that I can keep learning!
They get you to overinflate the tyres to minimise damage, but I still managed to take a few chunks out my front tyres after a spin or two. Well worth it though!
Going to do it a few more times so that I can keep learning!
They get you to overinflate the tyres to minimise damage, but I still managed to take a few chunks out my front tyres after a spin or two. Well worth it though!
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