Advice for newby?
Discussion
Hi,
I've been driving ... "enthusiastically" on public roads for a few years now. I now want to learn how to drive properly (with respect to going fast, not the law): I want to curb my manic driving on public roads, and take to the track.
I have no experience of being a participant on the track. I haven't had a driving lesson since I passed my road license several years ago. I fear I may be beyond help...
Can anybody suggest some wheres, whats, whos, whens, or hows to get me started with correct driving techniques and something to ease me into the scene?
I want to do this with the aim of starting general non-competative track days & racing school trips. Progressing into hill climbing and then club level racing if I get on ok. I'll try and get my racing licenses as and when needed, something else I need to research.
Would the PH day on the 26th of Feb be a good day to go on, or would I be mixing it with the big boys (something I want to avoid) or would it be ok to start there with zero previous experience?
I doubt I'll be recruited into F1 (at least in the next twelve months, I assume it takes about that long for scouts to notice natuarlly talented drivers starting out like myself
). As such I won't be spending a huge amount of money on what will essintially be a hobby (i.e. a maximum of about 200-300 pounds a month for the first year or so). Is this a reasonable amount?
Cheers guys,
Dave
I've been driving ... "enthusiastically" on public roads for a few years now. I now want to learn how to drive properly (with respect to going fast, not the law): I want to curb my manic driving on public roads, and take to the track.
I have no experience of being a participant on the track. I haven't had a driving lesson since I passed my road license several years ago. I fear I may be beyond help...
Can anybody suggest some wheres, whats, whos, whens, or hows to get me started with correct driving techniques and something to ease me into the scene?
I want to do this with the aim of starting general non-competative track days & racing school trips. Progressing into hill climbing and then club level racing if I get on ok. I'll try and get my racing licenses as and when needed, something else I need to research.
Would the PH day on the 26th of Feb be a good day to go on, or would I be mixing it with the big boys (something I want to avoid) or would it be ok to start there with zero previous experience?
I doubt I'll be recruited into F1 (at least in the next twelve months, I assume it takes about that long for scouts to notice natuarlly talented drivers starting out like myself
). As such I won't be spending a huge amount of money on what will essintially be a hobby (i.e. a maximum of about 200-300 pounds a month for the first year or so). Is this a reasonable amount? Cheers guys,
Dave
Do trackdays and get tuition.
Book-a-track are a good price and the tuition I had with them was excellent.
This would be a good place for you to start if its track driving skills that you are after.
A summer track day with them is approx £200 and the tuition about £20 per session (I think).
You'll have to consider insurance costs, but its not compulsory. I pay about £100 per £10K's worth of insurance with Competition Car Insurance.
Then theres the additional cost of tyres and extra wear, but its not really that much. I have done 4 track days and still managed 12000 miles on my tyres (which are now close to requiring changing).
It depends how you drive it round the circuit too. Get the right lines and the tyres will last longer. Understeer or drift through all the corners and they won't last long at all!
Book-a-track are a good price and the tuition I had with them was excellent.
This would be a good place for you to start if its track driving skills that you are after.
A summer track day with them is approx £200 and the tuition about £20 per session (I think).
You'll have to consider insurance costs, but its not compulsory. I pay about £100 per £10K's worth of insurance with Competition Car Insurance.
Then theres the additional cost of tyres and extra wear, but its not really that much. I have done 4 track days and still managed 12000 miles on my tyres (which are now close to requiring changing).
It depends how you drive it round the circuit too. Get the right lines and the tyres will last longer. Understeer or drift through all the corners and they won't last long at all!
Best advice for a newby is to take tuition where available and pay careful attention to track ettiquette (some may call this 'racecraft' - although don't mention the 'race' word at a t/day, or you'll have some mini hitler reaching for the flags...)
Be aware of your peripheral surroundings and keep an eye on your rear view mirror from time to time. Wait for a safe moment (i.e. on the straights) for another car to get past, and don't play the "My car's got more power than yours, so I must be able to go faster round the track game". Very dangerous.
You'll love it once you've done one. Remember that your standard car may need a little tweaking in preparation. Tyres an brakes being the main areas that may need sympathy.
