How many cars on a novice day?
Discussion
Hi all - just wondering how many people tend to turn up on a track-day and in particular an MSV novice day?
I've had some training at Car Limits at North Weald, I've got a lid, and I've got a suitable car (VX220 Turbo), so I think it's time I dipped a toe in the track day water, specifically at Snetterton, perhaps next Wednesday 9th May and I was just wondering, exactly how busy does a track get? All tips, guidance and so on very welcome - I think I know roughly what to expect, but feel strangely a bit nervous about it all!
I've had some training at Car Limits at North Weald, I've got a lid, and I've got a suitable car (VX220 Turbo), so I think it's time I dipped a toe in the track day water, specifically at Snetterton, perhaps next Wednesday 9th May and I was just wondering, exactly how busy does a track get? All tips, guidance and so on very welcome - I think I know roughly what to expect, but feel strangely a bit nervous about it all!
never been on a novice day but they are run in sessions so id guess around 20 maybe 30 maximum cars at a time.
as for the VX, check your pads and put new fluid in.
have you have the hcbs and rear toe links done? its a favourite talking point among the common failures.
get the bug then spend more and more on track mods
as for the VX, check your pads and put new fluid in.
have you have the hcbs and rear toe links done? its a favourite talking point among the common failures.
get the bug then spend more and more on track mods
Was thinking about LoT, but fancy dipping my toe in with some other novices first and, crucially, this is soon and reasonably local. My car was quite loud last time it was measured (103db), so I may need to be careful with my choice of track.
As to mods and toe links - all done fairly recently and checked over by my mechanic a few weeks back. It's already at stage 2 and on Elise size wheels with the ABS turned off and running semi-slicks. In short the car's ready, but I'm not sure that I am!
As to mods and toe links - all done fairly recently and checked over by my mechanic a few weeks back. It's already at stage 2 and on Elise size wheels with the ABS turned off and running semi-slicks. In short the car's ready, but I'm not sure that I am!
I would next time consider a normal general road car day, rather than a novice day, as more experienced drivers will be more capable of avoiding you.
However, back to the plot. Listen to the briefing, remember the overtaking rules (on the left on straights, only with the consent of the car in front, and never in corners) and WATCH YOUR MIRRORS. Let faster cars past, and enjoy the day - it’s not a race.
However, back to the plot. Listen to the briefing, remember the overtaking rules (on the left on straights, only with the consent of the car in front, and never in corners) and WATCH YOUR MIRRORS. Let faster cars past, and enjoy the day - it’s not a race.
Snetterton is 105dBA, which is pretty loud. My fully decatted TVR V8 was about 105dBA, the standard car is in the mid 90s. I normally think of Elise/VX220 as quiet, and if you have a turbo it will be even quieter.
At the noise test you will need to rev to 3/4 of the red line, so know your redline, know what 3/4 is, argue if they suggest too high, and if they suggest lower, don’t argue!
It is very easy to overshoot the target, so increase the revs gradually and stop if they say stop. Remember, they are trying to pass you, not fail you.
And ask what dB you were as they stick the sticker on your screen - it’s useful info for booking other tracks. Most are 100-105, but some, for example Thruxton, are as low as 90 dBA.
At the noise test you will need to rev to 3/4 of the red line, so know your redline, know what 3/4 is, argue if they suggest too high, and if they suggest lower, don’t argue!
It is very easy to overshoot the target, so increase the revs gradually and stop if they say stop. Remember, they are trying to pass you, not fail you.
And ask what dB you were as they stick the sticker on your screen - it’s useful info for booking other tracks. Most are 100-105, but some, for example Thruxton, are as low as 90 dBA.
QBee said:
Snetterton is 105dBA, which is pretty loud. My fully decatted TVR V8 was about 105dBA, the standard car is in the mid 90s. I normally think of Elise/VX220 as quiet, and if you have a turbo it will be even quieter.
At the noise test you will need to rev to 3/4 of the red line, so know your redline, know what 3/4 is, argue if they suggest too high, and if they suggest lower, don’t argue!
It is very easy to overshoot the target, so increase the revs gradually and stop if they say stop. Remember, they are trying to pass you, not fail you.
And ask what dB you were as they stick the sticker on your screen - it’s useful info for booking other tracks. Most are 100-105, but some, for example Thruxton, are as low as 90 dBA.
Cheers - and yes, it’s a Turbo, but it’s running a Larini back box and pre-cat. My phone’s app says it’s 102dBA...At the noise test you will need to rev to 3/4 of the red line, so know your redline, know what 3/4 is, argue if they suggest too high, and if they suggest lower, don’t argue!
It is very easy to overshoot the target, so increase the revs gradually and stop if they say stop. Remember, they are trying to pass you, not fail you.
And ask what dB you were as they stick the sticker on your screen - it’s useful info for booking other tracks. Most are 100-105, but some, for example Thruxton, are as low as 90 dBA.
As to LoT, they’ll be my next port of call I think, if I like this on Wednesday. Not sure if I should be more or less nervous about it being a novice day now!
Actus Reus said:
QBee said:
Snetterton is 105dBA, which is pretty loud. My fully decatted TVR V8 was about 105dBA, the standard car is in the mid 90s. I normally think of Elise/VX220 as quiet, and if you have a turbo it will be even quieter.
At the noise test you will need to rev to 3/4 of the red line, so know your redline, know what 3/4 is, argue if they suggest too high, and if they suggest lower, don’t argue!
