Question about Silverstone

[mrGazzzy]

Hi Guys

I am new to track days in the UK.

I have two taster sessions at Silverstone tomorrow and it's going to rain. So speeding significantly and taking the car to the limit is off the table to some degree due to weather conditions.

I wanted to know if they allow controlled drifts on track days? So if I drifted a bit when there was no one near me ahead or behind would I get black flagged?

Many thanks

[loggyboy]

You will get away with the odd one. But persistent drifts, intentional or accidental oned will end up with u being pulled on for a talking to.

[mrGazzzy]

Thanks for the advice mate, good to know in advance.

[AdamIndy]

Someone(530 estate) got their wristband cut off for it at the last silverstone PHSS. I thought he did well too! We could hear the tyres squealing from quite a distance though.

As loggyboy says though if it's intentional they will pull you for it, if not and it's wet I'm sure you'll be fine.

[loggyboy]

AdamIndy said:

As loggyboy says though if it's intentional they will pull you for it, if not and it's wet I'm sure you'll be fine.

Even if not intentional most TDO will pull you in.
I had a very slippery at day at brands a few years back. Lots of 'careful' warnings and a go to pits in morning, then a black in afternoon.
I think they knew it wasnt intentional, and it wasnt luck I was controling them, but didnt want me setting a bad example.
https://youtu.be/ksSQmIGxH_4?t=670

[mrGazzzy]

Thanks gents for your comments. I had a great day at Silverstone although it rained half the time. In the last ten minutes of my last session I did drift a bit,there were few cars on the track on the day and everything seemed really relaxed. They didn't take my camera Consent form, and they also didn't implement the no suction camera mounting. No one checked tyres either. I could have taken an Mot failed car for all they cared. Personally I think they should enforce there rules more strictly as it's in everyone's interest. But I fully agree had I drifted more than just in the last few minutes on a busier track I'm sure id be pulled over. For anyone else who is new to this stuff like me, word of advice would be to not the full 30 mins at full on speeds if unless you are okay with going through a pair of front pads in two half hour sessions. I also got some pad deposits on my rotors by going all out for two half hour sessions. Having said it slowly goes away after normal driving. I had no brake fade at all but went through 70% of newish pads engine didn't heat up at all. I'd say the m4 is quite track happy but advise 4 hot laps followed by a cool lap sequence to lower wear on brakes.

[mrGazzzy]

Lol that's some seriously wet weather and good work on catching the tail back mate.

loggyboy said:

AdamIndy said:

As loggyboy says though if it's intentional they will pull you for it, if not and it's wet I'm sure you'll be fine.

Even if not intentional most TDO will pull you in.
I had a very slippery at day at brands a few years back. Lots of 'careful' warnings and a go to pits in morning, then a black in afternoon.
I think they knew it wasnt intentional, and it wasnt luck I was controling them, but didnt want me setting a bad example.
https://youtu.be/ksSQmIGxH_4?t=670

[Dan_M5]

mrGazzzy said:

Thanks gents for your comments. I had a great day at Silverstone although it rained half the time. In the last ten minutes of my last session I did drift a bit,there were few cars on the track on the day and everything seemed really relaxed. They didn't take my camera Consent form, and they also didn't implement the no suction camera mounting. No one checked tyres either. I could have taken an Mot failed car for all they cared. Personally I think they should enforce there rules more strictly as it's in everyone's interest. But I fully agree had I drifted more than just in the last few minutes on a busier track I'm sure id be pulled over. For anyone else who is new to this stuff like me, word of advice would be to not the full 30 mins at full on speeds if unless you are okay with going through a pair of front pads in two half hour sessions. I also got some pad deposits on my rotors by going all out for two half hour sessions. Having said it slowly goes away after normal driving. I had no brake fade at all but went through 70% of newish pads engine didn't heat up at all. I'd say the m4 is quite track happy but advise 4 hot laps followed by a cool lap sequence to lower wear on brakes.

Track Cars, don't need to have MOT or be road legal.

[TroubledSoul]

What pads were you running? I've done a day at Cadwell and a few thousand road miles on my PFZ pads and there's absolutely loads left in them.

[mrGazzzy]

I did one track day on stock pads and just came back from a full on track day with Ferodo DS 2500's.

I would say the Ferodo's outlasted the Stock pads, however the stocks were used on a wet day with traction control fully on and the ferodos were used on a dry day with MDM on.

[Wh00sher]

mrGazzzy said:

TI also got some pad deposits on my rotors

mrGazzzy said:

track day with Ferodo DS 2500's.

The reason you have deposits is because you used DS2500`s. They are well known for it. As you say, it`ll go away after road driving but if you do another trackday it`ll come back. No great issue if you aren`t planning on doing another day anyway but just something to be aware of if you are.
If you do get into trackdays, get some better pads and you won`t have that issue

Edited by Wh00sher on Friday 17th March 13:13