Virgin at Bedford GT

[simon996]

Doing my first ever track (airfield) day at bedford on may 2nd (easytrack). first such event (apart from one day handling course) so clearly am a bit apprehensive. any track day old hands out there got any tips or words of advice?

Format is open pit lane and i'll be in a caterham 7 roadsport.

No advice is too noddy believe me.

Cheers. Si.

[daydreamer]

-Turn up in plenty of time
-Listen to the briefing rather than just attend
-Check fluid levels and tyre pressures before you go
-Fill up with fuel on the way in
-Get some instruction for a portion of the day (especially as Bedford GT takes a bit of learning)
-Watch your mirrors so you are aware of quicker cars coming past
-Have a blast

(For a proper pre-trackday checklist, see GetCarter's site. There may be an FAQ on this forum too - if not why not mods!!!)

Rich

Edit -> This Forum - Show FAQ's - there are two threads on there that you may wish to look through.

>> Edited by daydreamer on Wednesday 13th April 15:55

[simon996]

thanks mate; and thanks for the link too - an excellent site with loads of info.

will attempt to 'have a blast' while minimising humiliation (and hopefully damage)!

cheers.

[daydreamer]

I won't say damage is impossible at Bedford, but imagine a field about the size of Scotland, with a track in the middle and you sort of get the picture.

I quite like it there, but the noise police have other ideas about my car unfortunately .

[saxo-stew]

last time i was there, some poor sod rolled his car in front of the pit garages... but thats the only accident i know of

[simon996]

i'm more worried about someone in an F40 driving into the back of me!

[richb]

simon996 said:

Doing my first ever track (airfield) day at bedford .

Out of interest, why do you say "airfield"? I know it used to be an airfield but it is every bit a track now. Certainly not just a couple of runways linked with wiggly bits marked out by cones Rich...

[percy]

simon996 said:

i'm more worried about someone in an F40 driving into the back of me!

That'll only happen on the long back straight if you're in a Caterham - then you pass them on the wiggly bits
I've done quite a few days there in my humble Caterham x-flow and enjoyed them all. Just start slowly and build up your speed over the day. As it's a large circuit - come in for a rest after 5 or 6 laps, wipe the daft grin off your face and get ready to go out again.
Watch your fuel level - there is petrol on site (£1 per litre I think)
Have fun

[aceparts_com]

I'm completely addicted to the place. Don't worry about anything except what's in front. It's up to the people behind to do the worrying about overtaking; they'll get past.

Don't try and learn it; I've made that mistake; just go and enjoy it.

Here's a video of my first day at bedford. It'll help you apprecaite the size and layout.

www.pistonheads.tv/video.asp?id=173&nr=1

[simon996]

richb said:

Out of interest, why do you say "airfield"? I know it used to be an airfield but it is every bit a track now. Certainly not just a couple of runways linked with wiggly bits marked out by cones Rich...

not been there before but easytrack call it an airfield. having seen video above (top, by the way) i now realise. i've read elsewhere that bedford is a fine facility (GT circuit in particular), that was my main reason for picking this day for my first go.

thanks all for the advice....

[elderly]

aceparts_com said:

Don't worry about anything except what's in front. It's up to the people behind to do the worrying about overtaking; they'll get past. Don't try and learn it; I've made that mistake; just go and enjoy it.

I have to disagree on both counts.

IMO you will enjoy any circuit more if you learn it.
(And the best way to learn it is to get tuition.)

Mirror etiquette is really important on a track day.
It's not a race, it's not up to the people behind
to find a way past; everybody should co-operate.
Any good briefing will explain mirror etiquette
and overtaking rules but there are always one or
two people who for some reason or other end up with a frustrated procession of drivers behind them.

I've not done Bedford (yet!)for those two reasons.
I'm not very good at learning and remembering
and it strikes me that Bedford has too many corners
for my brain to take in.
Also I drive a less powerful car and I get the
impression that Bedford is very busy,
and so I would either upset a lot of people by
only looking "... in front.." or I would spend
too much time in my mirrors.
But if I've got the wrong impression about Bedford
I want to know please!

[daydreamer]

I think that you may have the wrong impression about the circuit. Although a lot of cars attend each day, the circuit is so long, that it tends not to get busy. Also it is very wide, and the terrain is flat, so it is easy to see people coming, and easy to get past if you are quicker.

Days also tend to be very well organised there and I have only once seen poor etiquite from a guy in a £70,000 Porsche, who couldn't see why he should let a £10k kit car past .

It does tend to be a circuit that attracts exotica (possibly due to its safety features), but most drivers are very polite.

Finally - learning the circuit. There are a lot of corners, and you don't get it on a first visit. However, as it is essentially a school circuit, the sineage is excellent, so even though you don't always get the corners perfect, after a couple of laps, you at least know where you are going.

I love it there - it is only the draconian noise measures that put me off. As we don't race there, it also lessens the value of going.

As a track day venue though, I'd put it up with Silverstone GP and the daddy of Donington!

Rich

[aceparts_com]

My statement regarding let those behind worry about getting past is valid. If it's one of your first track days it's very easy to become obsessed with what's going on behind you; concentrate on keeping on the circuit.
Worrying about having a fast enough car for the circuit is nonsense. The track is so big that even with 70 cars on it it's unusual to pass or be passed more than once on a lap!

[steve rance]

bedford is a good circuit with an excellent combination of bends. It is fast and quite hard on brakes. Getting tuition is good advice. Traffic is an issue there but more so for the quicker drivers. just keep your line onece you are in the braking zone and check your mirrors on the straights.

It would be worth going to the Fastrakdays track evening on the 22nd of April. It is on the GT circuit and is capped to a maximum of 30 cars so you wont have a traffic issue and can learn which way the circuit goes before your big day where there are likely to be 100 cars out.

Not sure they have any places left.

If you come, I will be happy to run you round in the RS and give you a few pointers.

Good luck

Steve R

[simon996]

22nd not pos unfortunately but offer much appreciated.

have pre paid for tuition on the day and i will try to get this as early as pos so as to get up the curve a bit faster.

sounds like everyone rates the bedford very highly so i'm sure i'll have a great time (and will keep checking the mirrors!)

[simon996]

daydreamer said:

it is only the draconian noise measures that put me off.

is this a real problem? the caterham is standard road version (1600 roadsport) - i have assumed i'll be ok.

[daydreamer]

Should be OK. My problem is the driveby on the South straight (you can use top gear there if it is a problem ). Then again, there is very little scilencing on the Ginetta, which coupled with fairly low revs, mean the noise carries.

Plenty of Caterhams will be there in higher spec trim (read louder) than yours though.

[aceparts_com]

RMA have a day on the 23rd