Open pitlane events
Discussion
Im jus about to booke a trakday that runs as open pitlane.
Have any of you found the trak too busi with too many car with diferent standard of driving?
Some organisers charge a lot for second drivers because they fear too many inexperienced drivers and more cars on trak at any one time are the result.
RMA charge a lot and BaT much less for second driver. Have any of you seen the problems caused like what they fear?
Have any of you found the trak too busi with too many car with diferent standard of driving?
Some organisers charge a lot for second drivers because they fear too many inexperienced drivers and more cars on trak at any one time are the result.
RMA charge a lot and BaT much less for second driver. Have any of you seen the problems caused like what they fear?
barroom_spert said:
Im jus about to booke a trakday that runs as open pitlane.
Have any of you found the trak too busi with too many car with diferent standard of driving?
Some organisers charge a lot for second drivers because they fear too many inexperienced drivers and more cars on trak at any one time are the result.
RMA charge a lot and BaT much less for second driver. Have any of you seen the problems caused like what they fear?
BaT - no, never. Well run and sensible numbers.
RMA - no experience of.
As far as open pit-lane goes, it's the way to go. Far better than sessions, as it's a lot more of a relaxed atmosphere - with sessions everyone's desparate to get their money's worth, plus you're constrained time-wise.
With open-pit, people can go out for 10-15mins at a time (sensible time for a road car - 20mins can be a strain), come in, cool the car down, have a chat, check the tyres and fluids and go back out 20-30mins later. Or they can wander over to someone else and blag a passenger ride, not worrying about missing their "session".
Don't sweat it - joining the track is easy as someone waves you out when clear (just make sure your oil is warm so you can nail it!), and in all other regards it's just like normal. Plus there's usually an upper limit on the number of cars on-track at any one time.
Open pit lane offers significantly better value for money over sessioned events. Downside is there is a mix of ability and pace on track.
This *usually* isn't a problem.
On track it is the overtaking driver's responsibility to pass safely and the overtakee's responsibility to use their mirrors and pull over if being caught.
Provided everyone does this - its fine.
Its really, really irritating, dangerous and likely to get you chucked out if and when
a) An experienced driver monsters the car in front, drives too close, and actually races to get by.
b) Any driver either doesn't use their mirrors on doesn't care that a quicker car is behind.
If you're a novice - just remember to use yer mirrors and get out of the way if someone is up yer chuff through a couple of corners...couldn't be simpler...
...and have a great time.
This *usually* isn't a problem.
On track it is the overtaking driver's responsibility to pass safely and the overtakee's responsibility to use their mirrors and pull over if being caught.
Provided everyone does this - its fine.
Its really, really irritating, dangerous and likely to get you chucked out if and when
a) An experienced driver monsters the car in front, drives too close, and actually races to get by.
b) Any driver either doesn't use their mirrors on doesn't care that a quicker car is behind.
If you're a novice - just remember to use yer mirrors and get out of the way if someone is up yer chuff through a couple of corners...couldn't be simpler...
...and have a great time.
Open pit is excellent, if I had the dosh its all I'd prefer to do, as said above generally more relaxed then sessions & excellent to grab rides with mates on the same day & give then rides, nip into the pits & do quick changes & get back out without having to either suffer a sesion with a bad set up or loose a session to change.
To me only 2 issues-
1- cars doing cool down laps with others cars going 100% is a slight concern- not a big one if all parties are alert, but you need to be aware of it & not all drivers do a cool down lap (i do religigously tho) so are perhaps not ready for that car that has been lapping them regually to then be going significantly slower.
2- cars exiting the pit lane without looking 1st, Castle coombe often seems to be bad for this.
>> Edited by iguana on Wednesday 18th May 00:27
To me only 2 issues-
1- cars doing cool down laps with others cars going 100% is a slight concern- not a big one if all parties are alert, but you need to be aware of it & not all drivers do a cool down lap (i do religigously tho) so are perhaps not ready for that car that has been lapping them regually to then be going significantly slower.
2- cars exiting the pit lane without looking 1st, Castle coombe often seems to be bad for this.
>> Edited by iguana on Wednesday 18th May 00:27
I've done a couple of events billed as "open pit lane" at Castle Combe which are somewhere in between sessions and completely open pit lane. Basically, a group goes out for 15-20 mins, and all come back in together. Thus no problems with people exiting pit lane without looking etc. Other than the grouping, it's completely open - you can do as many or as few sessions as you want, and there's no time slots, you just get in the queue and go.
