Best TDO for driving standards?

[CanoeSniffer]

Well my plan to book another track day with Classic Tracks doesn't appear to be happening as they have no upcoming dates advertised anywhere. I was looking forward to a TD I could take tentatively, with no irritations of the fast/reckless or slow/totally unaware variety, they were a great provider of this with quiet sessions, lots of interesting metal floating about and importantly nothing so disposable that silly incidents occur.

I've done quite a few TDs with different providers but not really enough to notice a trend with different TDOs acceptable driving standards, so what is the general consensus? Is there any one provider who tend to garner the best track driving etiquette and the least aggro? Cheers, Mike

[E-bmw]

I must admit, I have done TDs with pretty much everyone of them & not noticed any difference in standards, but individual days at individual tracks show more of a trend.

More weekend days tend to be worse than mid week, (especially "out of school holidays") when weekend warriors tend to come out to play.

Busier days when groups of "one-make-friends/groups" tend to be worse as they compete between each other.

[Stephanie Plum]

If it’s in the TVR might be worth asking Lotus on Track? They take other makes as long as two door and have a good safe rep.

[Elderly]

I was on a track day recently and discussed this matter with three very experienced instructors who work for a variety of TDOs.

They felt that it was a matter of luck, depending on so many variables.

[wellground]

Stephanie Plum said:

If it’s in the TVR might be worth asking Lotus on Track? They take other makes as long as two door and have a good safe rep.

Lotus on Track have a blinkered view of what is safe. They are not interested in what the driver is like but the reputation of his car. I was declined a place, despite being over 60 years old and a qualified advanced driver. Why? Because I was driving a Mitsubishi Evo. That meant I was not suitable. I suspect the same has happened to others, you are judged by what you drive, not who you are, what experience you have and your attitude towards track days.

[Shaoxter]

If you go on one of the Goodwood track days which only let 5 cars out at a time, you'll pretty much have the whole track to yourself. They're quite expensive though...

[slowTwitch]

wellground said:

Lotus on Track have a blinkered view of what is safe. They are not interested in what the driver is like but the reputation of his car. I was declined a place, despite being over 60 years old and a qualified advanced driver. Why? Because I was driving a Mitsubishi Evo. That meant I was not suitable. I suspect the same has happened to others, you are judged by what you drive, not who you are, what experience you have and your attitude towards track days.

"Accepted cars – LoT is a club for Lotus owners. We do accept owners of other similar 2 seat sports cars including Caterhams, VX220, Westfields and Porsche."
https://www.lotus-on-track.com/join/

"If you don’t have a Lotus don’t worry we also welcome owners of Caterhams, VX220s, Westfields and Porsches. If you have another type of 2 seater road going sports car please contact us before joining – [e-mail]. We do not accept new members with 2 door coupe’s such as the BMW M3 or saloon cars that have been modified to have 2 seats. We also don’t accept Radical style track cars under any circumstances."
https://www.lotus-on-track.com/faq/

[Order66]

Elderly said:

They felt that it was a matter of luck, depending on so many variables.

Yep, I've been doing track days for 15 years now and have used pretty much every TDO in the UK. The TDO isn't a very significant factor in what the driving standards will be. The track itself can have a big influence, the weather, the time of year, day of the week etc all have an influence.

As for lotus on track only allowing certain types of cars - why not, it's their track time, they are renting the circuits, and they are entitled to make their own rules for whatever reasons they want. I've done lots of LoT days in the past in my Porsche/Caterhams but now I track a Radical I can't go - have no issue with that. FWIW the singularly worst piece of driving I've seen on a track day was a LoT day, and conversely the some of the best days I've had were with them - it just depends who else decides to turn up on the day.

[untakenname]

I like one make trackdays as it flows better, don't like massive disparity in power or lines as it means you're constantly checking your mirrors.
Obviously this is dependant on the manufacturer and also the psyche of the driver's as well.
I would stay away from 30 minute 'action sessions' in between races series at events as you get shakedowns on serious stripped out machinery on slicks mixing it with inexperienced driver's of warm hot hatches which is a recipe for disaster, participated in a 20 minute punlic session at Brands hatch last year which was ok as it was pretty much full of the same models but the next public session was flagged when a driver in a Civic rolled his car at paddock hill, luckily he had a roll cage.

wellground said:

I was declined a place, despite being over 60 years old and a qualified advanced driver. Why? Because I was driving a Mitsubishi Evo. That meant I was not suitable.

Chucking in a turbo'd 4x4 in a field of lesser powered NA rwds is unsuitable imo.
Lotus on track allow Mazda's as they have similar handling and power to weight.

Edited by untakenname on Tuesday 23 October 14:27

[CABC]

slowTwitch said:

wellground said:

Lotus on Track have a blinkered view of what is safe. They are not interested in what the driver is like but the reputation of his car. I was declined a place, despite being over 60 years old and a qualified advanced driver. Why? Because I was driving a Mitsubishi Evo. That meant I was not suitable. I suspect the same has happened to others, you are judged by what you drive, not who you are, what experience you have and your attitude towards track days.

