Thursday 6th June 2002

TVR Performance Technique Day

It's expensive, but is it value for money? We join TVR at Bedford Autodrome to find out.

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[Leadfoot]

Glad you enjoyed it Ted, but how representative of a 'nornal' performance techniques' day do you think it was with only 30 cars attending (there were 70+ on the one I went to)? A small number of cars & an open pit lane would have given me a rather different opinion of the one I did last July.

[adeewuff]

Ted,

Can you divulge these new techniques that you learnt or would you have kill me if you did?!

[PetrolTed]

OK, firstly regarding the number of cars. I've run a day there in the past with 45 cars on the GT circuit and that certainly wasn't a problem. It's a big old track so whilst you wouldn't get an open pit lane with 60-80 cars, it won't be crowded. Granted I did experience an unusually low number of cars. What was bizarre was that in the afternoon there were times when there were only one or two cars on track! Madness!

Regarding the new techniques. Firsly JP mentioned not snatching at your gears - something I've seen many people do trying to get a really quick change. He reckons it buggers up your gearbox (that's the technical explanation).

Secondly I got to experience the benefit of real power when understeering. In my car I can try to power out of it with my foot pressed to the floor, but it becomes a lot more apparent that it's controllable when you've got 360+bhp pushing you out of trouble.

[cirks]

quote:with Palmersport themselves for £195.

Except that on the Palmersport days you no longer get food included (refreshments yes, food no). Bit of a cheek really especially since lunch is around £7.00. Weird as the very first day they organised that I went to it was included...

Generally their normal (ie. non TVR Perf Technique days) are good, well organised and also open pit lane. For the amount of driving you get and the facilities they are (just about) value for money. I still doubt the £135 extra for the Technique day is justified.....(unless you make real use of the additional instruction available)

[PetrolTed]

Don't forget there can be the opportunity to try out other cars on track (if your dealer is amiable). I've tried a few of these hire-drives recently but none competed with the Tuscan for fun.

[MikeE]

Ted - I thought you were on holiday?????

IF not, I'm off to Le Mans on Thursday morning, do you have any of those HUGE PH stickers left? (to plaster down the side of my car)

Mike.

[PetrolTed]

I'm trying to leave! I'll get some in the post to you this afternoon on my way out...

[gb61390]

Thanks for the write up Ted, I'm now booked on to the July one. I'll just have to ecourage ny dealer to attend with a Tuscan S?
Cheers...... Andrew

[Nashy]

Hello guys... first post for me!

Can someone tell me how they booked this Bedford thing? Sounds like a laugh!

[gb61390]

Nashy, the only way to book it is via your dealer.
Have a look at the TVR website www.tvr.co.uk for full details.
Maybe see you there in July?
Cheers..... Andrew

[Nashy]

Cheers Andrew (what's the gxxxx name all about?). Any advice for me? First track day apart from 3 laps in a caterham last year. Insurance? Noise regs - I've got a standard Chim, should be OK? Spare parts? Car prep? etc etc. Any advice welcome. Thanks.

[gb61390]

Don't ask! I registered with an old work userid well before I started using the gassing station so didn't know what the userid would be used for!

The TVR website has got the all nosie details, etc. As for insurance you'll need to check your policy. Mine covers 'properly marshalled' Track Days but the excess is bumped up.

Cheers.... Andrew