It is very easy to overshoot the target, so increase the revs gradually and stop if they say stop. Remember, they are trying to pass you, not fail you.
And ask what dB you were as they stick the sticker on your screen - it’s useful info for booking other tracks. Most are 100-105, but some, for example Thruxton, are as low as 90 dBA.
Cheers - and yes, it’s a Turbo, but it’s running a Larini back box and pre-cat. My phone’s app says it’s 102dBA...At the noise test you will need to rev to 3/4 of the red line, so know your redline, know what 3/4 is, argue if they suggest too high, and if they suggest lower, don’t argue!
It is very easy to overshoot the target, so increase the revs gradually and stop if they say stop. Remember, they are trying to pass you, not fail you.
And ask what dB you were as they stick the sticker on your screen - it’s useful info for booking other tracks. Most are 100-105, but some, for example Thruxton, are as low as 90 dBA.
As to LoT, they’ll be my next port of call I think, if I like this on Wednesday. Not sure if I should be more or less nervous about it being a novice day now!
Get there with plenty of time to spare and check your car over, book in nice and early and go for your noise test the moment it opens (usually 0800). Issues can be resolved if time is on your side, and you don't want to be rushing. Briefing will be 0830 - pay attention.
You will probably be one of the quicker cars on track, but remember you have all day, and every nutter under the sun will be bursting to get out there early doors, so pace yourself and take your time. The more experienced of us spend the first 15-20 minutes of live track time doing final checks and chatting, then go out form our first run when the red mist has cleared from the track!!
Enjoy yourself, but don't stay out on track for too many laps at one time. It's not an endurance race, and it's kinder to your car to give it a rest every 15 minutes. And you will start making mistakes after about 15 minutes, which is why club races are normally 20 minute affairs.
Do open the engine cover to assist with cooling when you get back to the pits (it also assists with making friends), check your fluid levels regularly (car AND driver) and torque up your wheel nuts from time to time.
Thanks for the tips - yes, cash, a bag, my helmet and other bits I'll need will all go into the car tonight.
Will be early so I can get the noise test done, though I'm not sure what I could do at the track to resolve any issues as I'm mechanically inept to say the least! As it's a novice day it's sessions rather than open pitlane, so 20mins is the max anyway, but yeah, I'll be sure to take it fairly easy and warm up and cool down. I'm not aiming to set any lap records, just dip my toe.
Will be early so I can get the noise test done, though I'm not sure what I could do at the track to resolve any issues as I'm mechanically inept to say the least! As it's a novice day it's sessions rather than open pitlane, so 20mins is the max anyway, but yeah, I'll be sure to take it fairly easy and warm up and cool down. I'm not aiming to set any lap records, just dip my toe.
Actus Reus said:
Thanks for the tips - yes, cash, a bag, my helmet and other bits I'll need will all go into the car tonight.
Will be early so I can get the noise test done, though I'm not sure what I could do at the track to resolve any issues as I'm mechanically inept to say the least! As it's a novice day it's sessions rather than open pitlane, so 20mins is the max anyway, but yeah, I'll be sure to take it fairly easy and warm up and cool down. I'm not aiming to set any lap records, just dip my toe.
The only other things you will need are your driving licence and fuel, but they do sell that at the track, by the noise testing area. Super at 1.35 a litre. They don't sell driving licences!!!Will be early so I can get the noise test done, though I'm not sure what I could do at the track to resolve any issues as I'm mechanically inept to say the least! As it's a novice day it's sessions rather than open pitlane, so 20mins is the max anyway, but yeah, I'll be sure to take it fairly easy and warm up and cool down. I'm not aiming to set any lap records, just dip my toe.
If you are there early, make friends with other drivers. The noise test probably won't open until 8.00, make sure the car is warmed up (tends to make them quieter), and if you fail by a small margin, you will have time to go around everyone else in the pits, plus call Lotus themselves if necessary (they aren't far away), to see if you can borrow some bolt on silencers. Know the diameter of your tail pipe(s), because people with other cars might have something that will insert or clamp on that fits.
For example, I always bring mine to a track day, which are 2.5 inch diameter clamp-ons, even though these days I don't usually need them. I would hate to be saying to someone like you...."I've got some, at home". A fellow TVR owner, who does track days with me, has inserts that will fit quite a few cars. So ask everyone, you never know who has what with them.
Thanks again - yes, I'm just hoping the car gets through. The Larini pipes are a pain as the tips are, I think, welded on, so fitting something like a Merlin muffler would be quite a job, even more so as the tips are welded together too, so you can't fit something over just the one (so far as I'm aware anyway). Fingers crossed that it'll get through OK.
Thanks all - had a great time and the noise limit was passed with absolute ease.
There were one or two very aggressive novices out there, pushing hard to pass in braking zones when clearly I was in traffic, but mostly the standard of driving was fine. I was surprised at the variety of machines too - E63, Ferrari 328, Exige 380 and an MGB-GT that spent the day crawling round sideways. The VX performed well and I’ll be back out there as soon as I can.
There were one or two very aggressive novices out there, pushing hard to pass in braking zones when clearly I was in traffic, but mostly the standard of driving was fine. I was surprised at the variety of machines too - E63, Ferrari 328, Exige 380 and an MGB-GT that spent the day crawling round sideways. The VX performed well and I’ll be back out there as soon as I can.
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