"Accepted cars – LoT is a club for Lotus owners. We do accept owners of other similar 2 seat sports cars including Caterhams, VX220, Westfields and Porsche."
https://www.lotus-on-track.com/join/

"If you don’t have a Lotus don’t worry we also welcome owners of Caterhams, VX220s, Westfields and Porsches. If you have another type of 2 seater road going sports car please contact us before joining – [e-mail]. We do not accept new members with 2 door coupe’s such as the BMW M3 or saloon cars that have been modified to have 2 seats. We also don’t accept Radical style track cars under any circumstances."
https://www.lotus-on-track.com/faq/

end result however is that, for whatever reason, LoT days are the best.

[CABC]

untakenname said:

Chucking in a turbo'd 4x4 in a field of lesser powered NA rwds is unsuitable imo.
Lotus on track allow Mazda's as they have similar handling and power to weight.

Edited by untakenname on Tuesday 23 October 14:27

118hp S1 vs 430hp Exige?

[boxsey]

Elderly said:

I was on a track day recently and discussed this matter with three very experienced instructors who work for a variety of TDOs.

They felt that it was a matter of luck, depending on so many variables.

I would agree with that. And would add that evening sessions are the worst because everyone wants to get out on track because of the limited time. Hence there are often lots of red flags and lots of queuing to get out.

[braddo]

Another vote for lotus-on-track. Consistently far fewer issues during a day than the other TDOs I have been with.

You need a 2 seat sports car though!

[AdiT]

Pot luck in my opinion.

A couple of years ago I got wind of a cheap day at Blyton. Mazda on Track were running it (i think) but it was a club organised day for the Celica owners club. They'd not had enough take up so opened it up to other clubs. When I arrived my heart sank; As well as the Celicas, MR2s, MX5s there was a fairly high number of (not very) Hot Hatches complete with bit's of stick on MaxPower crap and oversize tailpipes... Corsas, Puntos, Fiestas...

Turned out to be the best behaved day I've ever had. Go figure!

[Kev_Mk3]

AdiT said:

Pot luck in my opinion.

A couple of years ago I got wind of a cheap day at Blyton. Mazda on Track were running it (i think) but it was a club organised day for the Celica owners club. They'd not had enough take up so opened it up to other clubs. When I arrived my heart sank; As well as the Celicas, MR2s, MX5s there was a fairly high number of (not very) Hot Hatches complete with bit's of stick on MaxPower crap and oversize tailpipes... Corsas, Puntos, Fiestas...

Turned out to be the best behaved day I've ever had. Go figure!

I find MOT one of the good ones as they are not massively known I guess so usually a quite well behaved day!

TBH All TDO are pot luck but just make the best of it you can.

[Jbliss]

Goldtrack.... very well run trackdays. Melindi is great and runs a tight ship

[dh00065p]

Couldn’t agree more.
Melindi runs very good days.
Any messing about or breaking the rules and you will be spoken to or have you wrist band taken away.
Also if you are new to track days or the circuit get some instruction from their expert instructors
Not only will they show you the best way round but also give you advice relating to your car.
David

[roddo]

AdiT said:

Pot luck in my opinion.

A couple of years ago I got wind of a cheap day at Blyton. Mazda on Track were running it (i think) but it was a club organised day for the Celica owners club. They'd not had enough take up so opened it up to other clubs. When I arrived my heart sank; As well as the Celicas, MR2s, MX5s there was a fairly high number of (not very) Hot Hatches complete with bit's of stick on MaxPower crap and oversize tailpipes... Corsas, Puntos, Fiestas...

Turned out to be the best behaved day I've ever had. Go figure!

If I'm not mistaken I was the guy who did the 'briefing' straight talking Yorkshire guy.....
We always police our days to keep standards high.
Look out for more days next season.

[SAS Tom]

roddo said:

AdiT said:

Pot luck in my opinion.

A couple of years ago I got wind of a cheap day at Blyton. Mazda on Track were running it (i think) but it was a club organised day for the Celica owners club. They'd not had enough take up so opened it up to other clubs. When I arrived my heart sank; As well as the Celicas, MR2s, MX5s there was a fairly high number of (not very) Hot Hatches complete with bit's of stick on MaxPower crap and oversize tailpipes... Corsas, Puntos, Fiestas...

Turned out to be the best behaved day I've ever had. Go figure!

If I'm not mistaken I was the guy who did the 'briefing' straight talking Yorkshire guy.....
We always police our days to keep standards high.
Look out for more days next season.

I can second Mazda on track too. I’ve done 2 days with them now and they’ve both been great. Drivers well behaved and no stupid moves. Even when we were going round in a 1 litre polo everyone drove to a good standard.

[Nickjd]

It's because I don't like bullies or knob heads on track and we don't ram the track at cheap prices.