The days I've done have been 30 cars max, 10 on track at a time, so there's never a long wait for the next session.
The days I've done have been 30 cars max, 10 on track at a time, so there's never a long wait for the next session.
did my first track day at bedford(GT) with easy track a couple of weeks ago and that was OPL - fantastic day, very relaxed, plenty of space on the circuit so after the initial queue (best to just go get a brew for half an hour and let everyone else wait in line) there was no trouble getting on the track whenever you liked (max 3 car queue). i was clearly one of the slow guys being a novice but if you just use your mirrors alot and everyone is happy. i agree that you need to be watchfull of poeple on cool down laps but it swings both ways as we all have to do them.
i've not done a 'sessioned' event yet but i think i'd rather stick to open lane style to maximise the track time.
i guess if you're dead fast the sessioned events may be better as you don't get held up too much.
anyway, hope you have a great time.
s.
miniman said:
I've done a couple of events billed as "open pit lane" at Castle Combe which are somewhere in between sessions and completely open pit lane. Basically, a group goes out for 15-20 mins, and all come back in together. Thus no problems with people exiting pit lane without looking etc. Other than the grouping, it's completely open - you can do as many or as few sessions as you want, and there's no time slots, you just get in the queue and go.
The days I've done have been 30 cars max, 10 on track at a time, so there's never a long wait for the next session.
This is how the PCGB do it...only with just six cars on track. Frankly I don't like it as much as Open Pit or Sessioned as you need to be with your car constantly to move it up the queue.
I remember when open pit lane really meant open pit lane. Each circuit has a legal limit of cars allowed on track at anyone time, and on an open pit lane track day you'd pay more so the number of cars present would be limited to that legal limit. So if you wanted to go on track you could, none of this waiting of queuing to get on track. Open pit is usually more expensive than session’ed trackdays because you have the bonus of access to the track when ever you want (not queuing).
IMO the best format is to run 2 groups in the morning; Novice and advanced, and then open up the pit lane in the afternoon. This way you keep the novices separated from the advance drivers and by lunch time, when the novice’s have learnt the track and are a little more confident you can mix the 2 groups together. Both groups benefit from this and getting 4 half hour sessions in the morning is loads of track time. I personally don’t agree in having novice drivers going out on to the track for the first time with more experienced drivers. Even though there’s track rules about over taking its still quite nerve raking for the novice driver on there first outing to the track. But that’s only my opinion.
IMO the best format is to run 2 groups in the morning; Novice and advanced, and then open up the pit lane in the afternoon. This way you keep the novices separated from the advance drivers and by lunch time, when the novice’s have learnt the track and are a little more confident you can mix the 2 groups together. Both groups benefit from this and getting 4 half hour sessions in the morning is loads of track time. I personally don’t agree in having novice drivers going out on to the track for the first time with more experienced drivers. Even though there’s track rules about over taking its still quite nerve raking for the novice driver on there first outing to the track. But that’s only my opinion.
goz007 said:
IMO the best format is to run 2 groups in the morning; Novice and advanced, and then open up the pit lane in the afternoon.
sounds like a top idea; do you know of any TD organisers that run this way? i have heard that some firms (RMA?) do 'unofficial' sessions, i.e. beginners on the hour and experienced guys on the half hour although there are no real breaks and you can go out whenever you like - you just vaguely stick to the correct bit of the hour.
I use a company for bike trackdays that run an open pitlane policy - I wouldn't have it any other way!
The dynamics are certainly more relaxed - I hate it when your session gets cut short cos of an incident in a previous group & everyone gets really pushy cos they think they are gonna miss out!
With an open lane you can pick times to go out on track that suit you - i.e if you are hot or want a drink or perhaps if you have a slide & want to take a breather - or even if you just wanna be out there all day & ride your pants off & get your moneys worth! - it's also nice to be able to 'pick' who you are out on track with!
It is the way forward!
The dynamics are certainly more relaxed - I hate it when your session gets cut short cos of an incident in a previous group & everyone gets really pushy cos they think they are gonna miss out!
With an open lane you can pick times to go out on track that suit you - i.e if you are hot or want a drink or perhaps if you have a slide & want to take a breather - or even if you just wanna be out there all day & ride your pants off & get your moneys worth! - it's also nice to be able to 'pick' who you are out on track with!
It is the way forward!
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