Be aware of your peripheral surroundings and keep an eye on your rear view mirror from time to time. Wait for a safe moment (i.e. on the straights) for another car to get past, and don't play the "My car's got more power than yours, so I must be able to go faster round the track game". Very dangerous.
You'll love it once you've done one. Remember that your standard car may need a little tweaking in preparation. Tyres an brakes being the main areas that may need sympathy.
suggest you start a subscription to circuit driver, go to the website first, there may be some free tutorial material up ( from memory)...stuff about tyres , vehicle dynamics etc.
for track days , bookatrack ( if you can understand the forum chat u are doing well), easytrack spring to mind. the best location to start is an airfield or bedford ( nothing much to hit)
commit to training or tuition. if you want to learn car control as opposed to general trackcraft ,the 'line' etc, go to andrew walsh or don palmer , you will spend hundreds but cheaper than learning by experience....
if you are going to use your daily driver, not all cars can take it, brakes are usual weak spot , tyres always suffer , german engines generally stand up to being revved better than UK stuff...
be prepared to spend more money than you thought, the track day fee is the tip of the iceberg, its a serious hobby in terms of potential spend. you will not normally be covered by insurance except various specialist brokers , be prepared for big excesses. you are likely to come into contact with both moving and static obstructions , not necessarily thru any fault of your own
for track days , bookatrack ( if you can understand the forum chat u are doing well), easytrack spring to mind. the best location to start is an airfield or bedford ( nothing much to hit)
commit to training or tuition. if you want to learn car control as opposed to general trackcraft ,the 'line' etc, go to andrew walsh or don palmer , you will spend hundreds but cheaper than learning by experience....
if you are going to use your daily driver, not all cars can take it, brakes are usual weak spot , tyres always suffer , german engines generally stand up to being revved better than UK stuff...
be prepared to spend more money than you thought, the track day fee is the tip of the iceberg, its a serious hobby in terms of potential spend. you will not normally be covered by insurance except various specialist brokers , be prepared for big excesses. you are likely to come into contact with both moving and static obstructions , not necessarily thru any fault of your own
Go and talk to Don Palmer he can teach everything from road to race...
www.donplamer.co.uk
oh yeah and tell him I sent you!
www.donplamer.co.uk
oh yeah and tell him I sent you!
Hi Oldtimer,
That's some food for though. I'll look into those things and people you mentioned, thanks.
At the moment I have no garage to call my own, so the only car I have will be my daily driver.
It's a slightly tuned FTO (brakes, chassis and induction), and while it's not meant for the track I think it'll be ok for me to start out with (until I get a proper car that drives with the rear wheels).
I am looking for a spare set of wheels to keep circuit tyres on.
The insurance on it is already sky high, so - if it's possible - I want to get another insurance policy for the time when it is on or near a circuit.
My other worry is that my current policy says that the car is not used for any kind of racing. Whilst this wouldn't be racing, would taking my car on a track ivalidate my policy completly?
Without worrying about these details, I'm now in search of information in the provided directions!
Thanks!
----
EDIT
----
I've just checked out Don's site, and sent him an email thanks for pointing me in his direction you two!
>> Edited by ninjadave on Thursday 6th January 14:46
That's some food for though. I'll look into those things and people you mentioned, thanks.
At the moment I have no garage to call my own, so the only car I have will be my daily driver.
It's a slightly tuned FTO (brakes, chassis and induction), and while it's not meant for the track I think it'll be ok for me to start out with (until I get a proper car that drives with the rear wheels).
I am looking for a spare set of wheels to keep circuit tyres on.
The insurance on it is already sky high, so - if it's possible - I want to get another insurance policy for the time when it is on or near a circuit.
My other worry is that my current policy says that the car is not used for any kind of racing. Whilst this wouldn't be racing, would taking my car on a track ivalidate my policy completly?
Without worrying about these details, I'm now in search of information in the provided directions!
Thanks!
----
EDIT
----
I've just checked out Don's site, and sent him an email thanks for pointing me in his direction you two!
