First Track Day
Discussion
Having done track days in other peoples cars including a Ferrari and Single Seater day at Thruxton me and a couple of mates would like to take out own cars to a track day.
Has anyone got any suggestions for a good track to start at?
Where is the best place to get track insurance?
I drive a Smart Roadster, one mate a Clio 172 and the other a Cooper S and live in Surrey.
Thanks in Advance, Chris.
Has anyone got any suggestions for a good track to start at?
Where is the best place to get track insurance?
I drive a Smart Roadster, one mate a Clio 172 and the other a Cooper S and live in Surrey.
Thanks in Advance, Chris.
An airfield day is safer (less things to hit)for your first trackday Motor Sport Events do a number of events in the South and they are very very nice people. Although you are more likley to get stone chips at a airfield.
If you wont to do a circuit in the south with your cars I would go for something like Lydden I think they are doing one in May.
Mark
If you wont to do a circuit in the south with your cars I would go for something like Lydden I think they are doing one in May.
Mark
Airfield days on flat featureless coned off airfields are not my bag but everyones diferent, (tho for real mad tail out stuff in something grunty then perhaps yes)
Also I'm not really of the ethos that your 1st track day should be somewhere safe with huge run off etc & feel pretty much any circuit is ok for a 1st timer, if there is stuff to hit you just don't go mental! & you should be building up pace & experience as you go anyway.
In my experience its not the absolute novices that are at risk of going off- its the more experienced bods who are pushing a lot harder, who tend to have the 'moments'
Bedford GT gets a lot of votes as it has little to hit & lots of run off & is a fun circuit, IMHO a smart will be dismally slow & frustrating there tho- the clio 172 will be a giggle tho.
If you wanna be restricted to just down south I'd go Brands- which is ace, Goodwood, Coombe, I've never done Lydden but I hear altho small its a laugh.
>> Edited by iguana on Friday 4th March 20:13
Also I'm not really of the ethos that your 1st track day should be somewhere safe with huge run off etc & feel pretty much any circuit is ok for a 1st timer, if there is stuff to hit you just don't go mental! & you should be building up pace & experience as you go anyway.
In my experience its not the absolute novices that are at risk of going off- its the more experienced bods who are pushing a lot harder, who tend to have the 'moments'
Bedford GT gets a lot of votes as it has little to hit & lots of run off & is a fun circuit, IMHO a smart will be dismally slow & frustrating there tho- the clio 172 will be a giggle tho.
If you wanna be restricted to just down south I'd go Brands- which is ace, Goodwood, Coombe, I've never done Lydden but I hear altho small its a laugh.
>> Edited by iguana on Friday 4th March 20:13
Good advice from iguana. I agree that you shouldn't necessarily start on an airfield because it’s flat. Most track day operators run a novice group for first timers, drivers who have attended a couple of days or new to the track. The instructors on the day will normally concentrate on the novice group. And if you based in the south then you’ve got Goodwood, Lydenn, Brands Hatch and Thruxton - All great circuits. Check the PH calendar for dates at these circuits.
I suggested Lydden because it is small and suits small nippy cars, where as Goodwood, Thruxton and Castle Combe are fast circuits and suits powerfull cars. I've not done a trackday at Brands.
Airfield or circuit as a first trackday, there's no hard and fast rule do what your comfortable with. A circuit does focus your mind more and forces you to drive better.
Mark
Airfield or circuit as a first trackday, there's no hard and fast rule do what your comfortable with. A circuit does focus your mind more and forces you to drive better.
Mark
Goodwood sounds like a 'good' bet!
Iguana you do realise a Smart Roadster looks like this:
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Not This
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Thanks for the advice guys you may well be lapping me at an event in the future! - But I'll still be having fun!
When I did a track day at Thruxton as well as driving a 360 Modena and Formula Renaults(?) there were also Mg ZS's and an Automatic SLK!!! And it was still great fun.
This doesn't mean I wont be bugging Rich to let me drive his 172 - there meant to be awesome on the track from all reports.
>> Edited by cdubu on Sunday 6th March 11:07
>> Edited by cdubu on Sunday 6th March 11:10
Iguana you do realise a Smart Roadster looks like this:
Not This
Thanks for the advice guys you may well be lapping me at an event in the future! - But I'll still be having fun!
When I did a track day at Thruxton as well as driving a 360 Modena and Formula Renaults(?) there were also Mg ZS's and an Automatic SLK!!! And it was still great fun.
This doesn't mean I wont be bugging Rich to let me drive his 172 - there meant to be awesome on the track from all reports.
>> Edited by cdubu on Sunday 6th March 11:07
>> Edited by cdubu on Sunday 6th March 11:10
goz007 said:
Most track day operators run a novice group for first timers, drivers who have attended a couple of days or new to the track.
Yes good advice, you really want a day with a novice group (most sessioned days are beginner, intermediate, advanced anyway) its way way way safer than an open pit lane day which is not really what you want as a 1st timer.
Thats good advice thanks, I went to a Westfield etc track day at Llandow and they ran a combination of both open pit lane and sessions at different times.
Iguana you did realise that I didn't want to take a 'normal' smart to a track day? (plus the Mrs would kill me if took hers - i'd probably roll it or end up on my back!)
Iguana you did realise that I didn't want to take a 'normal' smart to a track day? (plus the Mrs would kill me if took hers - i'd probably roll it or end up on my back!)
Hi Chris,
I think the lizard realizes you mean the roadster, not the standard "pram"
I'd still suggest it'd be a bit breathless round Bedford as the back straight is 1 kilometer long, and there are some other long straights to go with some very quick corners.
That doesn't change the fact that I'd still recommend Bedford - for a first timer it really is the best track going. OK, it doesn't have the "character" and the "aura" that some people may talk about, but as somewhere to really stretch your car and learn about circuit driving it's really pretty decent, no matter which configuration they run (normally GT or Southwest circuit for trackdays).
Have a look at the trackday calendar, book some instruction, and have some fun!!
I think the lizard realizes you mean the roadster, not the standard "pram"
I'd still suggest it'd be a bit breathless round Bedford as the back straight is 1 kilometer long, and there are some other long straights to go with some very quick corners. That doesn't change the fact that I'd still recommend Bedford - for a first timer it really is the best track going. OK, it doesn't have the "character" and the "aura" that some people may talk about, but as somewhere to really stretch your car and learn about circuit driving it's really pretty decent, no matter which configuration they run (normally GT or Southwest circuit for trackdays).
Have a look at the trackday calendar, book some instruction, and have some fun!!
Goodwood is one of my favourite places on earth. When I used to spend time in that part of the world I used to gravitate there most weekends. (Even if I set off to go somewhere else!)
In my opinion It is not a beginners circuit. Run off areas are small, and there are plenty of solid banks. I have seen quite a few motors come to grief there. BE AWARE!!
In my opinion It is not a beginners circuit. Run off areas are small, and there are plenty of solid banks. I have seen quite a few motors come to grief there. BE AWARE!!
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