New to track days

[carboy2017]

I was invited for a super car ride at Kettering last weekend and it was asesome getting a high speed ride in a Ferrari 360

I have never done a track day before but would like to do so it time and £ permits

i) can a daily driver be used for track days
ii) do i need any special certifications/training to take part
iii) what do I need to prep the daily driver for it (remember it will be used daily for commuting too)
iv) how abt insurance and its limitations

[Drew106]

I took part in my first trackday on Saturday. Well it was just a short session at Castle Combe Summer Action day.

I think I'm hooked though. It was so much fun!

To give what feedback I can on your questions:

i) I'm sure you can and many do.

ii) Don't need anything, but tuition wouldn't be a bad idea and something I'll look into myself. You do need a helmet though, but might be able to rent.

iii) You don't really 'need' anything to take the car on track. Not initially anyway. Make sure it's well serviced inc. brake pads/discs/fluid. You will find out after taking the car out what would make it better - stiffer suspension, better brakes, seats, harnesses etc.

iv) I didn't bother with track insurance, but I wasn't in a car I rely on day to day.

[Fonzey]

I ran a daily driver as a track car for a couple of years, perfectly doable but it did lead to some sleepless nights on the runup to a trackday! It's not just the risk of binning it, more the extra mechanical stress which may prevent you getting to work the next day.

I was so much more relaxed when I got a dedicated track car, though I know that isn't possible for everyone due to storage etc. (I don't think costs are a valid excuse, as you can get a perfectly good track car for the price of a couple of sets of tyres for your daily!)

Your main concern will be making sure you have enough tyres and brakes to do the trackday, drive you home and then to work the following day/week. This may mean replacing consumables a little earlier than usual - or carrying spares.

[QBee]

You are very unlikely to get hit by another car. I have only seen three collisions in 6 years of track days. There are strict overtaking rules, and two of the three crashes occurred where the rules were being broken. The other one was when someone ran out of brakes and hit the car in front.

You are more likely to bin your own car into the barriers.

Either way, your road policy simply does not cover you. You can take out track day insurance, which will only cover you for damage to your own car, and then the excess will be 10% of the value of the car. So it’s a new BMW, your excess will be say £4000.

But everyone knows that fault is irrelevant on a track day, and you are responsible only for your own car.

Now for the mechanical bits.
Tyres - you will wear them quicker, so make sure you have either plenty of tread, or a spare set to get you home.
Brakes - be very aware of the feel of them, and if they feel even slightly soft, slow down and head for the pits. If you don’t, you may find you arrive at a corner half a lap later with no brakes at all.
Oil - make sure it is up to the top mark.
Water - ditto.
Check your car regularly throughout the day.

Helmet - buy one, or hire one at the track for a tenner.
Driving licence - you must take it with you.
Instruction - invaluable.
Briefing - listen to it, especially the flags and the overtaking rule.

Above all, have fun!

[Berkshire bred]

Didn't realise you are only responsible for the damage to your own car. Not sure if that's good or bad to be honest. I suppose in a 'cheaper' car it's a good thing. Must be terrifying if your in something expensive or exotic.

[QBee]

Last track day I did there was this on track:



....as well as a Porsche GT3 RS

As I said, crashes are rare, binning it is more common. Sum total on that day at Anglesey was one Honda Civic written off against the barriers.

[Berkshire bred]

I know a bloke who has a gt3rs as a dedicated track car, don't think I could stomach the thought if some yob wrecking it. Even if I had that sort of money I think I'd rather have a cheaper modified car and not have to worry so much.

[QBee]

I must admit that even though my track car (which is very much a road car) is worth about 10% of the value of the Porsche, the thought frequently crosses my mind.
But I bought it partly to have fun on track, and as a bonus I can honestly say that track days deal very well with my need for speed, which means i don't do silly things on the public highway and lose my licence.
And as you get used to track driving and get the car set up properly, the number of visits backwards to the scenery does seem to diminish.

[carboy2017]

Thank you all for the advice given now need to sort out a track

what are the good ones in Surrey

[QBee]

carboy2017 said:

Thank you all for the advice given now need to sort out a track

what are the good ones in Surrey

There aren't any.
You are going to have to travel a bit.

Because there are none in Surrey, Essex etc, Brands Hatch is both popular and expensive.
Goodwood is also available quite near you (Sussex?)
And i believe they do some track days at Lydden Hill near Canterbury

Most race circuits are in the middle of the country:
Snetterton is a good beginner circuit and is on the A11 before Norwich
Donington Park is near Leicester/Derby/Nottingham. M1 J23a
Mallory Park is near Leicester
Silverstone (expensive) is near Northampton
Cadwell Park (my personal favourite) is the other side of Lincoln
Rockingham is near Corby
Bedford isn't a race circuit, but is a converted old airfield, is a nice big circuit, and there is less to hit.

Oulton Park is in Cheshire, fantastic circuit, plenty to hit.
Croft is in County Durham.
Knockhill in north of Edinburgh
Thruxton is in Hampshire
Castle Combe is near Chippenham, so junction 17 of the M4.
Anglesey is almost in the Irish Sea and has the wind to prove it.
Blyton Park is also in Lincolnshire and is a cheaper circuit, old airfield based.

And there are a few old airfields dotted around.

Take friends or go with friends - it's always more fun with people to talk to, but don't be shy, we are a friendly bunch.

[Fonzey]

Bedford and Blyton both make good first timer circuits, don't be put off too much by travel - even with my "local" tracks of Cadwell and Blyton, it's still a bloody early morning and so staying over the night before for a more distant track is something I quite like doing so you can have a fresh start.

[Zetec-S]

Berkshire bred said:

I know a bloke who has a gt3rs as a dedicated track car, don't think I could stomach the thought if some yob wrecking it. Even if I had that sort of money I think I'd rather have a cheaper modified car and not have to worry so much.

I guess if you can afford one of those as a dedicated track car you're not short of money, plus I guess you'd consider some sort of insurance?

Either way, I'm with you - a nice cheap car modified for handling would be the way I'd like to go (although neither are an option at the moment...)