>> Edited by ninjadave on Thursday 6th January 14:46
Most insurance policies will exclude trackdays. They used to have clauses involving words like "racing" and "time trials" which left things a bit grey, but most have now changed their wording. If in doubt, give them a call. Also, I've never heard of doing a trackday invalidating the whole policy (why should it?)
If you talked to the manufacturer of the car () it might affect any warranty you have.
Also, don't necessarily expect the AA or RAC to tow you home if you break down on track or stuff the car - again, the best bet is to check with them.
If you talked to the manufacturer of the car (
) it might affect any warranty you have. Also, don't necessarily expect the AA or RAC to tow you home if you break down on track or stuff the car - again, the best bet is to check with them.
A few thoughts:
As you're a total virgin (not even experienced mates to come with you), if you get the chance, pop along to a day to spectate and chat with a few people. A couple of hours max (try and say hello to the organisers), and you'll get a decent grasp of what happens and what you need to do. There will always be one or two people who'll give you a lot of advice (some might even be useful).
The number one thing to learn is track etiquette. Others will forgive your stupid lines, but blocking and aggressive overtaking will get you thrown out or smacked. It's not rocket science:
- Watch your mirrors
- If someone stays fairly close to you, he is faster, let him by
- Make it clear you are getting out of the way (indicators, point, ease off slightly)
- Overtake cleanly, on the correct side
- A courtesy wave. Always a courtesy wave
- If you cock up, go and apologise
You are not racing, you are having fun.
Preparation: Learn what your car needs. Does someone here have Steve Carter's website?
Lines & technique: Some people can learn these naturally. A decent book is worth a read (especially if you have absolutely no idea of the theory), and the Circuit Driver track guide is always useful. Some instruction (whether on the day or Don Palmer-style or just a colleague offering advice) is always useful. This is a continual learning process (and much of the enjoyment is from realising how you are improving).
And most importantly, it's a bit of fun. Enjoy yourself.
As you're a total virgin (not even experienced mates to come with you), if you get the chance, pop along to a day to spectate and chat with a few people. A couple of hours max (try and say hello to the organisers), and you'll get a decent grasp of what happens and what you need to do. There will always be one or two people who'll give you a lot of advice (some might even be useful).
The number one thing to learn is track etiquette. Others will forgive your stupid lines, but blocking and aggressive overtaking will get you thrown out or smacked. It's not rocket science:
- Watch your mirrors
- If someone stays fairly close to you, he is faster, let him by
- Make it clear you are getting out of the way (indicators, point, ease off slightly)
- Overtake cleanly, on the correct side
- A courtesy wave. Always a courtesy wave
- If you cock up, go and apologise
You are not racing, you are having fun.
Preparation: Learn what your car needs. Does someone here have Steve Carter's website?
Lines & technique: Some people can learn these naturally. A decent book is worth a read (especially if you have absolutely no idea of the theory), and the Circuit Driver track guide is always useful. Some instruction (whether on the day or Don Palmer-style or just a colleague offering advice) is always useful. This is a continual learning process (and much of the enjoyment is from realising how you are improving).
And most importantly, it's a bit of fun. Enjoy yourself.
Hi again,
Hopefully I'll be popping up to have a day with Don in Februrary! Quite looking forward to it, just got to decide on a date.
I've been to a couple of events when track time was available (Jap Fest at Castle Coombe). I was there to look at the cars and meet some friends. The track time was available as an aside for me, and while the people on the track did have a good time (apart from those that crashed or blew up), it wasn't what I'd call a 'track-day'.
So I suppose I do still consider myself a 'total virgin'.
Thanks for the advice Rich, I will try to put it to some use soon.
Hopefully I'll be popping up to have a day with Don in Februrary! Quite looking forward to it, just got to decide on a date.
I've been to a couple of events when track time was available (Jap Fest at Castle Coombe). I was there to look at the cars and meet some friends. The track time was available as an aside for me, and while the people on the track did have a good time (apart from those that crashed or blew up), it wasn't what I'd call a 'track-day'.
So I suppose I do still consider myself a 'total virgin'.
Thanks for the advice Rich, I will try to put it to some use soon.
HiRich said:
- Does someone here have Steve Carter's website?
www.stevecarter.com/track-day-beginners.htm - Well worth a read.
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